Drinking Liberally Burlington Chapter Blog

Did you know that this is the International Year Of The Potato? It is. The UN has decreed it so. http://www.potato2008.org/en/index.html

And what a year it's been! So much has happened in this, the year of the potato.

And seeing as this is the last DL of the year, it is a time to reflect. Local and national elections, political corruption, the downfall and ultimate destruction of every investment in America, the rise of the non-ironic and regrettable mustache among celebrities, hipsters and one of our DL bartenders, the rollercoaster of gas prices, Sarah Palin (I know I said I wouldn't mention her again, but I. Just. Can't. Stop myself.), sex scandals, political scandals, political sex scandals, Obama vs. Hilary, Obama + Hilary, Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, and so on...

What was your favorite/most absurd moment of 2008? Let's close out the International Year of the Potato in a big potato-y bang.

Same potato place, Same potato time
Thursday (today!) 8pm - 10pm ish.
115 St. Paul St.
Burlington, VT 05401

I'm out of the DL table tents, so you'll just have to look for me standing by the bar, possibly eating a potato. Possibly. Or call 267-237-7488.

--Arshad

PS. It's also, apparently, the international year of sanitation, and of the reef.

Potato, Potato, Potato, Potato, and so on...

You know it's an entertaining newsday when a public figure's private remarks are practically indistinguishable from such fictional characters as Tony Sopprano. But that was the case in this week's political scandal - The already enormously unpopular Illinois governor, Rod Blagojevich, had tried to shake down five aspiring US Senate appointee candidate AND the President-Elect of the United States. He thought he could sell the Senate seat - he literally wanted cash money.

There are so many unbelievably good lines. My favorite? After learning that the Obama administration would not play ball in Blago's pay-for-play scheme, Blago told his aide, "they're not willing to give me anything except appreciation. [Expletive] them." I assume the expletive in question started with an F....

Okay, topic for tonight's discussion: Your favorite political corruption story (note that this is different than your favorite political sex scandal story. I know, sometimes the line is blurred).

Beer, buddies, and bamboozlers at tonight's DL. Join me.

Same place, Same time:
Thursday (tonight!) 8pm - 10pm
American Flatbread
115 Saint Paul St

I'll have a table tent, and a beer, at the ledge by the bar.

Call me at 267-237-7488 if you need help finding us

Yours,
Arshad

I've been on vacation since before last week. Sure, as a news hound, I couldn't help looking up the news from time to time, reading the New York Times, checking out TPM (fav pol news site), and so forth.

But I've been away from it all, and I'm not even sure what the hot political topic of the day really is. So for this DL, I ask for a role reversal - someone please tell me what the heck is going on. Like, did Obama just fill out his entire cabinet while I was sleeping in? Because it seems like it.

I'm in town for *tonight only* (I still have vacation left and Burlington is just a stopover), and I need to know. And I need some good local VT beer (Over vacation so far, I've learned that DC, MN, and CA have nothing on VT beers, duh).

You read that right. With one night in Burlington, I choose to spend it with you (and also because it happens to be a Thursday, and I've forgotten what else goes on during Thursday nights).

Join me:
American Flatbread
8pm - 10pm Thursday (tonight!).

--Arshad

A high powered lawfirm? No, all names in the news this past week. All kinds of crazy happening - some totally good. Some forehead-slappingly bad.

And how about those appointments? Anyone missing the Clinton years, much? Tell me what you think over a brew or two!

Same Liberal Place, Same Liberal Time:
American Flatbread
Thursday (today), 8pm - 10pm.
115 St. Paul Street

--Arshad

She's the gift that keeps on giving. And by "gift" I mean "cold sore" and by giving, i mean "go away."

You guessed it, I'm talking about Sarah Palin (but if you guessed disgraced former congressman Mark "they were months from being men" Foley, you were close). Sarah Palin has been doing the evening talk show circuit and probably believes she is the future of the Republican Party. And as much as I wish no good for the Republicans, I hope for their sake (and for my sanity), that she isn't.

I'll drink to that. And any of the other week's news. Who's got the latest gossip on the transition? You can bet it'll be your friends at Drinking Liberally. So come and join us for a pint or three:

Same place, Same time:
Thursday (tonight!) 8pm - 10pm
American Flatbread
115 Saint Paul St

I'll have a table tent, and a beer, at the ledge by the bar.

Call me at 267-237-7488 if you need help finding us

Yours,
Arshad

Hello and welcome to this very special Election Day Drinking Liberally email.

I don't know if you've you've noticed, but today is election day. If you haven't voted yet, you really need to do so. Real quick, you should double-check your voting location: http://www.voteforchange.com/

If you've already done that, please consider volunteering to get out the vote. I've turned my office into the largest Democratic phonebank in the county (the state). And we're literally plugging in more phones to make sure we can get out all the votes we can. But we need volunteers to make that happen. Stop on over and call the people who haven't yet voted to tell them where and how to do their civic duty.

Phonebank location:
DFA headquarters
38 Eastwood Dr (old address - 60 Ferrell st)
Suite 300 (third floor)
South Burlington, VT 05403
Behind the Shaw's on Rt. 7

Finally, where are you going to watch tonight's election returns? How about with a whole bunch of other Dems? How about somewhere with some bars? How about a place where politicos will be poring over races in Vermont and all over the country?

Join me over at the Hilton in Downtown Burlington for the Dem election night party after the polls close. That's the place to be.

I'll be watching 90 of my favorite races across the country, and having a good time while I'm at it.

--Arshad Hasan

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