Tonight at the White House: Cocktail Hour

January 28, 2009

President Barack Obama is reinstating cocktail hour at the White House. While former President George Bush was famously a non-drinker, Obama is using libations as part of his effort to build congressional support for the nearly $900 billion economic stimulus package working its way through Congress this week. A vote is expected in the U.S. House today.

This evening, Obama will host two dozen key members of the House and Senate at the White House for drinks, White House aides told the Associated Press. The guest list includes six House members from each party, and five Senate members from each party.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Minority Leader John Boehner are expected to attend. Senate Democratic Leaders Harry Reid, Richard Durbin, Chuck Schumer, Patty Murray, Robert Byrd, and Robert Menendez are all invited as well.

The meeting is the president’s latest bipartisan effort to build support for the bill, which he said today he is "confident” will be approved. Obama also traveled to Capitol Hill on Tuesday to huddle with House Republicans to build support for the package.


http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2009/01/28/tonight-at-the-white-house-cocktail-hour/

Come on, Patty Murray, get the family planning money put back into the stimulus bill. It's important.

without messing up your life and the lives of others.

Alcoholism is a disease ... NOT a test of adulthood. Different people have different physiologies.

While I'm blessed with a physiology that allows me to drink in moderation, I found out about 19-20 years ago that my "drinking habits" were leading to depression. I stopped. I had no withdrawal problems whatsoever. A couple of severe bouts of depression in my life was enough for me to say "no, thanks."

I have, according to my doctor's advice, begun having a maximum of one glass of red wine with dinner ... and do so about 2-3 times per week. But I have NO ILLUSIONS about "Happy" Hour ... there's NOTHING "Happy" about it for me. Alcohol is a depressant ... and I have no use for that shit. Been there ... and it's NOT for me.

what they REALLY think of you.

I miss out on all the fun. x(

Seriously though, I think this is a great idea. I hope he does this regularly and invites different House and Senate members each time.

. . . he appears competent at it, judging from the instances in his campaign where he downed a drink or two.

I like him even more.

I can't drink because of the meds I take; when I go out and people order drinks, I get a Shirley Temple, virgin pina colada or maybe a Sprite.

I just hope BHO remembers which glass has the arsenic in it.

I'm Irish. I don't trust anybody who doesn't drink.

"Do you have a drinking problem?" "No. I have no problem at all drinking".