Recession Whine

Struggling vintners and liquor store owners in New York have come out with this modestly priced wine ($4.99) to try to combat the recession. I'm not sure what the mascot is, but he has an appropriate 1930s air to him, with a megaphone and what looks like an Uncle Moneybags frock coat.

Next up: Recession Cheese.

Drinks On Hillary!

Poor Hillary. Drowning her sorrows after a fifth of Glenfiddich, press corps holding her hair back.

Actually, you know, she looks down-to-earth in these photos, even if she resembles her daughter Chelsea after a night out clubbing.

It's yet further proof of the biggest revelation of this Presidential race: how much she's rehabilitated herself in my eyes.

Sure, I still think she's corrupt, egomanical and with an ambition which knows no bounds -- but at least she's not Obama and his cadre of compadres.

It'll be I on the sauce if he gets in.

BREAKING: The DNC voted to award half-votes for the Florida and Michigan primaries to each of the candidates. Bizarre.

Here's a just published commentary by a fellow blogger, Advance Indiana:

The DNC today voted to restore delegates to the Democratic National Convention, both pledged and unpledged delegates, to half-vote status. In Florida, where Clinton defeated Obama 50%-33%, she will net a 19-vote edge in pledged delegates. Where it gets really screwy, though, is the DNC's decision to automatically award pledged delegates to Obama in Michigan where he did not even appear on the ballot. Under the plan approved, Clinton receives 34.5 delegates to Obama's 29.5 delegates in Michigan. Clinton stalwart, Harold Ickes, condemned the DNC for substituting its judgment for that of more than a half-million Michigan voters. He promised a credentials fight at the convention, even though Clinton supporters on the panel voted for the proposal. Clinton supporters repeatedly disrupted the meeting to protest what they saw as a disenfranchisement of Florida and Michigan voters. MSNBC said today's decision will now push the magical number to win the nomination to 2,118 delegates. According to their count, Obama is about 65 delegates shy of winning the nomination.

Can someone explain to me how Senator Obama could receive ANY delegates from Michigan, as he strategically withdrew his name from the ballot?

Either way, still continuing the fine tradition of being the Party of Half-Measures, Half-Votes, and the Half-Hearted.

IN THE COMMENTS: My blogger colleague friend from the left side of the political spectrum, Eli Blake, reminds us that:

The Republican party ALSO penalized Florida and Michigan by taking away half their delegates. I'm surprised that as a Florida Republican you were unaware of that.

Absolutely, and thanks for the reminder.

But my greater point is that the Republicans stuck to their guns. The candidates in both primaries knew what the ground rules were in Florida and Michigan, going in. It was the Democrats, however, who changed their rules at the zero-hour and awarded half-votes.
To suddenly make a volte face given future circumstances strikes me as particularly weak.

Had circumstances been the same on the Republican side, and if Huckabee had decided to challenge the rules, I would've thought the same thing had the RNC caved into pressure.

30 Short Dick

It's a restaurant bill, or facture as the French have it, from the most Eurotrash of all "in" ski resorts -- Verbier.

Speaking of waiters, the garçon apparently is one Gregory, not Grégoire, if you please. The bill is written out in Swiss francs, with convenient Euro conversion below it -- a walloping total over €500 for a party of 4.

No wonder I stick to Megève.

Some of the items are delicious such as jambon fumée (smoked ham), fondue tomate, and a very recognisable banana split. Let's not forget that Champortay just sitting there, mocking us for our love of "le champagne Americain" (water).

But then there is the enigmatic "30 Short Dick". And you know what?

Your guess is as good as mine -- but mine's probably filthy.

We Will Sell No Wine

Two Wine Notes of interest:

RIP Ernesto Gallo, at the grand ole age of 97. A pioneer of the American wine trade if ever there was one.

This reminds me of my great-grandmother (who ushered in the century in 1900): she had a glass of hock every day of her life until she died at the ripened vintage of 94, God rest her bubbly soul. In Vino Longevity...

Also, to those of you who are interested in the grape, on 29 March 2007, from 7-9 PM, there will be a wine-tasting event on Miracle Mile in Coral Gables, proceeds going to the Miller School of Medicine at the University of Miami.

Tickets are a "mere" $40, but $100 if you plump down for the VIP reception at 5:30 PM.

Just head on over to the 100 block of Giralda Avenue, and rev up your tastebuds...tastebuds, wine, rosebuds, hmm.

I have suddenly thought of an infamous commercial tied to our topic.

Do you recall this gem of yesteryear?





Sure, it's "only" Paul Masson, a joke!, ein Witz!, un blague! of a wine. But who cares. It's Orson Welles.

Look at that eyebrow going up, just as he intones with that splendid, unforgettable baritone, "We will sell no wine, before its time".

God, I'd have drunk Bartles & Jaymes if he had flogged it.