Drinking Liberally Bellingham Chapter Blog

Hi Drinkers!

I'm really excited about what seems to be shaping up as a new chapter in the life of Bellingham Drinking Liberally. Last month, not only were we fortunate to have Bellingham City Council's Ward 4 candidate Pinky Vargas and incumbent Michael Lilliquist join us as featured guests, but we had Bellingham all-star guests such as political blogger Riley Sweeney, 40th District Dems chair Marc O., Whatcom Dems chair Mike Estes, WWU Young Dems chair Lauren Hatch, local rabblerousers Frances Badgett and Iris Maute-Gibson, world traveler and co-host Andy Jennings, Gib, the one and only, Tara's Uncle Bob!™ and our most favorite Ranch Room bartender, Billie Clark! Vargas talked about her vision for Bellingham's waterfront and answered questions from members. If you'd like to hear more from Pinky, she'll be a guest on The Joe Show, 930 AM KBAI Progressive Talk in Bellingham on May 20th from Noon to 1 p.m.

Next Meeting Wednesday, May 8: Co-host Scott Wild has finally returned from his vacation in Vietnam, where he has been drinking liberally with the titular socialists there so I'm sure he'll have lots to report on. Let's all give him a warm welcome back! By that time, however, Mr. Tara and I will likely be en route to Arizona to visit my mother and visit the energy vortices in Sedona.

Coming up on May 22, we have Port of Bellingham commissioner Michael McAuley as our featured guest! He'll be talking about the role of the port in various upcoming projects including the waterfront redevelopment, the GP hydro pipeline project and more!

Mike was first elected to the Port of Bellingham in 2009 and is owner of McAuley Builders, a local company with an emphasis on green building practices. During his first term as a commissioner for the Port of Bellingham, he has fostered an unprecedented openness and access to port activities. He's also one of the friendliest Whatcom County politicians you'll ever meet! Find out more about Mike at: www.mikeforport.com

On the Horizon: We are excited to have Whatcom County Council candidate Rud Browne as the featured guest at our June 12th meeting! We also hope to have Port of Bellingham candidate Renata Beata Kowalczyk and Whatcom County Council incumbent Carl Weimer and others join us in the near future as well.

Thank you, everyone, for being a part and keeping this group fun and dynamic! I'll see you later in May!

Cheers!
~Tara

I know that might seem a bit premature, but ...
I am fresh back from Vietnam and was looking forward to some cooler temps. (Can I get a pass for complaining about this weather?)

Things should be cool in the Ranch Room, 7:30 Wed.

They will be even cooler if we get an appearance from the Sudden Valley contingent (hint, hint).

Scott

Wow! What a GREAT Drinking Liberally meeting last night! We had political blogger Riley Sweeney 40th District Dems chair Marc O., Whatcom Dems chair Mike Estes, WWU Young Dems chair Lauren Hatch, local rabblerousers Frances Badgett and Iris Maute-Gibson, world traveler and co-host Andy Jennings, Gib, the one and only, Tara's Uncle Bob!™ and our most favorite Ranch Room bartender, Billie Clark! We also heard from special guest Pinky Vargas, a candidate for Bellingham City Council's 4th ward seat. Vargas talked about her vision for Bellingham's waterfront and answered questions from members. If you'd like to hear more from Pinky, she'll be a guest on The Joe Show, 930 AM KBAI Progressive Talk in Bellingham later in May. We'll keep you updated!

Next Meeting Wednesday, May 8: Co-host Scott Wild should be returning from his vacation in Vietnam, where he was undoubtably drinking liberally with the titular socialists there so I'm sure he'll have lots to report on. Let's all give him a warm welcome back! By that time, however, Jeff and I will likely be en route to Arizona to visit my mother and visit the energy vortices in Sedona so we can get our super cosmic charge on for the upcoming election season. :P

Speaking of Arizona, thanks to the backlash from Latinos over the state's Draconian and unconstitutional immigration laws, this state is supposedly experiencing a surge in new Democratic voters!! In fact, many demographers are predicting Arizona to be the next PURPLE state! This is all speculation, of course, but it is very hopeful news and let's hope it someday results in Gov. Jan Brewer being thrown out of office.

Finally, I'll be back for the May 22 meeting and we have scheduled Port of Bellingham commissioner Michael McAuley as our featured guest! He'll be talking about the role of the port in various upcoming projects including the waterfront redevelopment, the GP hydro pipeline project and more!

Thank you, everyone for coming last night and I'll see you later in May!

~Tara

Hi y'all!

I'm sorry I forgot to mention, we'll have a special guest tonight: Bellingham City Council candidate Pinky Vargas will be joining us for an informal and fun discussion about her campaign for the council's Ward 4 position. Pinky has a strong background in project management through her work for Puget Sound Energy as an efficiency outreach manager. If elected, she said she plans to focus on economic development, the health of Lake Whatcom (our primary drinking water source), and redeveloping Bellingham's historic and beautiful waterfront. We will meet her tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Ranch Room, 113 E. Holly St. Everyone is welcome! For more info: www.votepinkyvargas.com

Hey Drinkers!

It's time again for our semi-monthly Drinking Liberally meet-up! Come join us tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. at the Ranch Room at 113 E. Holly St. (inside the Horseshoe Cafe). Meetings are free and open to the public!

Speaking of the public, in the past I have found myself in a bind trying to explain to co-workers or friends that I'm part of a political drinking club. In the past I have waffled between calling it a "Drinking Club" and "Liberal Politics Club" but I found either one has the potential to elicit odd looks. That's when I decided it's better just to be so up-front with people they don't even know what to think. In fact, I've pretty much relegated to living my life that way. Hello my name is Tara and I'm part of a Liberal Drinking Club called Drinking Liberally. It's a lot of fun and we're drinking our way toward Democracy. Would you like to join us?

Speaking of waffles, The Ranch Room serves breakfast all night, so if you have a few too many drinks just order some food and pace yourself. For your health!

Dispatches from the Far East: Our regular host Scott Wild won't be joining us because he's vacationing in Laos and Vietnam and hopefully enjoying thick mango slices from fresh fruit vendors on the beach. He promised me, however, he'd try to drink liberally with the titular socialists there and report back at the end of the month with his findings.

Looking forward to seeing everyone tomorrow night!

~Tara

Hi kids,

It's that "time of the month" again; we'll be drinking liberally at the Horseshoe, 7:30 this Wednesday.

OK, I have a confession. I won't be able to make it. I'll be winging my way to Laos & Vietnam where I will be seeking to drink liberally with the titular socialists there. I will be making some acute observations and will report back to you all next month.

But the rest of the gang will be at the Horseshoe, this Wed, 10th and again on the 24th.
Please hold down the fort!

Dear Liberal Drinkers,

It is that time again, this Wed, 7:30 at the Horseshoe. This week we will have 2 guests, local polticos,
Marc O. and Germaine Kornegay. They will enlighten us briefly with their take(s) on current situations in both Skagit and Whatcom counties.
And I will try not to dwell too morbidly on the situation in my NCAA March Madness pool.

Hi kids,
We'll be Drinking Liberally again this Wednesday, 13th, 7:30PM in the Ranch Room at the Horseshoe Cafe on Holly.

This session will be extra-special! Why?

Perhaps you have noticed that Drinking Liberally Bellingham is now on Facebook. (Please feel free to "like" us.) All thanks for this go to Tara Nelson who both suggested we go there and then put us there. Muchas Gracias, Tara!

Another suggestion from Tara: we should post a photo on our page of ourselves engaged in that activity which we do so well, drinking liberally. So please, show up this week, look smart, or sharp, bring a friend, wear a Guy Falkes mask, whatever you feel might appropriately celebrate our new Facebook presence. See you Wed!

Hi kids,

Two things:

Because I didn't make it last time, I'm especially looking forward to Drinking Liberally this week, Wed, 7:30 at the good old Horseshoe.

And I apologize for my absence last time. I had undergone a full hip replacement operation 9 days prior and while I felt "good (enough) to go", other more cautionary heads prevailed. Suffice it to say, I'm all the more thirsty now.
And I'm wondering what some of you might make of the fact that "Argo" won the oscar for Best Film. Could "Zero Dark 30" have been far behind?

Dear Hearts,

Some may come bearing Valentines. Some may come seeking. Doesn't matter which. It is the coming part which is important.

Come to the Horseshoe 7:30 Wed, 13th.
Do not mistake the buzzing of bees for sound of drones.