Drinking Liberally Blog

Parliamentary Trick...or Political Treat?

Justin Krebs — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:18:18 -0500

The Republicans scream that reconciliation --
a process by which a majority gets things done --
is a "parliamentary trick"...while a small minority
holds the Senate hostage with the filibuster threat.

They shout & stamp & wheeze & wince
that Democrats are undemocratic to consider it
...while they refuse democratic up-or-down votes
on critical appointees with no real opposition.

One Senator can obstruct extended unemployment benefits
& another can put holds on hundreds of measures,
wasting our time, money & chance to improve our country.

If reconciliations is a "parliamentary trick"
at least it makes progress -- a political treat.
And it's time Dems go Trick-or-Treating.

Let's wreck their silly notions with reconciliation
& show that Washington actually can work.

I'd toast to that.

Join your friendly neighborhood liberal drinkers
to talk polls & pols, elections & distractions
at your local progressive social club.

DRINKING LIBERALLY
Find - or start - a chapter near you.

Obama: We Know You Can Run, Now Prove You Can Pass

Justin Krebs — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 07:34:15 -0500

After running on healthcare in '08,
& working on it for most of '09,
Senate Dems & the White House seem to realize
it only counts if they actually pass reform
...even if it's "only" with a majority vote.

Reacting to the Tea Party & Scott Brown win,
Dems need to see they can't run as "populist"
unless they pass real regulations on the banks
that still profit while Americans are out of work.

And after running time and again for gay rights,
Dems are finally working on Don't Ask, Don't Tell
which makes the GOP runs the other direction.

We know Obama's got a great running game
...now it's time he proves he can pass.

And since the GOP is running away & taking a pass
Obama just needs his own majority to get in line.

Join us for a run of good conversation
as we pass around a pitcher of liberal libations
at your local progressive social club.

DRINKING LIBERALLY
Find - or start - a chapter near you.

A Snowball's Chance in DC

Justin Krebs — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 07:00:38 -0500

A Republican winning Kennedy's seat
had odds of one-in-a-million.
Then Scott Brown won.

Getting any GOP support in the Senate
would happen once in a blue moon.
Then the jobs bill passed.

So watch out if you say that healthcare
has a snowball's chance in hell...
you might end up with a face full of slush.

A full-day bipartisan healthcare meeting
seemed less likely than Snowpacolypse 3
yet maybe the President't 6 hours on C-SPAN
will pull a masterful snow job after all.

He may not need a snowball's chance in hell
...just a snowball's chance in DC.

Come out to toast a liberal libation
to the fact that healthcare is still alive
& that the Senate passed something this week
with your like-minded left-leaners
at your local progressive social club.

DRINKING LIBERALLY
Find - or start - a chapter near you.

In "By" vs. "Buy," Bayh Took a Bye, so We Say Bye Bye

Justin Krebs — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 08:41:14 -0500

A handful of Senate Dems finally call for reconciliation
to let the majority that was elected pass a public option
but the healthcare industry will spend whatever it takes
to buy our democracy & make whatever they can.

Regulations to rein in the rampant recklessness
of a financial industry that imploded our economy
gets watered down as Senators of both parties angle
for cash from the Wall Street banks they would regulate.

And as Congress meanders toward moderate measures
to remedy the Supreme Court's decision on corporate money,
those corporations will spend what they can now
to ensure their ability to spend even more.

While a Party of No & hapless majority paralyze the Senate,
centrist Senators like Evan Bayh play to the middle,
don't show leadership, hedge, hem & haw,
preventing progress & letting corporate interests win.

So it's not so sad saying "Bye, bye, Bayh" --
in the battle whether it's government "by" the people
or whether corporations "buy" the government --
you gotta take sides...you can't take a bye.

Toast bye to Bayh as you buy a drink
& let the evening pass by as you share a think
with like-minded lefties and liberal libations
at your progressive social club.

DRINKING LIBERALLY

Senate Protocol: More Crippling Than An Act Of God

Justin Krebs — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 08:45:22 -0500

Threat of a filibuster by a 41-seat minority
has prevented any Senate work on legislation
for jobs creation, financial reform or campaign finance
...well before Snowmageddon sent our reps home.

An unprecedented move by a bitter Senator
holds up 70 appointments to help run the government
freezing any progress in Washington
...& that was before Snowpocalypse hit.

Despite bipartisan hand-holding by the President,
the idea the GOP'd have a hand in healthcare
had a snowball's chance in Hell
...even before snowballs flew through DC.

Snowstorms may bring our lives to a halt
but Snow Jobs bring DC to a freeze every day.

Senate protocol's even more crippling than an Act of God.

They might find excuses not to do their jobs,
but we'll do ours: braving the cold & warming the night
with political pals, liberal libations & cozy conversation
at your local progressive social club.

DRINKING LIBERALLY
Find - or start - a chapter near you.

Don't Need a Tea Party...but Do Need a Drink

Justin Krebs — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 09:12:08 -0500

The President asked Dems not to run for the hills.
Since then they've folded on financial reform,
skipped out on healthcare & generally stayed quiet.

He called upon the GOP to do more than say No.
Then in one voice, they all said No.
Does a double negative make a positive?
No -- it just makes them more negative.

Meanwhile, AIG awards excessive bonuses,
corporations push for more "personhood" rights
& Goldman awaits record pay-outs.

Our representatives aren't representing us,
but they are taxing us to support corporations
...you can see where the Tea Party gets its anger.

Yet, I'm not drawn to this week's Tea Party Convention
...I'll skip the Tea Party -- but I do need a drink.

Vent your anger at politicians & profiteers
as you share a beer instead of tea --
call it the Keg Party...and make it yours
at your local progressive social club.

DRINKING LIBERALLY
Find - or start - a chapter near you.

Taking Jobs Seriously...Starting With Their Own

Justin Krebs — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 09:07:14 -0500

President Obama's address prioritized jobs,
but he made time to address Dems on their job:
to use their large Congressional majorities
& do their duty, not run for the hills.

He asked Republicans to do their job as well
which means doing more than just saying no
as the Senate moves on healthcare, the economy
financial reform, energy & climate change.

As he showed flashes of why we elected him --
telling a compelling story, calling for progress
& stepping from the sideline to be a leader
-- Obama seemed at last ready to do his job.

For all the talk of creating American jobs,
Prez & Congress need to start with their own.

It's time for DC to get back to work
so Americans can get back to work too.

Did you cheer or jeer? Delight or despair?
Share your thoughts on the State of the Union
as you share a drink & a toast to our future
at your local progressive social club.

DRINKING LIBERALLY
Find - or start - a chapter near you.

The 2010 Drinking Liberally State of the Union Drinking Game

Justin Krebs — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 15:16:54 -0500

(Note: DL encourages you to drink, and vote, responsibly.)

Obama's State of the Union address

Take a sip:
- The state of our union is "strong"
- Obama says "jobs"
- Obama makes reference to Joe Biden
- Obama says "health care"
- Obama says "hope"
- Obama says "change"
- A standing ovation from Congress
- Obama says "Afghanistan"

Take a shot:
- The state of our union is anything but "strong"
- Obama says "now, there are those who would say/suggest..."
- Joe Biden makes a hilarious facial expression
- Obama introduces one of his guests to the chamber
- Obama refers to "the previous administration"
- Obama mentions "Wall Street"
- Obama mentions "Main Street"
- Joe Wilson yells at him
- Nancy Pelosi looks pained

Take a big gulp:
- Obama refers to Joe Biden by nickname or something like "no one
messes with Joe"
- Someone besides Joe Wilson yells at him
- We see Michelle Obama's arms
- The state of our union is "strong, if..."
- He directly references the NJ and VA gubernatorial elections
- Obama defends Bernanke or Geithner by name (someone has to bail out
the price of your drink)
- He directly references the Massachusetts Senate election

Chug in agony:
- More than one Republican yell at him in a coordinated effort
- Joe Biden makes a gaffe when it's not even his speech
- The state of our union is "umm...well.."
- He decides to delay health care reform
- The camera pans to Scott Brown
- He mentions the spending freeze (must be jagermeister or some other cold shot)
- He extends our commitments in Afghanistan/Iraq

Celebratory toast:
- He uses the word "liberal" or "progressive" in a positive context
- Republicans boo at him
- Obama goes ahead with reconciliation on health care
- Obama moves to reinstate the public option
- Obama promises to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell
- Obama promises troops out of Iraq or Afghanistan in the next six months
- Obama positively references FDR
- He chides lack of congressional leadership
- He mentions our moral responsibility to Haiti
- He pushes ahead on a green-collar economy
- Obama upbraids the Supreme Court for the Citizens United verdict

Finish your drink
- Obama yells back
- "The state of our union? Are you fucking kidding me?"
- He declines to run for re-election
- He decides to abandon health care reform
- "Face it, progressives - you have nowhere else to go."

The Republican Response

Take a sip:
- A reference is made to socialism
- A reference to teabaggers

Take a shot:
- A reference is made to communism
- A proud reference to being the party of No

Take a big gulp:
- A reference is made to fascism
- They play populism with the bailout

Chug:
- A reference is made to Nazism
- They refer to Scott Brown or Sarah Palin

Finish your drink:
- "The President is Hitler"
- They play dog-whistle racism tactics

Teabagger Surprise

Brian Sonenstein — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 10:04:35 -0500

We got this funny story in from our chapter in Idaho Falls and thought we'd share it with all of you.

Dan writes:

For those of you who miss our meetings, let this be a lesson for you.

I arrived about 15 minutes late to our latest Drinking Liberally meeting, and was pleased to see that we had two new visitors. An older, retired couple who had recently relocated to Idaho Falls was already exchanging small talk with our regulars. After talking a bit about the area in Oregon they had come from, and their reasons for moving, the conversation slowly drifted to our Teabagger Governor, Butch Otter, and his recent State of the State address. It was a fairly insane speech, and provided quite a bit of fodder for discussion. In particular, he is proposing the elimination of many social services provided by the state.

We discussed the question of how to provide care for people in need, and eventually came around to Rush Limbaugh’s recent comments about how his listeners should not contribute to relief for Haiti. One of our members ranted for a bit about the content of Rush Limbaugh’s character.

At that point, our newest male member stood up and proclaimed, “I’m in the wrong meeting!” and proceeded to gather his coat and walk out with his wife.

I assumed he was being playful, and said that we’d like to have them join us again. The woman answered with a brusk “I don’t think so.” As they headed out, the man turned and said angrily, “Rush was right, you know! And the terrorists don’t have to destroy America – Obama’s doing it for them!”

Needless to say, we were all briefly stunned. Then we began to talk about it, and realized how funny it was. The couple had arrived around 7pm, when just a few people were there. They asked, “Is this the Tea Party meeting?” Kym, who was dipping her teabag at the moment, assumed it was a joke – typical of our level of humor – and sarcastically responded “Sure is!” They were asked how they had heard of our group, and they said that they’d been getting our emails since the mid-summer. So we all assumed that they were on the same page.

They must have realized their error at some point in the first 20 minutes. They must have wondered why we were being so social, rather than planning for the big strike. I noticed them having a side conversation with Kitty, who was describing to them the philosophy behind Drinking Liberally. So they listened for awhile before the insult to Limbaugh was just too much for them to take.

[Later, we saw one of the local teabag leaders leave the restaurant, and realized that perhaps there was a teabagger meeting going on in the conference rooms, and our visitors had unwittingly joined the wrong meeting.]

Obviously, this was a wake-up call for us. We have some changes to make. At this point, we’ve decided to institute a new policy that will be strictly enforced. From now on, if someone has to leave the meeting early, he or she must stand up and declare indignantly, “I’m in the wrong meeting!” and storm out. [Thanks to Chuck for being the first person to impliment the new policy!]

What's the Matter With Massachusetts?

Justin Krebs — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 07:53:01 -0500

Did the sure-thing win for Ted Kennedy's seat tumble
because of an inspiring candidate for the Dems?
Because Congress is full of uninspiring Dems
who prefer procedure to progress, donors to voters?

Was it because the GOP got a small-but-vocal base excited?
There are tea partiers everywhere, ready to rumble,
while many progressives still wait for results.

Was it because a year into Dem-controlled DC
we're still out of jobs & healthcare, in two wars,
while banks & Blackwater are back at the table?

Or was it that Dems had no real game plan
& treated their commanding majorities
like they had a slim victory & the narrowest margin?

Whereas the GOP will now act
like it has a commanding 41-59 majority.

We can ask, "What's the matter with Massachusetts?"
But it's a problem we need to answer in all 50 states.

Come out to debate & drink, sneer & strategize,
as you share a night, a talk & a pitcher or two
at your local progressive social club.

DRINKING LIBERALLY
Find - or start - a chapter near you.