2005 CAN BLAU (Montsant, Spain)

This is good, but not as good as the 2004 was.

Dark ruby/mulberry color. Big, galumphy, earthy nose: lots of spicy blackberry, olivey-vegetal scents, with some smoky earthy componenets too. Full-bodied, with broad flavors of mixed berries, granite, and lemon. Good, buoyant acidity helps prop up the large-boned physique (think Yao Ming). Fairly long finish. 88. Drink soon, as I think that this will become more angular with age. Was about $16 at Whole Foods on Bellaire.

2001 Badia a Coltibuono CHIANTI CLASSICO RISERVA (Tuscany, Italy)

This was a very elegant, restrained, yet characterful Chianti we enjoyed while entertaining our friends from Austin, the Hughens.



Dark ruby garnet color. Medium intensity nose of ripe chokecherries and smoky stones. Broad, soft, lightish mouthfeel, with flavors of cherry, new leather, and spice. Lovely, long finish. Not a blockbuster, but very polished. 89. I would drink this now, as I'm not convinced it's going to improve over the next few years. $29 and change at Spec's on Smith.

2002 Casa Lapostolle CABERNET SAUVUGNON (Rapel Valley, Chile)

This had been tucked away unseen in a corner of my wine closet for the last three years, forgotten. It had actually aged very well and was quite a surprise for an entry-level, cheap Cabernet.

Dark black ruby color with the barest hint of amber at the rim. Intense, low-toned nose of cassis, smoke, and a pencil lead/graphite component. Concentrated and medium full-bodies in the mouth, with flavors of dark cassis extract and minerals. Still lots of ripe tannins, which, in conjunction with the deep fruit, lead me to conclude that this guy could age for a few years further still. Impressive for an $8 bottle. 88. (Caveat: I've heard that the regular bottlings of this winery in more recent vintages are not up to the standards it set in 1999-2002 -- so more recent vintages might not measure up to this one.)

2005 Las Rocas GARNACHA "El Renegado" (Calatayud, Spain)

This was a relatively large-scaled but bony Grenache.

Black ruby color. Medium intensity nose of spicy raspberries, smoky gingerbread, and lemons. Very structured (for a Grenache) in the mouth, with big but kinda austere flavors of raspberry, briary underbrush, and earth. Substantial tannin in the fairly long finish. I'm not sure this is going to flesh out or get any better, so I'd drink it now. 85. Was $13.99 at Whole Foods on Bellaire.

Clinton, Giulliani, Huckabee and Obama make Judicial Watch's Top 10 List of Most Corrupt Politicians

Judicial Watch, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization published its list of "Washington’s 'Ten Most Wanted Corrupt Politicians' for 2007". Included in the organization's list of ethically challenged noteables were Presidential Candidates, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY), former Governor Mike Huckabee (R-AR), former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R-NY) and Senator Barak Hussein Obama (D-Ill).

Mrs. Clinton made number one on the list of "Most Wanted Corrupt Politicians for 2007" due to her long and sordid ethics record according to the organization. The group cited the Junior Senator from New York for blocking release of her official White House records, casting suspicion that these records would yield a wealth of information about her role in various Clinton era scandals. Also mentioned were the Senator's repeated filing of false financial disclosure forms with the U.S. Senate.

Former Govenor of Arkansas Mike Huckabee was cited for 14 ethics complaints noted by the group including his use of campaign cash, his use of a non-profit entity to subsidize his income, his subsequent lawsuits against the state ethics commission along with his attempt to shut down the ethics investigative process in his state.

Former Mayor of New York City Rudy Giulliani made the group's list, after it was revealed that he billed various City of New York agencies for security and transportation while the Mayor was engaged in an extramarital affair with his then girlfriend, Judith Nathan who is now his wife. The city was charged for trips to the Hamptons along with the expense of providing a police vehicle and a city driver for Ms. Nathan.

Senator Barak Hussein Obama moved up from the Judicial Watch's "Dishonorable Mention" category last year to number eight on the group's "Ten Most Wanted" list for 2007 when it was discovered that after only two months in the Senate, Obama purchased $50,000 in speculative ventures whose major investors were among his biggest campaign contributors according to Judicial Watch. The report also claimed that a biotech concern benefited from legislation that the Junior Senator proposed only two weeks after purchasing $5,000 of the company's shares.

Other well known politicians that made the group's list were Senators Diane Feinstein (D-CA), Larry Craig (R-ID), Harry Reid (D-NV) and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA).

Judicial Watch's full list can be seen here.

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton's position as number one on the group's list comes as no surprise here. Scores of books, articles and opinion pieces along with hundreds of hours of air time have chronicled the Clinton's sundry pecadillos for years. As Hillary's handlers have said in response to various accusations about her chicanery and moral turpitude, "that's old news". It's a tactic that employs the usual Clinton camp bob and weave around questions regarding her lack of character and moral fiber. That canned response never answers the question but merely deflects it and swats it away as though it were a fly in hopes that it will go away or drop to the floor. As Peggy Noonan writes, the Clintons perfected a new method of scandal management that starts with "These are lies spread by a partisan conspiracy," proceeds to "That's old news," and ends a few years later, when detailed books come out, with "That's rehash for cash." This way, the Clinton's give themselves a pass and go on to their business as usual behind closed doors.

Is it any wonder that a journalist of Noonan's stature who has observed Hillary for years recently commented, Mrs. Clinton is the most dramatically polarizing, the most instinctively distrusted, political figure of my lifetime. Yes, I include Nixon.

The addition of Giulliani and Huckabee to the list is a bit of a stretch since both are not part of the Washington political class per se but only aspire to become D.C. politicians. Yet the entries of these men provides us with a glimpse into their character. Based on their past indiscretions, perhaps the inner workings of a (shudder the thought) Giulliani or (worse yet) Huckabee administration might morph from line items on a web site to headlines in future editions of the nation's newspapers and magazines if either of these gentlemen made their new residence at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

Obama is new to the Washington establishment but appears to have learned quickly how business is done in the political arena. If you look at these and other politicos named in Judicial Watch's list, a pattern becomes obvious. Someone gains a position of decision-making power or influence in government through the help of others looking for favors, grants and contracts from the government. Once the person gains office he/she returns the favor by pushing for beneficial legislation for their sponsors or they garner earmarks for friends, relatives and cronies or secure government contracts to improve land adjoining their own private investment properties. The corrupt politician then builds up his/her own wealth at the expense of the very taxpayers they claim to represent! Those who helped the corrupt politician attain office get the benefit of their new found position. Those who didn't help are ignored and those who opposed them earn their wrath.

In a perfect world this would be called influence peddling. Politicians who claim to represent the little guy and "stand up to the big bad corporate interests" are playing a game of political soap opera for us the unwashed masses while the old media provide them with a stage. They use all the buzz words their focus groups say will resonate with their audience. They have a standard sales pitch approved by their sponsors. They put that sales pitch to use while they're on the campaign trail. Unscrupulous politicians align themselves with companies and industries that are friendly to their cause with the understanding that the candidate will return the favor or look favorably upon the business ventures of the supporter in the future once the candidate is in office. The fact that such politicians villanize one group of businesses and cannonize another is merely a function of the team they have chosen to play on. In debating the differences between such candidates you and I may as well engage in useless arguements as to which is a better car, Chevy or Ford or who's the better football league, AFL or NFL.

Glenn Beck may be onto something when he said the political class have been very successful in dividing the nation ideologically between Democrat and Republican, left and right, ethnic group against ethnic group, one man's religion against another. We need to wake up. We need to recognize that we are first Americans who are committed to the safety, prestige and prosperity of the nation and take note of the fact that nations and peoples around the world aspire to attain the freedoms, comforts and standard of living we take for granted in the USA. These freedoms we have were not granted by any man but given by God. This election let's pray that the person who attains the highest office in the land is worthy of the supreme trust our people will place in the new occupant of the oval office. Let's pray that person will serve the people of the United States out of a love of God and country, devoted to carry out the responsibilities that office with integrity and honor.

Benazir Bhutto Assassinated in Rawalpindi, Pakistan

Former Pakistani Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto was assassinated by a man who crowded near the two time Prime Minister in the garrison town of Rawalpindi this morning. Ms. Bhutto had just finished addressing a large crowd of supporters and was exiting the rally at Rawalpindi's Liaqat Bagh Park. As Ms. Bhutto was leaving the Park by the rear gate onto Murree road, she was shot twice in the neck and chest by an assailant. The gunman subsequently blew himself up killing nearly a score bystanders after committing the assault.

This craven, cowardly and dastardly act was claimed to have been committed by al Qaeda in Afghanistan. Mustafa Abu al-Yazid, the terror group's commander in neighboring Afghanistan claimed in an interview with a reporter that the attack was ordered back in October by Ayman al Zawahri the number two leader of the infamous terror group in that country.

This outrageous action will make Pakistan's process of moving toward a true democracy more difficult while opposition groups aligned against President Pervez Musharraf try and field a viable candidate to stand against the ruling government in the parliamentary elections slated for January 8th of 2008.

World leaders universally condemmed the assassination and President Musharraf promissed to hunt down and bring the perpetrators of this crime to justice.

Ms. Bhutto was a patriot to her country and despite previous troubles with allegations of pernicious corruption of her administration during her tenure as Prime Minister of Pakistan she truly was a brave woman who felt called to lead her people out of the threat of radical Islamic terrorism. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and loved ones as well as those of the innocent people who died as a result of this barbarous, despicable and indefensible act.

One can only hope that the country will proceed with the scheduled parliamentary elections on January 8th as promised by Musharraf. The successful implementation of the country's upcoming vote will sound the death knell of al Qaeda and their allies in Asia.

A Late Wish for a Merry Christmas

The first Christmas: Luke 2:1-20

1 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. 8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 “ Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

2001 Triacca VALTELLINA SUPERIORE RISERVA "La Gatta" (Lombardy, Italy)

In the early 1980s, Nebbiolo wines from the four towns comprising the Valtellina (Inferno, Grumella, Sassella, and Valgella) used to be some of my favorites -- they were cheap (always under $10), they were great examples of a lighter, leaner style of Nebbiolo, and, at least in NYC, where I lived, they were fairly widely available. Until I saw this one, I hadn't seen a Valtellina wine in literally decades.

This wine was very light and lean, but had correct Nebbiolo scents and flavors.

Very light ruby/garnet, with a hint of amber at the rim. Sweet, candied cherries and lemons on the nose, with a backdrop of smoky stones. Medium-light bodied, but with persistent flavors tart cherries, old oak barrels, and minerals, leading to a fairly long, but lean and somewhat tannic finish. It would be nice to age this to have the tannin drop out, but I think that the fruit is on the decline, so drink this now. 86. Was about $30 at Spec's on Smith. On its merits, definitely not worth the price, but for a personal trip down memory lane, not bad.

2005 Heartland South Australia SHIRAZ

This was a balanced, full-flavored, complex red.


Saturated black ruby, with some glints of purple still showing at the rim. Intense nose of blackberry and blueberry extract, with some sweet, spiced woodsmoke and hard lemon candy notes. Inky cassis and blackberry fruit, with a nice smoky, bacony component lurking in the background. Full and long in the mouth. Some very soft tannin in the finish augurs for the capability of 2 to 3 more years of aging. 90. Was $15.33 at Spec's on Smith.

Let There Be Peace on Earth

2004 Fattoria Selvapiana CHIANTI RUFINA (Tuscany, Italy)

This was a very elegant, medium-bodied Sangiovese.

Dark ruby-garnet. Complex nose of bright, sweet cherries, menthol, earth, and a sweet, high-toned woody component. Focused and concentrated cherry/mineral flavors, with a long, lean, youthful-feeling finish. There is some tannin for structure here, but it's ripe and soft, not gritty or chalky-textured. Will certainly soften and improve for a year or two. 88. Was $18.89 at Spec's on Smith.

2005 Cortijo III Rioja (Spain)

Like the 2004, the 2005 version of this Rioja reminded me of a Beaujolais.

Medium dark ruby with magenta at the rim. Very nice, straightforward nose of ripe berries and fur. Clean, focused fruit in the mouth, with a nice, stony-minerally component. Good persistence. Based on the 2004 and 2005, I'm guessing that this winery goes in for carbonic maceration fermentation -- like they use in Beaujolais -- for all or at least part of the fruit for this wine. Good value, and would match well with a wide variety of foods. I'm not sure, but I think I got this at Central Market for about $7 or $8. 86.

2006 A to Z Oregon PINOT NOIR

This was disappointing in view of the successful 2005 this winery produced.

Garnet color. Muted nose, giving up only vague whiffs of hard cherry candy and metallic minerals. Soft and light, with tart cherry fruit and a lean, acidic finish. 78. I think this was around $15.

2006 Alois Lageder PINOT BIANCO (Alto Adige, Italy)

This is Italy's version of a good Maconnais white.


Very light straw color. Light intensity nose of chalky minerals, apples, and peach pits. Precise, light-bodied flavors of pear and stones. Although light-bodied, it had an interesting pleasantly oily texture. Lots of minerals in a medium-long finish. 86. Was $12.79 at Richard's on Shepherd.

Time's Idiot Of The Year

I don't want to talk about Putin. He's a scheming little devil. Like the Clintons, people around him mysteriously die. You can take the boy out of the KGB but you can't take the KGB out of the boy.

Gen. Petraeus should have won the distinction of being Time's Person Of The Year. Why did he not win?

What would it say, what would Time be admitting to if Gen. Petraeus was named Person Of The Year?

Yes, American is winning in Iraq. Yes, the surge worked. Yes, Iraq is better off now than under Saddam Hussein's control. Yes, George W. Bush was right. We were wrong.

We all know that isn't going to happen. The liberal media will NEVER admit that George W. Bush was right.

2005 Piping Shrike SHIRAZ (Barossa Valley, Australia)

This was a decent value Shiraz, though showing more of an angular (rather than fleshy) side of the grape.


Nearly saturated brooding black ruby. Medium intensity nose of blackberries, graphite, and toasty balsa wood notes. More angular in the mouth than the nose would lead you to believe -- blackberry extract competing with equal intensity components of peppery minerals and an unusual, high-toned perfumey earthiness. 87. Was $13.49 at Central Market.

Ramadan 1, Christmas 0

Jeff Emanuel at RedState.com has a story today that will just set your anger on fire. I won't rehash the whole thing but I do have some comments. You can read it here.

Was this country founded by Christians or Muslims? Are there more Christians in this country or more Muslims? What holiday is celebrated by more people - Christmas or Ramadan?

If you ask 17 morons in the U.S. House Of Representatives, they might say Muslims and Ramadan.

17 representatives either voted 'no' or 'present' on HR Res. 847, a resolution honoring Christmas. Those same 17 representatives voted 'yes' to HR Res. 635 in honor of Ramadan.

But it gets even better. Compare the language of the two resolutions. They appear in full on Jeff's post.

How much more do we have to endure the hatred and stupidity of our Congress?

Dems United. GOP Fractured.

You may not agree with me about the Dems being united. However, by next Spring they will be united behind Hillary. Well, not as much united behind Hillary as they are united against conservatism and the GOP.

The GOP meanwhile, is fractured. Too many factions fighting for control. I am concerned that those who are not victorious in getting their candidate the nomination will not support the victor. That would be a huge mistake.

There are people who will staunchly disagree with me. They believe a vote for anyone less conservative than Ronald Reagan is a vote for liberalism. They want to turn this country 180 degrees in one election. That is also a huge mistake.

Our focus should be that nothing could be worse than a Hillary Clinton presidency. We must support the candidate who has the best chance of beating Hillary in 2008, regardless of whether we fully agree with their policies or not.

Do I agree 100% with Rudy, Mitt, Huck, or Fred? Not by a long shot. When the primary dust has settled, the Clinton machine will be out to gut the GOP nominee's campaign. We have to support the ones who can stand up against such attacks.

What I fear most is a weak GOP candidate giving Hillary a substantial victory. God forbid.

Global Warming: Politics, Not Science

I'm not a scientist. I'm not a climatologist. I'm not a meteorologist. I'm not a proctologist. But I know when someone is trying to give it to me in the posterior.

Global warming is not about science but about politics, power, and money. Research that shows global warming does not exist or is not man-made is censored by the elite scientific community and the lockstep media.

New peer-reviewed scientific data is contrary to the hype and misinformation being spewed by Al Gore and the UN. We are experiencing nothing more than a natural climate change and there is NOTHING, I repeat, NOTHING, we can do about it.

We didn't create this planet, we can't destroy it, and we can't "save" it from climate change. To think otherwise is beyond arrogance and self-importance.

Those of us who have common sense need to join with those in the scientific community who believe science should be pure and unadulterated by politicians to put an end to this man-made global warming nonsense before it destroys economies around the world. We need to be focused on things we can have an effect on like poverty and disease.

2005 Domaine la Montagnette COTES DU RHONE (France)

A very modern style, fruity, clean, and cheap, but uninspiring, Cotes du Rhone.

Dark ruby color. Straightforward, bright fruity nose -- lots of plum and boysenberry, with a barely discernible graphite-minerally component. Balanced, clean, gulpable, with pretty good concentration and length. No complexity or soul here, however, just lots of red berry flavors, leaving the taster wondering where this generic-tasting wine is from and what varietals it's made from. 85. Was $11.92 at Spec's on Holcombe.

2005 Rosenblum Paso Robles ZINFANDEL "Richard Sauret Vineyard" (California)

A ripe, concentrated, flavorful Zin.

Saturated black ruby/purple color. Richly fruity nose of oozingly ripe spicy black raspberries and sweetly smoky scents. Round and soft on the palate, with great persistence of fruit -- mostly blackberry. Spicy and creamy components as well. Not the most complex or mach style of Zin, but very rich, flavorful, and hedonistic. Very nice balance too for a wine with 15.6 % alcohol. 89. Was $24 and change at Spec's on Smith.

2005 Gary Farrell Sonoma County SAUVIGNON BLANC "Redwood Ranch" (California)

OK, but disappointing for the price.


Very light color. Delicate nose of herby gooseberries and chewy caramel, with a teensy amount of underlying earthiness. Broad mouthfeel, but with very understated, polite flavors -- the strongest being a metallic, minerally component, with bitter herbs too. 83. Nowhere near worth the 25 smackeroos I plunked down.


Nice label though.

"Meanwhile Back in the Year One"

I have been listening to a lot of Jethro Tull lately, thus the tribute in the title to the wonderful tune "Skating Away (On the Thin Ice of a New Day)" - if you want to see some terrific showmanship, you have to watch Ian Anderson performing Thick as a Brick on YouTube...masterful! But you really have to appreciate a group that chose their name in honor of a 17th century agronomist and farming pioneer. Tull was pretty revolutionary in the '70's with the introduction of the flute as a rock and roll instrument, but I always liked their music for the lyrics. They were a sort of "thinking man's" rock and roll when everyone else was exploring the acid rock or drifting to big hair and eventually disco - yuck! Their music was refreshing, irreverent and fun...something that is desperately needed in today's popular music AND political class. (You didn't really think I was going to only write about music today did you?) I actually got onto the whole Tull thing after watching a Democrat debate a few weeks ago...watching Edwards/Obama/Dodd attack the Arkansas Archangel was too much...suddenly, the words for "Only Solitaire" popped into my head - I share them here:


Brain-storming habit-forming battle-warning weary
winsome actor spewing spineless chilling lines ---
the critics falling over to tell themselves he's boring
and really not an awful lot of fun.
Well who the hell can he be when he's never had V.D.,
and he doesn't even sit on toilet seats?
Court-jesting, never-resting --- he must be very cunning
to assume an air of dignity
and bless us all with his oratory prowess,
his lame-brained antics and his jumping in the air.
And every night his act's the same
and so it must be all a game of chess he's playing ---
``But you're wrong, Steve: you see, it's only solitaire.''


There really is a dreary sameness to all of the candidates on the left despite the obvious physical differences. And frankly, on the right, the selection isn't much better although the differences in philosophy are pretty glaring between the two sides. I still think it would be a hoot though to have Dennis Kucinick and Ron Paul mud wrestle to settle the whole damned thing! On the left, they are so busy pandering to their whacked-out base, that they trip over each other to promise more largess and ponder who can orchestrate the fastest retreat from Iraq. On the right, they plump about who is the most like Ronald Reagan. Short answer: none of you are. Reagan had a sunny optimism and belief in this country and her people that none of the elephant herd display. What is missing from this group is a coherent plan that addresses the major trouble we face coupled with a strong, hopeful message that reassures us that we, as Americans, CAN do it. I have perused all the websites of both sides and submit that Fred Thompson, so far, at least has spelled out a plan for each of the major problems that lie ahead including Social UnSecurity.

In total, the right is at least more realistic about the dangers we face abroad...the Paulistas excepted. That will, I believe ultimately get them elected back to the White House. In my humble opinion, security will trump all other issues in 2008. The world is on fire and will most likely get worse before we have to go to the polls. Pakistan is falling apart, the northern section of the country is already controlled by the Taliban and the tribes and is probably a pretty safe haven for Osama Bin Laden. Iran is a powder keg. Iraq is getting a lot better, but without a commitment by the US and the international community, it could easily crumple. Syria and Lebanon are basket cases. Russia is degenerating into a Soviet style bully all over again, buoyed by high oil prices. Africa is...well, Africa. The missing element in all of these locations is freedom, which, I firmly believe will one day come. As Ronald Reagan once observed: "Coercion merely captures the man, freedom captivates him." But in the meantime, we'd better be reloading our clips.

But let's go ahead an put an early handicap on the lead horses that might show up in this great political Circus Maximus:

Hillary!
1. I am not convinced she will get the nomination - the ghosts may be catching up to her and, I suspect there are a number of Dems that are starting to get creeped out at the return of cattle futures, blue dresses and missing files.
2. If Hillary IS nominated, she will be defeated. Her negatives are already so high and she is so divisive that the Pachyderms could probably run Rebo the Clown and win.
3. Finally, Americans usually don't elect people they can't get to like. Hillary is just not very likable...the cackle, the frozen stare, the fake accents...not going to happen.

Rudy!
1. He seems to have the inside track to the nomination, but Dixie and what's left of the Religious Right could stand in the way and at least force him to choose a running mate that is closer to their values.
2. He's clearly strong on national security which, as I have said, is the BIG issue.
3. Character is a big "IF" with him...there may still be some other shoes to drop.

Obama!
1. He's a persuasive, suave speaker..."slicker than Essolube," to quote Penn Warren. But his adoption of positions even further to the left of Hillary in the hopes of securing the nomination will burn him in a general election.
2. His inexperience has not caught up to him yet. Watch for the Clinton attack machine to rip his lungs out if he really starts to threaten the Madam.
3. Second only to Fred Thompson, he has the best voice of the campaign so far. Without listening to WHAT he's saying, and only HOW he's saying it, he sounds presidential.

Mitt!
1. Is he running because his Dad lost? I like Mitt's current positions overall, but daggum, he sure has changed them a lot. My sense is there is less of a philosophical core to the man than a systematic approach to issues and a pragmatic approach to addressing them.
2. I think Mitt is a great manager. He managed the Olympics, he managed Massachusetts...I am just not sure he's a leader. We want someone that will inspire us to rise to the challenges that face our country - not someone that is going to give us a quarterly sitrep.
3. The Mormon thing honestly doesn't bother me. If he wants to move the capitol to Salt Lake City, it would only be an improvement. So their theology is a little strange by nominal Judeo-Christian standards, it seems to me they take great care of each other and exhibit great family values. On the edges they've got major kook factions, but then so do all religions.

Edwards!
1. His hair is too perfect, his teeth are too white...hell, he's prettier than Hillary. But, he may find the nomination in his lap if the other two leaders falter.
2. The "two America's" stuff is going to get stuffed down his throat in a general election. $50,000 to give a speech to college kids on how the poor in America are down-trodden?
3. On the likable index, John Edwards is well below the norm. He's like the kid in school that always raised his hand to the point that even the teacher was annoyed. He's also like the kid on the football team that would drop the pass instead of taking the hit for the team...can we be candid? He's a sissy...Americans don't elect sissies to the Oval Office.

Fred!
1. Okay, I will admit that I am biased here...I live in Tennessee, I have met Fred a number of times...the guy even remembers my name when I see him at the Donut Den. But I will set that aside and be objective. Fred has his work cut out for him. His campaign got off to a late and tumultuous start with staffers coming and going. He lost precious time and fund-raising opportunities.
2. On the plus side, Fred sounds (best voice of the bunch!) and looks the part. I know - it's because he's an "actor." So what! News flash - being an actor takes some smarts. I do think he needs to add a little bit more optimism to his message...he's very realistic about what we face, but he needs to package that message with the reassurance that we are Americans...we put our hearts and minds to something, we are unstoppable. He needs to smile more.
3. If Rudy and Mitt falter, Fred could very well end up being the nominee. He needs to become more aggressive though and go out there and win it. If Rear Admiral Joshua Painter (Fred's role in "Hunt for the Red October") shows up and not Harry Sargent (the White House Chief of Staff in "In the Line of Fire"), Fred could well be our next President.

I will do my best in the coming months to provide you, dear reader, with the insights you need to make the right decision. For myself, I never cease to be amazed at the clownish pageantry of the whole affair. We will rumble on!

Results of 60's Drug Culture

Man is destroying his habitat. Man is destroying the rain forest. Man is destroying the environment. Man is destroying the atmosphere. Man is destroying the ozone layer. Man is destroying the planet.

I heard a new one today. Man is destroying the universe. If you read the article that proposes this myth, you will see the results of the 60's drug culture. That is the only plausible explanation I can derive from this. Too much LSD.

This is beyond stupid. I'll give you my best analogy, free of charge.

Go to the beach. Take a grain of sand and throw it into the ocean. Repeat. Send me an e-mail in 10 years and let me know how much effect you've had on the ocean..

'Nuff said.

Please Excuse Me For A Moment While I...

Please indulge me while I take a moment to celebrate! Woooooo Pig Sooooooie!!!!!!!!

What a fantastic football game today! Regardless of who won today, the Arkansas vs #1 LSU game was one of the best of the season. LSU is a great football team and they have some incredible athletes, but today, Arkansas played like the best team in the country. For those of you who don't know or are in denial, the SEC is the toughest conference in college football and this season proves it.

To all Razorback fans, you can say what you want about Houston Nutt, but today he showed why he is one of the top coaches in the SEC. The game was coached near perfectly. He got the Arkansas players fired up and ready to come out and beat #1 LSU.

To Houston Nutt, you rocked today!! But make no mistake, the Wild Hog formation (which you have used sparingly this season) was the major factor in our victory today. Don't shelve it for the bowl game.

Darren McFadden may not win the Heisman trophy because of low numbers while he was nursing a rib injury but he is still the best all-around player in college football, bar none. 240 yards of total offense against one of the top defenses in the country. Regardless, he will still be the top pick in next year's NFL draft because he's a franchise.

Much kudos to Peyton Hillis. He played the best game of his career. Also to Felix Jones and Matterral Richardson. And to Casey Dick, who has really solidified as a quarterback these last couple of games.

It's been a rollercoaster year but we ended it by showing who we really are. Looking forward to a great bowl game wherever it may be.

Laura Ingraham pwns Sunsara Taylor

Marxist Sunsara Taylor of "The World Can't Wait" employs the standard Bolshevic tactic of flooding the segment with bumper sticker statements like; torture, war criminal, US troops commit war crimes in our name, crimes against humanity. Sunsara can't answer one single question as she resorts to trying to talk over Laura Ingram on the program. Laura Ingraham totally punks Sunsara Taylor who can't get one glove on Ingraham while Ingraham takes on the role of the grown-up and Taylor the role of spoiled child. The Leftists' method of not dealing with reality and responding instead with squaling when presented with real questions and cold hard facts is a tactic they borrow from petulant two-year-olds throwing a temper tantrum whenever their parents tell them it's time for a nap. Crazy Leftists and America-haters perform this sixties-protest-era tactic to shout down those who don't share their dream of a world-wide Socialist Police State. It's time to get back in their faces like Laura did in this segment and refuse to tolerate any longer their disruption of events on US campuses. Peaceful protest is one thing, agitation to the point of attacking conservative speakers and groups or government agents because they take a stand for defense of the United States proves that you are on the side of the terrorists. These sixties-era hold-outs use threats and intimidation to shut down those opposed to their dream of a world-wide Communist State. Nice to see Laura highlight how this person's foolish and ultimately self-destructive behavior stands in stark contrast with adults taking on the roles of defending our nation and liberating others like Iraq and Afghanistan.

Happy Thanksgiving

In 1863 President Abraham Lincoln appointed the fourth Thursday in November as a national day of Thanksgiving. Beginning with the first successful Autumn harvest by Pilgrims to the American continent who ventured forth to escape religious persecution in Europe, those who hold this day dear, have looked back on that time and reflected on the meaning of the celebration enjoyed by Pilgrims and Native Americans in that harvest time so many years ago.

Edward Winslow of Plymouth Colony writing in Mourt's Relation penned the following about the first Thanksgiving feast, "our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after a special manner rejoice together, after we had gathered the fruits of our labors; they four in one day killed as much fowl, as with a little help beside, served the Company almost a week, at which time amongst other Recreations, we exercised our Arms, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and amongst the rest their greatest king Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five Deer, which they brought to the Plantation and bestowed on our Governor, and upon the Captain and others. And although it be not always so plentiful, as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want, that we often wish you partakers of our plenty."

Individual colonies and later states would also commemorate that time until President George Washington proclaimed the first National Day of Thanksgiving in 1789. Part of his proclamation reads:

Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me to "recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:"

Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

Seventy-four years later on October 3rd 1863 President Lincoln issued a proclamation designating the fourth Thursday in November as a time of national Thanksgiving and prayer. While the nation was still in the throws of a violent civil war that at times saw possible intervention by European powers, yet invasion by foreign states was averted and except for the regions where the battles raged, the nation prospered in all things and its population was booming. Lincoln recognized that this phenomenon was not due to human brilliance on his part but by divine graciousness on God's part. Lincoln noted the following in his 1863 proclamation:

Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consiousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.

Our nation is blessed with greatness not because of the result of our human strength or brilliance but because of the pursuit of God by the early settlers and their desire to live as free men. These deeply held convictions carried over into the belief that all men are created equal in the sight of their Creator and that rights are bestowed upon men by God and not by governments as evidenced in the framework of our Constitution.

My prayer this Thanksgiving is that we continue on the path established by the earliest settlers who found the freedom to excercise their faith in the new land and discovered fellowship with the native people that world. May we in like manner seek after, acknowledge and glorify God in everything that we do and while seeking fellowship with all we encounter, may we never betray the faith and core values that have brought us such bountiful blessing today.

Have a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving!

The rest of his George Washington's Thanksgiving proclamation can be viewed here.

Abraham Lincoln's proclamation is available here.

Information about Thanksgiving is available here, here and here.

Thanksgiving Under Liberal Attack

According to a political correctness czar at a school district in Washington state, Thanksgiving is a holiday of mourning for native American Indians and we, as the evil white people who caused said mourning, should teach our children about the "horrors" of Thanksgiving.

Please ignore the fact that American Indians say that Thanksgiving is a time of celebration. That doesn't fit the agenda. The liberal agenda or formula is really quite simple:

White Males = Evil

Everyone Else = Victim of group one

No sane person will deny that native American Indians were betrayed and mistreated. They learned firsthand what happens when you don't control immigration.

While you are eating your turkey, remember that native American Indians are celebrating, too. What happened in the past is in the past. Punishing ourselves and our children will not change the past.

So to you angry, white-male hating liberals, stop making everyone out to be a victim. The only victims are the ones you denigrate by keeping them under your thumb.

Huck Rising

GOP presidential candidate Mike Huckabee is causing quite a stir in Iowa by quietly (and I do mean quietly) equally matching Mitt Romney's numbers. Why is that? Iowans are no-nonsense when it comes to politics and they like common sense and honesty. Mike Huckabee offers both.

Is this surge to the top for real? Will it last? I don't know.

As a lifelong Arkansan, I can tell you Mike Huckabee is a good, honest man despite what you may hear about so called "ethics" violations. Is he the best choice for president? Maybe not. Is he the worst choice for president? Definitely not. Can he defeat Hillary? Highly unlikely unless...

Huck is no match for Hillary's political savvy. However, she is such a disliked figure among conservatives and even many independents, she could defeat herself against a likeable and well-spoken candidate like Mike Huckabee.

I am watching intently to see how Huck does over the next few weeks after he becomes the target of his opponents. If he is tough and savvy enough to fend off Rudy, then he has as good a chance as anyone else to get the nomination. As a matter of fact, he is the one bright spot in the GOP darkness.

I do not agree with Mike Huckabee on all issues, not even some important ones, but if he is willing to fight like he has been to win this nomination, he has my full respect and admiration. And who knows? I could be casting my vote for my homeboy Huck in November '08.

2005 Pascal Granger JULIENAS "Cuvee Speciale" (Beaujolais, France)

This was a VERY TIGHT wine that needs -- atypically for a Beaujolais -- a year or two in a cool cellar.

Dark very purply-ruby. Extremely tight nose of cherries, stony minerals, and hint of cinnamon in the background. Lots of tart cherries and stony flavors, with lots of acidity and some serious tannic structure. Long, austere finish. 87+. Was $18.99 at West Side Wines in West Hartford.

2005 Tenuta San Leone BARDOLINO SUPERIORE "Montesalionze" (Veneto, Italy)

This was one of the best, if not the best, wines I've ever had from the Veneto region -- which encompasses not only the Bardolino appellation, but the Valpolicella (and Amarone) appellation. Just amazing. Bardolino is usually a light, watery, faintly bitterish wine for uncritical guzzling. Not this one.

Started with a dark ruby purple color. Then the nose erupted out of the glass -- eucalyptus, ripe black cherries, fresh cinnamon stick, with a chalky earthiness in the background. Amazing. Haven't smelled anything quite like this in a long time -- bright, intense flavors of spicy cherry, minerals, and cinnamon. Long, long, concentrated finish, yet the wine retained a sense of lightness and balance throughout. I've never tasted a Veronese wine anything like this. Get some of this if you can find it (I've never seen it in Houston). 93. My brother got this for $15.99 at West Side Wines on Raymond Road in West Hartford -- an amazing value.

2002 Jean & Sebastien Dauvissat CHABLIS PREMIER CRU "Lechet" (France)

This was a very minerally, almost austere, but character-filled Chablis.

Very minerally, earthy nose, with lemony fruit opening up after a half hour or so. Very long, lean, bright finish.

Had this at my brother's house in West Hartford, CT. He got it for $38 at West Side Wines on Raymond Road in West Hartford.

2005 Cousino-Macul CABERNET SAUVIGNON "Antiguas Reservas" (Maipo Valley, Chile)

This wine varies significantly in style from vintage to vintage in my experience. The 2005 is good, but somewhat lighter than usual and a bit on the herbal side.

Black ruby-garnet color. Lots of earthy, herbal scents -- verging on vegetal -- which overlay some ripe, plummy fruit. Medium bodied in the mouth, with lots of dark, earthy, graphite flavors up front, then morphing into herbal and black cherry flavors in the back end. Pretty good length, but not as concentrated as in other vintages. Some soft tannin as well may support a year or two of ageing. 85. This was about $12 and change at Spec's, but is widely available in other wine shops and bigger supermarkets.

Fool In The Rain

Ed Buckner, an atheist from the Atlanta Freethought Society is a fool in the rain. His state, Georgia, is suffering from a lengthy drought and he wants to protest Governor Sonny Perdue praying for rain on the capitol steps. What an idiot!

I would like to know what actions Mr. Buckner has taken to bring water to Georgia. What has he done to improve conditions? What has he done to increase water levels in area lakes?

This is a serious condition. What harm can come from the governor asking God for rain to save his state?

It is a good thing I am not God. I would not be as merciful. I would say to Mr. Buckner, "Okay, you don't want anyone in state leadership to ask Me for rain, so be it. Now you will learn the meaning of the word 'drought'."

But I am not God and I sure everyone is breathing a sigh of relief. If I were God I envision myself like Emperor Palpatine in Return Of The Jedi. "What? You don't agree with me? Take THAT!!"

Fortunately, God is loving and merciful and he heard Gov. Perdue's pleas for rain on Tuesday. This morning a storm passed through Georgia and dropped about an inch of rain. That's not enough to make much of a difference but it is better than nothing. Maybe if Mr. Buckner would shut up God might send more rain and get them out of the serious situation they are in.

Veteran Tribute

Thank you to all the Veterans who have served our country and defended our Freedom from the birth of the Republic to the present day.

2005 Mutt Lynch Winery "Portrait of a Mutt" ZINFANDEL (Sonoma County)

If it weren't for just a tad of noticeable residual sugar, this wine would have been outstanding.


Deep ruby color with a tinge of purple. Almost overripe nose of spicy black raspberries, lemon juice, and rock dust. Soft, rich, and ripe in the mouth, with plenty of sweet, earthy blackberry juice flavors. The noticeable residual sugar, however, results in a certain cloyingness, though not enough to make the wine unpleasant, but only to keep it from reaching its full potential. 87. Was about $15 (which passes as cheap for Zinfandel these days) at Spec's on Smith.

2005 "MAROLA" (Emporda-Costa Brava, Spain)

This 65% Carinena/35% Garnacha was pretty good, in a funky way, but not worth a repeat purchase.

Deep, clear, dark ruby color with purple highlights. The nose was fruity but slightly medicinal, with deep grapey and blackberry jam scents. There was a whiff of a pungent, somewhat raw woody note (even though this wine isn't oak-aged), and another component in the background that reminded me of pickled fruit. It was round and soft, with decent concentration, but with moderately high levels of acidity. Not a bad quaffer with tomato-sauce based dishes. 85. Was $8 at Spec's on Smith.

Sanity Prevails

In my previous post I told you about a California school board (the largest high school district in the United States) that was voting on whether founding documents of the United States such as The Constitution and The Declaration Of Independence could be displayed in the school because of their "religious content".

The board voted 4 to 1 in favor of displaying our nation's historical documents. Who was the one person who voted against it and why?

His name is Bob Hampton and he is the president of the school board. Why? Mr. Hampton says the documents reflect a "spiritual agenda". Would someone please tell me how this man got to be the president of the school board?

Below is contact information for the school board. Please thank them for their decision.

Telephone: (661) 827-3154
FAX: (661) 827-3301

Postal Address:
5801 Sundale Avenue
Bakersfield, California 93309

E-Mail: board@khsd.k12.ca.us

Foley 2005 Rancho Santa Rosa PINOT NOIR (Santa Rita Hills, Santa Barbara County)

I had this at America's restaurant, so these notes are from memory.

And my memory is that this was very, very good.

It had very focused, precise, and persistent cherry/pomegranate fruit, with very nice balancing acidity and a long, pure finish. Reminded me of an elegant Volnay or Pommard.

As to the food, my seared "Chilean Sea Bass" was immersed in too much of the clarified butter (or other fat) that the fish was sauteed in, but otherwise it was fresh and flavorful. Either as a result of my getting more sensitive to this as I get older, or because this is a trick that cooks use to get more flavor our of a dish, I notice more and more that fancy restaurants seem to leave way too much of the cooking fat in their finished dishes. Enough already!

2004 Castello di Selvole CHIANTI CLASSICO (Tuscany, Italy)

This was a bit too light for my taste, but it went well with the Provencal braised chicken we had with it.

Medium dark, with garnet at the rim. Loads of high-toned cherry scents jump out of the glass, with notes of spicy sandalwood and granite. Precise, focused cherry/mineral flavors in the mouth, in a lively, medium-bodied frame. Some noticeable tannin, along with buoyant acidity lend a lean tactile impression, but the finish is pretty long. $25 at Spec's on Holcombe. 86.

2004 Hartford Sonoma Coast PINOT NOIR (California)

A very together Pinot Noir.

Bright ruby color. Gorgeous nose of cola, melted brown sugar, oozingly ripe cherries, minerals, and gravel. Intense and earthy flavors, with black cherry and cola flavors at the core, and lots of warm stones in the long finish. Reminded me of a very good Nuits St. George. 88. I got this at Spec's on Smith awhile back, and I think it was around $24.

Absolute, Utter Stupidity

I really wish all of the anti-religious hatemongers would just shut up and go away! Their hatred for anything that might have a moral code for which they refuse to be bound by has blinded them to the foundational principles by which this country's most sacred documents were created. They spew venom at anything that doesn't conform to their own secular humanism.

Trustees of a school district in Bakersfield, Calif., will decide Monday night whether to allow posters bearing the nation's motto — "In God We Trust" — and other historical documents to be displayed in classrooms.

The display of posters of the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights will also be voted on Monday night.

Do we teach our children about the most important documents in the history of this country or do we limit our historical teachings to subjects such as the civil rights movement, Murray v. Curlett, the Equal Rights Amendment, and Roe v. Wade?

My children do not and will not attend public school for this reason. Some would scoff but there is an organized effort to control the minds of our children and to indoctrinate them with liberal ideals while they are young and impressionable. What is done in eight hours in the classroom cannot be undone in just a couple of hours at home. Many children see their teachers as more educated and "smarter" than their own parents. This puts our children in a very dangerous position.

As parents and grandparents, we must regain control of our educational system if this country is to survive. Our children must be taught the uncensored truth about how this nation was founded, how men selflessly gave their lives for the freedom of others, and how with God's help they were able to establish the greatest nation in the history of the world.

NY Times on the Perils of Petrocacy

Good article on Chavez and his vision of a "Bolivarian" Socialist State. Tina Rosenberg provides a glimpse into the mind and manner of the red-shirted Socialist: Chávez is a prophet in search of disciples. He seeks to present Venezuela as a more moral world power, uniting Latin America and poor countries everywhere in a socialist alliance. He has invented a new kind of socialism, which he calls Bolivarian socialism, named for the independence hero Simón Bolívar: a little Marx, a little Jesus, a little anti-imperialism and a lot of the whim of Hugo Chávez, dedicated to the "comprehensive, humanist, endogenous and socialist development of the nation." His is a gospel greased by oil, which is financing his transformation of Venezuela. Chávez is a genius of a politician: charming, folksy, flirtatious. I first met him in New York in 1999, the year he became president. I sat next to him at an interview, very pregnant. He embraced me - "But you should come have the baby in Venezuela!" he enthused.

She also writes about the reality of a government controlled oil company, nationalization brought the government less money and less control. When Venezuela's oil was still in private hands, the government collected 80 cents of every dollar of oil exported. With nationalization the figure dropped, and by the early 1990s, the government was collecting roughly half that amount.

The article is available here.

There is nothing new under the sun. One person sells the poor and uneducated on his vision for a Socialist Valhala here on earth. He gets into a position of power by insurrection or plebisite and begins to consolidate his power so that none of his ambitions remain unchecked. He incorporates everything under his rule; the army, the police, the judiciary, education, the media and corporations so that eventually nothing happens in his country without his consent. He becomes a total and complete dictator and creates for himself a cult of personality. His high-sounding ideals become the bait for the trap he sets to ensnare his fellow countrymen into slavery.

Venezuelans Protest Latest Chavez Power Grab

From the AP: Led by university students, protesters chanted "Freedom! Freedom!" and warned that 69 amendments drafted by the Chavista-dominated National Assembly would violate civil liberties and derail democracy.

The sounds you hear of crickets chirping are the major media's response to this latest assault on freedom by Chavista Numero Uno, Hugo Chavez. Known by his friends in the Communist Dictators Vario as "Raton".

Tens of thousands of ordinary Venezuelans turned out to protest Chavez's latest "Constitutional Reforms" that would allow him to run for re-election for life! The AP reports the, amendments would give the government control over the Central Bank, create new types of cooperative property, allow authorities to detain citizens without charge during a state of emergency and extend presidential terms from six to seven years while allowing Chavez to run again in 2012.

To take effect, the reforms must be approved by voters in a Dec. 2 referendum. Lawmakers are expected to give final approval to the amendments on Friday during a special congressional session.

Since the "lawmakers" referenced in the article are hand-picked appointees of Raton there can be no doubt that they would be rubberstamped by such a farcical legislative body.

The article continues by giving Jimmy Carter's endorsee's point of view on the controversy, He (Chavez) and his supporters say the changes will help move the country toward socialism, while giving neighborhood-based assemblies more decision-making power in using government funds for local projects like paving streets and building public housing.

Sure, like setting up little neighborhood-based informers who will denounce their neighbors to authorities for not being Socialist enough in supporting Chavez's next five year plan. Or deny their college aged children entrance into important Universities or jobs because of "thought crimes" against Big Brother.

Sean Penn Defends Hugo Chavez

Ever reliable little leftist Sean Penn defends Venezuelan Presidente for Life Hugo Chavez on Letterman's show. Penn claims that the crazy little dictator is doing what he does for the benefit of "80%" of the country's people. Sure he is. I guess the pictures we're seeing over the wire of students being shot and firehosed by Chavez's goons for protesting his latest assaults on Venezuelan freedom represent only 20% of the population. Just a few agitators. Penn discounts reports of Chavez's shutting down the country's main opposition TV station by claiming the station was calling for assasination of the portly little despot. Penn is running media interference for his Red shirted running buddy. Nothing to see here folks. Move along.

Pride Comes Before The Fall

Are we seeing the beginning of the end for Hillary Clinton, the smartest woman in the world? Her dismal and unprofessional performance in Tuesday night's Democratic presidential debate did some serious damage and you can tell by the frantic scrambling and spinning going on over the past 48 hours.

Will her campaign crumble? No. She will go into attack mode. However, it won't be her doing the attacking. Remember, she needs to appear "warm and gracious" as James Carville humorously described her. I can think of a lot of adjectives for Hillary but "warm and gracious" are not among them.

The question is, will the attack dogs be enough? What will happen in future debates? Hillary has shown a weakness and you can rest assured her opponents will make it a target.

If they play this right and force Hillary into a few more corners, we might all see a side of her that we've only heard about.

By the way, Russert, don't listen to what the Hillary defense squad is saying. you did your job and you did it fairly.

2004 Altos de Luzon JUMILLA (Spain)

This reserve bottling of 50% Monastrell, 25% Cabernet, and 25% Tempranillo is excellent. I had the amazing 2001 a while back, and while this is top notch, it's not quite up to that benchmark wine.

Impenetrably saturated black purple/ruby color. Rich, chocolatey fruit, with dusty earth, graphite, and eucalyptus notes. Rich, weighty, and very concentrated, with dense flavors of minerals, highly extracted blackberries and cassis immediately enveloping the tongue. Long, intense, and ultimately peppery finish. Not quite as complex as the 2001, at least as I remember it. Loads of soft, ripe tannins. This wine will last, and possibly improve, for another 2-3 years . . . . but it's really nice now too. 88+ Was $19.99 at Spec's on Smith.

2004 Forchini ZINFANDEL Dry Creek Valley "Proprietor's Reserve" (California)

Disappointing. A hard, ungenerous style of Zin.

Black ruby with some purple highlights. Not entirely saturated color. The nose was tight and peppery, with lots of dry rock dust scents, hiding some nice spicy berry fruit. Tight and tannic in the mouth too, with astringent rock dust flavors overpowering the fruit. Very structured -- too structured -- at the expense of the ripe fleshiness I look for in Zins. 82. Was $23.40 at Spec's on Smith.

2004 Palacio de Eza (Navarra, Spain)

This Merlot/Garnacha blend was uninspiring.

A dense, saturated black ruby color was promising, but gave way to a tight nose, with pungent earthy, minerally scents overpowering some nice ripe blueberry/cassis fruit underneath. Tight and dense in the mouth to, but again with the pungent, almost bitterish minerals going on. Some fairly hard tannins coat the mouth as well. Maybe time will soften it a bit, but I wouldn't count on it. 78. I can't remember where I got this, but I think it was around $10.

Edwards in cat fight with UNC Journalism coed

The New York Times picks up the story of the Breck girl's campaign to silence UNC Journalism student Carla Babb. John Edwards campaign is upset over a student journalist's video entry for an MTV award.

The Times writes that Ms. Babb, posted the report on YouTube as an entry to a video contest sponsored by MTV, giving the report the potential for national viewing. Ms. Babb had initially approached the Edwards campaign to interview a student working as an intern at its headquarters, but the piece changed focus after the initial request, taking a closer look at the location of Mr. Edwards’s campaign headquarters in Chapel Hill, in light of its poverty message, which had been a subject of a column in the university newspaper, The Daily Tar Heel.

Edwards apparently didn't want to get nailed with yet another charge of hyprocrisy after those stories came out about his 28,000 square foot home, the $400 haircuts, the swanky job with the Hedge fund to "learn about poverty" not to mention having two bloggers working for his campaign blaspheming the Son of God and mocking the faith of Catholics in print. In reaction to the vile comments made by the bloggers and the vociferous protest that followed Edwards said, "We're beginning a great debate about the future of our country, and we can't let it be hijacked,". I guess it's OK for his campaign to hijacked by anti-Christian bigots.

Captain Ed weighs in on the latest episode of John Edwards stepping in it.

This demonstrates why Edwards won't win any election, ever. His team shows its inexperience and its heavy-handedness at almost every turn. They have no idea how they come across, and that lack of self-analysis comes right from the very top. Edwards wants to pose himself as the champion of the downtrodden and the equalizer who will bring economic balance -- while building himself a 28,000-square-foot mansion that could house hundreds. He's a poseur, an affectation looking for substance, and when that gets exposed, his campaign attempts to censor those who point it out.

2003 vs. 2004 in Tuscany (and Valpolicella)

I've drunk my last 2003 Tuscan wine. I've concluded that this vintage is a loser.

If you recall the news reports, this was the year that Europe sweltered under unprecedented, record-breaking heat. I've read some reports about how this affected the grapes' ripening, but the main thing I've noticed about every single bottle I've had from anywhere in Central Italy -- regardless of producer or appellation -- is the short, lean, drying and astringent finish. Some of the wines actually had nice noses; the noses of others were astringent and lacking fruit. Regardless of how they smelled and how they tasted on entry, however, they all finished lean and mean.

I had the same observations about several Valpolicellas (and other wines from the Veneto region ) I've had from that vintage too.

Now 2004, at least in Tuscany (I haven't had enough '04 Valpos to draw any tentative conclusions), seems to be a whole 'nuther story. Every '04 I've tasted has been bursting with fruit, concentrated and ripe from entry through the finish. But they've also had superb balance. They've not been New World fruit bombs, but quintessential, European-styled dinner wines. I've got a bunch more in the closet and I am looking forward to trying them.

2004 Santa Ema CABERNET SAUVIGNON Reserve (Maipo Valley, Chile)

Because the 2004 Merlot Reserve was outstanding, I gave its brother, the Cab, a shot. It was very good, but not up to the Merlot's level.

Saturated black ruby color. Sweet, medium intensity nose of cassis, blackberries, and a whiff of rhubarb, along with smoky, gravelly, graphite notes. Balanced, ripe, and decently concentrated, in a medium-bodied frame. Loads of very soft, well-integrated tannins. Very much Bordeaux, rather than New World, in style. 87. A good buy at $10 at Spec's on Smith.

Edwards Places Campaign Headquarters in NC

Drudge links to this video captioned, "Edwards' Campaign Demands Student Journalist Yank Story From YouTube". Why is "man-of-the-people-I-was-a-poor-boy-now-I'm-a-pretty-boy" Edwards have to fear in a student journalism piece about where he chose to locate his campaign headquarters? Is Edwards so insecure about people perceiving him as a hypocrite that he wants to shut down the free speech rights of College Students? The video presents both sides of the story and isn't a "hit piece" or anything like it. For a bona fide agenda driven story trying to pass as impartial journalism, please reference crazy Keith Olbermann or aspiring Marxist Chris Matthews.

2005 Cline "CASHMERE" (Mourvedre, Syrah, Grenache) (California)

Beautiful, dark ruby color with a hint of purple. Very forward fruity nose -- lots of black raspberry jam (replete with the tart pectin) with a hint of rock dust underneath. Lots of clean, peppery blackberry fruit in the mouth -- not complex, but fairly gutsy. Soft texture. Full-bodied, with some iodine-y notes in the finish. I think, however, it may have been a little over-enthusiastically sulfured, as my wife had her familiar flushed cheeks reaction to wines that have lots of sulfites. On taste, I'd give it an 85, but with the caveat about the possibly high level of sulfites. Was $13.99 at World Marketplace on Richmond.

12 Stones - Broken

Friday Night Music. 12 Stones are a great power band hailing from Mandeville, LA. Listening to a Marshall stack pushing a mountain of hot guitar riffs over the sound waves doesn't hurt my genteel rock 'n roll sensibilities one little bit.

In time for Halloween - Profile of Code Pink Lunatic

Sweetness and Light has photos and a link from YouTube up on the flipped out straitjacket case that attacked the Secretary of State the other day. Video and still photos of Dr. Rice's encounter with the nutball appear here.

A profile on the sicko is available here. The scary part is that this psycho was a school teacher at one time. Can you imagine leaving your kids in that care of this creature? "You got a D on your test! A DEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeeee!"

In the article she's described as someone who "strongly supports the troops" and then goes on to proclaim, “Our troops are committing atrocities." From one side of her mouth she says she supports our men and women fighting terrorists and from the other side she accuses them of unspeakable horrors. That's the zany, madcap, upside down world of Code Pinko.

Code Pinkos try to intimidate Condi Rice

A Code Pink hag assaults Secretary of State Condeleza Rice as she arrives to testify before the House Foreign Relations Committee on October 24th. How Ms. Rice's security detail allowed this mental case to get within 10 feet of her I hope will be the subject of review by those responsible for the Secretary's physical safety. The screeching, frantic harridan that threatened Dr. Rice was quickly dispatched by members of the Diplomatic Security Service. Police later mopped up the hearing room of other Code Pink lunatics dispersed among the crowd. Thank God this old trout was not armed! Does anyone in the House chamber do a security sweep for goons with red paint splattered on their hands or wearing ridiculous pink colored rags and other ersatz clothing at an event designated for grownups? Between bouts of baying at the moon, the sociopaths at Code Pink love to crow (literally) about how they are "freedom fighters". Yep, they do their level best to fight freedom!

Michael Yon: Message from Iraq

Michael Yon is one of the premier citizen-journalists covering the War in Iraq today. Michael has been likened to Ernie Pyle, the Pulitzer Prize winning columnist who covered the battles of World War II from the ordinary soldiers point of view. Michael's experience as a former soldier and photographer and prolific writer have served him well as he writes about the good, the bad and the ugly aspects of the War being fought in Iraq.

His recent post, "Resistance is futile: You will be (mis)informed." is a clarion call for the West to wake up to the necessity of winning this War against terrorism and recognize that the steady diet of bad news they are getting from Iraq does not reflect the reality of the situation that exists in that land.

Some of the most poingient oberservations he makes in the article cover the differences between what we are told by the mainstream press and Hollywood elitists about what is happening in Iraq versus the day-to-day life and struggle for self-determination that the Iraqi people engage in on a 24/7 basis.

Michael tells of, the bizarro-world contrast between what most Americans seem to think is happening in Iraq versus what is really happening in Iraq. Knowing this disconnect exists and experiencing it directly are two separate matters. It’s like the difference between holding the remote control during the telecast of a volcanic eruption on some distant island (and then flipping the channel), versus running for survival from a wretch of molten lava that just engulfed your car.

Today I am in Iraq, back in a war of such strategic consequence that it will affect generations yet unborn—whether or not they want it to. Hiding under the covers will not work, because whether it is good news or bad, whether it is true or untrue, once information is widely circulated, it has such formidable inertia that public opinion seems impervious to the corrective balm of simple and clear facts.

I wasn’t back in Iraq three days before this critical disconnect rocketed up from the ground and whacked me in the face. There I was with British soldiers, preparing for a mission with a duration of more than ten days in the southern province of al Basra, when someone asked me about the media reports alleging that Basra city had collapsed into violent chaos. Not wishing to trust solely to my own eyes and ears, I asked around and was able to quickly confirm what I’d already noted: conditions in this region had improved dramatically in the months since my previous embed with the Brits.

Read the whole thing here and pass the word around.

Louisiana takes a new direction

Louisiana voters chose U.S. Representative Bobby Jindal to be their new governor in what had been a highly contested election. After the Hurricane Katrina fiasco Governor Kathleen Blanco had decided against running for a second term as the head of the Pelican State.

Bobby Jindal ran on a platform of fighting corruption in government and battling those "feeding at the public trough". Oxford-educated Mr. Jindal is the son of Indian immigrants and becomes the first nonwhite to hold office in the state since the days of Reconstruction.

The A.P. carries the story here.

I wish governor-elect Jindal much success in his new office.

2003 Frescobaldi CHIANTI RUFINA RESERVA "Nipozanno" (Tuscany, Italy)

Another disappointing 2003 -- which I have now all but concluded is a vintage to avoid in central Italy.

Deep translucent black ruby color. Medium intensity nose of gingerbread spices, leather, and winey berries. Good weight and richness upon entry, with flavors of pencil lead and cassis, but as with many 2003s I've tried from this region, it fades in a flash to a clipped finish that is astringent, lean, and minerally. 82. Was about $19 at Spec's on Smith.