Fling the Elderly, Poor, Disabled or Just Confused Over A Cliff

The Holidays Could Have Told a Story
Tonight Schuyler planned to introduce us to a rum we hadn't tried before, 10 Cane Rum from Trinidad. He mixed up a batch of delicious Daiquiris, which went a long way toward warming us up on this chilly evening.

 

We were all gathered by the fireplace, glad to be our normal, rowdy "gang" again. Liz did mention that as wonderful as the holidays can be, if you were observant, she said, you must have noticed a slight stench in the air, no matter where in the world you were this year. If, during your holiday,you spent time with Grandpa and Grandma, your very much less-affluent friend Tim, your cousin Trish, with the severe disabilities, your old college roommate who had had a good career but had fallen on hard times and couldn't find a well-paying job anymore, well, you caught a whiff of that foul air wafting around.

 

Funny, Liz said, that foul breeze really got an uplift in a rather unusual and expensive way. It seems that serious cuts to the budget were going to be made by the Republicans to our over bloated budget. Dick Cheney, who was on an expensive and supposedly important mission to Iraq, was called home by buddy George when it appeared that even some Republicans thought that cutting the budget by throwing Grandpa and Grandma, your very much less-affluent friend Tim, your cousin Trish, with the severe disabilities, and your old college roommate over the cliff to fend for themselves was a bit too draconian, even for Republicans. It seems mol George realized he would need Sweet Dick to cast the tie-breaking vote in the Senate, so down the drain went the mission to Iraq, despite the thousands of Americans who have died there: cutting benefits for the aged, poor and disabled were a higher priority for our revered leader.

 

Bob and Liz told us that with the Holidays hanging over the country, that kind-hearted team, Bush-Cheney, wanted to effect draconian cuts in benefits to Medicaid, which serves low-income and disabled Americans. They were also threatening to cut food stamps. They were planning also on severe curtailments to many programs that are vital to the welfare of low-income families and the poor elderly.

 

So What if Over Two Thousand Americans Have Been Killed? The Cliff.
You would think that if it was so important for Vice/Cheney to go all the way over to Iraq, with a resplendent entourage, there would be a reason for him to stay there and complete his mission, supposing he knew what his mission was. But no, Brownie, there's a more important job to take care of on the homefront: denying those least able to care for themselves benefits to guarantee at least a little more than the minimum benefits necessary to barely keep body and soul together. Worse, Liz said, she knew in her heart that if he could, Bush really would round up this troublesome group and throw them over the cliff. They're so nettlesome, those needy people.

 

More Nettlesome People and Those Confounding Medicare Drug Benefits
Another bad odor permeating the Holiday air was Bush's scaring seniors and those with disabilities with the message that they had to sign up for Medicare Prescription Benefits by January 1. Pray, tell, if you are already suffering from some symptoms that make understanding rocket science just a tad difficult, how are you supposed to sign up for a program with myriad variables that no computer program to date has been able to master? And worse, for Mom and Dad, Grandpa and Grandma, once you're signed up for a program, that program can tell you they're not going to cover the meds you need after all, and you, Bush's sucker, don't have the right to change plans for a whole year! Now, is that the work of a scheister or what? The cliff, redux.

 

First Day of School And The Teenagers Are Hungry
Several of us are contributing to dinner tonight. Preparing dinner here is really a breeze, and Judy thought it was because we don't have any of the usual family-induced tension that rears its ugly head during the holidays. Here, we meet for dinner and conversation every night because we enjoy each other's company, not because bloodlines force us.

 

Jeremy and Alex were discussing the advantages and disadvantages of having tequila or Fino sherry with our tapa-style appetizers, those little morsels we've come to grow used to and always look forward to having. Apparently, because in Spain you would be served a slightly-chilled Fino Sherry with your tapas, the vote was taken and we decided to continue serving sherry, choosing to limit our tequila to Schuylers incredible cocktails or for sipping after dinner.

Charlotte prepared little Manchego, Tapenade and Radicchio Quesadillas, a different combination, but one that turned out amazingly delicious. They paired the tapas with a wonderful Lustau Fino sherry, one of Spain's finest. Having opened the sherry bottles, Charlotte thought she'd serve the same sherry with tonight's creamy Lobster Bisque. Charlotte's bouquet garni was perfectly made to produce an exquisite bisque, and as you know, here we don't believe in torturing animals, so she chilled the lobsters until they were comatose, then quickly killed them before boiling them.

 

Max too was over his jet-lag and was ready to go back to the grilling we appreciate he's so happy to do for us. Tonight he grilled Cedar Planked Salmon, brushing the salmon with both olive oil and an Asian barbecue sauce. He and Charlotte thought that the lemongrass and ginger aromatics in Riesling would match perfectly with the Asian barbecue sauce and its lingering smokiness. We were delighted with their choice of an Alsatian Trimbach Riesling and thought that the next time we had the plank-grilled salmon we would try it with a Jacob's Creek Reserve Riesling from Australia. Taking advantage of the grills' being on, Max also baked us some of his flawless Cowboy Grilled Cornbread, which we enjoyed with both the salmon and the meat course.

 

Jeremy prepared a Roasted Beef Tenderloin with Pecan Crust. Jeremy thought some Collard Greens Braised with Garlic and some Broccoli Steamed with Ginger would be nice on the plates. The wine he chose was carefully thought out. Being from Britain, and now living in the United States, Jeremy likes to chose wines from the U.S.or at least from the New World so instead of the possibility that I had suggested, a 1997 Querciabella Camartina, he chose an extremely hearty, ripe and structured Alta Vista Malbec Mendoza Grande Reserve Terroir Selection 2003, which on top of being perfect for the roast, was an affordable wine. Malbec is always a favorite up here, as is any beef one of us prepares with Argentina in mind.

 

Beatrix, who doesn't consider the real Christmas Season to end until January 6, the Day of the Three Wise Men (Epiphany) still wanted something pretty festive for tonight, so she prepared her specialty for this time of year, English Trifle, or as it's better known in other countries, Sopa Inglesa. In the spirit of festivity, she selected an inspired sparkling wine, a Roederer Estate Anderson Valley Brut Rosé, which has flavors full of cherry and red fruit, from the Pinot Noir from which it is made

 

After-Dinner Coffee
We returned to the great room to spend some time with the teenagers. They were busy chatting up a storm, as many had gone abroad with their parents for the holidays, while others had traveled to other states, and some lucky few had been given their choice of some of the foals born in 2005, an unbeatable gift for horse-crazy teenagers.

 

Liz, right before everybody left, gave us this quote which helped explain Bush's contempt for the unfortunate. It is from Charles Grant Allen, and from 1894, but still apropos:

 

"Conservatism [Republicanism] I believe, is mainly due to want of imagination. In saying this, I do not for a moment mean to deny the other and equally obvious truth that Conservatism [Republicanism], in a lump, is a euphemism for selfishness."

 

Liz, as usual, was right on with her quote of the day.

 

Summary:
With thousands of dead and wounded U.S. troops in Iraq, Dick Cheney was sent to Iraq on a mission, but once there, Bush called him back to the U.S., his Iraq business left unfinished, for the sole purpose of using Cheney to help Bush win passage of a bill that would decimate help for the least fortunate people in this country. His message was clear: all those dead troops are not as important as bringing back Vice/Cheney to implode the already Dickensian world of the unfortunate in the United States, whom Bush would like to throw over the edge of a cliff.

©Copyright 2005 Grindstaff Chronicles. All Rights Reserved.
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Reprinted from The Grindstaff Chronicles Newsletter which is published in the USA by farmers, ranchers, and neighbors.

It is intended to share the thoughts and lifestyle of people who work hard, like to relax and enjoy life, and are often dismayed by news, politics, and the events of the day that defy common sense.
http://www.GrindstaffChronicles.com
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