Currently we're in Puerto Escondido, Mexico. Tuesday night we went to Steve's Bar and joined about a dozen other gringos enjoying the cool of the evening and Steve's hospitality.
Steve is from Streator, Ill. In the early 1960s I played piano in a bar in Streator so Steve and I talk about Streator, although when I worked there, Steve was two. Nevertheless, we're buddies, probably because I'm the only other person he's ever met in Puerto Escondido who knows anything at all about Streator.
Steve's Bar is known for making a great margarita and celebrating both U.S. and Canadian Thanksgivings with turkey, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. It's also known as the home-away-from-home for ex-pats and long-term tourists who don't care for the gold-chain wankers and the time-share set.
We've never been there for either of the Thanksgivings, and I gave up margaritas some years ago so it's hard to attest to the quality of Steve's offerings, but the rest of the crowd likes the place and my dear wife does enjoy the
margaritas.
This evening the conversation has turned to politics and we're watching CNN International and the Republican primaries from Iowa.
I'm sitting at the bar with Hans, an ex-pat Dutchman who runs an ice-cream parlour and chocolate shop. Hans's place never seems busy, but it's been around for a number of years. We all suspect Hans may have other - less obvious - sources of income. Next to Hans is John from Regina. John is a raving socialist whose left-wing credentials go back to the CCF, J. S. Woodworth and Tommy Douglas. John loves three things in life: the NDP, Steve's margaritas and Mexico - and in that order.
I'm next to John and beside me is Shari, a gorgeous 50-something from Calgary via Dallas via Edmonton. Shari's had two husbands and is currently happily travelling with Glen who's from
Ottawa.
Shari and Glen have been a number for two years and first met in Steve's Bar. They travel a lot in the summer and spend winters in Mexico. Glen is on the other side of Shari looking a little drunk but really happy.
Steve is glued to the TV as the Republican results start coming in. Puerto Escondido is on Central time and at around 8 p.m. polls are reporting.
Hans looks up at the TV and says, "So what's this all about"?
Steve, the only American at the bar, looks perplexed, then says, "Well, it's the Republican party selecting who it wants to run to be President."
Hans looks more perplexed than Steve and asks, "And it only happens in Iowa?"
Shari, who has lived in Texas, answers Hans saying, "No, these caucus nominations happen in every state, it's just that the Iowa caucus goes first.
At this point, John lifts his nose out of his margarita and says, "Hey Hans, you know the difference between a
conservative caucus and a cactus?"
Hans shakes his head.
John says, "In a conservative caucus the pricks are on the inside." Then he looks at me and says, "Hey Strachan, you know who said that first?" It's an old joke, but I have to admit I don't know.
"John Diefenbaker, Feb. 3, 1963 after his cabinet turned on him. That's why I never trust a Conservative."
John is on a roll and says, "Hey Steve, you want to know how politics work in Canada?"
I'm sure Steve could care less, but John's a good customer.
"Well Canada is like an old cow, the West feeds it, Ontario and Quebec milk it, and you can well imagine what it's doing to the maritimes."
"That's colourful," I say.
"It's also bloody true," says John.
"You know who said that?" Without waiting for an answer, John says, "Tommy Douglas, it was in June, 1983, Weyburn, Saskatchewan, I was there."
Steve is back watching CNN; they're showing a clip of Rick Perry, Governor of Texas and a Republican candidate for the Iowa race, Perry says, "Folks, we are going to take America back."
Shari looks up and says, "Yeah back to the stone age." She turns to Steve and says, "I lived in Texas and that clown is no better than the last Texas Governor who became President. "
The bar is quiet, no one, not even Republican supporters talk about George Bush anymore.
As the Iowa results come in we see the top three are bunched. A CNN analyst says the Iowa caucus is decisive in that it determines who drops out.
Still in the race are businessman Mitt Romney, social conservative Rick Santorum and libertarian Ron Paul. Those three have around 25 per cent support from the Iowa caucus.
Steve looks sceptical. There's no clear winner and the winning candidates' ideologies are all over the block.
John looks at the numbers, drunk or sober he's a good observer of the political scene in any country.
"You know what," he says, "Nobody won tonight; this result is a dog's
breakfast."
Steve nods his head, "Yeah, there's no real leader here," he says.
Shari has a sip of her beer, turns away from the TV, looks at Steve and says, "You're wrong, there is. The Republicans have just re-elected Barack Obama."
She's right.
