Throwing the Old and the Infirm to the Lions

"He Has Committed Every Crime That Does Not Require Courage"
Well, maybe we just ought to work through the night instead of gathering to talk about the putrescent acts committed, now, on a daily basis by this criminally irresponsible government, or what passes for a government. Notwithstanding our desire to avoid unpleasant subjects, we know that sometimes, if the Gods favor us, We The People can raise enough of a ruckus to make a difference, so, doggedly, we continue to exchange ideas and share them with you in hopes of turning course.

 

Tonight Liz and Schuyler prepared our cocktails. The alcoholic drink for tonight was a Green Dragon, made with Stolichnaya vodka and Chartreuse, and served with the caveat: drink it slowly, or go lie down. For others who didn't want an alcoholic cocktail, Schuyler made a pitcher of Scarlet Ladies.

 

Liz is the source of the quote, from Benjamin Disraeli, Queen Victoria's Prime Minister. Though short, it really hits the mark. The "he" of course, could apply not just to the president, but to everybody in his inner circle. Now, Bob and Judy told, us he's gearing up to commit another crime: draconian cuts to Medicaid and Medicare. That's right, sock it to the most vulnerable, after all, as Barbara Bush famously taught her son, "Who needs them?" The lions the Republicans would throw the Old and Infirm to, are of course, abject poverty, hunger, malnutrition, ill health, and early death. The lions, in the case of the mentally ill? Uncontrolled depression, schizophrenia, manic-depression, hallucinations and sure suicide.

 

Big Cuts to Medicaid and Medicare Coming in the Next Two Weeks
Bubba, his sister Bubbette, and Max's sister and her husband, gleefully told Bob and Judy that they'd read that Congress, at George Bush's behest, is planning to make massive cuts in these two programs. Bubba was especially bright eyed when he talked about this to Bob and Judy, fondly recalling that G. Bush and Jeb Bush had successfully cut benefits for the old and infirm in Florida. Bubbette and Max's sister were just gushing with joy at the prospect of the same kind of massive cuts nation-wide. Sweet people, those four. Funny, how dogs instinctively know when the devil is about: not a dog on the ranch will get close to either of those four, not even to pee on their jeans.

 

Seems that the churches they go to preach that it's an abomination to receive government entitlements. The old should have thought about their future before they got old; the infirm should have avoided getting ill; the poor should have saved, and the mentally ill should shake the devil out and pull themselves up by their bootstraps. Garbage, is what those holier than thou born-again "christians" called anybody needing a helping hand. They, all four, said the Christian thing to do was do away with Medicaid and Medicare, and at least start by approving the massive cuts to Medicaid and Medicare, as they did in Florida. It was obvious, Bob and Judy told us as we sat there, rapt and repulsed by this "christian" outpouring of disdain for the more unfortunate, that these born-again monsters must belong to the same church Pope Clement VI (1478 - 1534) did when he said this about a now-forgotten individual: "The Lord strike him with madness and blindness. May the heavens empty upon him thunderbolts and the wrath of the Omnipotent burn itself unto him in the present and future world. May the Universe light against him and the earth open to swallow him up." Mucho christian, no?

 

Gee, Do You Think Jesus Had It All Wrong?
In Matthew 25:31-46 Jesus said: "Whatsoever you do unto the least of these my brethren, you do unto me, If you do it not unto them, you do it not unto me." A.J. said that he'd try and trick Bubba, Bubbette and Max's sister and brother-in-law into taking a peek at their "bibles" because he was convinced that they'd probably been re-written by some jerk Republican, deleting all references to Christ's beseeching mankind to look after each other. If all of those passages were not deleted or re-written, A.J. asked, "Do you think the born-agains are being taught that Jesus had it all wrong?"

 

Wonderfully, our "gang" now consists of 14 couples and a bunch of kids. The adults now represent so many faiths; one couple professes no faith, and one of our couples is a same-sex couple. What made tonight a salvable night after all, was that one by one the couples started speaking up, saying that they had been taught, religiously or secularly, that charity is a duty, so it seems, every faith under the sun except the born-again christian faith acknowledges that there is a scriptural instruction that we are stewards of our brethren. Guess Bush missed that at his church also, although of course his frigid mother probably scratched that part out of his Bible as well, that is, if you believe his rantings about how he's read his Bible.

 

Simply Put, Democrats, Liberals and Progressives Have Humane Values that Republicans Don't Have
For brevity, let's just say that tonight's gathering ended with a message for all Democrats, Liberals and Progressives, and that is that one of most salient tenets of our political views is that the individual matters, and it's seldom his financial accumulations that make up his worth, but the degree of generosity in his or her heart, and the degree to which he and she are willing to sacrifice a bit for the betterment of all mankind. Liberals have nothing to apologize for, instead, we should be extolling these virtues to the four winds. And speaking of virtuous liberals, Barry wanted to talk for a minute of the lame argument by one Republican, Representative Nathan Deal of Georgia, who in the debate over savagely cutting benefits for Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries, implied that without the cuts, beneficiaries would abuse the access to health care.

 

God bless the Democrat, Representative Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, who Barry told us, countered Deal's vicious position with these words: "Higher co-payments will lead people to forego needed medical care. To listen to some of the personal responsibility arguments, one might think that people line up to see their doctors the way they line up to see a rock concert or sporting event, and the only way to control this irrational hunger or thirst for medical care is to make it more expensive. I just don't buy that." Well, Barry asked, of these two gentlemen, which one has the better values we should emulate?"
When Barry finished, we all decided we'd write letters to Representative Baldwin, demonstrating our deep appreciation for that humane and correct position.

 

A Dinner of California Wines
Last night, we all decided it might be interesting to have all our wines from one region, and tonight we thought we'd try to have all our courses with California wines. Last night we had most of our wines from Spain, so tonight, let's head west.

 

We are having a terrific rain storm, and though it isn't really very cold, we have small fires going in the fireplaces in the great room and in the large dining room. Why does food taste so much better when you have candles glowing and a nice fire in the fireplace?

 

This is one of our cooperative dinners and many couples helped out. Now that Beatrix and Jeremy are back, they add a hint of England to some of our dishes, and little by little we'll learn more about the favorite foods of our new neighbors who moved here from Iraq. With so many nationalities, don't be surprised if one of our dinners turns out be a smorgasbord of myriad flavors. The first dish we're having tonight is an Alsatian Bacon and Potato Tart. The tart is rich and spicy, with many intermingling flavors.

 

For this dish, we took a vote and agreed that a California Blanc des Blancs would be excellent, and we chose a Schramsberg Brut Blanc des Blancs. No matter how unpleasant the political or religious conversation of the evening, when you begin dinner with a great sparkling wine, you can put the unpleasantness behind you for a while. The tart can be made a couple of days ahead of time, as can the Creamy Clam Chowder we had next. We used cherrystone clams for our chowder, served it piping hot, and paired it with a wine we'd never tried before, from artisan winery Qupé in California, their Bien Nacido Cuvée a white wine which is a blend of viognier and chardonnay.

 

The seafood course tonight was California-Spanish influenced Shrimp Pan-Seared in Chorizo Butter. We made sure they were made with the best authentic Spanish paprika, pimentón, which added a smokiness to the shrimp that we found exhilarating. Paired with a Beringer Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. It was served on a bed of simple white rice, and accompanied by a very unfussy watercress salad. Perhaps bringing some of their British influence to the table, Beatrix and Jeremy, instead of serving a sorbet between the seafood and the meat courses, served small portions of that old stalwart, Tomato Aspic on a bed of beautiful greenhouse Boston lettuce, and then brought out their beautiful Standing Rib Roast of Beef, a masterpiece.

 

The roast was served with a Potato and Onion Gratin and Roasted Broccoli with Poblano Butter. For this course, we served another Cabernet Sauvignon, an award-winning Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Artemis Cabernet Sauvignon.
Room for dessert? Yes, thanks to the small portions we always serve, we did still want dessert and were pleasantly surprised to be served Goat-Cheese Cake made with Marsala. Still wanting to try different California wines, we served the cake with a Bonny Doon Muscat Vin de Glacière (Ice Wine), a fine end to a great dinner.

 

Coffee Before Heading Home
The teenagers who helped us tonight were a real blessing. Serving and clearing up after 40 people have had dinner is something we've mastered; it doesn't really seem like a great deal of work, but anytime the kids pitch in to help, it's appreciated.

 

We had our after-dinner coffee back in the great room to briefly catch up on the teenagers' day. The rain stopped, so umbrellas weren't needed, only, as always with this administration, a strong stomach.

 

Summary:
Draconian cuts in Medicaid and Medicare will certainly mean great suffering for those least able to care for themselves. Republicans can't have ever read a Bible or they would know that Jesus instructed human beings to care for each other. They also couldn't have ever read the religious treatises of any other religion, since every one admonishes us to do the same thing: take care of our brethren.

©Copyright 2005 Grindstaff Chronicles. All Rights Reserved.
================================================
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
================================================

Evangelical Madrasas

Salem on the Porch
Climate change? Yes, it's unseasonably mild tonight and most people would consider that a blessing, but when you live on and from the land, you know how every day should be within its season. We know that something is happening around the world that isn't right, and tonight we can feel it. There is very little logic, up here in these hills, to taking off your sweater as November is just around the corner. But hey, try telling "rancher" Dubya that. Schuyler mixed up a batch of Platinum Blondes, a cocktail he made with golden rum and Grand Marnier. Also, he made a pitcher of nonalcoholic sangria.

Bob and Liz, drinks in hand, told us they felt they were living the Salem Witch trials all over again, what with this rabid culture of hate fostered by the rabid religious right, which, Liz avowed, is neither religious nor right, just rabid. When Alex asked her what she meant, she said that on a short visit to see some of her family, they had made her feel that if they could, they'd tie her to one of those stools they used in Salem to torture the so-called witches, and dunk her in the pond until she drowned. This conversation she had had with her family was innocuous enough, trivial really, but the results terrified Liz. When pressed to explain by Alex, Liz said that when asked by her family if she went to church, Liz, honestly and truthfully said that she didn't always feel the need to since, she told her family, living on a farm is like living in a church. She explained to them that looking at a flower, this thing of powerful beauty, she saw and felt God.

Well, Bob unhappily reported, in an instant the kind and loving family he and Liz had gone to visit erupted into a torrent of recrimination, accusation, condemnation and fault-finding.

Culture of Hate in Evangelical Madrasas
Liz and Bob could hardly believe what they were hearing, and still don't know what's wrong with seeing God in a perfect flower. Soon after they finished dinner, Bob and Liz decided to cut their visit short and returned to their farm.
Tonight, they also told us so many things they had heard on their visit. For one thing, Oh Joy! isn't it nice to hate? For one, they learned that these radical born-again evangelicals have decided that they, and they alone, will be saved. Every other faith, Christian or not, has been condemned by these sweet born-agains to hell. Now folks, Bob said, that's an awful lot of Christian religions, plus an awful lot of other faiths that are going to hell. They feel nothing but contempt for Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, and, quite telling, since Bob and Judy both have relatives-in-law who are Episcopalian, Catholic and Mormon, those faiths as well. This clearly frightened Liz because all she could see was this desire for a Crusade of gargantuan proportions: the evangelicals against the world! She said it made Al Qaeda sound like Shirley Temple.

These rabid "christians" go to their churches and mindlessly, thought-free, and absorb all the drivel fed them by unnaturally unintelligent zealots. You've seen images of little kids leaning forward like little metronomes, back and forth, repeating by rote everything they read? No difference in these scary radical evangelicals. Nope, not a bit of difference - it's all as mindless, and in the end, since that kind of teaching involves no use of intellect, just as potentially dangerous. Jeez, whatever happened to plain old Sunday school?

The Mother of all Crusades
Unless we find some way to legally and constitutionally rein in these fanatics, they're going to goad our enemies into destroying us all, regardless of our faith, for in the end, faith is not really understood by rabid, radical evangelicals. Just as Bush seriously does not recognize the difference between good and bad, neither do these rabid, aberrant pseudo-christians. Given the chance, they will only too gladly engage in a world-wide crusade. A few of us, expressing doubts that things were getting that bad, were more than a little saddened by Liz' announcement that her family was invited by a group in Arlington, Texas, to send their youth, under subterfuge, to China to proselytize.

Liz found this offensive first, because these people were knowingly breaking the law, and second, because it cost a minimum of $4,000.00 per person to send countless teenagers to China; money which could have fed a heck of a lot of hungry people. As Kim said, why, if they were so concerned for other human beings, didn't they pool those $4,000.00 X ? to feed, clothe, or house poorer Chinese, or hell, even people here at home who have no food, clothing or housing? Their next step will most likely enflame the entire Muslim world, and well, sweetheart, there we'll go: everybody against everybody, all because of a sorry lot of zealots.

Rescue Us, Wondrous Dinner
Tonight, several families collaborated on dinner, and we were ready to enjoy it, as much for the supreme pleasure as for the chance to think of something other than wacko pseudo-christians. A few of the older teenagers, who can handle our dinners and still get their school work done, have decided that helping us and earning a little bit of spending money would benefit everybody. We appreciate their help, and in no time at all they had served everybody some minute Sesame Bleu-cheese Pizzette. From Michigan, the pizzette were paired with a St. Julian 2003 Lake Michigan Shore Riesling.

Next, from New England, we enjoyed small bowls of bean with bacon soup, paired perfectly with a nice Spanish wine, a Marqués de Riscal Rueda Blanco. After the hearty soup, we next had small paillards of Trout Poached in sparkling wine, and paired with a Prosecco di Cornegliano from the winery Carpene Malvolti. On the plates, we were served a warm salad of Zucchini, Tomato and Basil. After small dollops of peach sorbet, and wanting to follow the hearty soup and light fish courses with another hearty dish, we were served a delicious and spicy Beef Casserole. Paired with a Rhône-style wine from Bonny Doon. The casserole contained many delicious vegetables from Art and Terry's greenhouses.

To end the meal, mango pie was served, paired with a delicious Tokaji from Hungary, which always goes well with mango dishes.

Winding Down
Wonderfully satisfied, we joined the teenagers to enjoy our special-blend after-dinner coffee prepared from one of Max's many special blends. Since we enjoy the comfort of many faiths in our group, we wished the same comfort on our teenagers. The atheist neighbors in our group too, enjoy beautiful values. We all hoped the children would benefit from their own beliefs, but not at the expense of those who would disagree with them.

Summary:
Evangelical madrasas spewing unholy right-wing hatred are a danger to our country and an affront to true faiths everywhere that work honestly in behalf of all men, women and children.

©Copyright 2005 Grindstaff Chronicles. All Rights Reserved.
================================================
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
================================================

We The People: Not On Our Dime

Grindstaff Chronicles Newsletter

 

Autumn on the Porch and the Braziers to Bush's and Libby's Feet The entire gang arrived just about the same time, and fortunately Schuyler had cocktails ready. Since we'd heard so much about them, tonight he made Cosmopolitans for us, using Grey Goose vodka and Cointreau. The reason for the prompt arrival was, of course, that everybody wanted to talk about the Libby indictment, not, it turns out, just because of the dishonesty involved, but oddly, also because of the cost to the country in dollars and cents. Bush Finds It Easy to Spend Other People's Money Bush has always been spending other people's money, and being the spoiled rich kid with no sense of direction, he never had to learn accountability. When he left Texas, the state was near bankruptcy, and now it's become obvious that left to his own devices, he'd bankrupt the country. Morally, he just did. Alex told us that a Washington Post-ABC news survey conducted Friday and Saturday reported that by a 3 to 1 ratio, 46 percent to 15 percent, Americans say the level of honesty and ethics in the government has declined rather than risen under Bush. Chomp on those figures Ann Coulter: Bush has sunk lower than Clinton ever did in the polls. Bob approached the scandal from another point of view however: unlike people such as us, farmers and ranchers who have to keep one eye perpetually on the bottom line, this guy just spends and spends, and costs us and costs us. At this point, Liz looked confused and asked Bob what he meant. Turns out, no breaking news here, that Bob, like the rest of us, has always been opposed to Bush's flitting around the country, on his 60 cities in 60 days fairy tale, and while the "Scooter" Libby affair was playing out, Bob had put pencil to paper and gotten all worked up, as well he, and we, should, over how profligate this nasty little guy is and how he goes through our national treasure. Bob did some investigating, and got some information from the Government Accounting Office. Seems that the base cost for flying Air Force One comes in at about $60,000.00 an hour. But, their report continued, Bush doesn't fly in a vacuum, no ma'am, when this guy flits around, a lot of other stuff flits around, like: a C-17 Globemaster III, much larger than Air Force One, to transport Bush's two Cadillac limousines and two or three sport utility vehicles, next, a CH-46 helicopter stands at the ready, and local police departments have to waste money on their own helicopters hovering around. Here, Max interjected that he too had read somewhere that wasn't the end of the story. There's the cost of maybe 100 support personnel, including advance team planners and Secret Service Agents. So, Max and Bob informed a hushed group of friends, a short trip by Bush can easily cost upwards of $200,000.00 and using that as a base figure, which is being generous of We The People, figure his 60-city frivolous flitting around to destroy Social Security as we know it, probably cost a minimum of $12,000,000.00 That's what Bob meant by Bush's finding it easy to spend other people's money; our money. Bush Promised to Bring Honesty and Integrity to the White House Liz, almost in shock and definitely angry, said that was criminal. From day one, she thought, Bush should have known his plan was doomed and he should not have spent that kind of money on it. But there was more she said. The White House, and certainly that creep Dick Cheney, knew all along about Scooter Libby's involvement in the Valerie Plame affair, and knows the involvement of Karl Rove, so to let Patrick Fitzgerald labor for 22 months at a cost of over 1 million dollars, was also criminal. Liz said, and quite seriously, that if the Queen of England can be forced to pay income taxes, Bush should pay, out of his pocket, for his little frivolous flitting around on Air Force One for no useful purpose but to satisfy one of his many whims (like his little invasion of Iraq), and that Scooter should pay for the cost of this expensive inquest for deliberately misleading Mr. Fitzgerald and for wasting We The People's money. Liz, always our feisty but beloved one, said that if Bush didn't quite have the $12,000,000.00 to refund to the country, he could get it from his nasty mamma, and Libby certainly can, and should, refund the country what it cost to force the truth out that could have come out from day one and not cost the country one penney. To wind up her point, Liz, also our Quote Queen, told us what Thomas Jefferson had written long ago about another nefarious person: "A cold-blooded, calculating, unprincipled usurper, without a virtue; no statesman, knowing nothing of commerce, political economy, or civil government, and supplying ignorance by bold presumption." Seems to fit this guy pretty well, doesn't it? Yep, a usurper, who's spent what little "political capital" he thinks he had, and never did bring either honesty or integrity to the White House. Grilling With Good Friends Max, ever the one to delight in cooking on the grills, pretty much planned our dinner, and with Charlotte to help him, just asked us to sit back and relax. Well, relax as much as you can when you wish you could wring the president's neck and his checkbook. The first dish Max and Charlotte served as after we all took our place at the dinner tables, were some exquisite Tapas-style Grilled Shrimp with Anchovies and Serrano Ham. Max, knowing that some people find anchovies very strong in flavor, always soaks them in milk before preparing them, and that makes them milder. After Fino Sherry, one of the best wines you can have with tapas is a good sparkling wine, and tonight Max and Charlotte introduced us to a new cava, or sparkling wine from Spain, a Paul Cheneau Brut Cava, which has a nice light-to-medium body. Charlotte next served us small bowls of Corn Chowder with Pancetta and Sea Scallops, a hearty soup made with many different vegetables and skimmed of any fat. Served with a González Byass Fino Sherry, the soup kept us both in the New World, because of the corn, and Spain, because of the delicious sherry. Max got some of the teenagers to help him carry dishes from the grills on the porch to the small and the large dining rooms. It was great of them to do this because Max had 40 people to feed tonight! The first course they brought in from the grills was Grilled and Mesquite Smoked Cabrilla Grouper, served with grilled fingerling potatoes and a medley of grilled mushrooms and garlic. Still in the mood for Spanish sparkling wine, we tried an Albet I Noya Brut Cava Reserva, a light-bodied wine with ginger and apple flavors which, magically, went very well with the perfectly grilled grouper. After very small servings of Charlotte's coconut granita, Max and his helpers brought in his Pancetta-Wrapped Beef Tenderloin, grilled to tender-as-butter perfection. Buttery grilled Elephant garlic served on simple, white rice, was perfect. For both the fish and the meat dishes, Max had served us delicious Rye bread he bakes in the outdoor Italian-style stone oven. Since tonight we wanted to try different Spanish wines, Max paired the tenderloin with a full-bodied, intense, dry Pedro Ximénez Alvear Amontillado Montilla-Moriles Carlos VII. Charlotte, also an amazing baker/chef made us individual Caramelized Lemon Tartlets, and on an adventurous note, and a generous note, since the wine is expensive, paired the tartlets with a wine she and Max brought from their wine cellar, an Alvear Pedro Ximénez Montilla-Moriles Solera, a syrupy, treacly wine Max and Charlotte wanted to try as a dessert wine. Well, folks, it was a success. I guess it pays to be adventurous. Except not with your nation's treasury. Summary: Bush has cost this country so much. We've lost the respect of the entire world. We, as a country, have lost our dignity and moral compass. Bush is also spending our national treasure as if he owned it. Sorry Bush, you don't.

©Copyright 2005 Grindstaff Chronicles. All Rights Reserved. ================================================ 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 ================================================

F., Such a Nasty Word

Pity We Have To Bother Our Beautiful Minds With The Manure in Washington
Gloriously beautiful, mild country day, portending good cocktails and a sumptuous dinner. If only, as a group, we were not all so interested in politics and what is going on around us and around the world. After everybody arrived, Schuyler served those who wanted a cocktail a Kamikaze, which he made with Grey Goose vodka and Rose's Lime Juice. I think the cocktails help to lessen the pain of talking about what a mess this administration has pooped on the country. We're no longer seen around the world as this beacon of decency, nor are we seen as a culture to emulate, rather, we're seen as the slime Bush & Co. have turned us into. We're seen as instruments of torture, maiming and killing. Thugs, in other words. Culture of Life
Beatrix and Jeremy have been in England for a long time, visiting relatives and friends.

 

What they report about how poorly we're seen by the British is astounding. They both said that perhaps the only friend we had in Britain was Tony Blair. Jeremy suggested that a lot of this dislike for us has its roots in Dubya's tired old phrase, 'culture of life.' The British, Beatrix told us, are a lot smarter than the 59,054,087 mindless, spineless lemmings that followed Dubya's many prevaricating homilies indicating that he subscribes to the theory of a 'culture of life.' Well, they both told us, not our lives, not your lives: only the lives of those who think like Dubya AND have enough money to live on Mullholland Drive, up and down Dallas' tony Turtle Creek, in Brookline, Massachusetts, in Georgetown D.C., in Grosse Point or Bloomfield Hills or ritzy River Oaks in Houston. That's the life Dubya's talking about. If you don't have enough money to put on the Ritz, then your life doesn't count: just ask the victims of Katrina, Rita and now Wilma.

 

Opposite of Culture of Life
Wring his little cojones just a tad and I'll bet he'll scream out, 'Well, you've got it all wrong, it's really a culture of death." Finally, one truth out of that mollescent little mendacious man. At this point, seething, Alex asked, for the entire nation, as Richard II did in regards to nettlesome Thomas à Becket: "Will no one rid [us] of this man?" Oh, that we would be so lucky. When asking to snuff poor Chávez in Venezuela, methinks Pat Robertson was targeting the wrong man, and since the rabid religious right didn't find anything offensive in that snuffing, they shouldn't find one here at home offensive either, should they, since they're not hypocrites?

 

Old Raccoon Eyes
No, not beautiful Gwyneth Paltrow, who has been accused of using too much eye makeup, but sycophant little Ms. Miers. Squinty, overly-painted little eyes, harboring a heart of steel, and colder'n a witch's tit, or is that Lady Macbush?

Anyway, as Bush's number 1 (sorry Condosleazza) admirer, Meirs proclaims that for years she has been on Bush's side on every issue, which has to mean, she approves of his 'culture of death.' So, how'd you like that on your Supreme Court Bench?" As The New York Times reported, when Ms. Miers' colleagues were asked to fill us in on what she'd been up to all these years, they couldn't cite any one example of her effect on Bush or his policies because she had affected them all, i.e. her thumbprint was on every action taken by Bush since he's been in office. Including approving torture.

 

F. That Nasty Word and The Culture of Death
Fascism, an ideology that has to be talked about with extreme caution and in an atmosphere of discretion. One thing that isn't controversial anymore, because the question is pretty much settled, is that fascism is about The Culture of Death. The great American novelist, Sinclair Lewis, warned us about fascism in his novel It Can't Happen Here. Well, seems we didn't pay enough heed. When there's wafting smoke of fascism in the air, can the full blown conflagration be far behind?

 

Bob gave us a few examples of what comprises fascism:

• Disregard for Human and Civil Rights
• According The Military Absolute Power and Limitless Funds
• Outing of Enemies and Liberals
• Abusive Control Over the Media
• Powerful and Controlling Nationalism
• Overwhelming Sexism
• Rabid Obsession with National Security
• Erasing of the Lines Between Government and Religion
• Overzealous Protection of Big Business
• Disdainful Attitude Towards the Arts and the Intelligentsia
• Rabid Attempts To Trample on Workers' Rights
• Unnatural Obsession with Punishing Crime
• Suspect Electoral Processes
• Widespread Corruption and Cronyism

 

Well, A.J. asked, does any of the above sound like anything that's been going on here since the presidency was usurped in 2000?

 

Elizabeth and Beatrix on The Culture of Life
These two gentle but wise ladies both had read an article by a writer we all need to read and learn from, Michael Blanding. He wrote an article, titled The Culture of Life Top Ten. Elizabeth and Beatrix gave us his list of Top Ten actions this nasty administration could take if it were remotely interested in promoting a Culture of Life, and not of Death:

• Withdraw the Troops
• Stop the Death Penalty
• Pass Effective Gun Control Laws
• Fund Social Services
• Create Universal Health Care for Children
• Research Alternative Energy
• Investigate Prisoner Abuses
• Support AIDS Clinics Abroad
• Implement a Fair Guestworker Program
• Join the International Criminal Court

 

Please, this is an excellent author, whose humanity comes through very clearly in his writing. Please read the entire article at: www.michaelblanding.com/cultureoflife.htm.

 

The Dinner Gong: a Brillat-Savarin Moment
Beatrix and Jeremy, recently returned from an extended trip to their homeland, England. They seemed so happy to be back, and happy to fall back into our way of living: living independently on our farms and ranches, but enjoying the company of all the neighbors nightly, together with the interminable political discussions. We had the feeling that their absence had left them with a desire to return to helping feed, magnificently, 28 adults and approximately 12 youngsters.

 

Beatrix, as soon as we were all seated, served us some tiny but exquisite Soy Sauce Duck and Radicchio Tartlets. She and Jeremy paired the tartlets with a wonderful Bland des Blancs, and we knew were off to the "Brillat-Savarin Moment." They paired the delightful Parmentier Soup, potato and leek soup, with a delicious Antinori Orvieto white wine. Their wine cellar, which is truly a cellar deep in the ground, with wine, did not need any tending while they were away.

 

Beatrix and Jeremy brought with them from their dining experiences in England, a dish we had never tried, Shrimp with a Medley of Wild Mushrooms Encased in Zucchini. Jeremy suggested pairing it with a dry white wine, a Puligny-Montrachet. After dollops of rhubarb sorbet, we were ready for out next course in which Max joined to help out. Max helped Jeremy prepare Seared Pork Tenderloins. The sauces used in the preparation of the dish were mushroom and fig sauce. A Pinot Noir was an excellent accompaniment to this dish. They chose a well-priced Willamette Valley Vineyards Whole Berry from Oregon. On the plates, Beatrix, Jeremy and Max served roasted carrots, parsnips, turnips and potatoes.

 

We told you, this was a Brillat-Savarin moment. For dessert, we were served English Trifle, one of the best sweets from Beatrix and Jeremy's homeland. We had ours with small snifters of Courvosier. Tonight, we'd like to thank Eric LeVine, of Cellar Tracker, for helping us chose our wines. You can get invaluable help from his companty at www.cellartracker.com

 

Protecting our Young
We re-joined the younger set in the great room, where they were also finishing their splendid Trifle. We wished we could throw our arms around them and protect them from the F. thrusts this administration was trying to embed in the fabric, and the soul, of this great country. We, who put up with Dubya's doubtfully valid reelection, bear the responsible for never again letting anything like that monster ever hold sway over our beloved United States again.

 

Summary:
Fascism isn't dead. Some nefarious neocons are doing everything they can to keep it alive, here, in the United States. Pretty heavy charges, but at least, think about it.

©Copyright 2005 Grindstaff Chronicles. All Rights Reserved.
================================================
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
================================================

Terry Schiavo Schiuvit, It's All For Show

Cocktails Await
Farm and ranch work never ends, but let me tell you, it's a heck of a lot easier when it isn't so hot. These days of autumn are glorious, and ending them with all the neighbors gathered in the great room, sipping one of Schuyler's new concoctions, well, you can't beat it. Tonight he made us Perfect Manhattans, using rye whiskey, sweet and dry vermouth, and Angostura bitters. At the drinks table, he had a pitcher of nonalcoholic fruit juices.

 

Out, Out Damn Spot, Cried Lady Macbeth
Jim was telling us what Lady Macbush would famously say: "The poor? The dregs of humanity? Why should I trouble my beautiful mind with such filth? Besides, I don't have to, my two lovely holier-than-thou, dysfunctional sons take excellent care of them, if you get my drift," she foxily said as she dried her hands (even though she couldn't get all the blood off.)

 

It seemed to Jim that the Damn Spot, or the blood on her hands, was the blood of the poor, those infamously bothersome and inconvenient people who do so blight the earth. Wouldn't the world be a better place if there were no unsightly poor?

 

Two Dysfunctional Megalomaniac Sons and The Poor
President Lyndon Baines Johnson wisely, kindly, generously and bravely fought all who stood in his way until he got his Medicaid bill passed. And guess what, Jim said, he never went around trumpeting to the four corners of the world that he was holier than, can we say it, bull manure? He just went on and did the right thing, never once comparing himself to the Almighty, as the Bush boys do. You see, the one really did have cojones, the other two, to paraphrase Ms. Richards, were born with a silver spoon in their mouths, though the spoons were full of barnyard manure which through the years has slowly migrated to fill their empty skulls. And lo and behold, as Gabriel would say, it also migrated downwards to where their hearts should have been.

 

Again, Out Damn Spot, or As The Bush Family Calls It: Medicaid
Well, after all the good President Johnson's Medicaid has brought to the poor who needed and continue to need Medicaid in order to stay alive, those two sons of, oh you know, I just can't think of the word right now Jim said, but anyway, those two are beginning to whack away at Medicaid, with every intention of dismantling it because it isn't something that helps the rich. On October 19, to the praises of secretary and health and human services [vomitus] Michael O. Leavitt, Jeb Bush, he of the cheeks like a bare baby's behind, began dismantling Medicaid in Florida.

 

His plan, approved by the other demonic brother in Washington, will significantly and dangerously cut how much is spent on the 2.2 million beneficiaries of Medicaid in Florida, in other words, Jim said, in this administration that toots its horn as the "administration that follows a culture of life," now the state will be able to pick and choose who gets treated with the best medicine has to offer, and who gets placebos and just quietly dies and gets of the rolls.

 

Mr. Leavitt, repugnantly chirped: "Today will be remembered as a day of transformation for the Florida Medicaid program. Florida's framework will be helpful to other states." Yeah, it means that with Dubya's approval, other states will start cutting back on medications the poor elderly and disabled need, cutting back on doctors' visits, the flourishing of draconian measures to deny care, and rapid emptying of nursing homes. In other words, saving the state money by killing the poor.

 

Now Back to Terry Schiavo
Carmen, Jim's wife, wanted to know what all the hoopla was about, when cheeky Jeb Bush attempted to get the Supreme Court to intervene and forbid the removal of Terry Schiavo's feeding tube. His butchering Medicaid is proof that there's no compassion in him, so the Schiavo thing had to have been only a circus attempt to entertain the country and pull the wool over the country's eyes, making the foolish believe that the Bushes believe in caring for the disabled, like Mrs. Schiavo but, the truth is out. Just a big show folks! Carmen handed us copies of the following treatise, and after giving us a chance to read it, she quietly asked us to consider if any Republican can truly be a Christian when really they seem more instruments of Satan. How dare, she asked, the Republicans and their followers profess to be Christians when they cannot grasp even the most basic tenets of that faith?

 

The story of the 'rich young ruler' is well known. It is found in three Gospels: for Matthew he is young, for Luke he is a ruler, for Mark he is just someone, like you and me, but not as young for he had kept the commandments (mitzvoth) since his youth. All 3 Gospels insist he had many possessions. Using Jesus' harshest language, Mark warns us against attitudes that in fact are a barrier to our faith and a substitute for God: so he warns against scandals of power, urge to dominate, selfish arrogance and greed for possessions. Jesus' teaching shocks and grieves the rich ruler, while at the same time, it greatly astounds the disciples: how can wealth be such a barrier to Christian faith?

 

Isn't it a sign of God's blessing?

True the Torah teaches to use wealth wisely and justly, but somehow Jesus takes for granted that all possessions are amassed through exploitation, since even the Torah-teachers swallow up widow's houses, and make a show of praying. Over the centuries, the story of the rich ruler has made a deep impression on Christianity: many saints, took literally Jesus' advice to sell everything and founded Religious Orders -of men & women-, who live a life of Evangelical Counsels, even if at times attract the criticism of having nothing but possessing everything (2Cor 6,10).

 

Jesus' Option for the Poor:
The teaching of Jesus on poverty is firm, harsh and radical. Mark could not be more intense: Jesus looks steadily at the rich ruler and says: do not be possessed by possessions. And, looking just as steadily at his disciples he says: It's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle! The disciples are left to plead: if this is so, who can be saved? To understand Jesus' praxis and teaching on poverty we must look at the context of his times and social conditions. Jesus is not asking us to live as destitute beggars (ptochos), or as penury-stricken people (penes) although their welfare must attend to. But He urges us to be familiar with those who lack the necessities of life, since he lives in them: I was hungry, thirsty, naked, homeless, unemployed, despised. With these needy people we are all metaphorically united: the New Testament speaks of a pervasive, spiritual poverty or indigence (endees), as in God's house, we are all needy.

 

The latest biblical scholarship (both Liberation & Feminist) has provided deeper insights into the times and social conditions that motivated the evangelism of the radically poor for the radically poor. Experts suggest that Mark wrote his Gospel for a poor Church community in Roman-occupied Syria, at a time of persecution, while the Roman army was suppressing the First Jewish Revolt in Holy Land in A.D. 67-70. Tragically this ended up with the destruction of the Temple and the Old Jewish religious life. While addressing his message to a rather settled, structured and orderly Christian community, Mark writes about the life-style of John the Baptist, of Jesus himself and of his first disciples, all radical wanderers, all promoting a movement of the poor for the poor, all requiring a radical concern for all oppressed and marginalized. This was the setting which God had chosen to launch a New Order, and ransom all nations, all cultures, all times. The worldly rich and powerful would never see God's designs in such a mission.

 

Pretty Serious Considerations Force an Interlude
Sadness at the Bush brothers' destructive actions might have dampened our enthusiasm for dinner, but since Max and Charlotte were preparing most of our dishes.

 

First, Max and Charlotte served us some small but complex Provençale Toast Points. They were complex because on such small triangles of whole wheat toast, Max and Charlotte had spread a delicious mixture of Niçoise olives, anchovies, potatoes, olive oil, onion, garlic, capers and oregano. Max served those who wanted them, small glasses, called "copitas" of very slightly chilled very dry sherry, the Tío Pepe Muy Seco, from González Byass.

 

Charlotte then served us a Ceviche Limeño (from Lima, Peru), with shrimp, avocado, cilantro and limes. With the ceviche, Max poured a nice dry Spanish sparkling wine, a Freixenet Brut Cordón Negro. They brought out small dollops of pear sorbet to ready us for the next course. Max and Charlotte brought a wonderful Cabernet Sauvignon from their wine cellar, a 2001 Louis M. Martini Reserve, Alexander Valley, to pair with his Seared Filet Mignon. By now, you know that when Max and Charlotte take over the kitchen, the fare for the evening is not going to be humdrum. With the Filet Mignon, they served fingerling potatoes roasted with extra-virgin olive oil and white wine, a mushroom risotto, and to please us all, Max made some of hi classic, baked on the grill, squash blossom and cornbread skillet bread.

 

Satisfied? Yes, but we still wanted some of Charlotte's, sorry, but this is the name of her classic dessert, Strawberry Charlotte, paired with another wine they brought from their wine cellar, an excellent Riesling from Idaho, Château Ste. Chapelle.

 

End of an Intense Evening
Each of us found the Bush brothers' attitude towards Medicaid beneficiaries disgusting. Carmen apologized for the long religious treatise, but thought we should, even those of us who are not Christians, think about the message.
We enjoyed Max's after-dinner coffee back in the great room with the teenagers, hoping, with all our hearts, that if any of them at some time in the future needed good social services, they would be there for them.

 

 

Summary:
If George and Jeb throw their arms up in rapture and profess to be holier than you know what Christians, how come they're dooming millions of poorer people to an early death by gutting Medicaid. Is that the culture of life, or is the culture of life only for the haves and the haves more?

©Copyright 2005 Grindstaff Chronicles. All Rights Reserved.
================================================
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
================================================

The Military-Industrial Complex

From President Dwight D. Eisenhower's Farewell Address to the Nation January 17, 1961:

 

"Until the latest of our world conflicts, the United States had no armaments industry. American makers of plowshares could, with time and as required, make swords as well. But now we can no longer risk emergency improvisation of national defense; we have been compelled to create a permanent armaments industry of vast proportions. Added to this, three and a half million men and women are directly engaged in the defense establishment. We annually spend on military security more than the net income of all United States corporations.

 

This conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry is new in the American experience. The total influence -- economic, political, even spiritual -- is felt in every city, every State house, every office of the Federal government. We recognize the imperative need for this development. Yet we must not fail to comprehend its grave implications. Our toil, resources and livelihood are all involved; so is the very structure of our society.

 

In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.

 

We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together."

 

The Military is Too Big for Its Britches
Schuyler was preparing cocktails in the great room as everybody started to arrive. Tonight, he made a drink we'd never tried before, a Gloom Chaser. He made them with Grand Marnier and Curaçao, and for those who didn't want alcohol, he had some nonalcoholic sparkling wine. Why a Gloom Chaser? Well, we just had a cold snap and couldn't sit out on the porch, and the thought of friends and relatives losing either their jobs or their health benefits had many of us worried.

 

As each person arrived, Alex and Jane handed them copies of parts of President Dwight D. Eisenhower's Farewell to the Nation address. After everybody had arrived, gotten a drink, and had a chance to read those paragraphs, the import of President Eisenhower's message began our discussion.

 

Bob told us that the Neocons, the Bushies, have always favored the health of the Military-industrial complex over anything else. Bob also told us something we didn't have much stomach to hear, that as early as 1992 Shady Cheney and Wolverine Wolfowitz were touting the need for the United States to engage in preemptive assaults on other nations who might, just possibly, be a threat to the United States. Since 1998 Donald Rumsfeld has been counseling anybody who would listen, that Saddam Hussein had to be "gotten rid of."

 

Not Really That Much Money
Well, you could say things could be worse and guess what? You just might be right. Now really, so what if George is spending 558 billion on his Neocon military? Doesn't affect anything, does it? Well, maybe just a tad, since his budget doesn't include the 85 billion that he's spending in Afghanistan and Iraq, which he didn't include in his "budget." That comes from "supplemental appropriations."

 

Alex pointed out to us something that in the general scheme of things, seemed just a bit unusual. Some companies were making money hand-over-fist: Lockheed, General Dynamics, Honeywell, Boeing, Raytheon, International Military and Government LLC, United Technologies, Northrop Grumman, Bell Helicopter, General Electric, General Dynamics subsidiary Electric Boat, Halliburton, Science Applications Int. Corp. and Computer Sciences Corp.

 

And All For Snuff and So Your Friends and Relatives Would Lose Jobs and Health Benefits
Well, not that kind of snuff; not the kind you delicately pinch from a snuffbox and snort: no sonny, Bob said, we're talking about how all these companies have made untold fortunes to snuff out 1996 American service personnel and approximately 100,000 Iraqis.

 

Other victims of this sick scheme of Bush & Co., General Motors and Ford Motor Company, the real bellwethers for the country. We'd all heard 'as goes General Motors, so goes the U.S.' And now, The New York Times is reporting, both of these companies are bleeding millions of dollars. Ford is planning to shutter untold factories; they'll have 'significant plant closings.' GM is going to cut benefits, and it reports that this year they have lost $4 billion! So, soon, Ford will start laying off employees, and, can GM be far behind? So, Ford and GM will be casualties of the Neocons, and who will gain?

 

Eisenhower Was Right
So what about the plowshares. Are they not, too, important? The neocons are still reacting to their extreme distaste, as author Robert R. Reich writes in his book "Reason", against the "permissiveness, self-indulgence and anti-war softness" of the sixties, but in doing so, they are dragging the country down, and we have to regain our footing and save the country from these 1984 goons. And gee, do you think if we spent less on killing, [don't forget their constant harping on the culture of life], we just might be able to feed more people and house the homeless, or do just about anything else that me be kind and good?

 

Dinner, as Respite From Hell
We can't blame the teenagers for always wanting the gong to sound, announcing dinner. Sometimes, we too are very hungry, or like tonight, just anxious for a chance to get off the topics brought down upon us by these chancres.

 

Charlotte, as soon as we had all taken our places, served us some small Manchego Cheese and Radicchio Quesadillas and for those of us who wanted them, small glasses of Patrón Tequila Reposado. Terry and Art had brought some beautiful eggplants from their greenhouses, and made a Garlicky Roasted Eggplant soup.

 

Max brought a Fumé Blanc from their wine cellar to go with the soup, and his choice was one of the best of the California Fumé Blancs, a Château St. Jean La Petite Étoile Vineyard Russian Valley Fumé Blanc.

 

Shelley and Cathy suggested we not have a fish course tonight, and instead they roasted some really spicy Cornish Game Hens. The two said that this was such and easy dish to prepare that it was almost effortless. Remember that they had to serve twenty-eight adults and fourteen teenagers! Once again, we all sang the praises of the enormous, old French range and all its ovens, plus the two built-in ovens we had put in a few years back.

 

To give you an idea of what we mean when we emphasize "spicy" these are some of the major spices that made the dish so delectable: garlic, rosemary, mustard, Dijon and coarse-grained, paprika and pepper. We toasted them for this wonderful dish, and agreed with Max that the same Fumé Blanc would be best with the hens, one of the rare times we did not change wines when we changed courses. For vegetables, Charlotte had made one of her splendid vegetable terrines which added a richness and complexity to the roasted hens.

 

Unusual for us, we did not have as many dishes as we normally do, but the plump little Cornish hens signaled to Shelley and Cathy that we would not need both a fish and a meat course tonight. However, we did want dessert, and were not at all disappointed with Charlotte's splendid "south of France" Raspberry and Fig Clafouti, dusted with powdered sugar. Charlotte served this heavenly dessert with a beautiful wine from her wine cellar, a 2003 Château de Malle Sauternes.

 

Back to the Teenagers
Max brewed some of his special-blend after-dinner coffee which we drank after joining the teenagers back in the great room. Each couple wished only the best for their children, a world where money could be used for good, and not for war. Max, coffee cup in hand, said a brief but poignant toast: "To peace, and to the success of United States industry devoid of military interests, and to regime change and the rebirth of a political party that puts people first."

 

Summary:
The cost of emphasizing the value of the Military-industrial Complex over the lives of human beings is taking a drastic toll on non-military United States industries. Jobs are being lost to other countries, and U.S. citizens are paying an inhuman price.

©Copyright 2005 Grindstaff Chronicles. All Rights Reserved.
================================================
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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General Motors Shafting Employees, Military-Industrial

We've always heard that as goes General Motors, so goes the United States. Well, General Motors is bleeding money and plans to cut back, enormously, on it's employee's and retiree's health benefits.

Meanwhile, in the Military-Industrial Complex that President Dwight D. Eisenhower so desperately warned us to cautious of, under this administration, the following are making money hand-over-fist:

General Dynamics, Honeywell, Boeing, Raytheon, International Militar and Government LLC, United Technologies, Northrop Grumman, Bechtel, McDonnell Douglas, Lockheed Martin, Bell Helicopter, General Electric, Electric Boat, the General Dynamics subsidiary.

Sorry retirees, Busho Whacko has other priorities, and sorry, it isn't you.

(The Grindstaff Chronicles will be covering these companies in upcoming issues.)

Who's Civilized? - Grindstaff Chronicles

The Grindstaff Chronicles

Interesting How the U.S. is Regressing
Schuyler was busy preparing cocktails for this evening as everybody began gathering. Tonight he's planning on serving some of us a Presidente, a drink from 1920s Cuba. He made the drink with Bacardi white rum, Curaçao, Martini & Rossi dry vermouth and grenadine. For those wishing a good nonalcoholic cocktail, he made Mary Pickfords, leaving out the rum.

The two couples who recently moved here from Iraq have settled in nicely, and it's been a joy having them as neighbors. They brought new life to our nightly gatherings. All four of them are more cosmopolitan and sophisticated than we are, but that just brings a new and good dimension to our group.

Having lived in a part of the world that has endured abominable violations of human rights, they were telling us that just before moving here they heard that next week, in England, there's going to be an international conference on how to use less lethal weapons on human beings.

To make a point, Barry, who moved here with his wife Kim from Israel to put the violence in the Middle East behind them and allow their children to grow up in a more peaceful atmosphere, sarcastically asked: why? When confronted with a potential assailant or miscreant, why not blow his brains out, or spill his intestines all over the place first, and ask questions later? Why not shoot him to smithereens right off the bat, and avoid all those inconvenient Miranda rights, trials by juries of one's peers, appeals, good legal representation and so forth, as the Bush administration would like?

Well, we all know that in reality Barry is a very gentle man, and if he weren't Jewish, he'd make a perfect Quaker. He was just trying to bring our attention to the fact that he'd also heard about the Less Lethal Weapons International Conference, but also had found out that the United States, i.e. Bush & Co., were absolutely not interested in attending this conference and learning how to be more humane. No, all the way down the chain of command, including down to that nefarious woman, Rice, who has approved the use of torture by the U.S. all over the world, they're more interested in taking this country back to the dark ages, where torture and inhumane treatment reigned supreme.

 

Kudos
With sincere reverence, in silence, we gave thanks to those countries who are sending delegates to the Less Lethal Weapons Conference. If you thought the present administration was sending any delegates, you'd be wrong. Only 15 Americans are attending the conference, 0, zilch, nada from the Bush government. Where does civilization end? At the current White House?

 

Bush to His Minions: We The Closet King Command You, Return This Country's Civil and Human Rights To That Period Prior To June 15, 1215
'Ol George, the criminally megalomaniac son of that infamously cold woman Barbara Bush, has tried, since usurping the presidency, to destroy our rights, won slowly century by century, since King John was forced to sign the Magna Carta in 1215. Bob said that's an awful lot of centuries W. wants to take us back to, but he got Carte Blanche to do it from 59,054,087 very stupid people, and from thousands of truly ignorant so-called "born-again christians" who wouldn't know true Christianity if it bit them on the butt.

 

Barry, to finish his point, said that from now on he would only be able to think of the Republican Party as the party of those who would revise history and render quaint the significance of the signing of the Magna Carta. Let the torture and killing begin!

 

Dinner by Shelley and Cathy
Tonight, Shelley and Cathy wanted to prepare most of our dinner. The transition from talking about less lethal weapons and the obliteration of our rights to a sure-fire banquet was strange, but we can get so involved in the horrors committed by this administration that we need to wind down, and our dinners are the mechanism that allow us to think about more pleasant things.

We went in to the large dining room and the teenagers went to their table in the great room. Seconds after being seated, Shelley and Cathy served us truly delectable Stilton Cheese and Walnut tartlets.

 

They poured small wine glasses of a very dry González Byass sherry, and by the quantity, we could tell that the sherry would be paired both with the delicious tartlets and the soup course. We were right, the perfect, simple chicken consommé they also paired with the same dry sherry. Cathy is an expert at baking fish, and tonight her Baked Red Snapper fillets were cooked to flaky perfection in Lucini extra virgin olive oil and lemon wedges. On the plates with the fish, she served a small mushroom salad and smoky, grilled corn with Monterey jack cheese, and paired the dish with a lively Riesling, a Wolf Blass Eden-Clare Valleys Gold Label.

Cathy served small dollops of mango sorbet as in interlude between the fish course and the meat course, which Max had helped them grill. Hoping that our new neighbors from Iraq would like the dish, Max, Shelley and Cathy grilled tapenade covered lamb and onion on skewers, served them over basmati rice, and added just a small salad of tomatoes and balsamic vinegar. They chose an Argentine Cabernet Sauvignon, a Domaine Chandon Terrazas de los Andes Mendoza Reserva.

 

Back to the Great Room
Dinner was delicious, and we still had Shelley and Cathy's dessert to look forward to. Because we wanted to talk to the teenagers about the Magna Carta, we decided to have dessert and after-dinner coffee in the great room with the kids. The chestnut and pecan tarts were so good, and such a beautiful way to end a good dinner.

We didn't want to scare the teenagers with our fears that this government is trying to do undo all the human rights gains we've achieved since 1215, but we did want to bring their attention to how long mankind has been struggling to be free and ruled righteously. We gave them all this web site address so they could study the Magna Carta in more detail:

 

www.bl.uk/treasures/magnacarta/magna.html

 

The site is just splendid, and we, the adults, will continue to go to it frequently.

 

Summary:
Are we, as a people, going to let this administration take away our civil rights, and take us back in time to the era before the Magna Carta was signed in 1215? It seems that half the country and the extreme religious right want just that.

---

©Copyright 2005 Grindstaff Chronicles. All Rights Reserved.
================================================
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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In Iraq, Who's Been Worse Than Saddam?

The Grindstaff Chronicles

"Christian" crusader petty little man with well-known mean streak and infamous potty-mouth
A few nights ago, the full moon was beautifully casting moonlight over all our farms and made lights unnecessary on the porch, where this evening Schuyler was busy making cocktails for all the arriving neighbors. Tonight, remembering that golden light, he made a cocktail called a Golden Russian, and used Ciroc vodka and Galliano. For some, he made nonalcoholic Sangría, with an extra pitcher for the younger crowd to drink where they were gathered inside.

With most of our dinner preparations done, we all gathered to talk about something that had been bothering Judy and Bob for a while, and about which we've written before. They thought it was kind of clever how the media had cow-towed to the White House and made it seem like Saddam was really this awful, nasty man who had killed tons of his own people. Funny, Judy said, but this White House, the most morally bankrupt White House since that pile of bricks was erected, was far more murderous and sadistic than Saddam had ever been.

Snap To Attention
At first, you could even the see the silence, it was so sudden and so loud. Then, like a sudden gust of wind, you could hear us all as we spun around to see just what Bob and Judy meant. They explained that those Paragons of Christian Virtue, Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Meyers and that sweet piano player, Condosleazza Rice, were all directly, irrefutably responsible for as much killing, torturing, and maiming as Saddam, if you put simple mathematics to simple timeframes. Bush has held sway over Iraq 'x' amount of time, and killed and maimed between 8,000 and 100,000 Iraqis, (more or less 800 per month, 8,000 in 10 months) and that's just since 2001. It took Saddam 37 years, to kill roughly 300,000 Iraqi's, or 8,000 per year.

Judy and Bob apologized to us for not being as eloquent as one of their sources, Juan Cole, of the Informed Comment blog, but thanked him for permission to use some of his data. Prof. Cole is much more articulate. Judy and Bob were just too furious with this sorry thing that passes for a U.S. administration to be as eloquent as Dr. Cole.

We Are Worse Than Saddam
So, Carmen concluded after pondering every filthy detail she had just heard from Bob and Judy, Bush & Co. have dragged us down into the mire, the pig sty, as Condosleazza bangs away at her piano and the mousey librarian holds book fairs that decent women of principle will boycott. What's it going to take, A.J. asked, to clean us after we've been bathed in dung since Dubya usurped the presidency?

And as regards Condosleazza, The Champion of Torture, she probably took Malcom X's words to heart: "If someone puts his hand on you, send him to the cemetery."

Oh, Sweet Guillotine, Where are You When We Really Need You?
Liz told us that this, from a speech given by Frederick Douglass on August 1, 1860, applies to all the demented sadists in the White House: "They who study mankind with a whip in their hands will always go wrong." And, of course, a whip is the least of the evils brought down upon the hapless Iraqis by Bush & Co. For the slimy and sadistic way in which this administration has dealt with ordinary Iraqis and "detainees" hopefully they'd receive a public whipping of their shiny black and white hinnies, followed by whatever punishment Osama Bin Laden, the guy The Whacko from Waco has forgotten, deems appropriate.

Ann Coulter, A Sage for the Ages
Ann Coulter, whining like Michael Jackson on steroids, claimed that Bill Clinton sullied the White House more than Bush has. Hmm. Sounds to us like consensual sex between adults is much healthier than slaughtering and butchering, maiming and torturing an entire people, and that's what Bush and his sick, sick, sick minions are doing, miring our country in more manure than we'll be able wash off in generations. But, since the guillotine is no longer used, the dominatrix-in-chief, family and minions, will probably get their just rewards from Bin Laden directly, and ultimately, from Bush's real father, Beelzebub. Oh lordy, can you just imagine that bed? Beelzebub begetting Dubya with Barbara the Barbarian/Catherine the Great? Now that should get Ms. Coulter's knickers in a knot!

Yuk, But Nevertheless, The Youngsters Want Dinner
After announcing, via the dinner gong, that they wanted dinner, now, - the youngsters concluded our outdoor "salon" and asked us to take our places at the dinner table so they could take theirs.

Charlotte, our angel cook, immediately recruited volunteers to help her serve us all small ramekins of Roasted Shallot Egg Custards. Served with the same sherry we had last night, an Osborne Amontillado, we were off to flights of fantasy. No, I'm not kidding, Charlotte is kind of our 'Saintess Cook."
Soon after this exquisite dish, she sent out Buffalo Mozzarella Soup, made with water and Monini olive oil, the apricots and scallions added a special touch that made this a truly delicious soup, especially when paired with Max and Charlotte's Mastroberadino Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio, a minerally, dry white wine.

Max had been grilling some excellent sea bass, adding a few mesquite wood chips to the grill for the last few minutes, and seved it grilled zucchini, Portobello mushrooms and scallions, paired with a lively American dry rosé, a Joseph Phelps Vin de Mistral. After some dollops of watermelon and pear sorbet, to our surprise, Max and Charlotte next served one of their specialities, Black Mole and Chicken, Mexican rice with diced carrots and beautiful peas, and wonderful black beans.

At first we thought they'd serve this spicy dish with beer, but not these gourmets, they served the mole, appropriately, with a somewhat hefty dry Alsace Riesling from Leon Beyer. Fish before a good mole dish is quite normal in Mexico, so there was no discordance here. A coconut granita followed the mole course, mentally taking some of us to the beautiful Mexican Pacific.

Winding Down
Feeling the desire to be close to the children and somehow convey to them a sense of safety in these dangerous times, we joined them in the great room and had our after-dinner coffee with them.

Summary:
Lest we cast the first stone: The U.S. has been just as barbaric as Saddam Hussein, warranting that this administration undergo the same kind of trial as Saddam began to undergo this Wednesday.

©Copyright 2005 Grindstaff Chronicles. All Rights Reserved.
================================================
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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Joan of Arc de Bush

"God Speaks to Me, and Drag"
While reading this Chronicle of our conversations and dinner tonight, absolutely no offense is meant, directly or indirectly, to any person who for whatever reason, has an innate desire or need to dress in the clothing of the opposite sex. Such people, if they moved in to any farm in our broad community, would be welcomed just as any other neighbor would. What we do find offensive, is the president of the United States constantly dressing up.

 

As A.J. passed around Boston Sours made with bourbon and Angostura bitters, he told us that W had strutted and pranced around in so many costumes, the only one left for him to strut around in is the one that other cross-dresser wore: the suit of armor Joan of Arc wore all the time. Of course, she, who also heard voices from on high, was burned at the stake, and we, well, we can only hope.

 

Kim told us that Dubya's latest little outfit was the workman's gloves, jeans and hard hat, all to pretend that he was helping build housing for Katrina victims. Funny thing, though, Kim pointed out, he didn't know how to hold the hammer and the late-night comedians were calling his technique the girlie-man technique. Tap tap tap, tee hee hee. Kind of cancels out any advantage he thinks he's gained from all those belated trips to Louisiana and Mississippi. The gasoline expenditure to fly Air Force One down there, what is it, six, seven times? That expenditure could probably have built a couple of small houses for those who need housing. Anyway, Kim said, the most he accomplished was looking like one of those "guys" from the Village People.

 

Saint Joan
Big difference here. Joan of Arc was actually fighting for her country. She was even willing to die for her country, whereas our costumer-in-chief has been fighting against his country since he announced in 1999 that he was going to invade Iraq; since he decided to enrich the über-rich; since he decided to disenfranchise the middle and poorer classes by taking Social Security away from them, and since he spent like a drunken sailor (not like his daughters) and mortgaged most of the treasure of the United States to the Chinese. Also, I doubt the words he says he hears from God are the ones that tell him to condone, promote and encourage the use of torture. Jeez, if anybody in recent history deserves to be burned at the stake, it's old Saint Joan wannabe but YMCA look-alike little lord Fauntlerbush.

 

Liz found this wonderful quote by Bill Moyers: "You have to pursue the ideals of Joan of Arc with the political prowess of an Adam Clayton Powell. Whatever you say about Joan, her purpose was noble. And whatever you say about Adam, his politics are effective; they get things done he wants done."

 

Not a Medieval Royal Banquet, but Oh, What a Dinner!
Kim and Barry wanted to prepare most of tonight's dinner, and from experience, we knew we'd be fed like royalty. Kim first served us an absolutely velvety Shrimp Bisque. She prepared it with brandy, and paired it with a Lustau Amontillado Los Arcos sherry. The sherry was deliciously dry. Barry thoroughly enjoys helping Kim cook, and his contribution was Coquilles St. Jacques with a Ginger Sauce, served very simply on a bed of exquisite white rice. He and Kim brought over a rich Rhône white Hermitage from their wine cellar to pair with the delicious sea scallops.

 

As an interlude, Judy served us all small dollops of Guava Sorbet, to prepare us for the dish that she and Bob had prepared, Roasted Beef Tenderloin served with Fried Zucchini and a Fricassee of Wild Mushrooms. During both the seafood course and the beef course we enjoyed Max's freshly baked Zucchini Parmigiano-Reggiano bread.

 

Before returning to the great room to rejoin the kids, we enjoyed Biscotti with Vin Santo, dipping the biscotti in the wine, just as they do in Italy.

 

Winding Down
Today was a busy day. One of the horses didn't want to get in his trailer, and before long several of us were out on the road trying to catch him. Fortunately, a small patch of still-green grass caught his attention long enough for Barry to be able to catch him, and four of us struggled to get "old stubborn" in the trailer for a short trip to the vet. With the portable hot water "bathers" all the horses got perhaps their last bath of the season, so you can see why we were anxious to call it a day and sit down to dinner. I also know one thing, we're going to pray to St. Joan, the Patron Saint of soldiers; soldiers doomed to suffer for one man's childish folly, a man who cannot be trusted. As people were bundling up in sweaters, getting ready to leave, Liz told us what Confucius once related:

 

Tzu-kung asked, What is kingcraft?

 

The Master said: "Food enough, troops enough, and a trusting people."

 

Tzu-kung said: "Were there no help for it, which could best be spared of the three?"

 

"Troops," said the Master.

 

"And were there no help for it, which could better be spared of the other two?"

 

"Food," said the Master. "From of old all men die, but without trust a people cannot stand."

 

And we cannot trust Bush anymore.

 

Summary:
When those who govern you tell you they're getting their marching orders from God, and you can see that all they do is evil, beware, and change your government. Quickly.

©Copyright 2005 Grindstaff Chronicles. All Rights Reserved.
================================================
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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President Bush's Only Veto

Begat Armaggedon
Noah begat Shem; and Shem begat Arphaxad; and Arphaxad begat Salah; and Salah begat Eber; and Eber begat Peleg; and Peleg begat Reu; and Reu begat Serug; and Serug begat Nahor; and Nahor begat Terah; and Terah begat Abram; and Abram begat Ishmael by the bondwoman, called Hagar. Abram's name was changed by God to Abraham. Abraham begat Isaac by his wife, Sarah, the freewoman.

Beelzebub begat Barbara the Barbarian, who begat Beelzebub Jr., AKA George W. Bush, who is committed to begetting the most horrendous holy war ever. His eternal tirades against certain Muslims is only stirring the flames in the Middle East, rendering quaint his sending the Polyester Queen, Karen Hughes the Clueless, on a mission to the win the hearts and minds of the people in the Middle East. Sorta stupid, isn't it? The epitome of counterproductive. Send La Hughes to appease, and then have El Wacko spout evil, challenging venom against all sorts of people in the Middle East. A new definition of working ass backward.

Right about now, I think we could all use a good cocktail. Schuyler, now that everybody's gathered on the back porch, is whipping up some Margaritas for us, with some exquisite Tequila Conmemorativo. His glasses were full of crushed lime wedges, and he told us this cocktail was meant to be sipped slowly. We once again are enjoying a mild evening, so the small braziers are enough to keep the more cold-natured of us warm.

The Two Thousand-year War and Torture
Our Crusader-in-Chief, who quite mistakenly calls himself a Christian, has, as most of the world's criminally megalomaniacs, encased himself in an impenetrable bubble, where reason absolutely cannot enter. Probably even the mousey librarian cannot penetrate that bubble anymore, and this megalomaniac is beyond redemption, hell-bent on unleashing a religious war of proportions never seen by man before. One simple point Jim wanted to make: a real Christian would never, ever, condone or approve the using torture, in any form or for any reason. Yet this fool, who has managed to convince half of the country that he is a Christian, adores the use of torture, just as the Spanish Inquisition did.

Alex told us that this megalomaniac maniac has never vetoed any bill presented to him, especially, he has never vetoed any spending bill, quickly sending this once rich country on its way into bankruptcy. But guess what? The only bill he's planning on vetoing is the one prepared by Senators John McCain, Lindsey Graham, and John Warner, whose aim is to forbid the United States from using torture at Guantánamo, Afghanistan and Iraq. Judy couldn't believe that this is the only bill that "christian" fool is threatening to veto.

Christians?
Judy, by now quite disturbed by the bad news none of us could tolerate, said that she had recently done much research on what it means to be a true Christian, and could find nothing remotely Christian about Dubya. Actually, she told us, after much study she decided that you could not claim to be a republican and a Christian at the same time. That, she said, was an oxymoron if there ever was one. At the heart of Christianity, Judy told us, was the underlying issue of kindness, and kindness can't contemplate torture, the killing of hundreds of thousands of innocents, the maiming of thousands of people and the willful, wanton destruction of the housing of poor people. Christianity, Judy continued, is all about taking care of your neighbor and seeing to his well-being, to her health needs, to easing their lives as they grow older, all things the republicans find repugnant. Christian president indeed! Torture lover, yes ma'am!

Alex Sums it Up
Alex kindly had brought a clipping from The Washington Post, which in an editorial said: "Let's be clear: Mr. Bush is proposing to use the first veto of its presidency on a defense bill needed to fund military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan [and Guantánamo] so that he can preserve the prerogative to subject detainees to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment."

Liz, on Essential Human Freedoms
Liz, who always has a quote at the ready for whatever the topic of the evening might be, told us what Franklin D. Roosevelt said in a speech to Congress on January 6, 1941:

"We look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms. The first is freedom of speech and expression [a concept Georgre and Laura don't get], everywhere in the world. The second is freedom of every person to worship God in his own way, everywhere in the world. The third is freedom from want [a concept foreign to Republicans], everywhere in the world. The fourth is freedom from fear…anywhere in the world [tragic, that Bush doesn't get it]." Fear = torture.

The Younger Set Announces Dinner
Tonight's dinner has a decidedly Latin American flavor. The teenagers suggested that we serve some of these dishes, which they probably heard about at school. Because we hadn't fixed a dinner like this in some time, we were happy to fix what they wanted.

Bob and Judy did an excellent job of serving Avocado and Shrimp Flour Tortilla rolls, with just a hit of spice from jalapeño peppers. They chose a Roederer Estate Nonvintage brut. This California sparkling wine is a good value and an excellent pairing for Bob and Judy's first course. Carmen and Jim brought over a nice Sauvignon Blanc from California, a 2003 Rudd Vineyards, which paired beautifully with the Roasted Eggplant and Squash Blossom-garnished Soup. The wine was an excellent companion to the garlic and fresh herbs in the soup.

Instead of a normal fish course, which all of us have become accustomed to enjoying before the meat course, Jim and Carmen prepared some fantastic Quesadillas with Fontina, Smoked Mussels and Piquillo Peppers. They served these quesadillas with a Spanish sparkling wine, the dry Freixenet.
Art and Terry contributed the next course, Roast Pork and Mole dish with wonderful Mexican rice on the side. The myriad ingredients that go into this mole sauce, including unsweetened chocolate, demanded a good Syrah, and they chose a 2002 Lewis Cellars wine. It's a bit on the pricey side, but the delicious mole dish warranted a top quality wine.

For the dessert, we begged Carmen to make her famous flan. It amazes all of us that she can make such delicious flans for so many people. Carmen and Jim served us small snifters of Hennessy Private Reserve Grande Champagne Cognac, extravagant, yes, but tonight's dinner merited such a good cognac.

Winding Down
Back in the great room, to enjoy our after-dinner coffee and spend a few moments with the teenagers who had requested this Latin-flavored dinner, we caught up with the events of their day. We were happy to hear that their foals were all looking strong and were already beginning to grow their winter coats. A few stayed to help us clean up and earn some extra money, but soon, everybody had gone home. Surely wish Bush would go home and turn the reins over to somebody with a conscience to serve out his term. Well, you can always dream.

Summary:
Bush is going to use his first veto to assure that he can continue to torture, injure, maim and humiliate detainees in Guantánamo, Afghanistan and Iraq. And they call that kind of monster a Christian?

©Copyright 2005 Grindstaff Chronicles. All Rights Reserved.
================================================
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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Pasteboard Villages

Bush, Leader of the Free World
On the porch, all the neighbors were gathering, looking forward to Schuyler's cocktails, good conversation, and a banquet by Max and Charlotte. The younger set quickly gathered inside, and we sat on the porch to enjoy Schuyler's Black Dogs, a cocktail made with Bacardi light rum and Martini & Rossi dry vermouth. For some neighbors, he made Virgin Marys, and we all settled down for a few minutes of normal farm and ranch chatter, and a few minutes of conversation about what was going on in the world today.

 

Alex joined A.J. in expressing his deep sorrow at the events unfolding in Pakistan, knowing that the earthquake had killed at least 54,000 people, all brothers and sisters of ours, if not necessarily by blood or faith. This terrible event stunned us all because of its horrific effect on all those people. Silently, we sipped our cocktails, and some of us probably stopped to silently pray for all those victims.

 

Suddenly, our sweet, quiet Elizabeth, Schuyler's wife, said something that helped us a bit. She believed that Pakistan would probably more speedily, and more efficiently, help all those horrendously suffering people, than our Right Reverend Born-again "christian" president Bushwacko will help the people in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. Bush, famously, was quite disgruntled at having to give up his vacation days at his dumpy little ranch in Krawford (with a K, as in Mein Kampf), to attend to some bunch of poor people who got, inconveniently for him, displaced.

 

What a Difference a Non-Born-Again Christian Makes
President Musharaf, on the other hand, was on site within minutes of hearing of the devastation brought on by that horrific earthquake. Perhaps within minutes, he was in control of the situation and began making world-wide appeals for humanitarian aid and assistance of all kinds. Probably, Jane said, the difference is that Musharaf is a leader, whereas Barbara Bush/Catherine the Great's namby-pamby son is not. He's just a little man (and I use the word man generously), interested only in keeping the über-rich rich, and the others even richer. The "little people," despite his in-drag visits to Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, are a mere inconvenience he's famously reluctant to help.

 

Back Lot 6 of Giant Stahl Movie Studios
All the pasteboard façades of the mock New Orleans town are up, looking quite magnificent, though propped up from behind by 2 x 4's, no substance and certainly no real rooms behind the "windows." Naturally, such structures require no facilities, no plumbing, no water, no electricity: it's all for show and media cameras. Little amateur-built and inexpensive mock levees are appearing everywhere, at no cost to the ritzy-rich, since, after all, what do the lower classes really matter? Kinda goes with Bush's pre-Katrina cuts to Louisiana's infrastructure. No British or Dutch brains there planning for future disasters, hey?

 

On a realistic and somber note, Bob told us what Jack Kemp, former Housing and Urban Development Secretary under President George H.W. Bush said: "With all due respect to the president, things are not going to bubble up from the bottom [referring to Bush's desire that all aid begin at the local level]. There has to be some federal leadership here."

 

Senator Charles Grassley, surprise: a Republican, said: "So far, all we've done is shovel money out the door to meet the humanitarian needs. But, henceforth, we've got to be very careful how we spend the money, and that means we're going to need a plan and somebody in charge."

 

Now, Alex said, Grassley wouldn't have couched his words just like that, if he had any faith at all that our commandrix -in-chief had any of those abilities, now would, he, sweet pea?

 

It goes against Bush's grain to want to help the less fortunate, so any promises we've heard of real, substantial help we need to take with a grain of salt. In the end, those people will probably only get pasteboard façades, but hopefully the people in Pakistan will get real help, real assistance, and real housing.

 

Teenagers and the Dinner Gong
Gong the gong, whack the gong, sound the gong. We'll never, ever, know what to call what you do to a dinner gong to announce dinner. No matter, the teenagers fight for their turn to whack it and let us know dinner's ready.

 

Because the butler's pantry separates the kitchen from the dining room, we don't often get whiffs of what's cooking, so every evening there's a surprise waiting for us. Whoever first built this old stone farmhouse probably designed it to feed farm help in what we call the large dining room, and for feeding family in the small dining area in the great room. It all works out, in the 21st Century, perfectly for us, 14 couples who enjoy having dinner together nightly, adults and children.

 

Sidebar Judge?
After speaking of such horrible things as the hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and the horrendous earthquake in Pakistan, it might seem incongruous to change tone and go in to a magnificent multi-course dinner, but please remember that your readership of these chronicles actually serves as a fundraising mechanism to help myriad groups that help the less fortunate and those who want to help them. So, no guilt please; indulge: you're helping, greatly.

 

Charlotte and Max Serve Heaven on Plates
Soup? Oh, if that's what you want to call it. We thought it was just this side of perfection in a bowl: Rouille-spiced French Seafood Soup, accompanied by an Osborne Amontillado sherry. Because the Rouille is spicy, you might want to be more adventurous and try a dry red Côtes du Rhône, though as you know, we like to start, always, with a light white wine and progress slowly towards the heavier, red wines.

 

Max next served us a tabac de cuisine (dried porcini mushroom powder) sprinkled Tuna with Black Bean and Hoisin Sauce served with a California Meridian Pinot Noir on a bed of parsley white rice and just-wilted spinach with a drizzle of Balsamic vinegar.

 

Charlotte brought out small dollops of tamarind sorbet, which prepared us for a change in taste, Max's Sirloin Steak, medley of stir-fried wild mushrooms and Brussels sprouts with pearl onions in drawn butter. He and Charlotte brought a Concha y Toro Don Melchor Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon to serve with the steaks.

 

The dinner was so satisfying, and Max's steaks so splendid, we voted to forego dessert and join the teenagers in the great room, where we had our after-dinner coffee.

 

Winding Down
All the teenagers were happy to have their horses bathed yesterday, since probably they won't get another bath until next spring. Here on the farms and ranches we live on, there is always something that has to be done, but there is a sense that we also have time to catch our breath, as nothing is quite as pressing as during warmer weather. Maybe that gives us more time to think about world events, and need we say, our dinners?

 

Summary:
What a difference in leadership. Bush was reluctant to leave his ranch to pay attention to the devastation caused by Katrina; President Musharaf was inspecting the devastation in his country within minutes. One is a leader, the other a Mama's boy.

©Copyright 2005 Grindstaff Chronicles. All Rights Reserved.
================================================
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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Republican Party Runs Nasty Ads In Austin, TX

The Republican Party has had the audacity to run some
pretty nasty ads on TV in the Austin metropolitan area
attacking Ronnie Earle as a Rottweiler for indicting
Tom DeLay (AKA as The Hammer). Last time we checked,
it was because Tom DeLay has been accused of
conducting himself in less than ethical ways,even by
his own party, yet the Republicans, with no shame,
announce: 'Last time we heard, it wasn't a crime to be
a Republican.'

-Editor, Grindstaff Chronicles

The Bushian Caliphate

Bush's Two Thousand Year War

 

Schuyler and Elizabeth, the first to arrive, immediately started getting cocktails ready. Tonight, Schuyler was interested in making us a new drink, an Affinity, which he made with Chivas Regal and two kinds of Martini & Rossi vermouth. For those who would rather not drink alcohol, he made a batch of Virgin Raspberry Daiquiris.

 

Soon, everybody was sitting on the back porch. We had two small braziers going to keep us warm. This month has been a bit unusual, since we're having warm nights followed by cool nights. Nevertheless, the horses are beginning to grow their winter coats.

 

Bob and Judy told us they could not believe that Bush would blurt out that "God told me to invade Iraq." The only people who don't think that's scarier than running into Barbara Bush after dark are Bubba and Bubette. And of course, they're not known for their brains. The rest of us felt like a long-tailed cat caught in a room full of rocking chairs; not a good feeling.

 

Bubba and Bubette on Religious Wars

 

Well, this brother and sister team, "religious" zealots just like their idol, Dubya, think it's just fittn' that the Irish have been at each others throats for centuries; they think it's fine and, just Biblical, that the Jews and the Palestinians are always killing each other. When Bob told them what that other zealot had said, they cried for joy. There was their prez, spewing his cowboy blabber. What they were too inbred to know, was how dangerous that kind of sick, bellicose talk really is. Bubba and Bubette's delight at the thought of all those people killing each other in the name of "religion" was almost too disgusting for Bob and Judy to tolerate.

 

Dubya's Threat to the World

 

W. was not elected. He was selected, by the Supreme Court. That should never have been allowed to happen. The second election was doubtful also, and after he uttered the word Crusade, shortly after 9/11, it should have given a clue to those 59,054,087 people who did vote for him that this guy is just itching to launch another two thousand year war. His recent insulting comments to the Muslim world about a new Caliphate were nothing more than more of his "bring 'em on." Only a fool would not see that he is challenging the Muslim world to war. Bad thing is, what he's going to start is a conflict with no end, like the long-running conflicts that seem to amuse Bubba and Bubbette.

 

Ishmael and Isaac

 

Ever since the days of Ishmael and Isaac, the Arabs and the Jews have been wanting to do away with each other. That's what a two thousand year war looks like. The eternally fighting Irish Protestants and Catholics are another example, and now this wacko from Waco wants to start a war against a non-existent Caliphate. In one of our first Chronicles, we mentioned that Osama Bin Laden and W. are identical. They're both fanatical zealots. The only difference is, Bin Laden actually knows how to think and process information, and his thoughts and written words will live on after he dies, and so too, thanks to Dubya, will this new "religious" war Dubya is hell-bent on starting, since, of course, it's God who tells him to go to war.

 

The Saddest Truth

 

Something that we don't read about in our media is that you cannot be a true Christian and think and act the way Bush does. Why the media lets him get away with calling himself a Christian is a question none of us can comprehend. The last time we checked, true Christians didn't approve of and condone torture and abuse of other human beings. The last time we checked, true Christians knew it was their duty to take care of the less fortunate, not take away there rights, benefits and safety nets. The last time we checked, Christians didn't start wars just for the heck of it. And our media won't call this guy's "religious" bluff, and they aren't warning us about Dubya's Crusade against the non-existent Caliphate. Can regime change come soon enough to save us?

 

Dinner as Respite from Hell

 

Terry, Art, Carmen and Jim hoped the dinner they prepared tonight would help us relax a bit. We are, every last one of us, truly worried that his megalomaniac president is going to get us mired into a Crusade-Caliphate war that will make 9/11 and what's going on in Iraq look like child's play, so we too hoped our dinner would change our mood.

 

Terry served us small Spinach and Feta Cheese tartlets. Paired with a Lustau Manzanilla Pasada sherry. Art next served us a delicious Scallop and Corn Chowder and asked to try the same sherry with his soup. The suggestion was a good one; the soup and the sherry were a good match.

 

Carmen and Terry collaborated on an intricately layered Smoked Salmon and Haddock Terrine. The slices revealed beautiful patterns and the many spices in the terrine made for a wonderful third course, matched with a Mount Eden Wolff Vineyard Chardonnay. The terrine was quite rich, as Carmen and Terry made it with tons of Mexican Crema Fresca, and they thought the meat course could be a light dish. Art and Jim roasted some lovely Cornish Game Hens with Mango, Papaya and Grapes. The basting resulted in deeply caramelized hens. They served the hens with chicken liver paté on toast points and shallot-stuffed mushrooms, pairing this simple dish with a Spanish Cava Brut, a Segura Viudas.

 

For dessert, served with an Australian Campbells Tokay, Carmen and Terry made Italian Marzipan and Candied Fruit tarts. Afterwards, we had Max's espresso. Tonight, it was so strong our demitasse spoons could almost remain upright in the cups!

 

Getting Ready for Everybody's Departure

 

Just before we joined the teenagers to say our goodnights, Liz, thinking about what Bush is about to unleash upon the world, quoted this moving comment from Martin Luther King, who wrote: "The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral, begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy. Instead of diminishing evil, it multiplies it. Through violence you may murder the liar, but you cannot murder the lie, nor establish the truth. Through violence you may murder the hater, but you do not murder the hate. In fact, violence merely increases the hate." And, Liz, said, unless this demented man is stopped, that's the rosy path he's going to force this country to take. Our government was too weak to stop him from invading Iraq. Let's hope this time they'll have the wisdom and cojones to stop him before it's too late.

 

Summary:

 

Unless he's stopped, George Bush is going to push his idea of a United States Crusade against a Muslim Caliphate, because, as you know, God tells George when to attack and invade other countries.

 

©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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Oh, There is No Policy of Torture?

Karen Hughes Spins; Dubya Fiddles; Specialist Sean Baker Seizes
Well, Karen Hughes, in her splendid polyester double-knit masculine little outfits from Wal-Mart, just the kind of attire we want our diplomats to wear when they represent the United States abroad, spins and spins and spins. Winning the hearts and minds of the people in the Middle East? While her buddy fiddles, and La Hughes' audience continues to see images of tortured Muslims, how many hearts and minds has this administration won over?

In a horrific show of immorality seldom seen on the Senate Floor, Jim Sessions, the Capuchin monkey look-alike senator from Alabama, and the grotesquely obtuse and obfuscating Senator Ted Stevens berated decorated and certified national hero Senator John McCain because of his patriotic desire to ensure that the government legislate the end of the practice of torture and abuse. The entire episode was obscene.

Schuyler was on the porch stirring up Mojitos, the Cuban drink made with Bacardi white rum, bitters and mint leaves. As he stirred up the drinks, he asked that we never forget the proof that torture and abuse is indeed being condoned by this administration and approved by George Bush, the criminally inept son of that famously cold-hearted woman, Barbara Bush.
Schuyler reminded us that proof of this exists in the person of not an Iraqi, but of an American citizen, and a U.S. serviceman to boot, Specialist Sean Baker.

In January 2003, his supervisor at Guantánamo asked him to don an orange prisoner jumpsuit and pretend to be a difficult to control prisoner, for "training" purposes. Well, Schuyler told us, five U.S. soldiers promptly assaulted Baker. In his own words, "They grabbed my arms, my legs, twisted me up and unfortunately one of the individuals got up on my back from behind and put pressure down on me while I was face down. Then he, the same individual, reached around and began to choke me and press my head down against the steel floor…..after several seconds I could not breathe. I began to panic and I gave the code word I was supposed to give to stop the exercise, 'red'….but that guy slammed my head against the floor and continued to choke me. Somehow, I muttered 'I'm a U.S. soldier."

Not until they noticed his U.S.uniform under the jumpsuit did they stop thebattering.

Oh, No Torture?
Dubya, Cold-as-a-witch's-tit Rumsfeld, Spinmeister Myers, Condosleazza Rice, the Gonzáles creep, the whole cabal spouts hourly that it is all the work of a few bad apples. Well, ask Baker if it was a few bad apples or if Dubya, commander-in-chief, a title he wears badly, personally gave the orders to begin the policy of engaging in torture and systematic abuse.

So How's Specialist Baker?
Unemployed, on nine medications, and still suffering seizures. And, if that's how we treat our own, how do you think our "real" detainees are faring, that is, if they survive our mistreatment?

Dinner Awaits
Frankly, tonight's conversation was difficult, both because the subject is so painful to talk about, but also because, as you remember, we just had two new couples from Iraq move into two nearby farms. However, they put us at ease and made it clear that they were comfortable talking about anything we wanted or needed to discuss. In a nutshell, they have completely integrated into our close-knit community and feel comfortable and appreciated by all of us, and that, my friend, is a good community to belong to, even if our homes are separated by countless miles and even more acres.

Shelley and Cathy Cook
Shelley and Cathy felt up to being in charge of practically the entire dinner. They make a good team and we're guaranteed to have a good evening with their cooking.

Shelley, as soon as we had all sat down, served us exquisite, flaky Crab Cakes. Because we often treat these first courses the way we would Spanish Tapas, they served us small glasses of González Byass Amontillado del Duque sherry. The Yankee Bean and Bacon soup they served next, and paired with a Spanish white, a Martín Codax Albariño, made a perfect second course, and because tonight had turned a bit chilly, it was good comfort soup. On the porch, Max had two of the large grills going, to help Shelley and Cathy prepare one of our very favorite fish varieties, Cabrilla, a Grouper from the Pacific.

You may have to make an extra effort to locate it, but trust us, it's well worth the extra effort. Cabrilla grills and smokes perfectly. Ours was first wrapped in banana leaves, and towards the end of the grilling period, Max added some Mesquite chips to finish the fish with some exquisite smoking. The Cabrilla's fat content is very low and its flavor is very delicate. The wonderful fish was served with an American rosé, a Bonny Doon Vin Gris. On the plates, Shelley and Cathy served simply grilled new potatoes with a butter and dill glaze, and garlicky, grilled zucchini.

A dollop of pear sorbet was the interlude between the fish and the perfectly roasted Chicken with Chicken Livers. On the side, they served smoky grilled corn and some quickly sautéed spinach with just a few drops of Balsamic vinegar, and paired the chicken with a Shafer Hillside Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon.

Cathy outdid herself with her Catalán Lime Crème Caramel. The Sauternes they served with the dessert, a Château Tirecul La Gravière Monbazillac, was perfect match.

A Good End to Our Day
Pleasure, simply, is having after-dinner coffee with the younger set. We were happy to find that they too had greatly enjoyed their dinner. Some of them had started setting up some decorations reminding us that fall is here, and their efforts are greatly appreciated. A few of the older teenagers, who can handle helping us clean up for spending money, and still get their homework done, stayed to help.

Summary:
Some republicans in the senate are saying our detainees are not being tortured or abused. Maybe they should ask U.S. soldier, Specialist Sean Baker if people are being tortured. He was.

Jim Sessions: Beyond The Bounds of All Decency

 Senator Sessions Embarrasses The United States
Although we were assured of a Lucullan dinner tonight, Max, perhaps the most patriotic neighbor we have, was pretty worked up tonight. As we waited for the whole gang to show up, Schuyler began serving a cocktail that was new to us, a RAC, named after the Royal Automobile Club. He made them with Sapphire Gin and both white and red Martini & Rossi vermouth.

After everybody arrived, Max realized that actually all of us were upset about the same unforgivable give-and-take that occurred on the Senate floor last week. Jim Sessions, the Senator from Alabama, finished wiping the nose of the United States in the pig slop that George Bush began shortly after he was first elected.

To say that we all felt extraordinary disgust, contumacy, nausea, at the events that took place on the Senate floor, doesn't pay justice to how we really felt. It was one of the ladies who really expressed it best. Jane said that if she had the power to do so, she would do as they do in many other countries, and tie piano wire tightly around the family jewels of Jeff Sessions, the unholy prez and all his minions, and send them off to some god-forsaken equivalent to Devil's Island. Not that far from home, she said, we could ship them off to Mexico's infamous Islas Marías (and let the piano wire work its magic.)

Courageous, Prinicipled Republicans
Finally, republicans have had the gumption to stand up to that absolutely not christian thing that passes for president of the United States. Though we delight in labeling Dubya the dimmest light on the porch, the guy isn't totally stupid, and he does, since he's so anal, micro-manage. He lives in a vacuum, but not inside his Offal Office: there, he's more than 100% aware of what all his nasty underlings are up to. Everything wrong that has occurred since he usurped the presidency from Al Gore, can be traced to his venal desk. Ergo, the torture and abuse occurring at Guantánamo, Abu Ghraib and Afghanistan, undisputedly began at his behest. His horrendously slimy chum Rumsfeld gleefully approved, and the barbaric Azteco-american Alberto Gonzales put the orders allowing torture in writing. Basically, Gonzales allowed Dubya to proceed on the basis that humane treatment of detainees was now "rendered quaint."

Rendered Quaint
Well, three principled Americans who do not believe the Geneva Convention has been rendered quaint are Senator John McCain, Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, and Virginia Senator John Warner. 90 other members of the Senate are also backing these three valiant senators in their effort to restore some semblance of civilized behavior to the United States. Too unappetizing for even the hungriest of vultures to want to munch on, putrescent Senator from Alabama, Jeff Sessions, slithered his way through proceedings on the floor of the senate, intent only on dragging what is left of the honor of this country through the slop that passes for Dubya's foreign policy and Gonzales' policy of torture and abuse.

None of us, Bob said, had ever seen such a pythogenic display of obscenely unpatriotic behavior. Stupidity, and imbecilic behavior also entered into the behavior of this slithery Sessions guy. To attack John McCain, who endured five years of unimaginable hell, was about filthiest discourse any of us had ever witnessed. And when the imbecile Sessions said, and we quote this verbatim: "Captain Fishback said he had seen at least one interrogation where prisoners were being abused. Now I don't know what abused means. I'm a former prosecutor. What does 'abused' mean?.......Ill treatment, now what is that?"

Jim Sessions, Slimy, Sadistic Imbecile
What an unforgivable offense directed at John McCain, who better than most Americans knows what torture, abuse and ill treatment mean. The exchange was utterly revolting Judy said, and made her feel that people like the imbecile, abusive Sessions was making this country putridly filthy. Judy finished by saying that the last straw was when this totally despicable man said: "But I think those in this Senate who have accused the up and down members of the chain of command of the United States Army, the United States Marines, the Department of Defense of being - promoting policies to abuse prisoners, they ought to think about whether they should apologize." Yeah, she said, like apologize to Bush and his demonic minions for forcing this country to behave like our worst Third World dictatorships?

The Teenagers Announce Dinner
Thinking that a nice dinner might help us forget our revulsion for an hour, we rushed in to dinner, the teenagers at their table in the great room, and we in the large, separate dining room. Several of our families helped put dinner together tonight, so no one family had to do all the work, as when Charlotte or Carmen are in charge of dinner, but they like to work alone and do all the planning. The rest of us like the cooperative approach.

As soon as we were seated, Bob and Judy served us White Anchovy and Egg Salad Crostini. They paired the crostini with a Dry Creek '03 Chenin Blanc.
Following the delectable crostini, Alex served us an amazing French Onion Soup, which paired with a Russian River Valley Dutton Ranch '02 Pinot Noir. Instead of a warm fish course, the couples thought they'd pitch in and make a Scallop and Asparagus Salad, which with the Monini extra-virgin olive oil they used, became a truly delicious salad, especially when paired with a 2004 Ferrari-Carano Fumé Blanc (Sauvignon Blanc.) Barry and Kim felt like preparing a dish they used to have back in their home in Israel, so they prepared Braised Lamb Shoulder made with a good Pinot Grigio, rosemary, thyme, marjoram and sage. From Australia, they chose a Lindemans Bin 50 2004 Shiraz, and as they say, it was marriage made in, well, Ambrosia land.

Dessert With the Younger Set
Delighted to find our teenagers were getting good lessons in civics and government at their various schools, we felt good about having our after-dinner espresso back in the great room with them, since we could engage them to a certain extent in the same subject we had been talking about tonight. Knowing most of them had homework to do, we sipped our coffee quickly and disbanded for the evening, but not before thanking Max for always making us such good after-dinner coffees from his "secret" blends.

Summary:
Apologist for Dubya's despicable approval of torture and other sadistic behavior, Senator Jeff Sessions insulted John McCain and besmirched our country even further.

Kudos to Belgium and Its Universal Jurisdiction Laws

Watch Out Georgie Boy
Caught by an unexpected cold front, and before bringing up the large braziers to the back porch precisely to use on nights like this, we gathered in the great room, where a nice fire was going in the fireplace. Old stone farmhouses such as this one allow a great room to be divided into separate enough areas that we, the adults, can sit and hold our conversations in one area, and not bother the teenagers, who like to sit together in a separate area. The area we sit in is at the center of the great room, where the fireplace attracted those who wanted to warm their hands.

As soon as our neighbors started arriving, we served them a delicious cocktail we had never tried before, called a Cactus Juice. We made them with gold tequila, a Patrón Añejo in this case, and the herb-flavored Scotch liqueur, Drambuie. Naturally, alcohol-free drinks were available for those who do not drink alcohol.

Tonight, Max was really excited. He was offering up a toast to his old friend, Belgium, for having the courage and principled sense of right and of what values mean in today's twisted world. What had Max so excited tonight was Belgium's decision to indict Hissène Habré, the former dictator of Chad. The charges are torture and crimes against humanity. Gosh, we all thought, sounds like those charges will someday be leveled at old George, he of the beady eyes, pointy ears, and nasty mean streak.

Alex pointed out that just the other day, Senator John McCain, with the help of a few Republicans who still have morals, was trying to push a law through the U.S. Senate that would outlaw this administration's use of barbaric practices and torture on the detainees of Guantánamo, Afghanistan and Iraq. Demonic Barbara Bush's son, who has the morals and ethics of criminally megalomaniac Richard III, immediately threatened to veto the bill. So, back to Belgium.

Belgium's Far-Reaching Jurisdiction
Belgium is operating under its "universal jurisdiction laws." This allows Belgium to pursue violators of human rights wherever they may live. So, Georgie boy, AKA as Richard III, when you leave office, sweet pea, someone out there's gonna get ya. Whether it's Belgium, The International Criminal Court at The Hague, or that guy you've forgotten exists, Osama Bin Laden.

George: Veto Senator McCain's Bill
The nail in Dubya's coffin's going to be his vetoing the bill Senator John McCain is trying get through: establishing humane treatment of prisoners or detainees. Bush, of course, is against that, since our revered born-again christian prez likes torture, stress positions, assault on Iraqi's by dogs, degrading and inhumane treatment of all kinds. Born-again, but he probably really enjoyed the one of this woman playing with her "menstrual blood" and a poor Muslim who could not protect himself from her sadistic behavior, which, mind you, was approved at the highest levels of government.

Jane reminded us of the travesty of having Lynde England being punished for carrying out old George's orders. It's Dubya, Cheney, Gonzales, Wolfowitz, Rumsfeld, etc. who should be in the brig, not Lynde. But, Jane said, Max was correct, sooner or later, Dubya's gonna get his just rewards, and they won't be christian!

Before going in to dinner, Liz told us something that had great bearing on Dubya's disrespect for the law. She told us that Jean Jacques Rousseau had said in 1758: "The first of all laws is to respect the laws." Apparently, those famously constipated minds in the White House wouldn't understand those words, but our friends in Belgium and in The Hague will.

Charlotte's Dinner Anyone?
Charlotte seems to find the more complicated dinners easier to handle than simpler fare, which is fine with us. We know that when she's in charge of dinner, and Max helps her, we'll all be wonderfully happy, and, never let a teenager tell you they don't like fine food: our teenagers also look forward to Charlotte's magnificent dinners. (And, by the way, when they go out into the world, far away from our farms and ranches, they'll know how to eat and how to entertain, and that's a great hands up.)

Charlotte, probably pretty quickly, had baked us some amazing warm Thyme and Onion Tartlets. She and Max are very well organized cooks, and often start dinners a couple of days ahead. Also, they plan their wines very carefully, like tonight, when they brought a Blanc de Blancs to go with the tartlets, a light and elegant 1999 Le Rêve Blanc de Blancs champagne, always a good aperitif.

After the fun little tartlets, Charlotte served us an Oyster Bisque, which she and Max paired with a Domecq Amontillado Sherry. Although Charlotte assured us the bisque was no trouble to prepare, it tasted as if she had spent countless hours preparing it. We enjoyed it, and the youngsters found it a whole lot more interesting than fast food, one of the greatest pluses in our way of life and eating.

Max helped Charlotte with our next course, Grilled Salmon with Beurre Rouge (shallot sauce.) Cooked in two separate steps, the salmon was delectable, and the wine they selected for the salmon was a special treat, a delicious red wine, not a white wine, a Burgundian Hospices de Beaune Volnay. Served with delicious parsley new potatoes and drawn butter over Brussels sprouts, this course was exquisite. A dollop of papaya sorbet prepared us for our next course, Roasted Cornish Game Hens on a bed of potatoes and Belgian endive. Together with a salad of watercress and mesclum, we were thoroughly satisfied. Max selected a young Bordeaux, an extravagant Margaux for this dish, completely satisfying us that we had, indeed, been served a banquet.

Winding Down
The schools the teenagers attend seem to be quite open to different ideas, and apparently the teachers are patriotic enough to make the students engage in significant dialogue about the events occurring both here and abroad. They seemed to be well informed of the topic we discussed today. We felt very proud of them; maybe there's hope for the next generations, if we can just change the present government.

After finishing our after-dinner coffee, everybody bundled up because of the sudden cold spell, and headed home. All of us, I believe, will think about those international tribunals, which, like Nuremberg, are sometimes the only recourse for the savaged, the abused, the oppressed. They are where vile people who govern criminally should have to answer for their actions.

Summary:
International tribunals established to try those who govern in criminal ways and abuse human rights, should always be able to try any transgressor, no matter how much power that person might have once wielded.

DeLay Rhymes With Decay

Gee Golly, Ms. Elizabeth
"Whether it rains rain or rains cow patties, it comes from the top down, sweet pie." These words out of the mouth of Elizabeth, one of the quietest of our neighbors. She told us this as her husband, Schuyler, was pouring us some good Harvey Wallbangers which he made with Absolut vodka and Galliano. He had carefully chilled the glasses, so when he passed them around we had a well-chilled cocktail, necessary because of the potential heat that will come from Elizabeth's quiet pronouncement. One of the couples from Iraq who recently moved to one of the farms nearby prefer nonalcoholic drinks, and Schuyler had something good for them to drink also.

Exterminator? Dictator Wannabe?
I don't know if Tom DeLay had one of those twirling termites above his pest-extermination shop, but knowing what we do about his good taste, he probably did. And what could be easier, they could just copy his smile to get the termite's mouth down pat.

Alex told us he could not remember how many indictments are now facing DeLay, since they're piling up. Whether it's two or three, this still follows condemnation from within his own party. Is he an embarrassment to this administration? Does it feel hot when you pee down your leg? Alex apologized for this last comment, but he had just heard two old farmers talking about just such an incident at the nearest feed store. What really matters of course, is that DeLays actions are an embarrassment to our country. We used to be better than that.

Shelley, On Bush
Shelley and Cathy, who have that beautiful horse farm down the road, were pretty riled up tonight about the whole DeLay thing. Basically, the message to us was "It's from the Top, stupid." They think the whole DeLay thing is just symptomatic of this megalomaniac administration with a president hell-bent on being as absolute and dicatatorial as possible. Corruption? Bush has just become a bona fide member of the Worst and Most Corrupt Dictators Club. Remember those dastardly sweetheats Idi Amin, Sukarno, Suharto, Marcos, Castro, Pinochet, etc.? Cathy asked us how much we'd be willing to bet that under these guys corruption and shakedowns were approved from the top.

Dimmest Porch Light
Alex agrees with most of us that Bush is not the brightest light on the porch, but he's also not completely stupid or clueless, and, Alex said, if any of us think for a minute that Bush hasn't known all along what DeLay was up to, we didn't understand anything about this White House. Just like Abu Ghraib doesn't have anything to do with Lynde England, the DeLay scandal doesn't just have something to do with DeLay. It all started at the top, and the top, as he loves to crow to all who'll pay him any mind, is he's the El Commando in Jefe, the nonpareil battleship prancer: where all the corruption begins, where all that's wrong in Iraq begins, where all that's wrong in the country, especially our economy and criminal indebtedness to the Chinese, begins, at the top. The Offal Office. So though this exterminator has just put the metal to the pedal of our National Decay, it's the son of the nefarious Barbara Bush who is ultimately responsible. Although, of course, it takes cojones to say, "The buck stops here." And, have you seen any of those on anyone in power right now? Even Snotty Frist doesn't have any or he'd fess up and put a swift end to one more Bush administration scandal.

Yuck. Exterminators. Next? The Dinner Gong
By now the younger set was clamoring that it was time to have dinner. Most of us, after working all day on our farms and ranches, had to agree, and looked forward to the meal several of the couples had shared efforts to prepare for us tonight. Since the two large grills were going nicely on the porch, we knew at least one of our courses would be grilled. Also, we hoped Max had fixed some of his cowboy-style breads on the grill.
First, Shelley brought out some delicious Mushroom and Fontina Crostini. Cathy brought us Italian white wine to pair with the Crostini, a Dolcetto D'Alba.

Our next course was a very welcome, light, Tortilla Soup with chicken and avocado. Surprisingly, Max said it only took him about 10 minutes to put this soup together, and that made me think, so where's the justification for ever buying canned again? Paired with an exquisite Fisher Coach Insignia full-flavored Chardonnay, it put an end to the theory that only beer, beer, beer could be had with good Mexican food. Having said that, we did serve two of our Muslim neighbors some good nonalcoholic beer with the soup.
Charlotte contributed the next dish for our dinner, individual spinach-lined ramekins of Bay Scallops and Oysters, garnished with caviar. Charlotte suggested a still wine from the Champagne district, a Coteaux Champenois.

After dollops of coconut sorbet, we were ready for Max's contribution to dinner: Grilled Flank Steak with a Chile Rub, grilled Vegetable Medley, and what we were anxious to have tonight, some of Max's made-on- the grill, in his enormous cast iron skillets, Zucchini and Parmigiano-Reggiano Cowboy cornmeal bread. His pairing the steak with a wonderful Zinfandel, a Rabbit Ridge Paso Robles Westside Zinfandel was genius.

To close the meal, Liz served us both one of her famous quotes, and a simple Strawberry and Raspberry Crisp, served with a delicious Sauternes. Before we left the dining room to join the younger set in the great room, Liz told us what John Dean said in regard to the Watergate affair: "We have a cancer within, close to the Presidency, that is growing. It is growing daily." Turns out, Liz said, the cancer wasn't close to the Presidency, it was the president.

Winding Down
We went back to join the kids and have our after-dinner espresso. The kids were all very animated tonight, and after asking them what was going on, it turns out their teachers also had been talking to them today about politics, decay, corruption and how it was going to be up to them bring back the glory of this country. Our generation, it seems, has let them down. Tragically, Third World country down.

Summary:
You can start talking about corruption and decay at the lower strata, but when you realize the strata are built up by matter raining from the top down, well….

Chopping Cedar While the Poor Die

Cocktails on the Porch
Barry was busy mixing French Horns, unusually good cocktails he made with Chambord and vodka. On the side, he was also preparing a pitcher of non-alcoholic drinks. He likes having all of his bases covered. Out here, there are no city lights to dim the beauty of a sky full of stars, which were just beginning to appear and twinkle as the gang began arriving. Still comfortable enough to gather on the porch, we did, and enjoyed the warmth of the smaller braziers Max had helped us get going. The teenagers rarely sit out here with us, preferring to go in to the great room and talk about their day.

A.J. asked a very simple question. In the so-called Third World, how do governments take care of their people at the time of horrendous natural disasters? Every one of us assumed that A.J. was about to accuse those countries of barbaric acts of unconscionable disregard for their people. But instead, he shocked us by informing us how promptly those countries move to evacuate people when needed, and how quickly they move to improve the lives of their natural disaster tragedies' victims. He began by telling us that in 1985, the Ansokia Valley in Ethiopia was a barren dust bowl, and now it is a drought-proof oasis. Also in 1985, Mexico City sustained horrendous damage and loss of life in an earthquake, yet within minutes the government, the military and the citizenry mobilized to save all those who could still be saved.

Input from Alex
Because of Alex's deep interest in the world we live in, he joined A.J. in telling us about other natural disasters where the governments of the countries where they occurred did not turn a blind eye to the victims. For example, the drought in Afar, Ethiopia; the devastating earthquake in Bam; the earthquake in Gujurat, India; and together, Alex and A.J. enumerated natural disasters of the minute, where instantly, governments have mobilized to evacuate all those in imminent danger: typhoon Damrey hitting Vietnam; typhoon Hongwang, passing through Taiwan and imminently heading for China, where immediately the government evacuated 200,000 people from their boats in China's eastern province of Fujian; in Palo Campana, El Salvador, their largest volcano has erupted, and thousands have fled and within moments the government had evacuated 4000 people; today, tropical storm Stan is expected to hit the Baja Peninsula close to Cabo San Lucas, and the Mexican Army wasted no time in evacuating 1000 people.

Oh, Alex and A.J. said, in the other natural disasters, hurricanes Katrina and Rita, in dastardly behavior you would expect of a backward Third World country, the government did nothing, leaving people without financial resources to fend for themselves. For days, the government seemed paralyzed, unable to help its citizenry. Rather Haitian and Papa Doc, don't you think?

I don't think anybody sitting on the porch tonight will ever deride a Third World country again. Though they will think of a smarmy guy who kept on "chopping cedar and clearing brush" and eating cake on vacation while people drowned, starved, and became dehydrated. An Arabian Horse Show fly appointed to take charge of national disasters? Talk about offal that would choke a buzzard!

Dinner Gong!
I'm glad the kids don't all decide at the same time that it's their turn to bang on the dinner gong. It would drive the adults bonkers. Somehow, they work it out on their own, and blessedly, we just have one person working the gong at a time. Nevertheless, it's a welcome sound. Dinner, when you work all day on a farm, is always welcome. Dinner with your friends and neighbors is pure bliss.

Kim and Barry Serve up Wonders
Tapas aren't just popular in cosmopolitan urban areas, even out here in the country we're learning about them and beginning to enjoy them as starters for our dinners. Tonight Kim and Barry served us Piquillo peppers filled with Shrimp and Diverse Wild Mushrooms from Art and Terry's organic produce farm, as well as Grilled Antipasto, consisting of an enormous variety of vegetables. Barry used one of our favorite extra-virgin olive oils, Monini. Barry and Kim served us a slightly chilled Tío Pepe Fino Sherry with these two appetizers, as the Spaniards do. Barry used one of the large outdoor grills to prepare some delicious Grilled Swordfish and paired it with a Wild Horse Central Coast Chardonnay.

In those little wire baskets we have dozens of, he and Kim grilled a variety of onions, scallions, cherry tomatoes and mushrooms. They served small dollops of watermelon sorbet, and then brought out, to our disbelief, another great course, Grilled Quail Stuffed with Figs. They wisely paired it with a Jade Mountain Contra Costa County Mourvèdre, and the plates were served with only some of Kim's fantastic Basmati rice and simply poached carrots. Lastly, they served small bowls of a rustic Tuscan salad with tomatoes, cucumbers and bell peppers. Our usual favorite, the Monini extra-virgin olive oil is what they used. Paired with a Ferrari-Carano Fumé Blanc (Sauvignon Blanc) from Sonoma County, this little salad was a nice fnish to the serious part of dinner, but we were also promised a nice dessert.

Liz, on Disasters and Washington
Liz, just before we left to re-join the teenagers, told us something Senator J. William Fulbright said on February 2, 1954: "Nature - pitiless in a pitiless universe - is certainly not concerned with the survival of Americans or, for that matter, of any of the two billion people now inhabiting this earth. Hence, our destiny, with the aid of God, remains in our own hands." But, Liz said, those hands have to be compassionate, humane, and competent. Doesn't sound like anybody in command in Washington right now, does it? When she closes her eyes, Liz said, she can hear the cries of all the people who suffered unspeakable horror during Katrina and Rita, and she could also hear the buzz of the cedar-cutting chainsaw. And the smacking of the lips as the Bush's and the Cheney's munched on cake.

Dessert with the Teenagers
Charlotte and Kim worked on the dessert part of our meal, which we shared back in the great room with the teenagers. Their Pecan, Maple Syrup and Chestnut tarts were flawless. With Max's special-blend espresso, how can you end a dinner on a better note? Well, sharing your dessert with the younger generation is one way, an excellent way. Perhaps too many families don't share those precious moments with kids today, but here on our farms, we think Democratic families do share precious moments together.

Summary:
Are Third World responses to the unimaginable plight of victims of natural disasters hard to swallow? Or not? How can countries sit back and let nature take its course and injure, maim, kill and dispossess its citizens? How can governments sit back and let their citizenry suffer unspeakably in the eye of a natural disaster?

©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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If It Smells Like Dung

Gathering by the Glow of the Braziers
Already quite dark outside and the gang is starting to gather on the porch. The glow from the braziers we use to ward off the chill cast a welcoming glow on the porch, welcoming all our neighbors. For those just arriving and wanting a cocktail, Schuyler was whipping up a drink that was new to us, a Rosita. He used a good silver tequila, a Patrón silver tequila, Campari, and Martini and Rossi dry and sweet vermouths. He also prepared a pitcher of non-alcoholic Sangría.

Jim, On Dung
Sorry folks, but when you farm and ranch, dung is just part of life. It can be everywhere, but it shouldn't be. It's amazing, but by being methodical and trying to be good stewards of your land and your environment, you can keep it contained where it belongs. It's instantly recognizable; if it looks like dung, if it smells like dung: it's dung. We don't like it everywhere and don't tolerate its not being used for something more useful, through composting.

Our revered president, thinking he can pull the wool over our eyes by pretending to be a rancher, has slathered his dung all over our White House. Guess he forgets, daily, that the White House belongs to We The People, and not to We Halliburton, Exxon, Mobil, Enron, Cheney Inc. etc.

Jim told us that the present situation reminded him of Art's horrendous stories of corruption and misuse of power he had experienced during a lifetime in corrupt banana republics, and yet, now it's happening here. Bush's chief political advisor: under investigation; Bush's enforcer, Hammer DeLay, indicted; his Brownie: laughed at around the world and forced to resign from FEMA. Bush himself, vastly inept, ate cake in Crawford while Louisiana was being engulfed by water. Bush's family, while the tragedies of Katrina and Rita were destroying lives at a rate not seen in a hundred years, were Versaillesque in their cavalier attitude toward the suffering of those more than unfortunate people.

Can we forget Bush's intent to invade Iraq even before 9/11? Can we forget the Downing Street Memos Jim asked? Oh, and Jack Abramoff? Scooter Libby? And, by now, it should be obvious to all but the most addled, Jim said, that since Bush is not going to raise taxes or rescind his obscene tax cuts for the very wealthiest people in the country, he is going to burden the very poorest people in the country with the rebuilding efforts in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama by cutting programs that help feed, medicate and shelter the less fortunate. Don't think for a minute that he plans to make the wealthy help pay for the reconstruction of the hurricane-damaged areas. He plans to cut as many social service programs as he can to pay for the damage. Never fear: the rich will not be discomforted by having to help. Cheney can rest peacefully.

The Youngsters: We're Famished
Well, in to dinner. Drinks finished and the teenagers claiming we had talked too long and almost starved them to death, we made our way to the two dining room tables. Ours, in the large dining room, and the kids' in the great room, were already being served by some of the couples.

Charlotte was serving endive leaves stuffed with smoked salmon and served us a German Riesling Kabinett to go with the smoked salmon. Her wine pairings are always flawless, as is her cooking. She and Max next served us a delicious, rich, smoky split pea and ham soup, which they thought would go well with a Villa Bel Air Blanc/Sémillon blend. The soup was very hearty, and Charlotte and Max didn't think we needed many more courses, so they decided to serve a multitude of grilled vegetables, such as eggplant, zucchini, scallions, corn on the cob, pearl onions, minute new potatoes, and served the grilled vegetables alongside a medley of grilled seafood: shrimp, scallops and lobster. Paired with a McDowell Grenache Rosé, the combination was memorable.

Extremely satisfied, we needed nothing more than to join the teenagers to catch up on their day, and to have our after-dinner espresso with them in the great room.

Winding Down
We had a few minutes to catch up with the events of the day. Since most of the children have their own horses, we knew they needed to get home soon, to take care of their horses, do homework, and get a good night's rest. Just before everybody went their separate ways, Liz gave us a quote that really described the damage this administration is doing to our country because of its corruption. She quoted from John Milton: "As killing as the canker to the rose." Amen

Summary:
Corruption will kill the rose. Corruption can bring a country to its knees, and wise people will not condone it. The United States was not a corrupt banana republic, until now.

©Copyright 2005 Grindstaff Chronicles. All Rights Reserved.
================================================
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
================================================

Slime Disguised in Church Vestments

Braziers on the Porch
The sun had set, and Max had helped get the small braziers going on the porch so we could gather there in comfort before going inside to finish our cocktails. Tonight Bob stirred up a good drink, a Fjord, made with good Scandinavian aquavit and cognac. Bob used freshly squeezed orange juice and good grenadine. Naturally, he also had a pitcher of Shirley Temples on the bar table. Soon, from all the farms in our small community, all of our neighbors were on the porch, enjoying the evening and the warmth of the braziers. We'll probably be able to continue to sit out there for a few more weeks, then it will become colder and we'll have to gather in the great room.

Art and Terry, Orthodox Catholics, on Lubricity
What we call the great room is a large room divided into three areas. The teenagers usually gather in the area used to watch TV or films, and we gather in the area that's more a library than anything, where we have a grand piano some of the teenagers enjoy playing for us.

Tonight, Art and Terry began talking about the unbelievable continuation of child sexual abuse by pedophile priests. They are very devout, orthodox Catholics, but like the rest of us, they cannot condone the Church's lack of response to the abuse. Terry said she could not understand how Bishops continue to shelter their pedophile priests and how nobody is putting an end to the abuse. She told us that approximately 2,600 priests have been investigated for sexually abusing children, an unbelievably large number, she said.

Lubricity
Lubricity is lasciviousness, lewdness, oiliness. Art told us that when he thought of those priests, he thought of something much less than human. He told us he could only visualize a man with demonic eyes, slobber coming out of both sides of his mouth, fetid breath, sweat pouring from every gland, cold, clammy hands and an aura of total, absolute evil and filth. What else would rape a child?

Right Before Dinner, Announcement of a Heroine
Although we knew dinner would be served momentarily, Art wanted to tell us of a heroine in this tragic tale of child abuse. A retired Texas attorney, Sylvia Demarest, donated 100 boxes of notes, worth about 1 Million in research, to BishopAccountability.org, a Boston-based organization dedicated to investigating the child-abuse scandal. She immersed herself in the investigation of human depravity, and told reporter Rod Dreher, of the Dallas Morning News, "Nobody was doing this, and it needed to be done. We kept hearing people telling stories about finding accused priests serving in their parish. I thought, 'How are people going to protect themselves if somebody doesn't continue putting this information together." And you thought you didn't believe in angels?

Final Word
The Chicago Archdiocese is harboring 11 defrocked priests, trying to shield them from prosecution and doing all they can to avoid having them registered as sex offenders. This kind of criminal behavior by U.S. bishops continues unabated, and will continue until adults everywhere put the welfare of our children above the welfare of the coffers of the Vatican.

The Teenagers Ring The Dinner Gong
Everybody was hungry and anxious to find their place at the dinner tables. Several of the couples had planned to prepare and serve dinner tonight, and though we new a banquet of small dishes would be served to comfort us, we couldn't find comfort in tonight's talk of sexual abuse of children by pedophile priests.

Bob, as soon as we had been seated, brought out a Tuscan Tuna Bruschetta guaranteed to whet our appetite and begin a small, delicious banquet. Bob chose a great selection, and poured us a Tavel, the Grenache rosé. Judy next served us small bowls of Parmentier, the hot version of Vichyssoise, and served us small glasses of the Spanish sparkling wine Freixenet Carta Nevada. Bob and Judy had the grill ready, so very quickly the grilled fish was prepared to flaky perfection. The multitude of vegetables they grilled at the same time, and the fish, were matched very well to the Bonny Doon Vin Gris.

A little dollop of mango sorbet smoothed the transition to their next course, a variety of grilled meats served Argentine-style, with simple, grilled, garlicky new potatoes. Naturally, the Argentine Navarro Correas Malbec was a perfect choice for this part of our dinner. Judy's chimichurri sauce reminded us all of the Argentine pampas, where people live much as we do here: farming and ranching, and depending on good neighbors to keep the feeling of isolation at bay.

Since the end of the meal had a Latin American flavor, Bob and Judy had asked Carmen to make us her famous flan, which was an amazing way to end our dinner.

Before we re-joined the teenagers, Liz quoted us this poignant and important utterance of Martin Luther King, which has great bearing on the subject of not letting the church continue to harbor pedophile priests: "He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps perpetrate it."

A Hug For Our Teenagers
After a discussion that was so disturbing, we couldn't wait to go back and join the teenagers. Hugs were shared, since we wanted to let them know how much we appreciated them and how much we wanted to guarantee their safety. God forbid any of them should ever be molested.

Summary: Some slime is so filthy, so foul, once you come in contact with it you can't easily wash your hands of it, or erase it from your mind. Slime disguised in vestments is that kind.

[Note from the webmaster: As I post this issue, the media in the Minneapolis is running a story on Rev. Ryan Erickson who was concluded to not only to have child porn on his computer and is alleged to have abused at least one young boy, but it was found that he was the most likely person responsible for the 2004 killing of two men in an area funeral parlor because one of them was going to exposed him. Rev. Erickson hung himself just before he was going to be formally charged last December. He was said to have owned 16 guns. ]

©Copyright 2005 Grindstaff Chronicles. All Rights Reserved.
================================================
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
================================================

No Place for a Poet at a Banquet of Shame

Toast on the Porch to Laura Bush, Space Cadet
Most people had already gathered on the back porch. We caught the last of the sun's rays, and Jim poured unique Diabolos for those who wanted a cocktail. He made these with rum, Triple Sec, Cointreau for those who preferred Cointreau over Triple Sec, and dry vermouth. A dash of bitters and a twist of orange, and voilà, an excellent start to an evening with good friends.

Outrage of Liz and Bob
Liz and Bob, former attorneys and now Alpaca and horse breeders, were telling us about their outrage at the Bush family's degenerate comments throughout the occurrence of the horrendous natural disasters, Katrina and Rita. They were disturbed not only because their comments diminish them as people, but because the news has spread around the world. They read the comments in The China Post, of all places.

Those comments have diminished the United States. Barbara, George and Laura may not have intended to be flip, but not being intellectuals, they spew a lot of garbage. Sorry, ex-librarian, you are no sage, Liz, a sage, said. Laura was quoted in the Chinese newspaper as saying, when Katrina was ruining lives right and left that "It's very important to get your children in school. It gives children a sense of normalcy." Yeah, sure Laura. You try it in the middle of such hellish devastation.

Laura's Little Party and a Hero's Decline of the Invitation
Wow! If it's location, location, location, it is also timing, timing, timing. Iraq is sliding into a morass. Americans are still dying daily because of an insane man's wish to invade a foreign country. Americans are outside the White House calling for the return of their children from that insane war zone, and Laura Bush is holding a fancy dinner, fancy breakfasts, teas, at the White House to celebrate the National Book Festival.

Poet Sharon Olds was invited to the festivities and dinner at the White House, and also invited to read from her work. How tempting to accept such an invitation and receive such wide acclaim. However, Poet Olds has more principles than desires for acknowledgement of her talents. Doing what lesser people wouldn't even fathom, she wrote a letter to Laura Bush declining. Liz just wanted us to quote you a couple of paragraphs from that letter Ms. Olds wrote to Laura Bush. It will show you the courage and principles of a fine woman, who may well speak for many people in the country at this time. She wrote:

"I tried to see my way clear to attend the festival in order to bear witness, as an American who loves her country and its principles and its writing - against this undeclared and devastating war.

But I could not face the idea of breaking bread with you. I knew that if I sat down to eat with you, it would feel to me as if I were condoning what I see to be the wild, highhanded actions of the Bush administration.

What kept coming to the fore of my mind was that I would be taking food from the hand of the First Lady who represents the Administration that unleashed this war and wills its continuation, even to the extent of permitting 'extraordinary rendition': flying people to other countries where they will be tortured for us.

So many Americans who had felt pride in our country now feel anguish and shame, for the current regime of blood, wounds and fire. I thought of the clean linens at your table, the shining knives and flames of the candles, and I could not stomach it."

Kids Call Dinner Time
One of the youngsters rang the dinner gong. They headed for their table, and we headed to the large dining room where we have enlarged the table to hold our new neighbors, the two couples from Iraq who just moved here. Carmen and Jim prepared most of our dinner tonight. We all knew we'd be thinking of the dinner Ms. Olds declined to attend out of principle, and Liz offered this toast to Ms. Olds, a quote from Thomas Paine, written in 1791: "Man did not enter society to become worse than he was before, nor to have fewer rights than he had before, but to have those rights better secured."

A Slightly Somber Dinner, But Still Celebratory
A 2004 Sorelle Bronca Prosecco is what Carmen and Jim thought we'd most enjoy with their individual, minute Balsamic Lamb and Radicchio tartlets. A perfect hors d'oeuvre to start a dinner. Next, what a good broth, Chanterelle Mushrooms and Tortellini. The perfect match for the broth was a Pedro Domecq Amontillado Sherry. Jim had spent a good while on his salmon dish. He poached it in extra-virgin olive oil, served it with shiitake mushrooms and Brussels sprouts served with drawn butter. Jim and Carmen like Monini's Extra-Virgin olive oil. He and Carmen brought a 2002 Clos LaChance Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir to pair beautifully with the rich salmon.

A blueberry sorbet was a good palate cleanser, preparing us for their Lamb and Mushroom Meat Loaf with Pancetta. From their wine cellar, they brought an interesting Argentine wine, a Bodega Weinert 2002 Mendoza Carrascal, a blend of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Probably we'll be tasting this wine more often. Carmen brought us small plates of Leek and Potato salad. The capers, pepper, mustard and baby greens she added made it a slightly piquant salad, enjoyed with a bit of Dutton Estate 2003 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir. For the end of our meal, simplicity: an Old Chatham sheep's milk camembert paired with an Australian Shiraz, a Goundrey Shiraz Western Australia Offspring 2003.

Winding Down
More than satisfied with Jim and Carmen's dinner, we re-joined the younger set and sipped on Max's wonderful espresso. We believe we could have made Sharon Olds feel very, very welcome, since we were all so touched by principled refusal to dine with Laura Bush. Before everybody headed home, they suggested we direct you to the full letter Ms. Olds wrote. You can find it at: http://www.thenation.com/doc/20051010/olds

Summary:
Poet Sharon Olds wrote a letter to Laura Bush, declining an invitation to the White House and to the National Book Festival, and all for principle. Deep, sincere, patriotic principle. We need a whole country of people like Sharon Olds.

©Copyright 2005 Grindstaff Chronicles. All Rights Reserved.
================================================
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
================================================