Burlington

Republicans have made me wonder recently, am I a "real American?"

I feel conflicted. I live in a small town, but I drink delicious locally brewed craft beers. A true American probably drinks mass produced factory swill made from companies owned by foreign corporations (ahem, Anheiser-Busch).

I grew up middle class in the square states in the middle of the country and went to public school, but I'm not a plumber who lies about his income (not %250k), his taxes (not paid), his profession(not a plumber), and his name (not even "Joe").

Despite Jon Stewart's helpful quiz (http://www.thedailyshow.com/vide/index.jhtml?videoId=188637&title=Quiz:-...?), I'm still confused. This is all so much more difficult than the 2004 elections when the Republicans told me exactly what I was: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4-vEwD_7Hk

I'll see you tonight, drinking your unamerican local beers:
American Flatbread
Thursday (today!) 8p,-10pm
115 Saint Paul St
Burlington, VT 05401

I'll bring DL table tents. We'll be by the bar. Call me at 267-237-7488 if you can't find us.

--Arshad Hasan

Loved the debate. Loved it. An actual exchange of ideas, challenging misinformation, and - shockingly - interaction among the debaters.

But I have to say, I can't blink as nervously or as rapidly as John McCain if I tried. And all that teeth gritting has GOT to be bad for John McCain's dentures. Plus, who actually uses the word "cockamamie" in serious conversation? Probably the same people who use the word "festooned".

All the polls out have Barack Obama winning the debate among independents and undecideds by double-digit margins, making this debate the most decisively in Obama's favor of all of them.

Oh! And let me tell you what I learned about "joe" the "plumber". His name is actually sam (middle name Joe). And he's not a plumber. And he doesn't have his license to practice. And he shouldn't be so worried about his taxes... since he's avoided paying them and has lien against him.... Oh, it just gets better I'm saving the best parts for tonight.

I cannot wait to talk about this. Over a beer. With you.

A perfect night for Drinking Liberally
American Flatbread
Thursday, 8pm - 10pm (today!)
115 Saint Paul St.

Look for the table tents at the bar or the ledge by the bar. If you get lost, call me at 267-237-7488.

If you saw the debates the other night, and witnessed John McCain point to Obama referring to him as "that one," you might be pleased to note that you can now get Obama T-shirts and buttons with the logo and "that one '08" on it.

I'm so proud of America, sometimes.

After our hiatus last week (debates and all), I'm proud to return to American Flatbread this week and drink with all my DL peeps.

Drinking Liberally
American Flatbread
8pm - 10pm, Thursdays (today!)

--Arshad "this one, no, over here, yeah, that one" Hasan

Unfortuanately, American Flatbread does not have a TV. Normally, that's a good thing. In this case, it makes debate watching a bit more difficult.

I would not miss the Biden-Palin debate for the world, so I'm cancelling Drinking Liberally for tonight. In it's stead, I'm happy to help people find or publicize their debate watching party.

- Fellow Burlingtonian Keith Kennedy talked to the Windjammer restaurant/bar and they'll be switching over their TVs to the debate tonight.

- The Burlington Dems are hosting a debate-watching party/fundraiser for Obama tonight at the Main Street Landing Film House at Lake and College on Burlington's Waterfront. Silent auction begins at 7pm, debate watching at 9pm. Comtact Rachel Seelig at rseelig@vermontforchange.com or (802) 651-7151 for more details. Rep Peter Welch will be there.

What else? Where else are people watching the debate? Email me. Call me.

And what kind of Liberal Drinker would I be if I didn't have some drinking games in store for all you debate watchers?

- http://palinbingo.com/ was created by the Boise, ID chapter of Drinking Liberally.

- Huffington Post blogger, Josh Nelson, wrote up some of his own rules: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/josh-nelson/palin-biden-vp-debate-dri_b_13...

- And even Time Out New York got in the spirit of things with this little gem: http://www.timeout.com/newyork/tonyblog/?p=7201

Enjoy.

--Arshad Hasan
burlington@drinkingliberally.org