The Return of Drinking Liberally, Keene

heh (0.00 / 0)

Well, my 21st birthday is NEXT friday...

So, I'll se about going to a DL after that.

Keene is really far for me, however...

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by: Nicholas Gunn @ Tue Feb 27, 2007 at 20:30:04 PM CST

You know my preference. (0.00 / 0)

21 all the way.

It'll be perfect, I'll be on my way to Northampton to do some laundry, I'll stop in and have those awesome fries and fabulous frou-frou martinis.

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by: Laura Clawson @ Tue Feb 27, 2007 at 23:09:37 PM CST

No preference (0.00 / 0)

Anyone tried the new Mexican restaurant at Colony Mill? I've heard varying reports...

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by: elwood @ Wed Feb 28, 2007 at 06:13:56 AM CST

Now that's an interesting idea. Lots of seating in there. (0.00 / 0)

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by: Mike Caulfield @ Wed Feb 28, 2007 at 06:42:44 AM CST

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There's the upstairs bar n/t (0.00 / 0)

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by: elwood @ Wed Feb 28, 2007 at 07:33:16 AM CST

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What has made us a "smaller bunch"? n/t (0.00 / 0)

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by: elwood @ Wed Feb 28, 2007 at 14:39:11 PM CST

Probably wrong (0.00 / 0)

Just initially the idea was at 21 we were running out of seating before the election and it was hard to hear people talk, but the past couple of times i'd say there's been an avg. of 6-8 people at the DL (am I misunderestimating?) and I don't think seating would be a big problem.

On the other hand, a place like La Caretta might be ideal -- lots of seating just in case, better acoustics. The only snag would be whether they'd run seperate tabs on a table. I trust you implicitly Elwood -- but no from experience a shared tab seldom goes over and often under.

I'm also thinking of splitting off from the national org, because I think we could get better candidates to come see us if we were called the Blue Hampshire Forum. We don't get any walk-ins from the name because of the size of Keene.

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by: Mike Caulfield @ Wed Feb 28, 2007 at 16:27:57 PM CST

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I really like the name (0.00 / 0)

Blue Hampshire Forum, and it would also perhaps permit a little branding.  If anyone wanted to have an occasional event in their part of NH, they could call it that and have it be whatever - dinner at a restaurant, drinking in a bar, a potluck, house party with a candidate, etc - and not necessarily bear a promise of being a regular event.

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by: Laura Clawson @ Wed Feb 28, 2007 at 16:31:36 PM CST

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OK, let me figure out what my obligations are (0.00 / 0)

to DL -- to be fair to them, I should really make an effort to find someone who might want to continue the DL.

So this week we'll still do DL, and I will try to pass the DL torch.

But maybe after that we launch a discussion about what BHF would look like here on BH.

One thing I enjoyed about last year (besides getting to talk to Elwood & you) was putting together campaign workers with ordinary people. I thought we did well with that. I think it was also an attraction to some people who normally wouldn't have come. It made politics seem closer to you. Heck, Carrie actually went and did hundreds of cold calls for Charles. That's amazing.

As for me, as long as either you or Elwood show up, I'm always good. But I'd really like to get staff and candidates out as well, just to involve more people.

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by: Mike Caulfield @ Wed Feb 28, 2007 at 17:42:22 PM CST

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Actually, I may be too down (0.00 / 0)

on the DL. I should think about it.

It's been a very long very bad work week. I may be talking crazy. Maybe I should keep running it. Maybe it's like the primaries: once you break free of tradition, where's the line?

I always have a good time. But I can be a nervous host about others. On the whole I think most people have a good time though.

So DL is still happening Friday, and maybe still for a long time after that. Stay tuned for details.

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by: Mike Caulfield @ Wed Feb 28, 2007 at 17:49:20 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Let's think about (4.00 / 3)

A Blue Hampshire Forum independently of -- not as a replacement for -- a DL chapter.

BLF goodness:

• Can attract a broader group of progressives (not everyone drinks, or likes bar environments)
  
• Can float around the state (which our North Country members would expect) and thereby act as a catalyst in new areas
  
• Can attract candidates and others who might not like the bar image
  
• More family-friendly
  
• Can offer more formal and structured discussions
  
• Can be scheduled ad hoc: two some months, or none for three months
  

DL goodness:

• Helps build a local group of progressives who know each other
  
• Can arguably attract new recruits more easily
  
• With a regular schedule, is less likely to fall by the wayside (a danger with BLF)
  
• Is in some respects less work -- wait! I'm sure I don't appreciate all the headaches, but a BLF model could well be special work each time (e.g., coordinating a pot luck dinner with a particular speaker).
  

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by: elwood @ Wed Feb 28, 2007 at 18:13:27 PM CST

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DL is mostly (0.00 / 0)

Self-imposed hosting stress. There's monthly check-ins and phone confs, and sometimes the hassle of hassling people to it -- but it's mostly self-imposed hosting stress.

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by: Mike Caulfield @ Wed Feb 28, 2007 at 18:56:35 PM CST

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Me likey (0.00 / 0)

the BLF (do you mean BHF?) bullet points.

Life right now is such that travel and free time at night are difficult.

Weekend family friendly gigs at different parts of the state might not be a bad idea, provided we don't all obsess about making it to each spot every time...

birch, finch, beech

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by: Dean Barker @ Wed Feb 28, 2007 at 19:41:50 PM CST

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Yep. BHF n/t (0.00 / 0)

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by: elwood @ Wed Feb 28, 2007 at 20:20:32 PM CST

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I love your listey goodness (0.00 / 0)

One question:

If we start hosting events regularly, raising money for said events and such, and raising money for candidates, will we have to organize ourselves as a PAC?

Because, you know, hosting events costs money.

But aside from that, I think this is a great idea.  I'd love to try to organize a Blue Hampshire Forum in my area, and there are lots of local Democrats who would come.

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by: Nicholas Gunn @ Wed Feb 28, 2007 at 20:12:29 PM CST

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Nah, the trick is to do it with no money (0.00 / 0)

One issue with DL is we can't endorse or do calls to action -- because they are a nonprofit. The reason they are a nonprofit is because you can't be a PAC without admin overhead, but they collect money.

But if you make sure there is no money involved, all that disappears.

Trust me, you really do not want money involved if you can avoid it.

as far as BHF, the one thing I'd want to make sure is that the only people able to speak "ex-cathedra" for Blue Hampshire would be Laura, Dean, and I, but apart from that I think it'd be pretty flexible and decentralized.

I just wouldn't wnat to wake up and read the Union Leader and find that BH said x,y, and z.

The rest is open for discussion.

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by: Mike Caulfield @ Wed Feb 28, 2007 at 21:49:22 PM CST

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Sure (0.00 / 0)

I was just asking questions...

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by: Nicholas Gunn @ Wed Feb 28, 2007 at 22:58:59 PM CST

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oh, i know (0.00 / 0)

I just learned a bunch from the DL on why they do the things they do.

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by: Mike Caulfield @ Thu Mar 01, 2007 at 13:35:35 PM CST

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21 it is (0.00 / 0)

I reserved two tables. So hopefully at least 7 people will show up.

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by: Mike Caulfield @ Wed Feb 28, 2007 at 21:51:03 PM CST

Awesome. I think I'll start with (0.00 / 0)

chocolate and raspberry.

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by: Laura Clawson @ Wed Feb 28, 2007 at 22:53:09 PM CST

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