From a recent MSNBC article on Obama...

"You know I got a beer down there. What do they cal it.. a Yuengling?" Obama said to a local man.
"Yuengling! Like you didn't know," the guy joked back.
"Trying a Pennsylvania beer, that's what I'm talking about. Is it expensive though?" Obama asked. "Wanna make sure it's not some designer beer or something."

Actually, it's from the oldest brewery in the nation.

Okay this bothers me, now honestly I worked in politics long enough to know he is playing for the camera and the audience, wants to be sure to play the common man but to do so in a joking way.

But to me the beer guy, saying that about what is one of the original craft breweries in the country, it turns me off. Over at What's on Tap William asks Why do most Americans drink bland lager? I suspect as long as people pull this “designer beer” line we will be fighting a long war.

As I mentioned in the comments “We are making progress artisanal foods, slow food, heck even the internet allowing people to choose their own media and news is breaking down walls. It’s not a quick progress, the harder you push, the slower the progress. I suspect homebrewers and local farmers market are our inroads to success.” I still believe it now, but it is ultimately a generational fight that craft beer has before it.

In an age where the artisanal is becoming appreciated again, even college bars are serving increasing variety of beers, we are making progress. Most of the bars in downtown Flagstaff when I turned 21 offered the usual lineup of domestics and might have Sierra Nevada or Anchor if you were lucky. Now I can't think of one that doesn't have at least 6-10 taps and only a couple are mass produced light lager.

Remember next time someone tells you 'designer beer' reply back “No, it's craft beer! Brewed with quality, craftsmanship, and love for an art” and what is more American than that?

enjoy

Watching Reason TV? I hadn't either but if this piece is anything like the norm, it is something to definately add to your regular watching/feed list.



Don't think that beer and wine aren't on this same agenda he speaks about.

to Vaclev Havel. When historians write about the Cold War, it's End and this time after he will rank as one of the most thoughtful intellectuals and politicans of this time. You wonder where the Churchills or Lincolns are among us and I would point you to him. Some recent quotes.

The answer might surprise you...

Good News: McCain is out on Presidential Bus tour to raise his campaign's profile

Bad News: The tour is on a Greyhound

Brookston Bulletin has a interesting examination of the CDC's look at Binge Drinking. Worth a read, another sign of how neo-prohibtionism is on the rise and the report will become a catalyst especially for groups like MADD. The problem with some public policy groups is they achieve success then run out of things to do so they go looking for new worlds to conquer.

I know some people who consider publicly funded elections a great idea and I have never had much faith in the concept. Not so long ago a State legislator had to give up his seat because of a minor reporting error the Citizens Clean Elections Commission ruled. But then that same agency makes a $2 million dollar error and no one loses their job. So while they are all ready to hold the Sword of Damocles over the voter's choice, they have shown little accountability themselves. Expresso Straight has been doing a great job on following the issue.

And people seriously would like to expand this program, unbelievable.

Okay think back first Indiana Jones movie, they open the Arc on the island, the ghosts come out of the Arc and....

McCain was there.

After McCain's campaign announcement some former Hill staffers and myself started the McCain dead pool, guess the campaign end date. Actually it started when the news of Ron Paul had more campaign funds than McCain. Contrary to what the Arizona TV news channels were running last night, his campaign is over were I just waiting on the formal announcement.

Of course Special Agent Johnny Utah has the best comment on the situtation.

Makes me wonder, how long does it take for Straight Talk to go to Straight BS, about 8 years evidently.

A few years back I worked for an Industry Trade Association. Frankly while I wasn't always happy at the time it was one of the best jobs I have ever had and had a lot of freedom generally. I had a great boss and learned a lot about DC politics from an 'Off the Hill' perspective. But I also learned a great deal about the way trade association politics work.

First rule of Trade Association politics is never take a public stand that directly conflicts with members. In fact, it is in part of the reason of growth of the DC trade association industry. Because when a conflict issue comes to a head between two large businesses and they are both of one association they want to take action and it won't. So they and their allies develop a new trade association to take action on the subject. Incidental I have noticed while the United Nations is not thought of as a Trade Association it fits the rules of them to a shameful degree, but that is another topic for another day.

Sadly National Association of Broadcasters of America broke the rule recently as observed by this post on Boing Boing. The only rationalization I can give is NPR and PBS dues may be very minor in comparison to other media. Frankly a point worth researching and I may add as post notes. But by breaking this rule the President and Board of National Association of Broadcasters of America will be seen as untrustworthy in DC political circles for a long, let me clarify LONG, time to come. There are basic rules to DC politics any gain over broadcast treaty internationally may cost them untold in beltway politics for a very long time. This was the dumbest move I may have ever seen in Association politics and will cost them allies in every other fight they currently have.

So to Broadcasters I say enjoy your pyrrhic victory of policy today, because it may well be mainstream media's last.

for some at least. To be clear I wouldn't pin this Hillary, this was obviously a staff error, which is why you always have a second set of eyes check your copy in politics. That said it is still amusing.