Miasmatic Review

The GOP is done.

I don’t post a lot of stuff regarding politics because I was raised there was two things you don’t discuss in politer conversation, religion and politics. Before one of my friends goes off any makes the comment about me being polite is a joke, just shut it now. This, however, is something that just struck me as something I had to talk about. Republicans considering ideological purity test for candidates.

Ten members of the Republican National Committee are proposing a resolution demanding candidates embrace at least eight of 10 conservative principles if they hope to receive financial support and an official endorsement from the RNC.

What are those ten principles?

(1) We support smaller government, smaller national debt, lower deficits and lower taxes by opposing bills like Obama's "stimulus" bill;

(2) We support market-based health care reform and oppose Obama-style government run healthcare;

(3) We support market-based energy reforms by opposing cap and trade legislation;

(4) We support workers' right to secret ballot by opposing card check;

(5) We support legal immigration and assimilation into American society by opposing amnesty for illegal immigrants;

(6) We support victory in Iraq and Afghanistan by supporting military-recommended troop surges;

(7) We support containment of Iran and North Korea, particularly effective action to eliminate their nuclear weapons threat;

(8) We support retention of the Defense of Marriage Act;

(9) We support protecting the lives of vulnerable persons by opposing health care rationing and denial of health care and government funding of abortion; and

(10) We support the right to keep and bear arms by opposing government restrictions on gun ownership;

Some will disagree with me on this, but I see this as the Death Knell of America as we know it. First off if one of the TWO political parties is in such a bad shape that it is trying to force it’s members to live up to it’s standards and principles through a series of reward/punishment (i.e., if you do this, you get money and support. If you don’t, you won’t get anything.) then it can’t be long for the world. In my opinion we’ll end up with a one party system until IT splinters and fractures.

Secondly, to me it shows that politicians that are conservative are a dying breed. Most of them are middle of the road have some conservative views and others that are liberal. As some of my readers and other blogs I read have said, The Republican party is no longer Conservative.

Lastly, if I ran for an office, I would not get the support of the GOP. I don’t agree with at least 8 of the 10 principles. I only meet seven of the ten. I’ll let you guess which three I don’t agree with. I will give you one tip though, I agree completely with number 10.

Some of my friends and readers have joked for years that I’m on watch lists out there. Not very high on them, but still on the lists. Well, what I’m about to say probably isn’t going to help me any if it’s true.

I have no faith left in the American Political system. It’s broken and as far as I’m concerned, beyond repair. The problem with it is what is keeping it from being repairable, the politicians. The good ones don’t seem to go anywhere on a major level and the mediocre, sub par and horrible ones seem to sky rocket all the way to the presidency. I’m not even talking about just the current politicians, any of them over the last 20 years.

I have yet to work or deal with a politician at the Federal level that I honestly felt I could trust or believe what they tell me 50% of the time. I don’t feel they are out for the betterment of America, just for themselves, their careers and their legacy. They twist what should be a simple basic political system as documented in the Constitution of the United States into something that fits their own wants, needs and ambitions. I fear what amendments to the constitution they propose.

I love and support The Constitution of the United States. I, however, loathe the government. I’m just hoping the rest of the American Sheeple wake up before it’s too late.

St. Peter's Old Style Porter

I’m doing this week’s review a night early, it was either that or not do one, and I’m not going three weeks in a row without a review. This beer has been donated by established enabler, Petey of Petey’s Powderhorn. Tonight I’ll be reviewing St. Peter’s Old Style Porter by the St. Peter’s Brewery in Bungay Suffolk, England.

The beer was in a 1 pint 0.9 fl oz green bottle. The brewery’s logo is cast into the glass. The design of the bottle dates back to the 18th century. A blue oval label with a gold border is on the front. The name of the beer is written in black letters. There is a matching rectangular with a description of the beer and the bottle on it.

The coloring is dark brown with a crimson highlights. Light barely passes through. It appears to have no cloudiness from what can be seen when held to a light. A thin off white head formed that faded quickly to a ring around the glass. There is some lacing, but not a lot.

The smell is a mild combination of dark roasted chocolate and coffee malts. There is a touch of dark fruits, like raisins, dates or prunes. It’s very subtle, but noticeable. Like the scent, the taste is mostly roasted coffee and chocolate malts. There is also a slight nut flavor. It’s finished with a bitter backbone that rounded out the flavors. It’s not as strong flavored as an American Porter; it is, as the name states, and old style porter done in the English style.

This is a medium bodied beer with a light carbonation.

This is a pleasant beer to drink. Something for a chilled or rainy evening or even just to enjoy with a good traditional fish and chips. I found it rather enjoyable and could see myself partaking of another sometime in the near future. I give it 6.5 out of 10.

Another Treatment

Since my surgery I have to go in about once every 6-8 weeks for follow up treatments. This consists of them giving me a local and then shoving the largest damn needle I've ever seen into my stomach. Where I get to sit for 10-20 minutes while a pocket of fluid is drained. Not by them pulling it out with the needle, but letting gravity do the work.

It's fun... in that I get to gross people out with pictures kind of way. Especially those that are afraid of needles that make coffee stir sticks seem tiny. Other ways its a royal pain in the... abdomen. So now I sit and am sore and very uncomfortable. I also am not allowed to eat anything for 24 hours, and I have to go in with an empty stomach. Fortunately the discomfort makes eating not that big of an issue.

On the flip side I also really can't drink anything more than water and some juices. Thus there will be no beer review again this week. I'm sorry. I know that makes two weeks in a row. I really need to make up for it. So I will do what I can.

Ill

No beer review tonight my fine readers. Unfortunately I've been stricken with the flu and am just getting over it, I do not feel like tempting the fates tonight. I will either do it tomorrow or Friday.

Beastie Barrel Porter

Ktreva is tired of everyone else getting an Enabler glass and feels she should have one herself, especially since she was one of the first donators. This will be her ninth. I, being the arsehole that I am, will not give her one unless she earns it. She also wants to be the one to find my next favorite beer. This will be her ninth. Using insider information on what is my favorite she went out and found Beastie Barrel Porter by the Barley Island Brewing Company in Noblesville, IN.

It came in a brown glass bottle with a brownish label. There is a picture of a mountain man riding a buffalo. The name of the beer is in light brown lettering on it. Under the name of the beer is the following, “Porter aged in Oak Bourbon Barrels. Don’t let its smooth and creamy nature fool you. This porter is a wild ride and buffy-bucking delicious”.

This beer has a dark, black coffee like color to it, with a hint of ruby coloring to it. It is so dark that light barely passes through it. When poured into the glass, a creamy tan head. The head fades slowly leaving a good thick lacing on the side of the glass.

The smell is an enticing combination of chocolate and caramel malts followed by the scent of the oak barrel. The scent sets up the flavor. The taste consists of chocolate malts backed by oak. Some caramel malts are noticeable as the beer washes over the tongue. A good hop finish on it rounds off the beer. There is a smooth aftertaste, just a hint of coffee malt that is pleasant.

This is a medium bodied beer with a nice creaminess to it that coats the mouth. The carbonation is mild and unobtrusive.

This is a very easy to drink beer. A nice flavor, low carbonation, creaminess; it has a complete mouthfeel that makes this a great beer to drink with friends. I could see myself sitting down and sharing a couple with some friends, especially during the winter months. I give this 7 out of 10.