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Justin Krebs's blogThe Nation Guide to the NationSubmitted by Justin Krebs on Tue, 01/06/2009 - 5:33pm.Do you know the Democracy Burlesque in Chicago? Or the best food co-op in Nebraska? What about the lefty cafe of Salt Lake City...or that same town's unique vegan S&M gear? Chances are that unless you live in one of those town's, you don't (and even if you live there, you may not); fortunately, The Nation Magazine has found them for you. In The Nation Guide to the Nation, you can find the cafes, film festivals, historical hotspots, a bleeding-heart romantic hide-aways that dot the "purple" landscape of America. It's not a book you sit down and read straight through. But it's a thick volume that welcomes you to thumb to almost any page and smile with surprise. It's the kind of guide that may help settle a bet after a night of too much liberal drinking ("I told you that there were liberal oases in Idaho!"). And it's especially the book you'll turn to as you plan your travel around the country -- because you'll find new destinations in any state you plan to visit, sites that will amuse, educate, and generally make you feel like Liberal America is everywhere...and that you are part of it. The book isn't complete -- it can't be. It doesn't list my favorite liberal dive...but that's part of the fun. If the book can start an conflict among friends as to which historical homes should really be included on a drive along Route 66, or which films should never have been left off a top-ten progressive movie buff's list, then the book will prove itself a true lefty institution: one that gets liberals arguing with each other. As for my favorite listing: well, it has to be the New Belgian Brewing Company in Fort Collins, Colorado. The maker of Fat Tire runs its brewery on wind-generated energy. That's Drinking Liberally... For more from the Nation Guides themselves, check out the video below.
New Year's Resolutions for Progressives, 2009Submitted by Justin Krebs on Mon, 01/05/2009 - 5:17pm.Last year, Rachel Maddow, Lee Camp and others offered their resolutions for 2008. Below are a round-up of this year's progressive goals from friends in progressive media, progressive organizing, and...well...just friends. Fred Gooltz, Advomatic: John Javna, 50 Ways To Fight The Right: Negin Farsad, Laughing Liberally/Nerdcore Rising: Sam Seder, Air America Radio: Seth D. Michaels, Coordinator, Working Families Vote 2008: Buy from locally-owned stores. Not only does this shift income (slightly) lower on the income distribution, it also has the potential to be a huge stimulus, given that the owners of these stores are more likely to patronize other stores in your area--and if you go to a store like Fleet Feet, where Phil Fenty is going to spend his profits at other locally-owned stores, the multiplier is just huge. Also, get off Verizon. AT&T, or even better, CREDO, does not spend its energy attempting to destroy the American workforce. Verizon does. Amanda Mittlestadt, The Liberal Card: Matt Browner-Hamlin, SEIU: Matt Filiopwicz, HeadzUp: Mike Connery, Future Majority: Jamie Kilstein, Laughing Liberally: Erin Hofteig, Media Matters For America: Josh Bolotsky:
Our Friends in PasadenaSubmitted by Justin Krebs on Mon, 01/05/2009 - 3:48pm.Drinking Liberally has good friends in Pasadena, California. It's a chapter that was started by Asa Hopkins several years ago. Asa was a Convention delegate in '04, he was active in YDA, and I met him first at the 2020 Democrats launch conference in late '03. But what makes the Pasadena strong is not that it was started by a good leader; it's that it has remained vibrant even after Asa moved on. You see, chapter leaders come and go. Sometimes, a chapter doesn't fare so well when a host has to move. But Pasadena regular has attendance in the teens, on Election Night had over 50, and was featured (with photographs) in a great article. Patrick Burns, Lauri Fiedler and Mike Anderson -- the current hosts -- deserve a great amount of credit. They also deserve our thanks -- for gathering tips from chapter members and Tipping Liberally, sending funds to support the national network. So next time you're out in southern California, stop by and toast them in person, every Tuesday night at Madeleine's Wine Bistro.
A New Year's Resolution for a Year of New RevolutionsSubmitted by Justin Krebs on Thu, 01/01/2009 - 9:00am.Violence explodes between Israel & Hamas, Slow Christmas buying echoed the weak economy, Bush pardons cronies, then revokes one, From Wall St to Detroit to Senate obstruction, May Obama make a New Year's Resolution That's a New Year wish we can toast to. Sing out the old & ring in the new DRINKING LIBERALLY
A Visit from St. BarackSubmitted by Justin Krebs on Thu, 12/25/2008 - 9:44am.A Visit from St. Barack 'Twas the night before Elections, when through the US The bankers were nestled all snug in their beds, When slowly all over, there arose such a clatter, Now through the darkness, the war & the woe, With a lean & young driver, & smart - what a shock! "Now Daschle! now, Geithner! Now, Holder, Richardson! As tax revenue in the Bush years did fly, Then, on TV, we heard the applause, With a serious look he breaks every while, At one side his family, beautiful, hopeful, Things aren't great, that's plain to see With his personal story & charisma unending, He's ready to dig in and get straight to work, He won't fix it all -- there just isn't a way -- Share the holidays, your hopes & a drink or two DRINKING LIBERALLY
Our Stocking's Full of Coal, Can We Turn It Into Diamonds?Submitted by Justin Krebs on Thu, 12/18/2008 - 8:41am.While we may be facing the worst economy in decades, While a teetering auto industry puts us in peril, While Grinches like Madoff & banking execs And while the last 8 years hurt our country, Bush's buddies filled our stocking with coal That would be a Christmas miracle. Raise your revelry, raise a ruckus, Drinking Liberally -
Ill & Annoyed in IllinoisSubmitted by Justin Krebs on Thu, 12/11/2008 - 9:24am.At a time when our nation needs to focus This crisis could cost millions of jobs, At a moment when the election results His venal corruption makes us ill -- But hey, at least it brought Share your thoughts as your share a pitcher DRINKING LIBERALLY Marriage Equality - Activism Beyond an ElectionSubmitted by Justin Krebs on Tue, 12/09/2008 - 12:17pm.I've been asked many times since November 4th what Drinking Liberally does now...as though a Democratic President would negate the need for a national network of progressive social gatherings. I respond that political communities -- and the activism and ideas that flow from them -- don't come and go with campaigns...they are needed between elections just as much. But it's one thing to say that -- it's another to actually live it. And honestly, many of our chapters are in a little bit of a post-election hangover / holiday daze. We continue to meet, enjoy holidays and plan for the Inauguration, but it feels a little bit like we're waiting for our next moment. However, one movement that isn't waiting is the marriage equality movement. Obviously Prop 8 served as a jolt that required the movement not to rest -- but at a time when I don't witness as much direct activism taking place, folks like Join the Impact are delivering creative, social, passionate opportunities -- from national rallies to vigils to guerilla activism. In New York, we're hosting a screening tonight of the Oscar-winning documentary Freeheld. Its story -- about a dying police officer whose same-sex partner is denied pension rights -- resonates with the the chilling results of Prop 8. We're using it to prompt a conversation about how New Yorkers can promote the marriage equality fight in our state, which has a chance of passing it legislatively. We don't want, in this transition time, to lose the activism momentum of the election. Hopefully clever ad campaigns like "This Is Reality" will take Join the Impact's lead and invest in local organizing opportunities that keep our troops active. That is, after this tryptophan wears off...
75th Anniversary of the Repeal of ProhibitionSubmitted by Justin Krebs on Thu, 12/04/2008 - 4:20pm.Tomorrow is the 75th Anniversary of the Repeal of Prohibition. It's kind of remarkable to realize that our country outlawed booze Constitutionally; then, 15 years later, Constitutionally fixed that mistake. We really do have the power to form a more perfect union. There's a special side consequence of this day: it means that tomorrow is the 75th birthday of many beloved dive bars that started as illicit speak-easy establishments during the 20s, then came into the light on this day 75 years ago. So places like Rudy's -- the home of the original Drinking Liberally, and home of one of the greatest Liberal Card benefits (free drinks!) -- turns 75 tomorrow. And this New York institution will be celebrating with $7 pitchers at night and $5 pitchers during the day (7 and 5 for the 75th). Plus, at tonight's DL gathering, we'll lift our glasses to Rudy's...and to a Constitution that can correct our country's errors.
The Right: Still Wrong. The Left: Still Left Behind?Submitted by Justin Krebs on Thu, 12/04/2008 - 8:31am.Obama crafts a cabinet crossing aisles & ideologies, Dems step up to bailout the GOP's banking buddies, The new Prez pledges to first push legislation And in it all, Dems let Lieberman keep his gavel. When Dems offer conservatives compromise & comity, Even after an Election, the Right is still wrong Share your hopes as your share a few pitchers, DRINKING LIBERALLY
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