New York City is throwing a party
...and you're invited.

Because we don't want DC to have all the fun,
Living Liberally is throwing an INAUGURAL BALL
the weekend before the Inauguration
on Sunday, January 18th - 8pm -
to celebrate President Barack Obama
& the end of the era of George W. Bush.

Get your tickets now -- starting at $20:
http://www.livingliberally.org/inauguralball

Dance into a new chapter in America
at the three-story dance club, Rush,
with special guests, DJs, drinks
& hundreds of your closest liberal friends.

We're being joined by our friends at
Democracy for NYC, Citizen Joe, Democrats.com,
Rush, Blue State Coffee, Time Out NY
& guest hosts including Senator Daniel Squadron.

Now, will we be joined by you?

Plus we'll be collecting for local food banks
& joined by chapters around the country
raising money for the same cause.

Make Barack Obama smile -- come to the party.

http://www.livingliberally.org/inauguralball

See you on the dance floor of democracy.

Violence explodes between Israel & Hamas,
repeating an old story stuck in old thinking
that needs a new approach to create the peace.

Slow Christmas buying echoed the weak economy,
but a $500 rebate isn't going to fix it,
as we need to be innovative in our stimulus.

Bush pardons cronies, then revokes one,
& Blagojevich appoints a replacement Senator --
the corrupt keep finding new ways to be corrupt,
so we need fresh approaches to stop them.

From Wall St to Detroit to Senate obstruction,
problems have come from a failure to evolve;
but in this new year, does a new Administration
finally have the resoluteness to resolve?

May Obama make a New Year's Resolution
to a Year of New Revolutions...
revolutionary ideas, actions & progress.

That's a New Year wish we can toast to.

Sing out the old & ring in the new
as you start 2009 off on the Left foot
at your local progressive social club.

DRINKING LIBERALLY
Tonight & every Thursday
(even New Year's Day!)
7:30pm onward
Rudy's - 9th btw 44th & 45th
[inside, in the back of the bar]
Questions: nyc@drinkingliberally.org

To really start 2009 the Left way
become a Card-Carrying Liberal Today:
Buy THE LIBERAL CARD for your loved ones
(and get free drinks, tix, gifts & more).
http://www.theliberalcard.org

Get ready for NYC's biggest Inaugural Party:
THE INAUGURAL BALL - Sunday, Jan 18th
...because DC shouldn't have all the fun.
Tix: http://www.livingliberally.org/inauguralball

(Drinking Liberally will be meeting tonight
-- same time, same place, details below --
but first a special holiday message)

A Visit from St. Barack
(with thanks to Clement Clark Moore)

'Twas the night before Elections, when through the US
Americas were nervous...we're in such a mess.
Our dreams we had hung on an election with care,
In hopes a new President soon would be there.

The bankers were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of bailouts danced in the heads;
But for most of the country, it's not quite a snap
Surviving the economy's long winter's nap.

When slowly all over, there arose such a clatter,
We sprang up & realized our vote really did matter.
Into campaigning, we flew like a flash,
And one night in November, we made a big splash.

Now through the darkness, the war & the woe,
We see new directions our country can go.
And what to our wondering eyes should appear?
A sleigh pulled by Change, that soars over the fear.

With a lean & young driver, & smart - what a shock!
I knew in a moment, must be St. Barack!
With speed & with purpose, his Cabinet came,
His strong Team of Rivals, he called the by name:

"Now Daschle! now, Geithner! Now, Holder, Richardson!
On Solis! Napolitano! And of course Hillary Clinton!
Stimulus! Reform! Accountability! All!
Fast out of the gate, no time to stall!"

As tax revenue in the Bush years did fly,
into CEO pockets, far from public eye,
So fast into action the Cabinet flew,
With 8 years of madness to work to undo.

Then, on TV, we heard the applause,
And entered a man who, despite flaws,
Helps us believe we'll turn it around --
On stage, St. Barack leaped with a bound.

With a serious look he breaks every while,
With a quick little joke, & infections bright smile,
He looks Presidential, what can we say?
...As long as he puts that Blackberry away.

At one side his family, beautiful, hopeful,
Warms all our souls, to the most mopeful.
On the other a helper we all take such pride in;
Who doesn't feel good about VP Joe Biden?

Things aren't great, that's plain to see
And in this transition, we don't always agree,
But when he grins like a kindly & generous elf,
We laugh & we hope, in spite of ourself.

With his personal story & charisma unending,
He helps set us back on course to be mending
Rips here at home & our ties abroad --
That he inspires, we happily laud.

He's ready to dig in and get straight to work,
And we can be done with that other jerk...
While we may be a bit down & times are tough,
as one nation we say, Enough is Enough.

He won't fix it all -- there just isn't a way --
It will take ALL of us pulling this sleigh.
But at least now with courage, exclaim we might:
"Happy Christmas to all, let's set America right!"

Share the holidays, your hopes & a drink or two
with your local progressive social club.

DRINKING LIBERALLY
Tonight - and every Thursday
7:30pm onward
Rudy's - 9th Ave btw 44th & 45th
[in the back of the bar]
Questions: nyc@drinkingliberally.org

Uh-Oh - Forget to buy your holiday gifts?
Get the gift the keeps on giving
Liberal Pride, Liberal Community & Liberal Discounts.
THE LIBERAL CARD - http://theliberalcard.org

And save the date - Sunday January 18th
THE LIVING LIBERALLY NYC INAUGURAL BALL
Get your tix today:
http://livingliberally.org/inauguralball

(Join tonight's holiday party
& for the first hour, we'll pour you
a first drink free -- details at the bottom)

While we may be facing the worst economy in decades,
it's also the chance to push a massive investment
in public infrastructure & green jobs.

While a teetering auto industry puts us in peril,
a loan to stabilize it is an opportunity
to create reforms & promote fuel efficiency.

While Grinches like Madoff & banking execs
threaten Americans' holiday cheer,
we also now have the impetus to re-regulate
the excesses of the financial sector.

And while the last 8 years hurt our country,
maybe that era revealed the Conservative con
& will give us a shot at a progressive future.

Bush's buddies filled our stocking with coal
...can new leadership turn it into diamonds?

That would be a Christmas miracle.

Raise your revelry, raise a ruckus,
raise hopes, fears & a glass or two
with your local progressive social club.

THE DRINKING LIBERALLY HOLIDAY PARTY
Tonight - 7:30pm onward
First hour: we'll pour your 1st beer on us
Rudy's - 9th Ave btw 44th & 45th
[Backyard in the heated tent]
Questions: nyc@drinkingliberally.org

Get your last-minute holiday gift:
THE LIBERAL CARD - http://theliberalcard.org
For $25, it's the perfect present --
a personalized, wallet-sized card
that declares the bearer a "Card Carrying Liberal"
and earns benefits at local & national partners.
Available now: http://theliberalcard.org

Coming Soon:

- Tuesday, Dec 23 - 7:30pm
HA-HA-HANNUKAH - a transdenominational night
of comedy, religion & politics
featuring the Laughing Liberally comedians
of all faiths & no faith at all.
The Tank @ chashama - http://thetanknyc.org
217 E 42nd St - btw 2nd & 3rd Avenues

- THE INAUGURAL BALL: Sunday, Jan 18th
Get your tickets today --
http://livingliberally.org/inauguralball

Liberals -

Celebrate 2008 by filling your final weeks
with liberal love, laughter & libations.

1. The Drinking Liberally Holiday Party
Thursday, Dec 18th - 7:30 onward

2. The Laughing Liberally Year-in-Review
Tues, Dec 16th - 8pm

3. The Liberal Card! and other Holiday Fun.

4. Upcoming Events to end '08 strong
& start '09 off on the Left foot.

1. Raise a glass to the year that was
in a holiday season worth celebrating:
THE 6th ANNUAL DRINKING LIBERALLY HOLIDAY PARTY

We'll sneak past those recession blues
by pouring your first beer on us
for the first hour of the party: 7:30-8:30.

Bring a food or financial donation
which will go to local food pantries
so others can Eat Liberally this holiday

Special friends, snacks & gifts
& good old fashion Drinking Liberally Fun.

The Drinking Liberally Holiday Party
Thursday, Dec 18th
7:30pm onward
(1st beer free 7:30-8:30)
Rudy's - 9th btw 44th & 45th
[taking over the heated backyard tent]
Questions: nyc@drinkingliberally.org

2. Join us for an evening of liberal laughter,
as we celebrate the end of a year, and of an era.

THE LAUGHING LIEBRALLY YEAR IN REVIEW
Tuesday, Dec 16th
Doors 7:30; Show 8pm
The Tank @ chashama - thetanknyc.org
217 East 42nd between 2nd & 3rd Aves
Tix: $10 (only $5 for DL members)

Featuring: Baratunde Thurston, Jamie Kilstein,
Myq Kaplan, Harry Terjanian, Katie Halper,
Lee Camp & Elon James White.

3. Get the Perfect Holiday Gift...
Show off your liberal pride & get liberal discounts
with THE LIBERAL CARD - http://theliberalcard.org

Who doesn't want a personalized, wallet card
declaring them a "Card Carrying Liberal"?
Plus it gets you free drinks, tickets
& benefits at dozens of liberal businesses.

Only $25: http://theliberalcard.org

4. And coming soon...

Tues Dec 23rd - Ha-Ha-Hannukah
A Laughing Liberally night on religion, politics
& other things you're not supposed to find funny.
The Tank @ chashama - 217 E 42nd Street.

Thurs Dec 25th & Thurs Jan 1 - Drinking Liberally
We will be meeting at our regular time and place
on both Christmas & New Year's:
Rudy's - 9th & 44th - 7:30pm onward

And save the date: THE INAUGURAL BALL
Sunday, Jan 18th. Tickets now available.
http://www.livingliberally.org/inauguralball