We all know that Senator Bob over the years has
proved himself to be a lecherous bastard of quite
astonishing proportions.
That he attempted the
things with women that he did I do not find quite
surprising. What I do find surprising is what a
tightwad Sen. Bob seems to be. I mean, the guy is
a Republican (no offense Reverend, but I am
speaking in generalizations here), a long
standing Senator and he is a cheap SOB. Of all
things to have as a vice, boxed wine has got to be
one of the cheapest and the worst. I happened to
try boxed wine for the first time in years last
election day (how oddly appropriate) just for the
"thrill". It was unbearable. It had no flavor, no
element to it that reminded me of even the worst
bottled wine I had ever tasted. Think about it. The
guy has a 6 figure salary, unbelievable perks,
free parking, no compulsion to follow the laws of
the land and receives gifts and meals from
lobbyists almost daily. Yet, this is Sen. Bob's
beverage of choice.
Since the Republican takeover of Congress,
Washington D.C.'s swankiest watering holes have
reported substantial increases in the purchase of
vintage wines, premium liquor, imported beer
and bottled water. But Bob refuses to budge on
boxed wine.
While wine is still a predominantly European
drink, boxed wine is the quintessential American
alcoholic beverage (after Bud that is). Where else
in the world would people have thought to put
wine in a plastic bag inside a waxed box fitted
with a spigot. The idea is so craftily U.S.A. it is
almost mind bending. You see it is not the
beverage, it is the concept, the package, the
ability to sell. The art of the Exterior as Substance
was rarely painted as well as by our beloved
senator. He is one of the most uniquely cagey
guys in American political history.
Perhaps
boxed wine is part of the image, both images
really. Boxed wine is certainly not hoity-toity and
in the Senator's recent ideological flip flop his
perceived base of voters was by and large blue
collar. Being able to slug down a few glasses of
the pink stuff at a fund raising BBQ undoubtedly
added to the persona of the "One Of The Boys"
Senator. On the other hand, the image of a man
out of control, searching for the cheap, long
lasting drunk while making lewd passes at almost
all the women who came into his office also comes
to mind. While the two images may be
incompatible they were the two sides to Mr.
Packwood's coin. But is one image the correct
one? The man had (and still does, mind you)
access to the resources with which one could
enjoy the finest. While developing a palate for
wine may take some time, once you have tasted
premier Burgundy, Mondavi Cabernet and the
like, scaling back even a little bit is difficult.
There are millions of examples of politicians
giving up luxury items for the sake of
appearance.
Senator Bob is the consumate
politician and I think that played a role in the
creation of a psyche which ultimately took him
over. Prowess with women, holding your booze
and drinking the "people's drink" — be it Bud,
boxed wine, or rotgut -- are all attributes that in
times past were seen as characteristics of a true
sure man. This is the America Bob Packwood
thought he was in touch with, and perhaps was
for a period of time. Times change.
• tmlv haate W vkM
Fresh, organically grown produce and whole foods ... toi the health of it IJ
Laurel's
Cannon
Beach
Wine Shop
263 N . Hemlock
(5 0 3 ) 4 3 6 -1 6 6 6
Your picnic headquarters!!
We have C am bozola & Stiltan!
P a s tr a m i, S a la m i & P r o s c iu tto Too!
We bake our own
Ita lia n S p ecialty
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Picnics for here or to go!
—- t Æ ------- O
Check us out, we're worth the drive.
312 Pacific Hwy S. Long Beach, WA
Open at 10 AM; Closed Tuesday l-(3 6 0 )-6 4 2 -
2535.
Cannon Ucach
In Coaster Theater Courtyard
Established 1977
Featuring Northwest, California
& Imported Wines
Collector Wines From 1875
Through Current Vintages
Featuring Over 1000 Wines
Wine Racks, Glasses &
Wine Related Items
W in e T a s tin g
Every Saturday Afternoon
1-5 PM
Different Wines
From Around The World
Each Week
QUIET COTTAGES
CLOSE TO BEACH
TEMPEST VINEYARDS
Keith V. Orr
Janitor, Winemaker, President
9342 N.E. Hancock Drive
Portland, Oregon 97220
503/252-1383
YOUR HOST
PATRICK KEALEY
HIDDEN
VILLA
MOTEL
(503) 436-2237
188 E. VANBUREN
P.0. Box 426
CANNON BEACH, OR
Open 11 AM-5 PM • Closed Tues.
436*1100
124 N Hemlock
P.O. Box 652. Cannon Beach O R 97110
A natural
choice -
from beach
to boulevard.
ANTHONY STOFTIELLO
=====
'■■= Architect
Earth friendly architecture
Consultant - Educator •
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Conscientious material use
Licensed in Oregon and Washington
310 Lake S t • FOB 1Z. Ilwaco, WA 9 6 6 2 4 ( 2 0 6 ) 6 4 2 - 4 2 5 6
THE
R E N T A L S • SALES • T R IP S • CLASSES
A N N IE O ifiÄ t
487 HWY 1O| W - Ä
Recommended Wines for the Month: The
heat is finally here and new wines are popping
up all over the place. You may have to search a
bit for these three but the reward of the find will
be worthy of the pursuit.
La Garza Cellars 1993 Dry Riesling:
Ordinarily I avoid Rieslings, except when turned
into silky sweet dessert wines; however this Dry
Riesling got my attention. It is almost completely
dry so the tart fruit flavors can come through
without a moderate sweetness to mask them. The
wine is quite light, but substantial enough to
stand up to pungent cheeses and hardy breads.
Acme Wineworks N on-V intage Pi not Noir:
You may think that Wile E. Coyote orders this to
aid in his quest of catching the Roadrunner. If
he's the genius he claims to be, he would. Acme is
the second label of John Thomas who makes some
of the most exquisite Pinot in Oregon. His non
vintage Pinot, for only $11, is rich, full of dark
fruits and in possession of a fine set of finishing
tannins. It comes uniquely packaged so you cant
miss it on the shelves. Go asking for this one.
Ashland Vinyards 1992 Cabernet
S a u v ig n o n : Rarely does an Oregon winery
produce a Cabernet worth going into detail about.
This is one of them. Despite being young it is big
and quite full already with a load of tannins
which give the wine the promise of a long cellar
life. This one can be drunk up now or saved for
savoring down the line.
)û UVPEk LETT EME. JULY IÎÎ5
IN W H E E L E R . O R E 6 O N
Casual Dining
Overlooking the Mestucca River
KAYAKING ENHANCES LIVES
ART SAVES LIVES
Spirits • Hot Sandwiches
Fresh Seafood Dinners • Home Baked Desserts
Live Music Every Saturday Might
(5 0 3 ) 9 6 5 -6 7 2 2
pacific city , oreqoh
Columbian Cafe
1114 Marin« Driva
(Istoria. OR 97103
503-325-CflFE (2233)
Fit Sam-Zpm
M 10am - 2pm
URIAH HULSEY*
Mother Nature's
Natural Foods • Juice Bar
298 Laneda Avenue
P.O. Box 737
Manzanita, Oregon 97130
503 • 368 • 5316
M o n - S a t 10 - 5 3 0
C lo s e d S u n d a y
* ★ *
Northwest Best Places
A w a r d • ! B «cellenca
77ie Wine Spectator
1197 S. HeaUack
P.O. Baa 41
Carnata leach, O B 9711t
(991)436-1179