Red State Rebels

Celebrate Drinking Liberally's 50th Meetup and Debate Watching Party!

Hard to believe, isn't it?  Drinking Liberally isn't technically old enough to drink (we're just over 4 years old), and we're about to meet for the 50th time.  To celebrate, we have a host of exciting news and events you can't live winout: 

1. Announcing the Drinking Liberally SLOGAN CONTEST!  Listen, people, we need your help.  Every great organization has its byline, and Drinking Liberally is no different.  But what should our byline be?  Samples: Hash House Harriers, a Drinking Club With a Running Problem; The GOP, Helping the Rich Get Richer Since 1854.  Email your suggestions to [email protected].  We'll vote on the top three at our gathering on Wednesday, and the winner will get a FABULOUS PRIZE!
2. You can now eat liberally, too!  We've moved the City Grill, 199 8th Street, in downtown Boise.
3. Watch the last presidential debate with us!
4. Come early (6 PM) and stay late (?) for a rousing good partay with your fellow Red State Rebels and Liberal Drinkers.

Again, sign up for alerts here.  Cheers!

Can't get enough of that good, good debating stuff?

Drinking Liberally can't get enough of the political fun either!  Want to feel like a majority?  Join us to watch the second presidential debate TONIGHT at 6:30 at the City Grill (199 8th Street) in downtown Boise. 

If you're not on Drinking Liberally's email list, well, you should be.  Get busy.  Sign up here for laughs, meetup reminders, and the occasional reference to Idaho politics, campains, or ukuleles: drinkingliberally.org.

You know she'll drive you to drink, so you may as well join Drinking Liberally for the debate.

Greetings, all!

The Blogmother has asked me to update you, My Fellow Sympathetic Americans, about the fun that my little group has been having, and to invite you along.  I write, of course, about Drinking Liberally Boise.  The nation's third chapter of this legendary group (there are now almost 300 chapters!), we're Boise's best venue for kvetching safely to pals old and new about anything from anti-gravity legislation to canned salmon to the political wisdom of chaining oneself to a hunk of granite.  Plus, we like beers (and soda, water, wine and Manhattans over ice) and feature 30% better looks, 40% more brains, and 75% more snark than your average Idaho political get-together (especially since the average Idaho political get-together is filled with nutty conservatives).

Our regular meetups are every third Wednesday at Pengilly's.  Sign up for regular (but not abundant) email reminders in the upper left corner of this page: drinkingliberally.org.

The big news?  For the first time in our four year history, we're sponsoring Debate Parties! Join us for the VP debate this THURSDAY, October 2 at 6:30 PM in the bowels of the City Grill, 199 N. 8th St.

The response to our first ever Drink-N-Groan Debate Party was amazing! Dozens of optimistic liberals met last week at the City Grill to compare notes, exclaim "I can see Canada from my HOUSE!" and admire our really hot AND smart Presidential candidate.  Check out images of last week's shenanigans here.

You KNOW this Thursday's VP debate will be the debate of the season.  We're already wagering how long it will take after the debate for the cries of sexism to come out from the McSame camp.  Any takers?

Weekend edition 9/19-21: Three cool events

Every election season, there are a few events that just rise above the rest in utter coolness. This fall, so far, these are my picks for the most Ida-licious shindigs for progressive people who care:

Tuesday, September 23 - "Turn the Feather Blue" is a fundraiser for state Senator Kate Kelly, future state Senator (and current Rep.) Nicole LeFavour, and the Canyon County Democrats (represented by future Canyon County Commissioner Estella Zamora). Enjoy great local food and fine beverages at the Red Feather Lounge in downtown Boise. Tickets are $25 for happy hour or $75 for a full six-course meal hosted by the Red Feather's Dave Krick. Get more info here and sign up here.

Sunday, September 28 - Several downtown Boise businesses are teaming up for an afternoon of music and fun to help elect officials who will safeguard our clean air, water, quality of life, and natural places. Conservation Voters for Idaho board member & Record Exchange owner Michael Bunnell and CVI Executive Director Lee Flinn are hosting the party with free hors d’oeuvres and drinks, friends, and music, plus a silent auction featuring a Nirve Paul Frank Cruiser bike and other great items. Tim Johnstone of KRVB 94.9 The River will emcee, and Idaho Mountain Touring and the Boise Co-op are helping out, too. All proceeds from the auction and from the sale of the Record Exchange’s 3’ x 3’ mounted rock posters will go to Conservation Voters for Idaho Action Fund. The fun runs from 2 to 6 p.m. No RSVP's needed; just come to the RX at 11th and Idaho and have fun.

Friday, October 10 - Internationally known Boise-based musician Curtis Stigers will give a rare solo acoustic performance to benefit the Ada County Democrats' Get Out the Vote effort. The "Concert for A Change" is set for 8 p.m. at the Egyptian Theater in Boise. Tickets are $30; order 'em online here or get 'em at the Record Exchange, the Boise Co-op, or the Egyptian Box Office.

This is an open thread. I'm going to spend my weekend walking in the Women's Fitness Challenge (Go, Team Obama!), watching the Broncos battle the Ducks, and planting Team 17 yard signs all over my precinct. What are you doing?

Weekend edition 6/7-8: Clinton endorses Obama

Hillary Clinton plans an event at 10 a.m. Mountain today (Saturday) to announce her endorsement of Barack Obama as the next President of the United States. Add your reaction in the comments below.

Update 11:30 a.m.: Senator Clinton did a great job with her speech this morning. Here's the key passage:

The way to continue our fight now, to accomplish the goals for which we stand, is to take our energy, our passion, our strength, and do all we can to help elect Barack Obama the next President of the United States. Today, as I suspend my campaign, I congratulate him on the victory he has won and the extraordinary race he has run. I endorse him and throw my full support behind him. And I ask all of you to join me in working as hard for Barack Obama as you have for me.

Clinton said Obama displayed "grace and grit" in their long primary campaign. The same can be said of her remarks today. Thank you, Senator.

Some other items of interest:

Both Larry Craig and Mike Crapo voted to stall the bipartisan climate change bill in the Senate yesterday. There will be no more action on the pressing issue until after the elections, so Idahoans need to ask whether Larry LaRocco (who supported the current legislation) or Jim Risch (who opposes it) is more serious about having a responsible, secure energy future.

The 2008 National Conference for Media Reform is under way in Minneapolis this weekend, according to an email we received from Boise Community Radio. The event is being webcast at Free Press.

A few months ago, Serephin of 43rd State Blues and I attended an excellent bloggers' summit put on by the New Organizing Institute. NOI is taking its show on the road this summer, with political trainings in many regions of the country, including one in the Northwest the second week of July. Click here for more information on "Training Technology-Enabled Leaders."

This is a ways off, but we got the good news this week that Buhl, Idaho ... yes, Buhl ... has one of the nation's newest Drinking Liberally chapters. Its first meeting will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, June 27, at the Cosmic Jolt, 120 Broadway Ave. S. DL also meets in Boise, Idaho Falls, Moscow (on hiatus a while due to Sara's recent surgery), Pocatello, and Twin Falls. Get details here.

Weekend edition 4/18-20 and open thread

Are you running the Race to Robie Creek this weekend? Here's hoping for not-horrible weather for you! The Saturday morning forecast is calling for chilly temps and a 30 percent chance of rain.

A final reminder: Boise will be one of many cities nationwide taking part in the Nation for Change rallies for Barack Obama this Saturday (April 19). Meet downtown on the Grove at 12:30 for an address by 2nd District congressional candidate Debbie Holmes, then we'll walk to Capitol Park at 12:45 p.m., where 1st CD candidate Walt Minnick and former Gov. Cecil Andrus will be on hand. The event will conclude at 2 p.m. as we say the Pledge of Allegiance in unison with the other rallies happening nationwide.

Speaking of Obama, he scored several more major endorsements today, including former Clinton cabinet member Robert Reich and former Senators Sam Nunn and David Boren, two of the most respected Democratic voices on foreign policy. "I've been very torn, frankly," Reich told the L.A.Times. "I do feel some loyalty to the Clintons because I've known them for so long. ... I did not plan to endorse. I wanted to stay out of the whole endorsement racket. But my conscience wouldn't let me stay silent after this latest round of mudslinging." Here's Reich's blog post about his decision. (An aside ... even though RSR is a TypePad blog, I just love that Bob Reich uses Blogger just like millions of the rest of us.)

Looking ahead to Tuesday's Pennsylvania primary, we'll have the usual prognostication here at RSR on Tuesday. That night, an Idaho for Obama returns watch party is set for 5:30 p.m. that evening at Legends Pub And Grill, 7609 W. Overland in Boise.

The favored Republican solution to our health care cost crisis is Health Savings Accounts. They're a key component of John McCain's health-care plan, just as they have been for George W. Bush. But guess what? McCain doesn't have one. Of course he doesn't: His wife is filthy rich (how rich, it's hard to know since they won't release her tax returns) and besides, he has his Congressional health care plan - the same sort of high-quality, low-out-of-pocket coverage that most Democrats want to share with average uninsured or under-insured Americans.

It was sad to read today that Milky Way, one of downtown Boise's best restaurants, is closing this weekend. I'm even sadder to see that A Taste of Memphis, open less than a year on Idaho Street, may be gone soon, too. It's easy to understand why an upscale sort of place like Milky Way would have a tough time in this economy, but the more reasonably priced Memphis ought to be able to make a go of it. You out there: Stop hitting Applebees, Chilis, and the Old Spaghetti Factory and patronize locally owned restaurants, dammit.

In happier food news (and a sure sign of spring), the Capital City Public Market returns to downtown Boise tomorrow.

One other notable event: State Rep. Sue Chew is kicking off her re-election campaign with an Earth Day celebration at Edwards Greenhouse (Hill Road between 36th and Collister in Boise) from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday Sunday. Join Sue for art, music, refreshments, issues information, volunteer sign-up opportunities and more.

What else is happening this weekend? What's on your mind?

Great Idaho road-trip restaurants

OK, here's a random post, which is just what we need to fill space as I recover from being up 22 hours yesterday before I finally got into BOI at 1 a.m. (3 a.m. Eastern Time) after my six fabulous days in D.C.

I just read that Trudy's Restaurant in Idaho City was gutted by fire this week. Trudy Jackson said she does hope to reopen by June 1 in time for the busy summer season, and I'm sure she'll get plenty of help to make that happen.

So now's a good time to ask: What are some of your favorite Idaho road-trip restaurants? Trudy's was one of mine, not because the food was so great (though the burgers really are good), but just because it had tons of character and seemed so integral to its hometown.

I'm also partial to the Buffalo Cafe in Twin Falls, the Sandbar River House in Marsing, Moon Time in Coeur d'Alene, the Continental Bistro in Pocatello, the Manhattan Cafe in Shoshone, the place with the live gator in Roberts, Grandpa's BBQ in Idaho Falls, Under the Sun in Bonners Ferry (a recent discovery via IdahoRocks) ... join in anytime! With warmer weather approaching, now's a fine time to get a good list of places to stop and refuel on your summer road trips.