Daily Archives: December 13, 2008

Weekend Wine Review: Charles Shaw Valdignie

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I do like a good wine tasting.  From time to time, I like to share a good wine review or two on this blog.   When the home improvements go through (end of December), you will see a separate page devoted to my wine/food reviews.

Tonight, my roommate offered me some of the wine she recently purchased at Trader Joe’s.  She had tried this wine, when going to pick up a few groceries, and fell in love with this Charles Shaw 2008 California Valdignie.

At first, I was skeptical, thinking that this was going to be like other Charles Shaw wines I had previously that were not so great.  However, I was pleasantly surprised by the hints of cherry and oak that were laced throughout the wine.  This beautiful red wine would pair well with a chocolate dessert or a warm pastry dish.  For the cost of $3.00, this dessert wine would be a great asset to your Christmas (or holiday) party.

Although, I am a huge fan of a fine Virginia Cabernet Franc (my favorites–Fox Meadow Vineyards Cab Franc or Fabbioli Cellars Cab Franc), this wine is a great departure (if you’re craving a taste of California).

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Colin Powell’s Thoughts on the Republican Party

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Recently, CNN conducted an interview with former Secretary of State Colin Powell discussing his views on how the Republican party can begin winning again.  Unfortunately, his views were to push the party towards the middle, and he mentioned that Republicans need to stop talking about principles and stopped that we need to stop listening to Rush Limbaugh.

Stop listening to Rush Limbaugh, what is he smoking (or drinking)???  Excuse me, Mr. Powell, but who do you think you are talking to?  Rush Limbaugh is a strong, unabashed conservative, who believes in improving the party.  Yes, I try to listen to him, when I get the chance.

Enough of this rant, I am going to move into the other components of his CNN interview.   Powell’s comments were particularly concerning with his statement that while it is okay being a conservative, it will also lead to the GOP being in the minority for a long time.

“I think the party has to take a hard look at itself,” Powell said in the interview, which was taped Wednesday. “There is nothing wrong with being conservative. There is nothing wrong with having socially conservative views — I don’t object to that. But if the party wants to have a future in this country, it has to face some realities. In another 20 years, the majority in this country will be the minority.”

Powell, who crossed party lines and endorsed President-elect Barack Obama just weeks before the election, said the GOP must see what is in the “hearts and minds” of African-American, Hispanic and Asian voters “and not just try to influence them by… the principles and dogma.”

Conservative values have been the hallmark of our party.  The values and principles that our party was founded on has attracted many voters in communities across the country.  When we are not tainted with corruption, our party has worked effectively to bring fiscal accountability to the forefront, government transparency, and protecting the sanctity of life.

I disagree with Powell’s statements.  Being moderate might win races in Northern Virginia or other liberal metropolitan areas in the U.S., it does not win races in Main Street America.