Drinking Liberally

We went into Afghanistan to fight terrorists,
but Al Qaeda's regrouped while we got quagmired,
& 8 years later, bin Laden's still at large.

We ended up trying to build a sturdier state,
but 8 years later, nuclear neighbors are less stable,
& Afghan elections make a mockery of democracy.

We wanted a better life for Afghan women,
but instead exposed them to the pain of war
& 8 years later, don't even count civilian casualties.

We have invested our lives & our funds
& forced Afghans to invest as well,
yet 8 years later, contractors collect the dividends.

By 2008, we said of the Bush era "8 is enough."
Now, in 2009, when it comes to this endless war,
President Obama needs to hear that chant as well.

Eight is enough. Eight is enough.

Share a somber glass to those who have suffered,
as we share ideas, arguments & a night together
at your local progressive social club.

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

With the November elections fast approaching, more and more of our Drinking Liberally chapters have been active in bringing candidates out from the ether of television and radio ads, newspaper columns and blog posts, down to the sticky floors of their local bars to speak directly with their constituents in an informal, personal setting.

Here we have a video of Matt Entenza, Democratic-Farmer-Labor Candidate for Governor of Minnesota, speaking to the Minneapolis chapter about his run for office this fall. Check it out, and keep an eye on the work of our other chapters providing voters with greater access to their candidates.

Thank you DL Minneapolis for sharing this with all of us!

The GOP ranted about healthcare for immigrants
tho' no bills covered undocumented workers,
but the Dems proved they had no spine
& rewrote bills to realllly exclude them
rather than making a case for human rights.

Then the GOP had a tantrum about abortions
& some Dems showed they had no guts,
promising abortions wouldn't be covered
instead of arguing for reproductive health.

And while GOP "centrists" say "No, no, no,"
Dems show they have no brains,
weakening the bill, opposing the public option,
in the plain-dumb strategy to get one GOP vote.

Health reform better cover transplants --
Republicans may have no heart or soul,
but some Dems need new brains, guts & spines.

Come out to prove you still have your liver
as you share a few drinks & a few debates --
bring your brains, guts & spines
to your local progressive social club.

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

We just got word from our brothers and sisters at DL Providence that the three 2010 gubernatorial candidates, Lincoln Chaffee, Frank Caprio and Patrick Lynch will be joining chapter leaders to co-host events from October through December. If you're an RI resident and can get to Providence, we highly recommend checking these events out.

Here's the schedule:

• Senator Lincoln Chafee will co-host the October event on Wednesday, October 28, 2009.
• Treasurer Frank Caprio will co-host the November event on Wednesday, November 25, 2009.
• Attorney General Patrick Lynch will co-host the December event on a date to be announced.

Stay tuned to our blog and the chapter page for DL Providence for more updates!

President Obama gets Netanyahu & Abbas,
to sit together & talk about compromise & progress...
but Mitch McConnell won't even talk healthcare reform.

Obama gets China, the other big greenhouse gas producer,
to agree in principle that action is needed,
but can't get the GOP to admit there is a climate crisis.

Obama addresses the United Nations
with Kadhafi and Ahmadinejad in the audience
...and nobody shouts, "You lie!"

Either Obama's great on the international stage...
or American Republicans are a special brand of stubborn.

Join the debate as we drink to democracy
lifting a libation with like-minded lefties
at your local progressive social club.

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

Gubernatorial candidate and current mayor of St. Paul, Minnesota, Chris Coleman dropped by their local Drinking Liberally chapter a few weeks back. Our friends over at DL St. Paul were kind enough to share this video of the visit with us, and we thought it'd be nice to pay it forward.

Senate leaders forgot 51 is a majority
so insist on bipartisan 60 for healthcare --
to which Republicans have simply said No.

Thus President Obama addressed the nation,
flattered, cajoled & reached across the aisle,
& after shouting "You Lie," the GOP said No.

So Max Baucus, self-proclaimed king-maker,
offered a mediocre melange of half-measures,
& Olympia put the "No" back in "Snowe."

They are the Party of No for a reason.

Democrats, maybe it's time you learn:
with Republicans, No really does mean No.

Now use your majority in Congress,
your White House & your public support
& get the job done without them.

Say Yes: to good people & good politics
as you swap views & share booze
at your local progressive drinking club.

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

Last night the Prez asked Congress to say yes,
appealing to all Americans & across the aisle
to Republicans who have nothing to say in return.

He generously gestured to GOP ideas & advice
(more than a liberal would have liked him to do),
but the Party of No gestured with clutched papers,
with the frantic anger of Birthers & Tea Partiers.

Obama put aside the venom, bigotry & deceit
& invited us to be better than those Town Halls.
...& Rep Joe Wilson of South Carolina shouted
"You lie!"-- shaming himself, his party, his state.

Who'd have thought a Chicagoan would have to teach
a Southerner how to be a gentleman?

...now Mark Sanford's relieved he's no longer
his state's only source of embarrassment.

Obama spoke presidentially & inspired us again
...now let's turn great words into results.

Toast to a speech well-delivered
& share ideas for how to turn it into reality
as you share a few beers, cheers & jeers
with your local progressive social club.

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

When the President listens to Republicans
he finds support to escalate in Afghanistan
despite the violence, no clear goal
& election fraud in the "democracy" we built.

When Senate Dems listen to the Party of No,
they consider jettisoning the public option,
making healthcare reform meaningless
& mandating a give-away to insurance companies.

When the media listens to the GOP,
we hear how much GOPpers respected Kennedy,
yet in life they slandered him as a "liberal,"
blocked his work & their activists boo him now.

So...why are we still listening to Republicans?

When their homeland security chief listened,
he manipulated threat levels for political gain.

Now, when AG Holder ignores Republicans,
he appoints an investigator into illegal torture
& puts Justice back into civil rights enforcement.

Moral of the story: ignore Republicans...
as the American people told us in '06 & '08.

Tune out the right & turn on the Left
as you join left-leaners for liberal libations
at your local progressive social club.

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

Quoted from my inbox -- this is exactly what I received:

"I ma a staunch supporter of Democracy values, you can see my work at : www.fordemocracy.com .
Why in the world would you include the word DRINKING in a liberal group and in addition associate the world liberally which in this context means: a lot, then you have to say to compensate: but drink responsibly. If the stupidity of such a label does not strike you, you need a lobotomy.
I have a group and would be very happy to join you because I believe your cause is just and smart, but because of the title drinking liberally I cannot.
I have a natural repulsion for sheer stupidity and that is the essence of your title.
Please use your brain and change the name!
Thank you
Eric Lafayette"