Since Drinking Liberally usually features a few conservatives every Thursday that we can carry on an intelligent conversation with over our favorite beverage, I decided to crash the inaugural “Drinking Conservatively” event in Costa Mesa last night. And my thanks to Red County publisher Chip Hanlon for the warm welcome.
I had a great conversation with Cynthia Ward and her husband about the local blogsphere and the recent Fourth Distrct race, and enjoyed spekaing with Meagan Barth about labels we give each other (she wanted to know the difference between Democrats, Liberals and Progressives, while I want to know the difference between Conservatives, Teabaggers and Libertarians). But now that Christina Shea has dropped out of the race for Irvine Mayor and Chuck DeVore doesn’t appear interested, Ms.Barth wouldn’t discuss plans to run.
All and all, it was a nice night and I didn’t see a single set of devil horns or demon tails on the attendees; and I hope Chip does more of these things.
Dan,
Maybe you can ask your conservative counterparts something I found ironic. The OC GOP had senate candidate Marco Rubio as their guest speaker last Monday at their Flag Day Dinner. According to Frank Mickadeit’s column the candidate was given a rousing reception as an example of the immigrant experience of upward mobility.
If I understand Rubio’s bio correctly, his parents came here as exiles. Would that not be considered an illegal form of entry? And wouldn’t Marco’s birth be considered an “anchor baby” by those stressing immigration reform and deportation for those who do not follow the lengthy procedures they currently demand?
Just askin’
It was awesome that you stopped by, Dan… great seeing you again.
Pretty upscale cocktail for a man of the people, though… shouldn’t lefties be drinking Pabst Blue Ribbon or something?
Chip —
Great seeing you again too. My alcoholic options are a tad limited these days due to my surgery, so good reds & whites are my best bet and cordials neat work well too. Nothing carbonated and my preferred inexpensive beer is Matt’s Premium from the West End Brewing Company in Utica, NY; of course, you can’t get it out here.
RHackett: an exile may or may not have entered the US legally. In general, the US government granted Cuban exiles (like Rubio’s parents) the same sort of exceptions that were granted to the Vietnamese exiles. In very simple terms, since their government was considered an enemy of ours, it was determined that the people of those countries would be welcomed here.
Not so with Mexicans. Sadly for the Mexicans who came here illegally, we do not consider their country an enemy. If we did, there would be no such thing as an undocumented immigrant Mexican.
Friend, I appreciate your reasoned response. However, the fact remains, the illegal immigrant bashers don’t seem to differentiate.
IMO, Rubio gets a pass because he’s a republican. He specifically has benefitted from a nation whose largesse enabled him to be educated in a productive environment before his ancestors had ever contributed to the society that raised him.
RHackett: I completely agree that the bashers don’t differentiate. Most of us (everyone who isn’t 100% Native American) in this country are immigrants or the descendants of immigrants. My grandparents came here legally, but it was only legal because there essentially WAS no “illegal” at the time. If you arrived at the border and had no major disease or disability you got in.
Unfortunately for people born in Mexico, it’s not that way today. I have nothing but scorn for those who say with pride, “Well, my grandparents (or great grandparents) did it the RIGHT way, they came here legally.” Big whoop.
Like other Cubans and Vietnamese, Rubio gets a pass. Big whoop.
Friend of the Blog, are you saying we should let everyone in to the country? You seem to be ridiculing anyone who is against limits on immigration.