General Disarray wrote on Feb 16, 2008 12:00 AM:Aren't they too busy wringing their hands about the plight of the poor and torture in Guantanamo and death in Darfur to have any fun?

I prefer drinking with Libertarians and Conservatives--those people know how to party!

Why the emphasis wrote on Feb 16, 2008 12:05 AM:on drinking? I would like to have seen something about their political views, maybe a question or two about the candidates for president on both sides. This article makes them look like a bunch of apathetic kids looking for an excuse to drink and get in the paper. What are they "paying attention" to? Why is Temecula a "conservative area" and what and how are they hoping to change in the area, if anything? Did this so-called journalist even ask questions? ... An elementary school kid could have done a better job. ...

Karl wrote on Feb 16, 2008 5:08 AM:Who would you rather be driving next to, a "liberal" drinker or a "conservative" drinker?

Jeff wrote on Feb 16, 2008 6:04 AM:Liberal politicians drove me to drink. Now liberals are driving themselves to drink. We are doomed. Some one pass me a beer will yah?

Who Knew? wrote on Feb 16, 2008 6:59 AM:Liberals? Drinking alcohol? Democrats? Dive Bars? Ahhh, now everything has become crystal clear why they think like they do.

Temecula Liberal: wrote on Feb 16, 2008 7:22 AM:I'm a Temecula liberal and this sounds like an excuse to justify drinking. I'm not saying that drinking is their only purpose, but it sure helps the argument.

34 years sober.. wrote on Feb 16, 2008 8:09 AM:Interesting! I'm 68 yrs old now so I guess I'm a 'balanced' observer....34 as an practicing alcoholic and 34 as a completely sober not-practicing alcoholic so I feel qualified to comment. I like sober best!!! In retrospect I can see alcohol as an escape from having to deal with the true realities of life and a dangerous one at that. Alcohol use is PROGRESSIVE, just like drugs it takes more and more to get the job done and it's also like fire which is a wonderful servant but a terrible and dangerous master when out of control. Good luck to the Liberal Drinkers that think they can outrun the inevitable. They can meet me in person at an alcoholics anonymous meeting somewhere in Temecula. There are lots of them and I sure don't want to meet them on the road on their way home from their recreational 'meeting'. Scary to think they'd be the determining factor in an election of a president! AA is just a phone call away, no dues or fees and the only requirement is a desire to stop drinking.

I want to drink wrote on Feb 16, 2008 8:14 AM:with Hillbilly a few months ago she was claiming how she could drink with the best of them. Just what we need more drunks in government.

Hey, emphasis wrote on Feb 16, 2008 8:24 AM:Lighten up and get over yourself and you politics.

provda wrote on Feb 16, 2008 9:09 AM:people exploring the truth and ideas of change have always been a threat to the rulers of deception. public dicussion is a good thing despite what RUSH might have told you. if want answers to your questions show up Feb. 27 anyone can attend unlike Republican events.

sober up wrote on Feb 16, 2008 9:17 AM:If you need to have a few beers before making a decision regarding politics, or anything for that matter, PLEASE DON'T VOTE!!!

snerd wrote on Feb 16, 2008 9:34 AM:Oh yeah, nobody knows how to party better than a conservative Republican. You can see them getting down every weekend at the Lawrence Welk Resort!

Far Right Meeting wrote on Feb 16, 2008 9:50 AM:Let's show support and have our own conservative meeting on the same night at the opposite end of the bar. Don't turn Temecula into another bleeding-heart liberal town!

#1 Fan wrote on Feb 16, 2008 10:46 AM:Lay off the reporter!

Speaking as a daily reader, she consistently does the best political stories in the paper, as well as the most interesting offbeat/novelty stories.

This one was clearly intended to be in the second category and not the first.

Barley House wrote on Feb 16, 2008 11:49 AM:Well, the Barley House just lost business from us and our friends. We refuse to support an establishment that supports the liberal agenda.

Whoa wrote on Feb 16, 2008 12:40 PM:There's an actual liberal living in Temecula?

Karl wrote on Feb 16, 2008 2:13 PM:To "snerd wrote on Feb 16, 2008 9:34 AM" this Conservative Republican prefers ZZ Top.

Wow wrote on Feb 16, 2008 2:24 PM:Wow, I think everyone leaving comments here needs to take a deep breath, and RELAX. I can't believe some people either don't get, or are offended by, the rather clever word play in the group's title. How uptight, and hypocritical it is of some of the commenters here to act like drinking is a bad thing that only liberals do, and to be enraged that there are people getting together to discuss views that may be different from your own???

God forbid there should be more than one viewpoint in a free republic such as the United States.

Relax, have a drink, and enjoy the democratic process!

Cheers!

Lighten up wrote on Feb 16, 2008 3:04 PM:To "34 Years Sober:" Congratulations on recovering from your addiction to alcohol. Surely you understand that most people who drink are not alcoholics, and are perfectly capable of doing so responsibly. Just because you are unfortunate enough to have had a drinking problem, don't accuse people you don't know of having one.

People gather every day in this country at bars to chit chat with friends and strangers alike, about sports, their day at work, and whatever else is going on in their lives. This group simply chooses to do that while making their political opinions the main topic of conversation.

To all... Lighten up! The hypocrisy in attacking these bar patrons because you don't like their opinions is very evident in many of your comments.

Americans! wrote on Feb 16, 2008 3:54 PM:Democrat or Republican, Liberal or Conservative...let's not forget that we're all Americans and that many of our Founding Fathers' enjoyed a nice frothy pint from time to time! As the article says, this group is not an extremist group, it's a very casual and "easy first step" to getting involved! I applaud those who aren't just sitting at home watching Fox news and yelling at the television! Liberal or Conservate...get together with your fellow country men and do something during these desperate times! Cheers to Democracy!

T wrote on Feb 16, 2008 3:55 PM:For those who object to this meeting, avoid the Barley House during those meetings! If you disagree with their stance, and "Far Right Meeting" suggested with having a conservative meeting on the other side of the bar, go for it! That's the beauty of this country!

Also, I don't believe that this is just an excuse to get drunk or drink, seeing as how these people are all over the legal drinking age and could, if they wanted to, drink at home, by themselves. This is a way to discuss politics, something they all are interested in. Give people some credit, instead of assuming that their intentions are anything other than talking with like minded people and having fun.

Roy wrote on Feb 16, 2008 4:53 PM:Actually as a Right winger I really enjoy talking to Lefties while drinking. Are Right wingers like me alllowed to participate or will I be discriminated against? Also is being a white male another strike against me?

Some guy in SD wrote on Feb 16, 2008 5:10 PM:It seems that some people cant handle competition. It seems that the RIGHT side doesn't like the fact that someone in their hometown started a chapter of a club that promotes the views that differ from their own. Thats the beauty of this country, one is entitled to do so.

I encourage the RIGHTYs to start a chapter of their own, at a location of their own, and invite people with the same views as your own.

It also seems like RIGHTYs are thinking, "Damn, they got organized before we did. Lets try to rain on their parade by voicing our negative/jealous opinion of their club."

You have the right to voice your opinion. You also have the right to remain silent. Sadly the latter isn't expressed enough.

Courtney wrote on Feb 16, 2008 6:23 PM:Interestingly enough, any negative feedback is coming solely from those unwilling to actually get out and do what these guys are.

I live in Colorado, in a pretty conservative suburb on the outskirts of Denver. You'd really be surprised at the crowd our chapter attracts! Sure they're younger, but they're curious and open to new ideas. I think the term "Millenials" sums it up quite nicely (Google or Wikipedia it).

It's a very inclusive group of genuinely good people, willing to accept anybody any everybody. One common thread is they are over the partisan "food fight" and ready to roll up their sleeves and get to work.

Whether you like it or not now, it's an idea you should get used to, the sooner the better. They're not playing by the same rules, so you're wasting time and losing ground by trying to work against them rather than with them.

Oh yeah and I grew up in the area, went to school in Menifee ...

Courtney wrote on Feb 16, 2008 6:34 PM:Interestingly enough, any negative feedback is coming solely from those unwilling to actually get out and do what these guys are.

I live in Colorado, in a pretty conservative suburb on the outskirts of Denver. You'd really be surprised at the crowd our chapter attracts! Sure they're younger, but they're curious and open to new ideas. I think the term "Millenials" sums it up quite nicely (Google or Wikipedia it).

It's a very inclusive group of genuinely good people, willing to accept anybody any everybody. One common thread is they are over the partisan "food fight" and ready to roll up their sleeves and get to work.

Whether you like it or not now, it's an idea you should get used to, the sooner the better. They're not playing by the same rules, so you're wasting time and losing ground by trying to work against them rather than with them.

Oh yeah and I grew up in the area, went to school in Menifee, moved to Colorado 7 years ago and it was/is much more conservative than Temecula! But we pride ourselves on independent thinking, and not swinging too far one way or the other. Colorado went for Bush in the past, and this year? Colorado went for Obama. I'll be darned.

I'm not laying off anybody wrote on Feb 16, 2008 9:15 PM:...and I'm not going to "get over it". I'll continue to point out lousy, lazy journalism whether YOU like it or not. If more people would do so we wouldn't see this kind of crap. And how convenient that NCT left out the portion of what I wrote suggesting that this article was just another ploy to make "liberals" look bad. This reporter was nothing but a pawn for NCT's agenda and the article reflected that, plain and simple. And you know what? I've posted plenty of comments on GOOD journalism and well-written articles here too. I expect more from this publication than a small-town rag.

CHEERS wrote on Feb 16, 2008 9:58 PM:Lets drink to the fall of America!

Take it easy wrote on Feb 16, 2008 10:36 PM:As someone who attended the Drinking Liberally meeting, I think this article is perfectly fair. It is, and was meant to be (as far as I can tell) a light hearted article about an interesting new social group with a political twist.

Nothing I read in the article gave me the impression of trying to make liberals look bad. Although there are definitely some pretty ridiculous reader comments on this page that do have that intent.

So as someone who attended the first meeting and will definitely be attending the next one... RELAX everyone! This is just a fun, informal social group for like minded politicos to enjoy each other's company. The article seems to make that clear, and portrayed us in a way that fits our group. We aren't a group for people that want to yell at each other (like it seems some people want to do here). We're a group for people to meet friends, enjoy a cold beer, chat about our lefty taste for politics, and, dare I say... have FUN doing it!!!

Steve wrote on Feb 17, 2008 11:22 AM:For those of you aspiring liberals, this is exactly how Teddy Kennedy got his start in politics...

FYI...Uncle Teddy always offering to drive Hillary home after their meetings, but for some reason, Hillary keeps declining?

TL wrote on Jul 22, 2008 12:52 PM:I don't mind if Lib's want to take up drinking. What's a little mroe brain damage when you're already that far gone anyway?