Promoting democracy in Utah one pint at a time.
Promoting democracy in Utah one pint at a time.
I’m no fan of guns, but as a liberal I support the constitution - even the second amendment. Obviously there has been debate about the meaning of the second amendment, just like everything else in the great document.
The second amendment was put in place so that a citizenry enraged by a tyrannical government would be equipped to overthrow said government. I haven’t yet read “The End of America: A Letter of Warning to a Young Patriot”, but after hearing Naomi Wolf on KRCL’s RadioActive (unfortunately I don’t see the particular interview on their site), I’m thinking we’re dangerously close to needing to use those guns. It’s just too bad that the Republican media machine has most of the nation’s gun owners believing everything they say, and they’d likely stay quiet if our government deteriorated to tyranny.
Enter “Shooting Liberally”. Our neighbors to the east in Denver have a Shooting Liberally chapter, and there’s also a Charleston and Manhattan chapter.
As Justin Krebs, founder and Executive Director of Living Liberally said, “It’s time for those of us famous for our fierce loyalty to the First Amendment get to try our hand at the Second.”
I don’t know of anyone in our group that would be interested in a Shooting Liberally, but I’m sure there are some liberals out there who would be. We live in one of the most conservative, gun-loving states in the nation. Hell, Utah has one of the most liberal concealed-carry permit courses that people come here just to get armed.
So, would a Shooting Liberally fly here?
From Columbia News Service:
Laurence Witherington
2008/05/13
The right to own guns has traditionally been a cause dear to the political right. Now a bunch of liberals have begun to challenge that view, meeting to shoot guns and celebrate the Second Amendment.
Well, it’s official. Drinking Liberally now has a chapter in all 50 states, just in time for the 5th birthday festivities.
Five years is a big milestone, and Drinking Liberally (and Living Liberally) have gotten a fair amount of media attention for it.
Our very own chapter here in Salt Lake has even been mentioned in two national publications!
On Politico
And in the New York Times Sunday edition. I didn’t talk to the reporter, Courtney, but Heather did and said they had a wonderful conversation. Even though it was a brief mention in both, it’s still very cool. We hope that you’ll join us on June 6th at our party/fundraiser for a toast to our media mentions!
Here’s the text of the NY Times article:
On Thursday night in Hell’s Kitchen, an impassioned discussion of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton’s remarks about the Bobby Kennedy assassination as a reason for her staying in the presidential race took place in the backyard of Rudy’s Bar and Grill. Across the yard, Rachel Maddow, a host on Air America Radio, poured glasses of beer for a table of friends and debated Senator John McCain’s war record.
Among the regular patrons at the bar on Ninth Avenue were a few unsuspecting tourists. Dozens of people were squeezed together talking politics, drinking beer and eating free hot dogs. The conversation was cut short for an anniversary toast.
“To many more years, and many more chapters,” said Justin Krebs, 30. Mr. Krebs was one of the founders of the progressive social networking group called Drinking Liberally that has been meeting at Rudy’s every Thursday night for the past five years.
Bush visited Salt Lake last week to shore up some money for John McCain’s Presidential run. Mitt Romney was there too, of course, since he can really squeeze the money out of the rich Mormons of Utah.
Utah as a whole adores Bush, but there are a large amount of us who don’t follow blindly and are outraged at the policies of this administration. About a thousand of us showed up at the City-County building to stage a peace rally.
Rocky Anderson’s new venture, High Road for Human Rights, brought together 4 great speakers - Marshall Thompson (former military journalist and peace activist who has also been a Drinking Liberally guest speaker); Kathy Snyder (peace activist who’s son was killed in Iraq), Daniel Ellsberg (the man who risked lifetime imprisonment to release the Pentagon Papers), and Rocky Anderson himself.
We saw a few DL’ers at the rally, and we know there were more. If you weren’t able to attend, here are some links:
The text of Rocky’s speech on DailyKos
(Click to view the full flyer)
Nationally, Drinking Liberally has been around for 5 years, and our national leaders are celebrating in NYC, just as we’ll be celebrating on June 6th. Since they hired a full time employee (Justin Krebs, co-founder of Drinking Librerally), Drinking Liberally and the parent organization Living Liberally has become a force with which to be reckoned. You can read regular posts on the influential blog Open Left; Living Liberally will be providing the fun and entertainment at the Netroots Nation convention (formerly called YearlyKos), which isthe convention for progressive activists; and we’re coming up on having chapters in all 50 states.
It’s this 50-state strategy of theirs that grabbed the attention of Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean. You might recall Gov. Dean had a 50-state strategy of his own. For Living Liberally’s birthday celebration, Howard Dean created a congratulations video, noting that Living Liberally now plays a national part in the progressive movement and that we’re part of a change that is taking over the Democratic party and our country. Check it out:
This Friday (May 23) Drinking Liberally welcomes Rebecca Walsh as our guest speaker. As a columnist for the Salt Lake Tribune, Rebecca Walsh does a good job of covering the human interest aspect of local events. You might even ask her what it was like to interview Condoleeza Rice.
If you’re going to be in town for the Memorial Day weekend, please join us. As always, we’ll be there at 6:30, with Ms. Walsh speaking around 7.
Bob McCarthy the owner of Stoneground Restaurant here in Salt Lake is in the process of opening a new bar in the Marmalade District (750 North 300 West). The location of the bar is where the original “Hideout” used to be. The “Hideout” was just a tavern/beer bar. Bob is trying to change the license from a tavern to a private club. This has become a very debated issue and he is getting a lot of opposition from the local community. He is need of people who live in the Capitol Hill District to sign a petition in support ASAP. Please contact me via email at mmmerrill (at) hotmail (dot) com for petition locations.
If you’re on a lot of mailing lists like myself, you’re probably getting a lot of e-mails urging you to caucus for your party. I liked HEAL Utah’s:
Next Tuesday, March 25th, two events will compete for your votes: American Idol and your neighborhood political party caucus meetings.
More Americans will vote for the next American Idol than for President of the United States, but we want to remind you that on Tuesday you can do something important for democracy and get home in time to vote for your favorite idol.
Attend your political party’s neighborhood caucus meeting! On Tuesday, March 25th, at 7:00 pm, voters around the state will gather at their neighborhood caucus meetings to help decide which candidates will appear on the ballot in November and the future direction of our state.
Here are our top 3 reasons you should attend your neighborhood caucus meeting and TiVo American Idol:
1. Less than 2% of voters attend their party caucus meetings, which means your vote and opinion carry way more weight on this night than on election night.
2. If you don’t like what’s on the menu, you need to get in the kitchen! Lack of participation on caucus night means legislators with broad conflicts of interest and special interest agendas continue to be the only choices come November.
3. American Idol voting doesn’t start until 9:00 pm, so you can attend your caucus and still get home in time to vote.
Attending your political party caucus on Tuesday March 25th is more important than voting for American Idol, and even more important than voting in November. Still not sure what caucuses are and why they are so important? Read our FAQ section below, or visit our website at: www.healutah.org/takeaction/caucus
When do these meetings take place?
All….
I urge you to add this screening to your calendar. I had the opportunity to walk with Marshall, and participate with him also in other peace events. He is a true patriot, and his story is compelling. We must end this war!! Please join the movement! Carla
YOU’RE INVITED TO THE UTAH PREMIERE OF A SOLDIER’S PEACE: One Veteran’s 500-mile Journey Into Activism.
WHERE: Wildcat Theater in Ogden, Utah
WHEN: Saturday March 8th at 4:30 pm
We finally finished our documentary of Sgt. Marshall Thompson’s 500-mile walk through Utah. We were able to interview peace activists Martin Sheen, Cindy Sheehan, Daniel Ellsberg, M.C. Hammer, Rocky Anderson, and many more. The film explores the cost and effectiveness of peace activism, apathy regarding the war, and the role of women in the movement, among other things. You can check out the trailer at http://www.soldierspeace.com.
Our documentary is screening at festivals throughout the country, but we’re most excited about the Utah premiere because we hope to be joined by the people who made this walk possible. If you walked with Marshall, you may be in the film. You can purchase tickets at the door, or on-line HERE. If you’re not in the area, and would like to organize a screening, e-mail us.
If you would like to carpool with people from your area, please e-mail us with relevant information (where you live, if you need a ride, or if you can drive, etc.) and we’ll put you in touch with other interested people.
Thanks again for your involvement in Marshall’s walk in fall of 2006. Hopefully you can be a part of our Utah premiere, as well. Please forward this e-mail to anyone you know who might be interested and we hope to see you on March 8th.
Sincerely,
Kristen Thompson A Soldier’s Peace info@soldierspeace.com
From Dave Morris, owner of the Piper Down Pub where Drinking Liberally meets each week:
First, there is law being drafted that would increase the amount of primary liquor in any single drink to 1 1⁄2 oz. but decrease the total amount of alcohol in front of a customer to 2oz. I fear that this would lead to over consumption. The majority of hard alcohol drinks ordered in bars contain only 1 type of liquor. For example, a shot of Jager, a Rum or Bourbon and cola, a Scotch neat or Shot of Whisky would all have 50% more alcohol. Secondly, this would limit the type and variety of specialty drinks Utah bars and restaurants could create. Utah bars would also no longer be able to make Long Island Teas, Long Beaches, Mai Tais or other Tropical Favorites.
Liquor sales from 2/3/08:
690 Shots of liquor were sold.
578 1 oz. drinks. (84%)
112 Drinks were made with more than 2oz. (16%).
41 Drinks were served Tall (in a 16 oz glass)
25 of those tall drinks were side cars (.04%)
Therefore, under proposed legislation, 84% of the drinks we served on 2/3 would contain more alcohol. That equals 11.5 extra bottles of alcohol on that day alone. 16% of the drinks served could not be legally made. These are tall, specialty drinks like Mai Tais and Teas. Only 4% of the drinks ordered were made with a sidecar and 60% of those were ordered with double the mixer as well (tall with a side car).
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Welcome to Drinking Liberally Salt Lake City. We meet at 6:30 p.m. every Friday in the back room of Piper Down [Map] and go to 9:30. All are welcome.
click here to learn more
E-mail saltlakecity [at] drinkingliberally.org if you want your event added to the calendar, or send your Gmail address to get editing abilities.
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