We've Been Schmooshbingled!
There she was, bigger than life on national television, in October 2005, after the whole world has learned quite a lot about the Iraq war. Secretary of State? Secretary of Wool Over Your Eyes? Seems to Alex that the days of the United States' being greeted by flower-bearing Iraqi's lasted about five minutes, but there she was, still spouting the same old drivel about how Iraq was directly connected to the events of 9/11. That issue, Alex said, had been discussed to death, and he found it embarrassing that Condosleazza was still spewing that garbage after all these years.

Schuyler, always the good barman, stirred up a good cocktail for this evening, a James Bond. This one was stirred, not shaken, and made with Grey Goose vodka and Angostura bitters. For the nondrinkers, he made Virgin Mojitos. While he was serving us our cocktails, he said that he didn't know whether he should roll up in a ball in laughter, or double over and just retch at her sickening drivel. Elizabeth, his wife, reminded us that only a pathetic few people still made a connection between 9/11 and Iraq, implying of course that the pathetic few are the people governing this country. Scary, don't you think? But Liz, our quote queen, succinctly put the appropriate label on La Rice with words from an old newspaper review: "Superabundance of foulness, wholly immoral and degenerate, you cannot have a clean pig sty."

The Back Porch Comes Dramatically Abuzz
Those of us who had not seen that woman on television, were truly anxious to hear what Schuyler, Elizabeth and Alex were talking about. It turns out that on a nationally televised news program, Condosleazza was still justifying the invasion of that poor, hapless country, on the grounds that it was Iraq that was responsible for 9/11 and the deaths of around 3,000 people. Art, always well-informed on current events, told us that renowned and respected author and journalist Mickey Herskowitz had interviewed Dubya years ago, and as early as 1999 Dubya was telling him that he was going to be a good commander-in-chief and invade Iraq.

So, unless Dubya, besides being dim, is also prescient, how was he foreseeing the events of 9/11 in 1999? Terry, always wise, asked if even if what Condosleazza was lying about, and there was an Iraq-9/11 connection, was killing over 1,970 American troops any way of getting even for the killing of 3,000 people on 9/11? It seemed to all of us that very, very soon we're going to have more American troops killed by George W. Bush than were killed on 9/11. Logic?

Sloke = Sleazy = Slimy
Turns out, Bob told us, that former Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill also confirmed that Dubya had already decided to invade Iraq even before Dubya was "elected" president. Underlying that decision were his admissions to Mr. Herskowitz of admitted failures as a man: his failure to fulfill his Vietnam-era duties in the National Guard; his failure to ever fly a plane again after 1972 (whoops! What about the landing on the Battleship Mission Accomplished?), and his widely publicized business misadventures. Well, to rectify all that, his pre-election handlers put the flea in his ear that a little war would give him great political capital, and, Dubya told Pat Robertson, his invasion of Iraq would not result in any casualties. Smart, huh?

So, Elizabeth told a now-hushed group, now we know why Dubya invaded Iraq: he was keenly aware of his myriad inadequacies and keenly aware that mucho macho he wasn't. And, 1,970+ Americans have died; over 10,000 of this country's youth have been injured and maimed; as many as 100,000 Iraqi's have been killed. But hey, she said, pity the mousey librarian, she has to crawl into bed with the guy every night.

George Herbert Walker Bush on Slimeball
Seems G.H.W. Bush didn't like what Michael Moore wrote about Barbara Bush, and called Mr. Moore a slimeball. Well, the real slimeball, spawned by Barbara the Indifferent, told reporter Mickey Herskowitz: "One of the keys to being seen as a great leader is to be seen as a commander-in-chief. My father had all this political capital built up when he drove the Iraqis out of Kuwait and he wasted it. If I have a chance to invade, if I had that much capital, I wouldn't waste it. I'm going to get everything passed that I want to get passed and I'm going to have a successful presidency." Well, Georgie boy, keep the Downing Street Memos in mind, and don't forget this word: impeachment, for forcing this country into an invasion not of necessity, but as the result of a pouty, megalomaniac guy who never grew up.

Approval Ratings Today
Bush's approval ratings, reported by Voice of America from polls taken by NBC News and The Wall Street Journal, are 39% among the general public, and 2% among African-Americans. Way to go George! But, Liz, said, this quote by Thomas Babington Macaulay fits him perfectly, and he'll think he's doing just fine: "Everything which another man would have hidden, everything the publication of which would have made another man hang himself, was a matter of exaltation to his weak and diseased mind." Wow. And lastly, Liz wanted to leave us to ponder this quote from Lord Byron: "Of all bitches alive or dead, a scribbling woman is the most canine." Double wow.

Dinner Gong, Just in Time
One of the teenagers sounded the dinner gong and called us in to dinner. The evening was mild, so sitting outside on the porch was very pleasant, but we were ready to see what was on the menu tonight. We can't tell you how happy we always are to see that the teenagers are also always eager to go in to dinner, especially because they know that here, they will never, ever, get macaroni and cheese for dinner, but instead, delicious dinners and every vegetable you can think of.

Bob and Judy prepared a wonderful Cheddar-Pancetta Onion Soup, which they served with a Riesling we hadn't tried before, a JJ Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr. Following the soup, they served a Domaine Ste. Michelle Blanc de Blancs with Roasted Oysters Rockefeller. I think I saw a couple of people looking up at the ceiling, thanking the Rockefellers for inspiring this rich dish. Alex and Jane prepared some small paillards of salmon, skillet-grilled to perfection and drizzled with balsamic vinegar. Roasted garlicky Brussels Sprouts and just-blanched spinach were good choices to serve alongside the salmon. They served the salmon with a California Frei Brothers Pinot Noir, and the pairing was magnificent. After dollops of peach sorbet, Max served small medallions of Churrasco-Style Skirt Steak and a warm salad of different mushrooms with a Black Truffle Vinaigrette. An Argentine Malbec, a Bodega Cantena Zapata Malbec Alamos was an ideal pairing with Max's perfect steaks.

Was dinner over? No, Charlotte still had one more surprise for us: Mango and Pinot Gris Granita served in saucer champagne glasses with which she poured a Washington state Château Ste. Michelle late harvest Riesling.

Back to the Great Room
We wanted to have after-dinner coffee with the teenagers and the children, so Max poured us his specially blended espresso in the great room, where for a few minutes at least we could spend some time with the younger set. Asked if they had enjoyed their dinner, they all agreed that it had been exceptional.

Although we have many courses, the portions are always boutique-size, small, and obesity is something our children will not experience, and too, hopefully they will not face diabetes either. It really is possible to get youngsters interested in good food. When they go out without us, they don't head for any fast-food establishments. Naturally, without the daily help of fourteen couples, you don't need to serve five and six-course dinners, but it doesn't take that long to fix a good meal from scratch.

Summary:
The truth is out, we now know why Dubya forced in to this invasion of choice and to the killing of thousands. Don't forget the Downing Street Memos, and help keep the option of impeachment on the table.