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Dear Diary,

The Dow rose 288 points yesterday, or 1.7%. Gold was flat, despite further dithering from the Fed on when it will raise interest rates.

Last night, we dined with the head of the SEC. Actually, Ms. White dined at the table next to us. But it made us feel as though we were among the movers and shakers in the zombie capital.

The Occidental Grill & Seafood is a landmark restaurant in D.C. For about $120, you can eat reasonably well and spot the powers that be in the room.

Off the Record

The following morning, we joined a meeting of some of the city's leading conservative activists.

“Everything is off the record,” warned an earnest young woman.

Among the things off the record was an insight into college campus rape.

“These are much less common than you think. I'm not saying it's not a bad thing. It's a terrible crime. It's just not that common. The left is just using this as another way to push its agenda on college campuses.”

This was just one of many skirmishes the conservatives are fighting.

Another activist offered a comment on the “CRomnibus” bill – the pork-laden $1.1 trillion budget bill Congress approved at 1 a.m. on Saturday morning.

“We have to give our colleagues credit. There were about 50 different things in there that were good for our side.”

What they were, he didn't say. And no one asked. But when you spend a trillion dollars in the dark of night there are bound to be a few presents under the tree.

At least one speaker was eager to “get the word out” about the CIA's enhanced interrogation program:

“Torture is defined as inflicting pain. Waterboarding is not painful. So, it's not torture. Our own soldiers undergo this as part of their training.”

Another speaker wanted to let us know that there would be a major gathering of “our side” coming up.