The Rise and Fall of 43

The Just Bare Rise and Precipitous Fall of a Would-Be Dictator
Excitement in the air; Judy and Bob were really geared up for something, we could tell. As we waited for the entire gang to arrive, Schuyler was busy preparing our cocktail for tonight, a Brazen Hussy. Not as brazen a hussy as W, but the cocktails were just-strong enough. We had heard so much about a vodka being made in Texas, that Schuyler decided to use it tonight: Tito's Handmade Vodka, winner of significant prizes. He made the Brazen Hussy with this vodka and Cointreau, and for others, he made Mocktails, so we all had something to sip, and judging from Judy and Bob's vivacity, we knew we'd do some pretty snappy sipping.

 

Bob said he wasn't going to hog the floor tonight, he was just going to tell us a few details about some guy who thought he was the Chief Capo of the world. He had just finished re-reading The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich and several volumes on the life of Benito Mussolini, both gentlemen who thought they owned the world and that the world owed them because they had so much political capital. Both, of course, loved preening and posing for the press in their little military outfits.

 

Of another gentleman, Judy began her descriptions. Somewhat wistful, somewhat slyly, she began describing the third gentleman she wanted to talk about tonight.

 

She said first that he variously had been described as a genius, full of charisma, vision, evil, manipulativeness, leaderhsip and single-mindedness. Alas, for the world, he was followed slavishly by sycophants, ditherers and brutes, all ready to fill the rail cars with loot, plunder and ill-gotten gains.

Bob said it was beyond comprehension that the country permitted bullying of never before seen proportions, with even his generals cowing and deferring to him out of fear of getting sacked if they disagreed or defied him. His rage, once imminent defeat was obvious, was inevitably directed at his generals and entourage in general.

 

However, Judy emphasized, like any bully, he ignored and understimated the will of the press to bring truth to light, even if the citizenry had long-ago fallen into lassitude, lethargy and complacency. The press' unflagging efforts became necessary Judy said, because of this guy's innovative, sytematic and extremely successful use of deception, corruption and paid-for propoganda to further his nefarious goals. Under him, Judy mentioned, even the press had to be very careful because of the powers this guy showered on himself even up to and including the power to kill what he might consider an enemy of the state. His legal advisers stop at nothing, deluding him into thinking that indeed, his powers supercede all others, and in truth, he has used his powers in myriad unsavory ways, such as seeing to the incarceration of innocent citizens who happen to gather to voice their concerns.

 

Liz interjected that she was also terrified at the loathing this man felt for other societies. His heinous lack of concern for the life of either citizens of his country or foreigners was truly repulsive, as was his use of hermeneutics to support all his theories. He told the country that he received his marching orders from God; how's that for hermeneutics? Well, Liz said, those little voices trumpeted in his famous ears: Crusade, Crusade, Crusade.

 

Jane, a bit quietly, said she thought Judy and Bob had to be talking about Hitler, who else could have so many traits that shouldn't see the light of day? No, Judy and Bob told her, William L. Shirer could really write the same book and just change names by hitting search and replace: Hitler for Bush, and the book would read the same. Heck, they even say Eva Braun had a brain like a bird's! But, Jane said, where are the likes of Hermann, Goebbels, Himmler, etc.? And Judy, wisely retorted, don't forget Condoleezza Rice, Donald Rumsfeld, Alberto Gonzáles, Dick Cheney and Karl Rove, there, you'll find the rest of the henchmen.

 

At Last, The Teenagers Ring the Dinner Gong
Marie Christine enjoyed making our first course tonight, tapa-style: Chilean Chorizo and Herb Fritatta (or tortilla, as they say in South America.) We all assumed that she would be serving the fritattas with our usual slightly-chilled Fino sherry, but she surprised us by saying that if the fritattas were from Chile, she thought a Chilean wine would be a nice change, and poured us a hearty, red wine with fruit and spice, a 1999 Santa Rita Rapel Valley Reserva.

 

Though the change from white to red wine at the beginning of a meal surprised us, we were delighted with her choice and served to make a point:there really aren't set-in-concrete rules anymore. More and more connoisseurs are just drinking whatever wine they really love, rather than what some wine maven might try and dictate. Even our chronicles of our delicious meals for all the gang shouldn't be taken as dicta, they are just choices of wines that please us, that we feel go with our meal, and that fit our price range. You can always move upwards in terms of price from the range we usually stay in, but don't choose wines too much further down the rung; you won't be getting something really enjoyable.

 

Jean-Paul next served us an amazing Prawn and Lobster Chowder. We've often had a Prawn Chowder or a Lobster Chowder, but never the same together. Just as Marie Christine likes to be adventurous, Jean-Paul does too, hence the blend of crustaceans, but what a chowder. He did, however, return to what we are used to, a lovely Amontillado sherry from the house of Lustau in Spain. Personally, since they breed and train beautiful Andalusian horses, I think that's why at some point in the meal both Marie Christine and Jean-Paul enjoy sherry, or "jerez" as it is know in Spain. The sherry probably reminds them of Spain, which because of horse-buying trips, they visit often.

Max had the grills going in order to prepare us a succulent Mesquite Grilled Swordfish with Árbol Chile Salsa. Piquant, yes, but delicious. Max and Charlotte brought some bottles of a nice Sauvignon Blanc, a fruity, rich 1999 Inama Sauvignon Veneto Vulcaia Fumé from Italy. On the side, he served us some beautifully grilled corn on the cob.

 

Max next served us Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Bell and Chipotle Peppers. He served us fluffy wild rice and fava beans, and poured us not the Malbec we assumed he would serve with the grilled pork, but instead he and Charlotte brought some bottles of a rustic wine from the Languedoc-Roussillon region of France, a Corbières from Château les Palais. The red wine was rustic but quite good, and was creamy, full, supple with impressive fruit and a touch of oak.

For dessert, Shelley and Cathy served us bowls of mixed berries and some of their homeade ice cream and poured a delightful Dindarello 1998 Maculan Moscato Veneto.

 

Winding Down with the Teenagers
Tonight had been a troubling night because of our discussion. It seems that there is a veil of darkness and evil covering Washington right now. It seems daily more scandal comes out of this White House, the one that had promised us a return to dignity. Well, Hitler didn't bestow dignity on Germany, and Bush and Cohorts Inc. are not bestowing anything remotely resembling dignity on the United States. We don't like to hide facts from the teenagers, but tonight, we were glad they were too busy comparing holiday experiences to listen to our conversations and views on the evil awash in Washington.

 

Summary:
William L. Shirer's Book, "The Rise and Fall of The Third Reich" with just a few modifications, for example in the names of the main protagonists, could easily become "The Rise and Fall Of 43 and The United States." Our Congress is asleep at the wheel, allowing a megalomaniac assume powers that rightfully belong to We, The People. Hitler, Himmler, Goebbels and their like were obviously not the last unspeakably evil people in politics. Today, we have Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rice, Gonzáles and Rove.

©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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