Fables of the reconstruction

Local Programming: Drinking Liberally Center City Tonight 6-9 p.m.

Tuesday, November 10th
6 p.m.
Drinking Liberally Center City
Center City DL meets from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. every Tuesday in the Triumph Brewing Co. upstairs bar, located at 117 Chestnut St. (between Front and 2nd Streets), Philadelphia, PA 19106. There are $3 beers, $4 wine, $5 well drinks all night as well as happy hour food specials including half-price burgers.

Triumph Brewery is conveniently SEPTA-accessible via the Market-Frankford El (2nd Street station), all the buses that turn around at or near Penn's Landing (12, 17, 21, 33, 42, 48), and a few other buses that pass nearby (5, 25, 47, 57). Driving directions are here.

Send In Your Event Suggestions
Like all civic-minded liberals, we're here to promote democracy and citizen engagement in the political process, especially if there is beer involved. Whether it is or not, forward any area events for the week to the Philly DL organizer by Sunday to have them included in the weekly email.

Help Us Promote DL
Spread the word to your liberal friends to sign up for a group of like-minded people who get together every week to have fun and talk about what's happening in progressive politics right now. Please forward this email to those who might be interested in coming out and Drinking Liberally.

About Us
Drinking Liberally is a project of Living Liberally, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization which builds progressive community through social networks and events. Founded in 2003, Living Liberally has 340 chapters across the country. The Center City Philadelphia chapter of DL was started during the 2004 election and has met every Tuesday night since.

"A Shitty Bill Passed, And It's a Miracle"

Booman:

There is no way anyone could pass a single-payer system through this Congress, even if we won oodles of new seats. It just won't happen. It's not a matter of leadership. Why does the entire South oppose even this lukewarm reform? Look at how far we had to go to get to the point that we could pass something with no support from Republicans and almost no support from Southern Democrats? We just did it, and it's a minor miracle. A shitty bill passed, and it's a miracle.

We could have gone all out for single payer and we'd never even have gotten ... this. We'd have gotten nothing for another 15 years.

As it is, what the fuck is wrong with southern Democrats? Are they really that pathetic?

Health Care Reform Passes on the Backs of Women

Cheers on the floor of the House from Democrats as HR3962, the fucked-up, stupid, compromised health care reform bill passes. This moment brought to you by the assholes in the United States Catholic Church, who demanded that the plan punish poor women who need abortions. Motherfuckers.

Joseph Cao of Louisiana the sole Republican who gives a shit about Americans.

Revoke these motherfuckers tax exemption right now:

The representatives of the nation’s bishops made clear they would fight the bill if there were not restrictions on abortion. In an extraordinary effort over the last 10 days, the bishops conference told priests across the country to talk about the legislation in church, mobilizing parishioners to contact Congress and to pray for the success of anti-abortion amendments.

The bishops sent out information to be “announced at all Masses” and included in parish bulletins, and urged priests and parishioners to tell House members: “Please support the Stupak Amendment that addresses essential pro-life concerns.” They added: “If these serious concerns are not addressed, the final bill should be opposed.”

Catholic Church Waging War on Women and Gays

Vote on the Stupak Anti-Abortion Amendment at 7:15 p.m.; Please Call Your Rep

If you haven't heard, Democratic member of Congress Bart Stupak has introduced an amendment to the health care reform bill which will not only prevent the public option plan from covering abortion, but will require any health insurance plan that participates in the exchange to not cover it, either.  Most health insurance plans now cover abortion, and this amendment would have the effect of eliminating that benefit for everyone, whether you buy insurance through the exchange or not.

The vote for the amendment is scheduled for around 6 7:15 p.m. Please see here for a list of members of Congress who need to be called to get them to vote no on the amendment.

Also, send Rep. Stupak a postcard here.

10:08: 34 Dems vote for Stupak amendment. Per Chris Bowers's math, that's not enough.

10:09: Goddamnit. Up to 44 now.

10:26: Amendment passes with a big chunk of Democratic votes (>60). Unfuckingbelievable. Question now becomes if it survives conference, and in what form.

A lot of men hate women.

Local Programming: Drinking Liberally Football and Mt. Airy Coffee Tomorrow

Sunday, November 8th
12:30 p.m.
Drinking (Coffee) Liberally Mt. Airy
Mt. Airy Drinking Liberally meets every Sunday at Infusion Coffee + Tea (7133 Germantown Ave.), from 12:30 until 2:30 PM.

8:00 p.m.
Football Sunday with Drinking Liberally Philly at Jose Pistola's
It's the Eagles v. Dallas in Sunday night football. DL Center City regulars been having a good time watching the Eagles on Sunday afternoons; this will be the first evening game. Come out and be liberal football fans with us in the upstairs bar at Jose Pistola's, 263 S. 15th Street (between Locust and Spruce), Philadelphia, PA 19102. We'll start around 8:00 p.m., kickoff is at 8:20 p.m.

Send In Your Event Suggestions
Like all civic-minded liberals, we're here to promote democracy and citizen engagement in the political process, especially if there is beer involved. Whether it is or not, forward any area events for the week to the Philly DL organizer by Sunday to have them included in the weekly email.

Help Us Promote DL
Spread the word to your liberal friends to sign up for a group of like-minded people who get together every week to have fun and talk about what's happening in progressive politics right now. Please forward this email to those who might be interested in coming out and Drinking Liberally.

About Us
Drinking Liberally is a project of Living Liberally, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization which builds progressive community through social networks and events. Founded in 2003, Living Liberally has 340 chapters across the country. The Center City Philadelphia chapter of DL was started during the 2004 election and has met every Tuesday night since.

Local Programming: Meet Death Row Exoneree Harold Wilson This Afternoon

Thursday, November 5th

4:30-6:00 p.m.
Meet Death Row Exoneree Harold Wilson at Temple Law
Meet Harold Wilson, who was wrongly sentenced to death for murder and then subsequently exonerated. The event is sponsored by the American Constitution Society, Witness to Innocence, the National Lawyers Guild, and the Pennsylvania Innocence Project. The program will be held at Temple University Beasley School of Law, 1719 North Broad St. (southeast corner of Broad and Montgomery Ave.), Philadelphia, PA 19122, Room K2B, from 4:30-6 p.m. Contact Chris Wickman for more information.

Can't Blame Black People For Gay-Rights Defeat This Time

Maine voters decisively rejected same-sex marriage yesterday, 53% to 47%. Last November, when California voters overturned gay marriage there, the exit polls indicated that out of the Obama constituencies, overwhelming opposition from African-American (and, to a lesser extent, Hispanic) voters helped tip the balance. This was controversial, to put it mildly. Well, Maine is 97% white, and Obama won it in a landslide, 58%-42%. 

Something else I hadn't realized: the Christie win in New Jersey means the gay marriage bill expected to have come out of the legislature soon is now dead.

Fear wins again.

Local Programming: Philly for Change Monthly Meeting Tonight at 7 p.m.

Wednesday, November 4th

7 p.m.
Philly for Change Monthly Meetup at Tritone
Come out to the Philly for Change monthly meeting at Tritone, 1508 South St.. If you can volunteer for PFC's election-day canvass, email Sam Durso at samuel.durso@gmail.com or call 267-307-8821. At the meetup, proud progressive State Rep of North/Northeast Philly's 202nd District Mark Cohen will discuss House Bill 1393, which would legalize medical marijuana in Pennsylvania.

Say Goodnight

Dems lose in VA and NJ governor's race, maybe pick up that weird NY congressional seat, probably win lose on gay rights in Maine. Good time for me to go to bed.

Philly: Go Vote

Polls open at 7. Please see Michele Grant on who to vote for.

Local Programming: Drinking Liberally Center City Tonight 6-9 p.m.

Tuesday, November 3rd
6 p.m.
Drinking Liberally Center City
Center City DL meets from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. every Tuesday in the Triumph Brewing Co. upstairs bar, located at 117 Chestnut St. (between Front and 2nd Streets), Philadelphia, PA 19106. There are $3 beers, $4 wine, $5 well drinks all night as well as happy hour food specials including half-price burgers.

Triumph Brewery is conveniently SEPTA-accessible via the Market-Frankford El (2nd Street station), all the buses that turn around at or near Penn's Landing (12, 17, 21, 33, 42, 48), and a few other buses that pass nearby (5, 25, 47, 57). Driving directions are here.

Help Us Promote DL

Spread the word to your liberal friends to sign up for a group of like-minded people who get together every week to have fun and talk about what's happening in progressive politics right now. Please forward this email to those who might be interested in coming out and Drinking Liberally.

About Us

Drinking Liberally is a project of Living Liberally, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization which builds progressive community through social networks and events. Founded in 2003, Living Liberally has 340 chapters across the country. The Center City Philadelphia chapter of DL was started during the 2004 election and has met every Tuesday night since.

Local Programming: Drinking Liberally Football or Coffee

Sunday, November 1st
12:30 p.m.
Drinking (Coffee) Liberally Mt. Airy
Mt. Airy Drinking Liberally meets every Sunday at Infusion Coffee + Tea (7133 Germantown Ave.), from 12:30 until 2:30 PM.

1:00 p.m.
Football Sunday with Drinking Liberally Philly at Jose Pistola's
Giants v. Eagles! Come out and be liberal while watching another turnpike matchup. We'll be in the upstairs bar at Jose Pistola's, 263 S. 15th Street (between Locust and Spruce), Philadelphia, PA 19102. We'll start around 12:30, kickoff is at 1:00 p.m.

Upcoming Events
Philadelphia Zoning Code Commission October Community Meetings and Online Survey
The Philadelphia Zoning Code Commission is working on creating a new zoning code for Philadelphia. Several community meetings have been scheduled starting October 22nd to discuss the issue with Philadelphians. Go here for the schedule. Also, the Commission has an online survey up where you can give your input. For the backstory, see here.

Thursday, November 12th
Fundraiser for The Pennsylvania Innocence Project
Arcadia University in Glenside, PA will stage a performance of The Exonerated on Thursday, November 12th at 7:30 pm to benefit the Pennsylvania Innocence Project. Tickets for this special benefit performance can be reserved with a minimum donation of $100 each and can be purchased using a major credit card. Seating is limited, and tickets are expected to sell out, so please purchase tickets soon!

Send In Your Event Suggestions
Like all civic-minded liberals, we're here to promote democracy and citizen engagement in the political process, especially if there is beer involved. Whether it is or not, forward any area events for the week to the Philly DL organizer by Sunday to have them included in the weekly email.

Help Us Promote DL
Spread the word to your liberal friends to sign up for a group of like-minded people who get together every week to have fun and talk about what's happening in progressive politics right now. Please forward this email to those who might be interested in coming out and Drinking Liberally.

House Health Care Reform Bill

I don't want to get into a lot of detail describing a moving target, but I want to note some key features of the House bill that caught my eye:

• The public option and the exchange kick in during 2013. Individuals will then be required to have insurance. Subsidies provided up to 400% of poverty level.
• Ends unwarranted rescission immediately.
• Limits pre-existing condition look-back to 30 days immediately. Eliminates pre-existing in 2013.
• Eliminates lifetime benefit caps immediately.
• Allows parents to keep children on their policies until age 26 immediately.
• COBRA is extended until the exchange with a public option is running.
• Creates a $5 billion fund immediately to subsidize people who can't get health insurance due to a pre-existing condition.
• Creates a long-term care insurance public option immediately.
• Requires the government to negotiate Medicare drug prices starting in 2011.

These are all great things. The health insurance public option gets all the attention, but the last two items impress me just as much.

I think people underestimate how important long-term care insurance is. People carry life insurance as a matter of course, but you have a much greater chance in any given year of becoming permanently disabled than dying. Many people have disability insurance through their employers, but that only guarantees (a percentage of) your pay, which presumably covers your current expenses. It doesn't address the additional costs you will face if you need in-home care. Without long-term care insurance, someone will have to stay home with you, depriving the household of their income. But long-term care insurance is expensive. Bottom line: This is a great benefit.

The government negotiating drug prices will also have positive society-wide effects. Prescription medications are one of the main cost drivers of the health care system. I would bet that this change will result in more cost savings in the long run than covering the uninsured through the public option.

As I said though, we'll see how much of this gets enacted.

(Via Big Baby Blue Blogspot Blog.)

Local Programming: Philly Media + Delaware Drinking Liberally

Thursday, October 29th
6 p.m.
The Future of News Media in Philly
Young Involved Philadelphia hosts a forum on The Future of News Media in Philly from 6-7:30 p.m. at the WHYY Civic Space, 150 N. 6th St. (at Arch St.), Philadelphia, PA 19106. The forum will be moderated by Chris Satullo of WHYY. Panelists include Matt Golas (Managing Editor, PlanPhilly), Bruce Schimmel (Founder, Philadelphia City Paper), Joey Sweeney (Editor & Founder, Philebrity.com), and Sandra Shea (Editorial Page Editor, Daily News). Go harass the people who buy ink by the barrel! RSVP here.

7 p.m.
Drinking Liberally Delaware
It's Delaware Drinking Liberally at 7 p.m. at the Homegrown Cafe, 126 East Main Street, Newark, DE 19711. Delaware DL will be holding a costume contest, to be judged by their very own Death Panel. Sign up for the Delaware DL mailing list here.

Upcoming Events
Philadelphia Zoning Code Commission October Community Meetings and Online Survey
The Philadelphia Zoning Code Commission is working on creating a new zoning code for Philadelphia. Several community meetings have been scheduled starting October 22nd to discuss the issue with Philadelphians. Go here for the schedule. Also, the Commission has an online survey up where you can give your input. For the backstory, see here.

Thursday, November 12th
Fundraiser for The Pennsylvania Innocence Project
Arcadia University in Glenside, PA will stage a performance of The Exonerated on Thursday, November 12th at 7:30 pm to benefit the Pennsylvania Innocence Project. Tickets for this special benefit performance can be reserved with a minimum donation of $100 each and can be purchased using a major credit card. Seating is limited, and tickets are expected to sell out, so please purchase tickets soon!

Send In Your Event Suggestions
Like all civic-minded liberals, we're here to promote democracy and citizen engagement in the political process, especially if there is beer involved. Whether it is or not, forward any area events for the week to the Philly DL organizer by Sunday to have them included in the weekly email.

Help Us Promote DL
Spread the word to your liberal friends to sign up for a group of like-minded people who get together every week to have fun and talk about what's happening in progressive politics right now. Please forward this email to those who might be interested in coming out and Drinking Liberally.

Prematurely Incorrect

I love it when John Cole is wound up:

Although I hear if you wish really hard and scream “Just words” at Obama, Lieberman might change his mind. That is how this shit works- I read it on the internet!

Local Programming: Drinking Liberally Center City Tonight 6-9 p.m.

Tuesday, October 27th
Drinking Liberally Center City
Center City DL meets from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. every Tuesday in the Triumph Brewing Co. upstairs bar, located at 117 Chestnut St. (between Front and 2nd Streets), Philadelphia, PA 19106. There are $3 beers, $4 wine, $5 well drinks all night as well as happy hour food specials including half-price burgers.

Triumph Brewery is conveniently SEPTA-accessible via the Market-Frankford El (2nd Street station), all the buses that turn around at or near Penn's Landing (12, 17, 21, 33, 42, 48), and a few other buses that pass nearby (5, 25, 47, 57). Driving directions are here.

Upcoming Events
Philadelphia Zoning Code Commission October Community Meetings and Online Survey
The Philadelphia Zoning Code Commission is working on creating a new zoning code for Philadelphia. Several community meetings have been scheduled starting October 22nd to discuss the issue with Philadelphians. Go here for the schedule. Also, the Commission has an online survey up where you can give your input. For the backstory, see here.

Thursday, November 12th
Fundraiser for The Pennsylvania Innocence Project
Arcadia University in Glenside, PA will stage a performance of The Exonerated on Thursday, November 12th at 7:30 pm to benefit the Pennsylvania Innocence Project. Tickets for this special benefit performance can be reserved with a minimum donation of $100 each and can be purchased using a major credit card. Seating is limited, and tickets are expected to sell out, so please purchase tickets soon!

Send In Your Event Suggestions
Like all civic-minded liberals, we're here to promote democracy and citizen engagement in the political process, especially if there is beer involved. Whether it is or not, forward any area events for the week to the Philly DL organizer by Sunday to have them included in the weekly email.

Help Us Promote DL
Spread the word to your liberal friends to sign up for a group of like-minded people who get together every week to have fun and talk about what's happening in progressive politics right now. Please forward this email to those who might be interested in coming out and Drinking Liberally.

Local Programming: Drinking Liberally Football Sunday+ Picnic for Public Option

Two Philly DL events today:

1:00 p.m.
Football Sunday with Drinking Liberally Philly at Jose Pistola's
It's almost halfway through the regular season already, so come out to catch some football with Drinking Liberally Philly. The Eagles play on Monday night this week, so this Sunday we'll be watching the Steelers take on the Vikings instead. We'll be in the upstairs bar at Jose Pistola's, 263 S. 15th Street (between Locust and Spruce), Philadelphia, PA 19102. We'll start around 12:30, kickoff is at 1:00 p.m.

Noon
Picnic for the Public Option in Clark Park
President Obama needs our help in getting a strong Health Care Reform Bill through congress. We can help him by showing our support, enjoy a wonderful Philadelphia park, and catch up with old friends from the campaign all at the same time. The picnic will be held from noon to 4 p.m. in Clark Park in West Philly.

The picnic will be potluck like so many of our events during the primaries. Alcohol is not permitted in the park. In case of rain we will move the event to the Millcreek Tavern, 4200 Chester Ave and regardless we will probably head there after the picnic. RSVP here.

12:30 p.m.
Drinking (Coffee) Liberally Mt. Airy
Mt. Airy Drinking Liberally will not be holding their weekly meeting, but will be at the Clark Park picnic.

David DiSabatino, Center City organizer.
Michele Grant, Center City co-organizer.
Center City DL Facebook group.
Philly DL Flickr group.

About Us
Drinking Liberally is a project of Living Liberally, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization which builds progressive community through social networks and events. Founded in 2003, Living Liberally has 340 chapters across the country. The Center City Philadelphia chapter of DL was started during the 2004 election and has met every Tuesday night since.

Local Programming: Drinking Liberally, Dialing for Health Care, Ali Eteraz and Beer Activism

Tuesday, October 20th
6 p.m.
Drinking Liberally Center City
This week at DL we're having a joint party with the American Constitution Society's local lawyers and law student chapters. Adam Bonin of ACS will give a short talk on the Citizens United case before the Supreme Court, which is widely expected to result in corporations being granted Free Speech rights to make political contributions.

There may also be special guests. Yes, that is intentionally mysterious.

Center City DL meets from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. every Tuesday in the Triumph Brewing Co. upstairs bar, located at 117 Chestnut St. (between Front and 2nd Streets), Philadelphia, PA 19106. There are $3 beers, $4 wine, $5 well drinks all night as well as happy hour food specials including half-price burgers.

Triumph Brewery is conveniently SEPTA-accessible via the Market-Frankford El (2nd Street station), all the buses that turn around at or near Penn's Landing (12, 17, 21, 33, 42, 48), and a few other buses that pass nearby (5, 25, 47, 57). Driving directions are here.

Time to Deliver Health Care 100,000 Call Challenge
The health reform debate is about to move to the full Congress for the first time. With the insurance industry lobby pulling out all the stops to derail progress, we need everyone who supports reform to weigh in. So here's the plan: Set a new OFA record by getting 100,000 calls to Congress placed or committed to on a single day.

On Tuesday, October 20, volunteers from all over Philadelphia will gather to participate in this record-breaking effort by calling constituents and asking them to call on their member of Congress to support reform. President Obama will join the event via live webcast, sharing the latest info on the fight for reform and encouraging everyone to keep up the fight.

6-9 p.m., Organizing for America HQ, 123 S. Broad Street, Suite 820, Philadelphia, PA 19102. RSVP here.

7:30 p.m.
Ali Eteraz at the Free Library
An international lawyer (and former Drinking Liberally Philly attendee) who founded a think tank dedicated to legal reform in the Muslim world, Ali Eteraz writes an award-winning blog on the site Islamosphere. In Children of Dust, Eteraz recounts his schooling in a madrassa in Pakistan, his move to America, and his subsequent return to find a Muslim wife, at which time he becomes the subject of an abduction plot by the Taliban and is forced to grapple with his Islamic identity. Called a "love letter to one man's fading faith," author Yael Goldstein Love insists that the memoir "is a gift and a necessity."

Here's a bit from Phillygrrl's interview with Ali:

My view is that Pakistan gets a very bad rap in American press. The fact that suicide bombings occur there should not be an indictment of average Pakistanis who are really rambunctious and party-loving people. The country is currently in the midst of an awesome musical, artistic and literary renaissance — much of it in response to the turmoil — and more Americans should pay attention to that side of Pakistan. I know that people in Philly appreciate rock music — they would be surprised to know that Pakistan is at the forefront of Third-World rock.

Buy the book. Directions to the event here.

Drinking Liberally Philly: Petition Anheuser-Busch to Leave the U.S. Chamber of Commerce
We like to share a drink as we share our politics.  But it turns out the makers of Budweiser aren't so concerned about sharing the planet.  They're part of an organization that denies global warming -- pitting the King of Beers against Mother Earth. Anheuser-Busch sits on the board of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce -- an organization that has taken a radical stand on global warming and has threatened to sue the EPA if it tries to regulate greenhouse gases.

Bud and Bud Lite are supposed to lift our spirits; why would they want to hurt our planet?

That's why Drinking Liberally wants to let them know that we like the "King of Beers," but we like Mother Earth even more.

Join us in asking Anheuser-Busch to step down from the board of the Chamber of Commerce, and show us where their loyalties truly are -- with us, their customers.

Other major companies including Apple and Pacific Gas and Electric have already stepped down. If Anheuser-Busch stands up for our environment, we'll raise up a glass to them, and say, "This Bud's for you."

Join us now and call upon Bud to quit:
http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/chamber_dl/?rc=drinking_10192009_chamber

Credible Sources

Shorter nearly everyone in the liberal blogosphere:

I will uncritically accept John Harwood's story that an anonymous White House source said something mean about me, even though his track record shows he's reliable only for attacking liberals.

Get a grip, people. You're being played by the media.

It's even dumber that a conservative law blogger shows more sense.

Local Programming: Drinking Liberally Football and Mt. Airy Coffee Tomorrow

Sunday, October 11th
Watching Football with Drinking Liberally Philly at Jose Pistolas
It's football Sunday and the Eagles are on. Come on out to watch the Birds play the Tampa Bay Bucs with the Drinking Liberally Center City crowd. Discuss health care reform during those boring coaches' challenge timeouts. We're watching the game in the upstairs bar at Jose Pistola's, 263 S. 15th Street (between Locust and Spruce), Philadelphia, PA 19102. We'll start at noon, kickoff is at 1 p.m.

Drinking (Coffee) Liberally Mt. Airy
Mt. Airy Drinking Liberally meets every Sunday at Infusion Coffee + Tea (7133 Germantown Ave.), from 12:30 until 2:30 PM.

Send In Your Event Suggestions
Like all civic-minded liberals, we're here to promote democracy and citizen engagement in the political process, especially if there is beer involved. Whether it is or not, forward any area events for the week to the Philly DL organizer by Sunday to have them included in the weekly email.

Help Us Promote DL
Spread the word to your liberal friends to sign up for a group of like-minded people who get together every week to have fun and talk about what's happening in progressive politics right now. Please forward this email to those who might be interested in coming out and Drinking Liberally.

About Us
Drinking Liberally is a project of Living Liberally, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization which builds progressive community through social networks and events. Founded in 2003, Living Liberally has 341 chapters across the country. The Center City Philadelphia chapter of DL was started during the 2004 election and has met every Tuesday night since.

U.S. Generals, Off the Record: McChrystal is Just Like Shinseki

Poor babies:

The hallways at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center buzzed with sympathy for McChrystal, who has said the U.S.-led effort in Afghanistan risks failure without a rapid infusion of additional forces. Obama and his advisers are now debating strategy in Afghanistan, with some officials arguing against additional deployments.

"It was definitely a hand slap," one Army officer said of the statement last weekend by national security adviser James L. Jones, a retired Marine general, that military officials should pass advice to President Obama through their chain of command. The Army officer, like others attending the annual meeting of the Association of the United States Army, spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak on the politically sensitive issue.

Profile in courage: An anonymous officer criticizing the President publicly for telling a commander he should work on the strategic review that is underway rather than just announce his preferred strategy.

A number of senior Army officers compared McChrystal to Gen. Eric K. Shinseki, the Army chief of staff who warned before the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003 that it would take several hundred thousand troops to secure the country -- advice that was dismissed as "wildly off the mark" by then Deputy Defense Secretary Paul D. Wolfowitz.

"You know what happened to Shinseki," said one Army general, referring to what many officers believe was the Bush administration's punitive treatment of the general, now Obama's secretary of veteran affairs.

Yeah, I know what happened to Shinseki. He was called before Congress to answer questions, he didn't run to the Washington Post to bitch anonymously. And when he answered Congress's questions, he was forced out. Unlike McChrystal. 

Officers said there was no question that McChrystal and other commanders would carry out whatever decisions Obama makes. "We will tell you what we think, but we are also soldiers, so if the president gives an order, we will execute it," the senior officer said.

How nice of them.

Local Programming: Specter Town Hall Friday, 4 p.m. at Drexel

From Drexel Dems:

Join Pennsylvania's Senior Senator, Arlen Specter, and the Drexel Democrats for a Town Hall Meeting on Friday, October 9th at 4:00PM in McAllister 2019 (corner of 33rd and Chestnut, above Bookstore)

Ask Senator Specter about healthcare and the public option, the Employee Free Choice Act, Iraq, Afghanistan, the economy, or his past record such as his vote for President Obama's stimulus plan.

The Senator is coming to Drexel to answer any and all questions from the Drexel community.

Senator Specter is currently running for re-election to the United States Senate, for the first time as a Democrat.

Local Programming: Drinking Liberally Mt. Airy Sukkot Edition

Thursday, October 8th
Drinking Liberally Mt. Airy in the Sukkah
Drinking Liberally Mt. Airy host Adam Zion says:

"You are all invited to join me in the back yard of my house as we Drink Liberally in the Sukkah! A sukkah is a temporary 'booth' which Jews build to celebrate the harvest festival of Sukkot, which runs through this Saturday night. And, since it's a mitzvah (commandment) to eat + drink in the sukkah, combined w/another commandment to welcome guests into one's house, what better than to invite friends over for beer in the sukkah.

"So, come one, and come all, join us at 6:00 PM this Thursday, 10/8, at my house at 7035 Lincoln Dr. Please send a confirmation via e-mail if you are going to attend, so that I can order adequate beer, munchies, etc. For all of you who attended last year, we'll have the same deal this time around: I'll provide the location + a case of beer, the rest I hope our guests can provide. And I figure we'll order a pizza or so if people feel so inclined."

Send In Your Event Suggestions
Like all civic-minded liberals, we're here to promote democracy and citizen engagement in the political process, especially if there is beer involved. Whether it is or not, forward any area events for the week to the Philly DL organizer by Sunday to have them included in the weekly email.

Help Us Promote DL
Spread the word to your liberal friends to sign up for a group of like-minded people who get together every week to have fun and talk about what's happening in progressive politics right now. Please forward this email to those who might be interested in coming out and Drinking Liberally.

About Us
Drinking Liberally is a project of Living Liberally, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization which builds progressive community through social networks and events. Founded in 2003, Living Liberally has 341 chapters across the country. The Center City Philadelphia chapter of DL was started during the 2004 election and has met every Tuesday night since.

Local Programming: Philly for Change Monthly Meeting Tonight at 7 p.m.

Wednesday, October 7th
Philly for Change October Meetup Featuring Joe Hoeffel
Montco Commissioner, former Congressman, and Gubernatorial hopeful Joe Hoeffel joins Philly for Change at Tritone, 1508 South St., to talk about the race and his candidacy. Be there at 7:00 PM on Wednesday, October 8.

Local Programming: Drinking Liberally-Related Program Activities

Tonight and several other times this week:

There are four separate Drinking Liberally Philadelphia events this week:

Tuesday, October 6th
Drinking Liberally Center City
6 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Triumph Brewing Co. upstairs bar
117 Chestnut St. (between Front and 2nd Streets)
Philadelphia, PA 19106.
$3 beers, $4 wine, $5 well drinks all night.
Happy hour food specials include half-price burgers.

Triumph Brewery is conveniently SEPTA-accessible via the Market-Frankford El (2nd Street station), all the buses that turn around at or near Penn's Landing (12, 17, 21, 33, 42, 48), and a few other buses that pass nearby (5, 25, 47, 57). Driving directions are here.

Thursday, October 8th
Drinking Liberally Mt. Airy in the Sukkah
Drinking Liberally Mt. Airy host Adam Zion invites you to Drinking Liberally in the Sukkah. See more here.

Sunday, October 11th
Watching Football with Drinking Liberally Philly at Jose Pistolas
We're watching the game in the upstairs bar at Jose Pistola's, 263 S. 15th Street (between Locust and Spruce), Philadelphia, PA 19102. We'll start at noon, kickoff is at 1 p.m.

Drinking (Coffee) Liberally Mt. Airy
Mt. Airy Drinking Liberally meets every Sunday at Infusion Coffee + Tea (7133 Germantown Ave.), from 12:30 until 2:30 PM.

Other Area Events
Wednesday, October 7th
Philly for Change October Meetup Featuring Joe Hoeffel
Montco Commissioner, former Congressman, and Gubernatorial hopeful Joe Hoeffel joins Philly for Change at Tritone, 1508 South St., to talk about the race and his candidacy. Be there at 7:00 PM on Wednesday, October 8.

Send In Your Event Suggestions
Like all civic-minded liberals, we're here to promote democracy and citizen engagement in the political process, especially if there is beer involved. Whether it is or not, forward any area events for the week to the Philly DL organizer by Sunday to have them included in the weekly email.

Help Us Promote DL
Spread the word to your liberal friends to sign up for a group of like-minded people who get together every week to have fun and talk about what's happening in progressive politics right now. Please forward this email to those who might be interested in coming out and Drinking Liberally.

About Us
Drinking Liberally is a project of Living Liberally, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization which builds progressive community through social networks and events. Founded in 2003, Living Liberally has 336 341 chapters across the country. The Center City Philadelphia chapter of DL was started during the 2004 election and has met every Tuesday night since.

Correlation is Not Causation

Let's play spot the fallacy. (Spoiler alert: Don't read the title of this post.) Item one:

Teenagers who eat with their families less than three times a week are more likely to turn to alcohol, tobacco and drugs than those who dine with their families five times a week. ...

Since the first CASA study in 1996 saw an association between the frequency of family dinners and rates of adolescent substance abuse, numerous other studies have pointed to the importance of the family dinner. They suggest that family dinners have a positive impact on nutrition, verbal abilities, mental health and workers’ stress. The news media passionately presses the cause; it’s a cornerstone of the slow-parenting movement.

To get the gist of the rest of the article, it's titled "The Guilt-Trip Casserole."

Item two, from rightwing religion blogger Mollie Ziegler Hemingway on the supposed "opt-out movement":

[P]arents in married relationships were more likely to own their own homes, have higher household incomes, be employed, and have at least a bachelor’s degree. They were less likely to receive food stamps than other family types. ...

It’s almost like all that morality stuff that religious groups are shoving down our throats has some merit or something. At least it has some policy implications.

To their credit, the New York Times does allow an actual researcher to debunk the "guilt-trip" point of the article:

Dr. Philip A. Cowan, a psychologist and former director of the Institute of Human Development at the University of California, Berkeley, suggests that the alacrity with which Americans embrace equations like family dinner frequency and substance abuse speaks to their need to find “silver bullet” solutions to profound problems.

But, he cautioned in an e-mail message, there is not a proven cause and effect that more family dinners equal less drug use. “To say that family dinners are associated with good outcomes is not the same as saying that family dinners cause good outcomes,” wrote Dr. Cowan, who has studied families.

The most likely explanation for the CASA results, he added, is that families who place importance on eating together — and can organize themselves to pull it off — are those who are more likely to produce good outcomes for their children anyway.

The conservative journalist Hemingway just goes all-in and says not only that marriage produces better outcomes but that it's all the doing of religion! And when I tried to point out the fallacy in comments, she deleted it. Which is par for the course with rightwingers: Dumb and dishonest.

And of course, both of these pieces place the burden on women to conform to someone else's idea of what a "good mother" is, or else their kids will turn out to be dropout junkies and sluts. The sexism is rank, and it doesn't get a mention in either place.

U.S. Commanding General in Afghanistan Tells the President Which Orders to Give

There's no other way to interpret this:

He was speaking in Britain — America’s close ally in Afghanistan — a day after he had participated by video link from London in a White House strategy session on the war that included President Obama, Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and an array of senior advisers.

General McChrystal was asked by a member of an audience that included retired military commanders and security specialists whether he would support an idea put forward by Mr. Biden to scale back the American military presence in Afghanistan to focus on tracking down the leaders of Al Qaeda, in place of the current broader effort now under way to defeat the Taliban.

“The short answer is: no,” he said. “You have to navigate from where you are, not where you wish to be. A strategy that does not leave Afghanistan in a stable position is probably a short-sighted strategy.”

He did not mention Mr. Biden by name.

Right now the White House is engaged in a strategic review of its options in Afghanistan and Pakistan. That review has just gotten underway and is expected to take some time to complete, but McChrystal's statement, if left as is, narrows the range of possible options. The statement is an attempt to tie President Obama's hands by publicly announcing which strategic goals are acceptable and which are not. If Obama decides to support Biden's idea, then Republicans will seize on McChrystal's statement as proof that Obama is undermining American security. 

McChrystal must retract his statement or be removed from his position. If SecDef Gates lets this slide, we'll end up with a decades-long commitment to a war for no reason other than the generals like fighting it.

Census Worker Found Hanged

Too early to tell what happened here:

The FBI is investigating the hanging death of a U.S. Census worker near a Kentucky cemetery. A law enforcement official says the word "fed" was scrawled on his chest.

The body of Bill Sparkman, a 51-year-old Census field worker and occasional teacher, was found Sept. 12 in the Daniel Boone National Forest in rural southeast Kentucky.

Investigators have said little about the case. A law enforcement official, who was not authorized to discuss the case and requested anonymity, tells The Associated Press the word "fed" was written on the dead man's chest.

But it's worrying, not least because it happened on 9/12, the day of the Teabagger's March on Washington. I would use the word lynching if it had been "ACORN" written on his chest. As it is, I think the most likely explanation (because of "fed") is political murder not directly connected to the anti-Obama stuff but motivated by general anti-government sentiment by someone living out in the woods. It's also possible that he stumbled on some methshiners.

(Via MG.)

Local Programming: Drinking Liberally Philly 5th Anniversary Tonight

Drinking Liberally Philadelphia Turns 5
Tuesday night come out to celebrate the 5th anniversary of the first Philly DL. There will be cake!

Please note that Center City DL will be held on the first floor of Triumph this week.

Tuesday, September 22nd
Drinking Liberally Center City
6 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Triumph Brewing Co.
117 Chestnut St. (between Front and 2nd Streets)
Philadelphia, PA 19106.
$3 beers, $4 wine, $5 well drinks all night.
Happy hour food specials: $4 pizza app, half-price burgers.

Triumph Brewery is conveniently SEPTA-accessible via the Market-Frankford El (2nd Street station), all the buses that turn around at or near Penn's Landing (12, 17, 21, 33, 42, 48), and a few other buses that pass nearby (5, 25, 47, 57). Driving directions are here.

Quote of the Day

Is this post title from Nate Silver:

Baucus Compromise Bill Draws Enthusiastic Support of Senator Max Baucus (D-MT)

A Reminder of How Much the Heritage Foundation Hates Workers

I read The Foundry, the blog of the Heritage Foundation, and it regularly contains some of the most batshit-crazy economic conservatism you'd ever want to see. Today's example:

 

Geddit? Construction workers don't work, unlike those on wingnut welfare like Conn Carroll.

The Kennedy Memorial Health Bill

Regarding this by Noam Scheiber (written Sunday, but with salience now):

If Kennedy were to pass away in the next few months, the Senate math on any health care vote would almost certainly get easier, not harder. For one thing, it would single-handedly make the magic number 51 votes, not 60, since it would be suicidal for the GOP to filibuster the culmination of the last Kennedy brother's lifelong crusade. Beyond that, I suspect the coverage of Kennedy's death would silence healthcare reform critics and boost proponents in a way that netted at least a couple of wavering moderates--so clearing the 51-vote threshold wouldn't be a problem. Heck, you might even see Utah Republican (and longtime Kennedy friend) Orrin Hatch back in the reformist camp.

Liberal blogger reaction ranges from perplexed to contemptuous: Steve Benen is skeptical. Duncan questions what planet Scheiber lives on. DougJ says he needs his meds adjusted.

They're probably right, but I just want to point out a reason they might be wrong: Scheiber and the New Republic represent Village consensus opinion. When something happens that we liberals think should shame conservatives into humble apologies - oh, the complete lack of WMDs in Iraq leaps to mind - and it doesn't, it's usually in part because the Village decided they were right to be wrong, or something.

If Scheiber's piece is representative, then the same process might work in our favor. The Senate is a weird, super-clubby place. The Village media regard Kennedy as a demigod, because of the great narrative they can sell on the occasion of the passing of the JFK generation. The Senator's funeral will be a huge event. The outcome may be that Kennedy is portrayed as a Moses-like figure, leading his cause for 40 years only to be denied seeing it come to fruition, but having faith that it would. That's a powerful force in the alternative reality of D.C., so it's possible that things will play out the way Scheiber predicts.

Ted Kennedy Dies, Age 77

Just announced.

Local Programming: Drinking (Coffee) Liberally Mt. Airy Sunday

Sunday, August 9th
Drinking (Coffee) Liberally Mt. Airy

Mt. Airy Drinking Liberally meets every Sunday at Infusion Coffee + Tea (7133 Germantown Ave.), from 12:30 until 2:30 PM.

Send In Your Event Suggestions
Like all civic-minded liberals, we're here to promote democracy and citizen engagement in the political process, especially if there is beer involved. Whether it is or not, forward any area events for the week to the Philly DL organizer by Sunday to have them included in the weekly email.

Help Us Promote DL
Spread the word to your liberal friends to sign up for a group of like-minded people who get together every week to have fun and talk about what's happening in progressive politics right now. Please forward this email to those who might be interested in coming out and Drinking Liberally.

About Us
Drinking Liberally is a project of Living Liberally, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization which builds progressive community through social networks and events. Founded in 2003, Living Liberally has 336 chapters across the country. The Center City Philadelphia chapter of DL was started during the 2004 election and has met every Tuesday night since.

Health Care Reform Townhall Schedule

For locals, I note that Specter is appearing Tuesday morning at 9:30 in Lebanon, PA and Rep. Steven Rothman will be right over the bridge from Philly in Fairview, NJ, on Friday morning.

(Via FDL.)

Local Programming: Philly for Change Monthly Meeting Tonight at 7 p.m.

Wednesday, August 5th
The Philly For Change August Meetup
Join Philly for Change in welcoming State Sen. Daylin Leach discussing (finally) some good news from Harrisburg, his heroic and historic Marriage Equality Bill. Also on the agenda, a health care update, the PA budget update, and more.
WHEN: Wednesday August 5th at 7:00 p.m.
WHERE: Tritone, 1508 South St., 19146

Local Programming: Drinking Liberally Center City Tonight 6-10 p.m.

Tuesday, August 4th
Drinking Liberally Center City
6 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Triumph Brewing Co.
117 Chestnut St. (between Front and 2nd Streets)
Philadelphia, PA 19106.
Meet at the upstairs bar.
$3 beers, $4 wine, $5 well drinks all night.
Happy hour food specials: $4 pizza app, half-price burgers.

Triumph Brewery is conveniently SEPTA-accessible via the Market-Frankford El (2nd Street station), all the buses that turn around at or near Penn's Landing (12, 17, 21, 33, 42, 48), and a few other buses that pass nearby (5, 25, 47, 57). Driving directions are here.

Send In Your Event Suggestions
Like all civic-minded liberals, we're here to promote democracy and citizen engagement in the political process, especially if there is beer involved. Whether it is or not, forward any area events for the week to the Philly DL organizer by Sunday to have them included in the weekly email.

Help Us Promote DL
Spread the word to your liberal friends to sign up for a group of like-minded people who get together every week to have fun and talk about what's happening in progressive politics right now. Please forward this email to those who might be interested in coming out and Drinking Liberally.

About Us
Drinking Liberally is a project of Living Liberally, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization which builds progressive community through social networks and events. Founded in 2003, Living Liberally has 336 chapters across the country. The Center City Philadelphia chapter of DL was started during the 2004 election and has met every Tuesday night since.

"Captured" v. "Arrested": On the Political Usefulness of Language

Regarding the story of the three hikers who crossed the border from Iraq into Iran:

Note the headline: "Captured." As well as the word "hostage" in the third paragraph.

I presume the hikers are innocent of any deliberate wrongdoing and I hope they aren't held very long, whether as part of some political negotiation or not. But the media's choice of words is interesting. If three Iranians were to have been caught crossing the border in some remote area from Canada into the United States, I think the word used would be "arrested". And people would be freaking out about how they could be - probably are! - terrorists. In either case, it wouldn't be unreasonable for the U.S. or Iran to be thorough in investigating claims that those "captured" were what they said they were.

By using the word "captured" and referencing Mr. Fattal's "redbrick colonial" boyhood home, the Inquirer is trying to heighten the tension and draw a parallel to the embassy hostages - innocent Americans who were kidnapped. Part of this tension is placing pressure on the Obama administration to react as if Mr. Fattal and his friends were hostages, with all the attendant diplomatic and military drama. I guess that sells papers, but it's hardly an evenhanded way of describing the situation.

What Digby Said

In comments to this post, on the fecklessness of people who think the public option is a sellout and that we could have had single payer if only, well, something:

I wish I shared your optimism that if we could crash and burn this health care legislation we'd come back all fresh and new in the new year and single payer would be the only logical answer. I have seen no evidence that politics works that way nor in any history I've ever read, but maybe this time it will be different. I think it's an awful risk to take, however. I honestly can't see that it's riskier to get something less than single payer that could evolve into a working decent system than to possibly have to wait another decade for the single payer movement that never seems to materialize.

This economy is shit and if the Democrats are perceived to be weak and unable to pass anything, voters are going to punish them for it. I'm sorry that's how people think, but it is. They do not like losers. And if you think we have a better chance of health reform under Republicans you are living in a dream world.

I wish it were different. But contrary to a lot of the silly commentary I read on this, I don't actually have the kind of influence that can change the debate --- I only observe it and analyse it. So, I'm not quite sure why the so-called "a-list" bloggers are considered to be the heavy in this. I think perhaps all this anger is just a tad misplaced considering the array of forces that are against any kind of health reform, much less single payer.

The Democratic electoral victories in 2006 and 2008 revealed that a goodly number of liberal political bloggers don't have the first clue about how politics works. First and foremost, you get what you work for, not what you think you deserve. And the whiners Digby is talking about seem to have an allergy to doing anything more strenuous than banging their sippy cups on the keyboard.

(Via Kevin K.)

That's All It Takes

Under the headline "Analysis: Obama Must Regain Momentum After Gates", this:

Obama's impromptu comments about the incident could become a defining moment. Nearly immediately after Obama's remark that police had "acted stupidly" in arresting Gates, his approval rating plummeted among whites, dropping over two days from 53 percent to 46 percent in a poll by the nonpartisan Pew Research Center.

It took the deaths of hundreds of African-Americans and the drowning of a fabled American city for white America to begin to question the leadership of George W. Bush. It took Obama questioning the actions of a single white cop for his approval rating to fall farther than Bush's did after Katrina.

August Health Care Offensive

Chris Good at Ambinder's place:

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee will put the heat on some House Republicans this August with a month-long health care campaign waged against the lawmakers on its 25-member target list ... .

All 25 districts will get volunteer or automated calls on President Obama's health care initiative, volunteer calls into talk radio shows, letter writing drives, and drives for letters to the editor and op-eds in local papers; there will also be district-specific tele-town-halls, an online petition campaign, emails, and a fact-checking initiative on GOP members statements on health care. Democratic reforms haven't seen any GOP support in the House to speak of, and, if Republicans won't back Obama's plan, the DCCC seems determined to hammer their more vulnerable members for it.

Great news. Leadership needs to lean on the so-called moderate Dems, and this will help with vulnerable Republicans.

Mad Bitch Beer

In a non-insane world, these people would lose their jobs immediately:

In a bit about which beers would go to which political players if invited to the White House, we heard a variety of rather predictable jokes. David Vitter could enjoy "a nice cold Happy Ending." Dennis Kucinich would have a bottle of "Insanely Bad Elf." The French delegation could be served "Frosty Frog." You get the idea.

At the 2:35 mark, Milbank tells the viewer, "And we won't tell you who's getting a bottle of Mad Bitch." At that point, a photo of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton appears briefly on screen.

Cash for Clunkers

The Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS), better known as "Cash for Clunkers" has been wildly successful. The $850 million budgeted for the program to last through November ran out in one week. That means over 200,000 people raced into their new car dealership and bought new, fuel-efficient cars. There have been some implementation problems, but the government is working on them. And Congress has now approved an additional $2 billion which hopefully will last longer now that the initial pent-up demand has been released.

As stimulus, sounds great, right? Not if you're a conservative:

The Cash for Clunkers program is pretty simple. The government pays buyers up to $4,500 to trade in an old car to buy a new, more fuel-efficient car. There was never any doubt it would work in the sense that people with old cars would take the cash. If you pay college kids to drink beer, you’re likely to be successful increasing beer sales. The issue in both cases would be whether the program was wise. The answer in both cases is pretty obvious.

Go to their link if you care to, but if not let me summarize: (1) Buying a new, fuel-efficient car is bad for the environment, and (2) the effect of the program will be to make cars more expensive and hurt the economy.

No, I am not making that up.

And even when someone disagrees with their lunacy on one point, they're cited as support for another:

One car salesman, Andy Beloff, said, “People are loving it. It’s wonderful. It’s a great stimulus package.” But when asked if the government was running the program well, Beloff said, “No. No.”

So it's wonderful and not well-run. Gotcha. 

The point is simple: Conservative ideology depends on maintaining the belief against all evidence that markets function perfectly and the government can't do anything right. It terrifies them that a program might be popular, so they have to spin the popularity as a problem and lie about the results. Cash for Clunkers is a hugely successful program that is doing what it's designed to do. It's a commonsense, progressive solution that helps both the economy and the environment.

When There is a National Conversation on Race, Black People Get it in the Neck

So, right now, the President of the United States, who happens to be half black, and the preeminent African-American scholar, who also happens to be half black, are sitting down for a beer with a police sergeant. The police officer is the person who will decide how the meeting goes, and the tenor of the resulting media coverage, because he is white, and that gives him the privilege of saying whether the black President and professor were sufficiently deferential and respectful of the authority inherent in the color of his skin.

I hope I am wrong, but I don't think this is going to end well.

"We Get It"

Jason330 at Delaware Liberal:

If you want to comment here, do me a favor and think about what you are about to type. There is no need to repeat basic GOP talking points. For example, don’t tell us that Bill Clinton got a blow job and that Clinton’s infidelity exculpates every Republican adulterer forever. We know. We get it.

If your only point is that [you] don’t like unions or jews, we get it. If you are about to say that everything having to do with gays is a slippery slope that will lead to homosexual indoctrination classes in elementary schools [sic]. Don’t bother. We get it.

There is no need to comment here if you think Obama is not going to be popular in the future and that through the reflexive property of political algebra that conservatism is awesome. We get it.

If you are tempted to comment here that you want to keep your guns in spite of the fact that nobody wants your guns. There is no need. We get it. If you think every tax dollar not spent on the military or paving the street in front of your house is sickeningly wasted, you probably don’t need to note that in the comments section. We get it.

You feel strongly about all of that nutty shit. We get it. If your comment boils down to ticking off some wingnut bullshit that does not address the point of the post or offer some actual and original insights into your thoughts, aspirations or fears – don’t bother.

Thanks.

Funny and helpful.

New Congress-Tracking Site: LegisStalker

Here. I've been looking for a tool like this for some time. You can fairly easily find out how a member of Congress voted, but it's harder to find a comprehensive record of what she or he has said. Of course, the sources are currently limited to news, twitter and youtube, so it's hardly comprehensive, but at least it's something.

John Yoo: A One-Man Crime Wave

Publius:

As I noted earlier, John Yoo played a starring role in the new IG report (pdf) on the Bush administration’s surveillance program (PSP).  And it wasn’t a flattering one.

Yoo’s actions were dishonest and inappropriate on so many different levels that I’m going to try to break them up into three categories:  (1) procedural abuses; (2) legal inaccuracies; and (3) factual inaccuracies.

The details are summarized pretty quickly and convincingly. John Yoo conspired with other top malefactors in the Bush Administration to violate all Americans' civil liberties and then lied to cover it up. He should be standing trial.

Yet that same John Yoo is a professor at a respected law school and is paid to write occasional columns for my once-great local newspaper.

Local Programming: American Constitution Society Supreme Court Event Noon Thursday

Thursday, July 9th
American Constitution Society Supreme Court Event
ACS’s Philadelphia Lawyer Chapter and the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights present “Replacing Justice Souter: President Obama’s First Pick and The Future of the Supreme Court”, featuring William Marshall, William Rand Kenan, Jr. Distinguished Professor of Law, University of North Carolina School of Law; Kermit Roosevelt, Professor of Law, University of Pennsylvania Law School; Steven Duffield, Former Policy Director and Chief Counsel, Senate Republican Conference; moderated by Nancy Zirkin, Executive Vice President, Leadership Conference on Civil Rights. The event will be held on Thursday, July 9, 2009, 12:00 p.m - 2:00 p.m., at Montgomery, McCracken, Walker & Rhoads LLP, Justice Owen J. Roberts Room, 123 S. Broad Street, Avenue of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA. RSVP here or on Facebook.

Local Programming: Drinking Liberally Center City Tonight

Tuesday, July 7th
Drinking Liberally Center City
6 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Triumph Brewing Co.
117 Chestnut St. (between Front and 2nd Streets)
Philadelphia, PA 19106.
Meet at the upstairs bar.
$3 beers, $4 wine, $5 well drinks all night.
Happy hour food specials: $4 pizza app, half-price burgers.

Triumph Brewery is conveniently SEPTA-accessible via the Market-Frankford El (2nd Street station), all the buses that turn around at or near Penn's Landing (12, 17, 21, 33, 42, 48), and a few other buses that pass nearby (5, 25, 47, 57). Driving directions are here.

Other Local Events
Tuesday, July 7th
Drink to Your Health! Health Reform Meetup
We want Quality and Affordable Health Care! And we're tired of politicians claiming otherwise! The rhetoric is that youth in this country don't care about having it and that's why we go without it. That's why we have enormous hospital bills when something goes wrong or stress over routine doctor visits..because we Want to??

Drink To Your Health is a group of dynamic folks that gather for drinks and discussion on health care issues. Come to share your health care story, vent amongst friends, get caught up on current policy, for great discussion or just to meet local progressives. RSVP here.
5:00pm - 7:20pm
Locust Rendezvous
1415 Locust Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102

Send In Your Event Suggestions
Like all civic-minded liberals, we're here to promote democracy and citizen engagement in the political process, especially if there is beer involved. Whether it is or not, forward any area events for the week to the Philly DL organizer by Sunday to have them included in the weekly email.

Help Us Promote DL
Spread the word to your liberal friends to sign up for a group of like-minded people who get together every week to have fun and talk about what's happening in progressive politics right now. Please forward this email to those who might be interested in coming out and Drinking Liberally.

Sexual Orientation Discrimination Outlawed in Delaware

The first state, coming in near the back of the pack:

Anyone who loses a job, a housing opportunity, an insurance policy, a public contract or a spot in a public facility because of sexual orientation now has legal remedy. For the first time, that kind of discrimination is no longer legal in Delaware.

Finally. What took you so long? Next: marriage and other privileges granted other people.

Via Fred Clark.