Days of the Beer, September 26

The beer for today is Avery Ale to the Chief.

Tonight is supposed to be the first of this years Presidential debates. John McCain has asked that the debate for tonight be postponed until later, so that (in his role as senator) he can help work on the 700 billion thing. Barak Obama has said that a president should be able to do more than one thing.

It's all bullshit.

Since 1987, the debates have been a dog and pony show put on by the Commission on Presidential Debates. That sounds all well and good, but the CPD is a front organization for the Democrats and Republicans to marginalize any "third party" candidates and not allow them air time. Where is the Green Party candidate (McKinney)? Where is the Libertarian Party candidate (Bob Barr)? Where is Ralph Nader?

They are left off, because their presence would take away from the stranglehold that the democrats and republicans have on American politics (and YOUR life).

The CPD is headed by a former leader of the Republican National Committee and a former leader of the Democratic National Committee. The CPD was put together because in 1988, the League of Women Voters (who used to sponsor the debates) withdrew their support.

They said "the demands of the two campaign organizations would perpetrate a fraud on the American voter".

What were the demands of Bush (I) and Dukakis?

1. There was a "memorandum of understanding" the would decide who could participate in the debates.

2. Who was able to ask questions.

3. Height of the podiums.

In 2000, the CPD added a stipulation that said that candidates could only be invited to the debate, if they had 15% support on five national poles. This new stipulation, kept Ralph Nader from being able to attend the debates.

In keeping with their policy of excluding other candidates (who are on the ballot, go ahead and look, there's WAY more than 2), on October 8, 2004, the Libertarian Party candidate, Michael Badnarik, and Green Party candidate, David Cobb were arrested in St. Louis, for civil disobedience. They were arrested because they crossed a police barricade while attempting to go to the debates.

At election time, Badnarik was on the ballot in 48 states (exlcuding Oklahoma and New Hampshire).

As to the beer,

We the Brewers of Avery Brewing Company, in order to form a more perfect ale, require a new leadership that can liberate us from our quagmires in foreign lands; embrace environmentally sound energy alternatives to imported oil; heal our ailing health care system; free us from tyrannical debt and resurrect the collapsing dollar. We hereby pledge to provide him or her with an ample amount of our Presidential Pale Ale to support in the struggle for the aforementioned goals! Hail to the New Chief!

Not an "Imperial" pale ale, this is a democracy. It's Presidential! Take the all-American pale ale, a bipartisan blend of malt and hops, increase to both Avery Brewing standards, and then, of course, dry hop the result with that most quintessential of American hops, Cascades, and you get this... Ale to the Chief. A brew worthy of the Oval Office! Brewed with Rocky Mountain water, malted barley, hops and yeast.

So, if your going to be watching the sham of a debate tonight, and are looking for a beer to get the taste of bullshit out of your mouth; go with Avery Ale to the Chief.

And yes, they are pissing on your leg, on your back, on your head...

Here's a fun thing to try... go to the CPD website. Right at the top, there's a search function... type in Nader. Type in Libertarian. Type in Green.