Drinking Liberally Nashua Chapter Blog

Hi Everybody! Just a quick reminder that Nashua DL meets tonight. Come enjoy a cool one and talk about the issues of the day!

Since Last Time...

Democrats were unable to overcome a Republican filibuster on a bi-partisan bill that would have expanded background checks on more gun sales. Opponents intentionally misrepresentedthe bill, claiming that it would have led to a national registry of gun owners, even though the bill would actually have made creating such a registry a felony offence. Our own Kelly Ayotte (NRAyotte?) marched in lockstep with the GOP, dutifully repeating the “registry” lie, and seeing her approval rating fall 15 points as a result. Expanded background checks are something the overwhelming majority of Americans (including NRA members) want. Why do you think she did it? Is she selling us out to set the stage for a sweet lobbying job when she leaves the Senate?

George W. Bush got his own library (lie bury). The $250,000,000 attraction features a cool simulator where you get to go back in time to 2003 and be the commander guy. Would you have invaded Iraq? If you’re a dirty peacenick and choose not to enter the war that cost the lives of 4,488 troops, and $800 billion tax dollars, you’ll be admonished by Bush’s former officials, and then Dubya himself comes out to lie about his lies explain to you why you’re wrong. Will this and other attempts at revising history work? Will Americans forget Bush’s crimes?

State Rep Stella Tremblay got lots of people talking. And swearing. The Republican rep from Auburn claimed the bombing of the Boston Marathon last month was an inside job, and that the man who tragically lost both his legs in the blast was faking it. She has not stepped down despite calls even from within her own party to do so. Should she be driven from office? Should she get her own reality TV show?

So much to talk about and we’ll do it at 7:30 tonight at Thousand Crane, 116 W. Pearl St! Join us!

“Reading is the basics for all learning.” George W Bush, ‘All Things Considered’, National Public Radio, 28th March 2000

Hi Everybody!

Just a reminder that DL meets tonight, 7:30 at Thousand Crane! Come on out!

Since last time,

The Iraq invasion / occupation reached its 10-year anniversary. Since the Bush administration launched the illegal offensive based on lies, the cost to America has reached 2 trillion taxpayer dollars. Cost to Nashua taxpayers alone is over 194 million – enough to hire 3,080 elementary school teachers, among other things. More tragically, the cost in lives lost reached 4,488 US troops, with 32,021 wounded. Civilian deaths are well over 111,000. Tomas Young, a dying Iraq vet, penned an unforgettable 10th anniversary letter to George Bush and Dick Cheney. Nobody has yet been held accountable for the outrage. Do you think anyone ever will be?

Fox News was declared too liberal. At least by a certain group of wingnuts. Teabaggers Tea Party activists known as The Fire Ants is boycotting the GOP propaganda outlet conservative network. The group wants Fox to “stop screwing around.” They believe the (non)question of President Obama’s citizenship was not adequately investigated by Fox, and too little reporting was done on the attack in Benghazi. Sheesh. What does a paranoid right-winger have to do to get the truth these days?

El Rushbo said the gay marriage issue has jumped the shark for the right wing. Rush Limbaugh thinks marriage equality is inevitable, regardless of how the SCOTUS rules on DOMA. The thrice-divorced Republican conceded “we lost the issue” and complained the word “marriage” has been bastardized. He also believes marriage equality will soon be the law of the land nationwide. Is he right (for once)? How long will it take?

So much to talk about, and we’ll do it today at Thousand Crane, 116 W. Pearl St! Come join the conversation!

"I was told my son was killed in the war on terror. He was killed by George Bush's war of terror on the world."
--Cindy Sheehan, whose son, Casey, died two weeks after he arrived in Iraq

Hi Everyone!

Just a reminder that the Nashua DL meets tonight, 3/5, 7:30 pm at Thousand Crane! Come blow off steam and join us!

Since last time...

They said it’d never happen. The “sequester” kicked in Friday. Federal agencies are now required to trim $85 billion from their budgets through September 30th, the end of the federal fiscal year. John Bohner cut off talks to avert the cuts nobody seems to want, elating the House GOP. Nevertheless, Republicans are pointing the finger (yes, that finger) at President Obama. So what’s the deal? If the sequester has your head spinning, this comprehensive article should clarify the issue for you. Maybe. So who gets the blame (credit)? Will it harm Nashua? Can it be stopped before the worst of the effects are felt?

Someone has a strong opinion on the sequester, and he’s a big (election) loser. In an interview with Fox “News,” Willard Mitt Romney says it “kills him” that he’s not the POTUS, “doing what needs to be done,” and criticizing President Obama for “berating” Republicans over the issue. On the election, he said he lost because he didn’t appeal to minority voters. It’s really not true. Millionaires and billionaires are tiny minorities, and he certainly had their votes locked up. But why is he back in the public eye? Why do you think Mitt has chosen to end his hermitage?

President Obama has put to rest any notion that his endorsement of marriage equality last year was a pitch for the “gay vote”. The Justice Department filed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court which argues that California’s Proposition 8 (H8), which bans same-sex marriage, violates the US Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection under the law. “The basic principle that America is founded on, the idea that we are all created equally, applies to everybody, regardless of sexual orientation as well as race or gender,” Obama said. Not only has the President made his feelings on the matter clear, dozens of major US corporations have as well. Apple, Facebook, ebay and more have filed with the SCOTUS in support of equal marriage rights. Is the back of the anti-gay movement breaking?

So much to talk about, and we’ll do it tonight, 3/5, at Thousand Crane 116 west Pearl St! Come join us!

It's much harder to be a liberal than a conservative. Why?
Because it is easier to give someone the finger than a helping hand.
~Mike Royko

Hi Everybody! Cold enough for you? Just a friendly reminder that February's DL is tonight. Come warm up with a cocktail or hot tea and discuss what's going on!

Since last time:

The conservatives didn’t like the beatdown they got in November. They want to make sure it doesn’t happen again. So that means they’re going to moderate their extreme positions, stop demagoguing minorities, relent on women’s reproductive rights, and start fighting for the middle class, right? Nope. They’ll just try harder to steal it. They plan to rig the next election by changing how electoral votes are allocated in swing states and in states that typically vote Democratic. Are we going to let it happen?

The NRA (gun lobby) nuttery continues. Despite the fact that 9 out of 10 gun owners support universal background checks before gun purchases, The National Rifle Association’s VP Wayne LaPierre said such common sense measures would be a “bureaucratic nightmare.” His heart is in the right place, though. He just worries about the very survival of the American people if restrictions are placed on semi-automatic rifles and high capacity magazines. Bless him. President Obama is actively pushing his plans to reform gun laws. Will the gun lobby manage to derail them?

The FCC has proposed a nationwide, free-access, super Wi-Fi broadband network. This makes the powerful wireless carriers such as AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, etc. most unhappy, and they’re not sitting still for it. Giant tech monsters Google and Microsoft love the idea, however, claiming that such a project would foster innovation and new devices. So in terms of lobbying might, it’s sure to be King Kong vs. Godzilla as this proposal moves forward. Imagine using tax dollars to build more than bombs. Would you like to toss your big monthly cell phone and internet bill in the trash?

So much to talk about, and we’ll do it tonight, 7:30pm, at Thousand Crane, 116 West Pearl St. Come join our friendly folks, and add to the discussion!

“It's very dramatic when two people come together to work something out. It's easy to take a gun and annihilate your opposition, but what is really exciting to me is to see people with differing views come together and finally respect each other."
~ Fred Rogers

Hi Everyone!

The Nashua chapter of Drinking Liberally meets tonight, 1/8, 7:30pm at Thousand Crane at 116 West Pearl St! Come on out and blow off steam!

Since last time…

A pall was cast over the holidays by the shocking tragedy of the Newtown, CT massacre. Twenty Six people at the Sandy Hook elementary school, including 20 children aged 5 to 10, were murdered by a lone gunman. President Obama tearfully addressed the nation and called for legislation to contain gun violence. The right wing had a different response. Wayne LaPierre, president of the National Rifle Association (gun lobby), offered a sane solution to the epidemic of gun murders – more guns. The cause of the bloodshed, according to LaPierre, is movies, video games, the media, and Congress.. He called for armed guards in every school in the country. Not to be outdone, former NRA president Marion Hammer believes those who want stricter gun laws are like racists. Meanwhile, Republicans in 6 states are drafting legislation to allow or require school staff to pack heat. (what could possibly go wrong)? The debate over gun control is in full swing. What do you think? Are new laws to regulate guns called for?

The Violence Against Women Act died. House GOP leaders refused to bring the bill to a vote. The VAWA has been routinely reauthorized since it became law in 1994. Republicans have objected to revisions to the bill, which would have expanded protection to include LGBT, illegal immigrants, and Native Americans on tribal lands. It seems even domestic violence is now a partisan issue. Is this an expansion of the GOPs “war on women?”

The so-called “fiscal cliff” was narrowly avoided. Now that the dust has cleared, what really happened? There seems to be little consensus. Some progressives wailedabout the deal, while some believe it was a successfor the left. What are your feelings about it? Come share them tonight over a friendly cocktail or warm tea!

“In the United States I have always believed that there was a big difference between Conservative and stupid. Boy is it getting harder to prove that one by the minute.”
~Rick Mercer

Hi Everyone!

Normally Nashua Drinking Liberally meets the 1st Tuesday of every month. This January, that would mean New Year’s Day. Since some may be traveling for the holidays (not to mention it’s surely the LEAST popular day of the year to imbibe), we’ll meet on Tuesday the 8th instead, at our usual place, Thousand Crane. A reminder email will go out beforehand. Enjoy NYE 2013! Stay warm! Stay safe! Have fun!

David

Hi Everybody,

Since last time…

The nation turned back the forces of darkness.

November 7th Barak Obama was reelected President of the United States in a landslide. Obama won 7 of 8 swing states, and beat Mitt Romney in the popular vote by roughly 3,000,000. At the same time, Democrats made gains in the Senate, adding 2 seats. Here in the Granite State, Annie Custer sent Charlie Bass packing, and Maggie Hassan shut down Ovide Lamontagne. In Massachusetts, Elizabeth Warren unseated Scott Brown.

LBGT rights took a big step forward. While marriage equality has been the law of the land in several states since a Massachusetts court first made it legal back in 1998, Maine, Washington, and Maryland became the first states to approve legal gay unions by popular vote. In Minnesota, an initiative to outlaw marriage equality was shot down by voters. Wisconsin now has America’s first openly gay Senator, Tammy Baldwin.

Our libertarian friends are likely happy that Colorado and Washington became the first states to legalize recreational use of pot.

Two Republicans who ignited a media storm by saying stupid things about rape were tossed out. Todd “legitimate rape” Akin and Richard “gift from God” Mourdock were pummeled by voters.

So what’s happening here? Is America growing up? Have the voters simply had enough of the Republican message of hate and greed and division?

Election season is over, but Drinking Liberally isn’t! Come out and share with your friends your thoughts and feelings about the amazing night, and where you think we should go from here! Please join us tonight, 12/4, 7:30pm at Thousand Crane! As always, you don't need to drink to join the fun!

Come, come, my conservative friend, wipe the dew off your spectacles, and see that the world is moving.
-- Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Hi Everyone! It's the big day. We're changing locations for tonight only. We'll be at Chen Yang Li, 337 Amherst, St. in Nashua.

It’s time to find out if America will favor clarity and rational thought over confusion and fear. Four years ago I voted for Barak Obama. It was a “sexy” election – a young, charismatic, candidate was running. His victory would mean the White House would go to an African-American for the first time. It was historic. It was exhilarating.

The following four years brought us back to earth. The novelty of a black president wore off, and the realities of American politics left some of Obama’s initial cheerleaders looking for other things to do. This is a society that’s addicted to instant gratification.

President Obama has worked diligently to clean up the monstrous mess that was left for him by the last Republican administration. His work has been made more difficult by an intransigent Congress that has actively sought to thwart progress for political gain. Yet, clean up he has. By virtually every measurable indicator, the country is healing.

Though America was on the verge of a massive economic collapse when the President came on board, the stock market has nearly doubled since Obama took office. The just month he was sworn in, the country shed 818,000 jobs. Since then, over 4 million new jobs have been added to the workforce. Home prices have risen, and consumer confidence is up. Economically, the country is clearly moving in the right direction.

The first law signed by President Obama was the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, ensuring women the fair right to redress in the event of pay discrimination. The President believes in a woman’s right to sovereignty over her body, understanding that choice to terminate pregnancy is personal and private. The ridiculous “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” military policy is now a shameful footnote in history. The Defense of Marriage Act has fallen. And this POTUS is the first in history to declare that LGBT people are entitled to equal rights. On social issues, the country is clearly moving in the right direction.

The Bush years were marked by needless, unilateral war that drained us of blood and treasure. President Obama has brought the terrible Iraq war to a close, and has declared the Afghanistan occupation will end by 2014. The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) with Russia has halved the number of American and Russian nuclear missile launchers. Iran has been isolated and weakened by sanctions. Egypt is moving toward Democracy. Osama Bin Laden is dead. On foreign policy, the country is clearly moving in the right direction.

This won’t be a “sexy” election like the last one. Will Americans nevertheless continue working for positive change, understanding that anything worth fighting for is never quick or easy? Or will we halt progress, and go back to the destructive policies of the Bush years? If our chaotic, fraud-prone election system doesn’t leave us hanging, we’ll find out tonight.

Please join us for an election night party, along with the Nashua Democratic City Committee at 8pm, at Chen Yang Li, 337 Amherst, St. in Nashua.

“Every election is determined by the people who show up”
-- Larry J. Sabato, Pendulum Swing

Hi Everybody! Just a quick reminder that Nashua DL meets tonight, 10/2, 7:30pm, at Thousand Crane, 116 W. Pearl St!

Since last time,

Americans might respect a presidential candidate who speaks from the heart, saying what they believe. Unless that candidate is Mitt Romney, and what he believes is that half the country don’t take responsibility for their lives. A video, discreetly shot at a $50,000 per plate fundraiser, shows Romney denigrating. 47% of Americans as “lazy”, among other things. The Obama campaign immediately moved to use the video clips to further define his opponent as an arrogant bastard out of touch elitist. Will this glimpse into Willard’s wildly distorted patrician worldview finally alienate his remaining working-class supporters?

Ann Romney has been doing a questionable job as Mitt’s “secret weapon.” At this point, one might think she’s on Obama’s payroll. Asked by reporter what her concerns would be if Mitt won the election, she said it would be Mitt’s “mental well-being.” If that’s the case, Mitt may want to think twice about appealing Obamacare, because it covers mental health. What would your biggest concern be about a Romney presidency?

"I say, 'if ifs and buts were candy and nuts, everyday would be Christmas.'" With the President ahead in the Ohio polls, that’s how Mitt Romney’s political director feels about the possibility of his boss winning without that state’s 18 electoral votes. The polls lately have been a great source of unhappiness for conservatives. Some are beginning to despair, turning to right wing talk radio for solace. Others promote conspiracy theories of poll bias. What do you think? Are the polls biased against the GOP, or do they simply have a lousy candidate who has no new ideas and a tendency to say and do stupid things with alarming regularity?

So much to talk about, and we'll do it tonight, 7:30pm at 1000 Crane! Join us!

"The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have little." - Franklin D. Roosevelt

Hi Everybody! Just a quick reminder that Nashua DL meets tonight, 9/4, 7:30pm, at Thousand Crane, 116 W. Pearl St!

Since last time,

The GOP seems to have declared August “Rape Un-Awareness Month”:

Representative Todd Akin, Republican Senate nominee from Missouri, made the astonishing claim that conception cannot result from "legitimate rape". “It seems to me, from what I understand from doctors…the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down”.

Senate candidate Tom Smith of Pennsylvania compared rape-related pregnancies to out-of-wedlock pregnancies.

And Mitt Romney’s VP pick, Paul Ryan, who, like Akin and Smith, wants all abortion banned without exceptions, believes rape is just another method of conception.

Could all this finally convince women who support the GOP to rethink their next vote? If not, should they get help for Stockholm Syndrome?

"Mr. President, how do you handle promises that you have made when you were running for election, and how do you handle them?” For 11 long minutes, a weary, rambling Clint Eastwood horrified the RNC with a meandering, back-and-forth conversation with a chair. Subjects covered included Iraq and Afghanistan, terrorist trials, Joe Biden, Gitmo, attorneys, planes, and trucks. Mitt Romney was hardly mentioned by Clint, or the chair. Could the debacle have been planned by Democrats? Was Clint a plant? A Vegetable?

President Obama wants a Constitutional amendment to overturn the Supreme Court’s democracy-crushing Citizen’s United ruling. The POTUS took to reddit for a Q&A with the American people. He was asked about how the corrupting influence of money in politics should be handled. Amending the Constitution isn’t easy, and plenty in D.C. are happy with the status quo. But could it happen?

So much to talk about, and we'll do it tonight at 1000 Crane! Join us!

“Today’s so-called ‘conservatives’ don’t even know what the word means. They think I’ve turned liberal because I believe a woman has a right to an abortion. That’s a decision that’s up to the pregnant woman, not up to the pope or some do-gooders or the Religious Right. It’s not a conservative issue at all.”
~Barry Goldwater