2020 Chateau d'Armailhac has been uncorked and other ramblings....

[JimHow]

So....

[JimHow]

Starting to get the feeling back in my jaw from election night, thought I would give this a try to see if I want to buy more....

It's a bit tight at the outset.

[JimHow]

So I'm not sure where we are as far as race relations in the country. I think Kamala lost for a number of reasons, but I for one am not going to blame her campaign. I thought she and her Veep running mate rate a great campaign, she had a great debate, I don't know how she could have done much more. I just think there were too many headwinds against the Democrats this year, and the red wave that the experts have predicting finally arrived, in a pretty big way.

If I had to pick between her color or her gender, I would pick her gender as a bigger impediment. There's a bizarre misogyny in this country, what is the cause of it, religion? And yet, in the end, it appears that women really did not come out in the numbers that the Democrats had hoped for.

[JimHow]

But please....

Please....

Do NOT talk to me about GOTV advantages. As a former candidate for local and statewide office, I can assure you this is a myth. There is no "Harry Reid Machine." There is no "They knocked on My Door Three Times in Allegheny County" Machine. These are myths. In my experience, GOTV efforts are young 20 year olds sitting around campaign headquarters eating pizza and hoping to get laid. Then they go out for an hour and a half on the Saturday morning before Election Day and fancy themselves civil rights warriors....

Trust me, there is no such thing as GOTV advantages in pretty much any elections, especially national elections.

[JimHow]

So there must be some political science text book, or Platonic, or Oxford Dictionary definition of the word "Dictator." We must be pretty close to it, no? With the House likely staying red and Mike Johnson more powerful than ever, with the courts granting him criminal immunity, it seems like he can dictate almost anything he wants. There must be data on the likelihood of success or failure of strongmen. I mean, Fidel was in there for what, over 50 years. The Saddams, Muammars, and Nicolae's not so much. Is he more like a two-bit European strongman like in Hungary or Turkey, or closer to Putin and Xi?

[JimHow]

Or is he not a dictator at all, and we'll just get 'em in two years after they overreach, like both sides almost always do?

Is it possible that we are stronger than ever, because a majority of Americans sent a message to the other half of the country that they just didn't buy the prosecutions, they just don't subscribe to the he/him/they woke nonsense...

Or is it just the economy stupid?

[JimHow]

Here's a question that interests me.

It's hard to imagine how Joe could have done any worse in the electoral college, no?

[JimHow]

This much I'll say for sure, and Marcus and I and maybe one or two others here said it: The country didn't buy these prosecutions. It smelled a rat. These prosecutions stunk to high heaven, and now there is going to be retribution. I shudder at what is coming.

[stefan]

Funny thing is, I can't find anyone who admits to supporting Trump. There is a thread on the Berserker board titled "What are you drinking to celebrate…or drown your sorrows?". Not a single person who responded admitted to celebrating. Sure, this is far from a random cross section, but it is more evidence that my theory that normal people who support Trump are ashamed of themselves is correct.

[StBlGT]

I supported Trump. Is there an issue?

[JimHow]

So I have three best friends, you guys have actually met two of them: Steve, Tony, and Ray.
Steve and Tony are left of center.
Ray is right of Attila the Hun.
I love all three of them equally, including Ray the Trumper. He would do (and has done) anything for me, and vice-versa.
After the election, Ray sent me a voice message, quoting Vince Lombardi:
"Show me a good loser and I'll show you a loser."
I responded: "Yeah, we'll get you guys in two years."
Ray's response:
"Ok but make sure I still get my Dunkins in the morning. Don't fuck with that shit. And tattoos all over people."

I promised him that if my side ever gets back in, I won't fuck with his Dunkins, and I will not oppose tattoos for any adult Americans moving forward....

[JimHow]

Lol not one bit StBIGT....
It's a free country.
Your side won this time, we'll get you next time.

[stefan]

>>
I supported Trump. Is there an issue?
>>

No issue. More than half of the voters went for Trump. I am sure that many people I know or come across casually are in that half+, but this year you are the first person who acknowledged that to me and the first BWEer to say that he or she supported Trump. I find that interesting.

[StBlGT]

I wouldn't use Wine Berserkers as a way to know if people are ashamed of themselves to support Trump. Actually, that's the problem right there.

I'm from PA, and there is nobody I know who is afraid to show their support. But, what do I know?

[Nicklasss]

Politicians and wines have something in common : they can't please or satisfy everyone. Of course, we each have our own perception, understanding, values, or preferences. Example : when i said that the 1985 Château Grand-Puy Lacoste was better than the 1986 Château Leoville Barton in Napa in 2002, and Jim said exactly the opposite, we were both right and both wrong at the same time: both wine were offering good things, and Jim preferred the 86 Leo B and me the 85 GPL.

The important thing is that we did not completely understand the position of the other, but we respect it, and we’re still enjoying wine when we are together, even the 85 GPL or 86 Leo B.

[JimHow]

I live in the Maine second congressional district, which went for Trump, and a neighbor down the street has a huge "FUCK JOE BIDEN" sign out front of his house. I'm guessing he supports Trump. Notwithstanding the animated encouragement, I still nonetheless voted Harris. But what do I know.

[StBlGT]

Great post, Nicklasss...I loved your comparison.

[StBlGT]

Jim, after reading some of these recent left wing threads on this site, I already know what you know...say no more.

[JimHow]

Oh I don’t think you know anything about my career in politics, StB, as a Democratic mayor who worked with a Republican governor (John McKernan), Republican congressman (Olympia Snow), Republican US Senator (Bill Cohen) to resolve issues in a respectful, bipartisan way, like state-federal mandates, clean water legislation, state education revenue sharing, etc., etc. The Republicans I used to work with talked to us, not tell us to go fuck ourselves. You know nothing about my political background.

I’ve actually supported your guy more than probably anyone else on this board. He should not have been prosecuted, those were political charges. His team actually approached me to get involved in his criminal litigation.

But… I’ll say no more, because you obviously already know.

[JimHow]

Anyway…

I did not find the 2020 d’Armailhac exciting, I have three bottles left in my cellar, will not buy more. It’s kind of like the 2020 Phelan Segur, as I don’t think you would identify it as Pauillac. Again, I think the 2019 is more interesting. This is a well made, not very interesting wine, I’ll give it 90 points.

[StBlGT]

I've read everything you've posted on this site. Obviously, I don't know you personally, so if there's more to your story, then great!

From what I've read recently, I know enough...that's all.

[JimHow]

Your side won this time, St.B, but we’ll see how things evolve, they usually even out. Anyway, no hard feelings, congratulations to your side, a great victory, I predicted it. And congratulations to my side for recognizing the election results, and not calling for attacks on Capitol Hill and trying to overturn the election and hanging the vice president. It’s the American way.

[StBlGT]

Jim, I have no hard feelings at all. I didn't mean to come across in a way that is aggressive...if so, I apologize. Reading back, it's looks like I may have.

I haven't been here too long, but I love your site and what you do.

Sorry about your d'Armailhac...usually a chateau I like. I agree about 2019...actually 2019 in general. That vintage is firing on all cylinders. I think it's going to turn out close to 2016.

[JimHow]

I have absolutely no problems with your posts StB, I’ve very much valued your input here and welcome different views. I live in the Maine second congressional district, which is a lot like PA politically. Maine is a solidly blue state but this CD has voted for Trump three times in a row, it’s the district that carves out a red electoral vote, just like Omaha is blue in Nebraska. Ah well, I’m sure we’ll all be fine.

Yeah, the d’Armailhac was a disappointment. This seems to be a trait of the 2020s I’ve had, they are certainly ripe and well made but just not very interesting, there’s a sameness to them and they just don’t seem to represent their terroir. This is another example where I clearly prefer the 2019.

[Claudius2]

Guys
The view over here in SE Asia is that whoever the POTUS is, we just have to get on with things. Irrespective of what any individual thinks, Wall St seems to like Trump partly as he is seen as a businessman rather than a politician.

I disagree that the Democrat campaign was well run. I make the point once again that in 2020, Harris was not wanted by her own party. She dropped out early as she accepted that she had little support. Come this year, she “supported” Biden until it was too late for any real contest for Dem nomination, and I’m sorry but that stuck in a few throats - this smacks of a deal rather than any rational democratic process.

I found listening to both Trump and Harris to be cringeworthy. I’m too pragmatic to take any notice of platitudes and hyperbole. Yet watching the situation from over here, I expected Trump to win as his hyperbole was simpler and more concrete than that of Harris.

Having said that, it is a pity to an outsider that the US is CC do divided politically and socially. Politics comes across as divisive, nasty and self absorbed. I do hope that at some time in the future, this changes but don’t hold your breath.

I also need to say I don’t support any politician anywhere - I can’t vote here and am a non resident in my old country so I can’t vote there either. Just don’t ask me what I think of Albanese in Australia- long story.

So peace folks.
Mark

[stefan]

How is the 2018 D'Armailhac? I bought a six pack a few years ago but have not tasted it. In the olden days, Mouton-Baronne-Phillippe was often approachable at age 6-8.

[DavidG]

Great post Mark. I feel similarly about the campaigns and while I’m disappointed that Trump won, I agree with most of your post.

I should make the best of it by taking some profits in equities and indulging in some overseas retail therapy before tariffs kick in.

[Claudius2]

David
I hope the trade war does not happen. However China never gives a shit about international rules including trade, maritime rights, international borders and for that matter, human rights. So Trump and the US per se isn’t the main cause of the economic barriers and fights.

The days of rapid growth in China is for the foreseeable future all but over. The broad view there now is that the party is over for the people and there are economic disasters everywhere- my wife got back from there last week as was surprised how much the mood has changed and how bad the economy is. Published growth data is meaningless by the way, and unemployment and homelessness are now high.

As I’ve written many times, Xi is a thousand times more of a threat than Trump. Trump does not kill thousands of people each year for the slightest disagreement, fight border wars (expansionism) on land and sea every day, engage in widespread persecution of anyone who does not toe the line, nor fakes everything from economic data to endless products. Asia is constantly threatened and there is widespread fear that he will attack Taiwan and a few other regional countries as well.

The CCP is not scared of military aggression - nor is Putin. The CCP embraces violence and force as part of their "struggle". Mao once said during the "great leap forward" that China has 600M people (at the time) and if half die, then they still have 300 million. That leap was one of the most braindead political moves in history, with tens of millions dying from starvation and pestilence, with more millions being gulaged or killed for not fully embracing it. The cultural revolution simply continued the hardship, suffering and persecution. If you want to know what it was like, I'll send you a novel written by a Chinese friend here that I helped edit and translate. Or read the Gulag Archipelago by Solzhenitsyn. Or talk to my wife who grew up with Mao and the CCP, or my Russian friend who escaped the USSR and still has a bounty on his head (he's well into his 70's now, leaving in the nineties).

My point here is that over here, Trump isn't seen as a big deal. He is expected to increase tariffs and do some erratic changes, but not much else. That is miles away from concern about China, Russia and even North Korea. Similarly, Europeans are facing ongoing war in Ukraine, plus there is war in Gaza and increasingly other nations, and Israel is playing brinksmanship. There is serious instability in many other nations in Asia, Africa and central & southern America, and whilst Trump is not likely to help, there is already a lot of serious problems that are more worrying.

I would not have voted for either Trump or Harris. The anti-democratic nomination of Harris plus the stupid mistakes made by the Biden-Harris term would rule her out for me. I've had enough of the meaningless platitudes, slogan throwing and bigotry. A panel of political commentators in Singapore the other night discussed the reasons both why Harris lost and why she got 15M less votes than Biden in 2020. Strangely, they are rational points I never hear from the US media. The reasons mentioned were:

1. The undemocratic nature of Harris' nomination (as per my comment above)
2. The failure of the Democrats to address the extent of mass immigration and the stresses on the American people, state and local govts resulting from it.
3. The arrogance of the Democrats - who like in 2016 started name-calling and belittling anyone who wasn't with their program
4. The failure of the Democrats to connect with much of middle America, who were concerned about practicalities (eg, housing costs, inflation, incomes, law and order, and just getting thru life without hardship), and even worse, the cynical dismissal of their needs and concerns.
5. Focusing on divisive and nasty identity politics, victimhood/oppression narratives, and the ensuing moralistic hatred of everyone and anyone who does not accept it all. A few also mentioned ant-capitalism, leftist ideology and attacks on freedom of speech and the press.

So guys, if the political bifurcation of the country continues, then all I can say is good luck. Politics will remain ugly, divisive and full of slogans and platitudes rather than policy issues.

regards and peace
Mark