Viva La Cola!

Founded in January 2009, PubliCola is a blog about Seattle written by journalists who are dedicated to non-partisan, original daily reporting that prioritizes a balanced approach to news. Started by longtime local editor and award-winning reporter Josh Feit, PubliCola is the first online-only news site in state history to get media credentials to cover the state capitol.

PubliCola was off and running. In June 2009, PubliCola hired another award-winning journalist, super-sourced Seattle city hall reporter Erica C. Barnett.

People were afraid that blogging would change journalism. Instead, we believe journalism can change blogging. Twenty-first century journalism may look and feel different, and yes Erica isn't afraid to get cranky, but we're committed to making sure online news still delivers independent, reliable, even-keeled coverage. And most of all, we're committed to making sure the coverage sparks honest civic debate.

Bringing you cola for the people, PubliCola is named after Publius Valerius PubliCola, the alias for the authors of the Federalist Papers—the original bloggers.

x close
The first online-only news site in state history to get media credentials to cover the state capitol and Seattle city hall, PubliCola has been called a “must-read” by the Seattle Post Intelligencer and a hot “New Media Mover and Shaker” by Seattle Magazine—which also cited our own Erica C. Barnett as the city's No. 1 news nerd.

Beer Summit 2009

Uncategorized   July 30, 2009 at 3:50 pm ObamaNerd

Tonight's Teachable Moment is sponsored by Bud Light, Red Stripe and Blue Moon Beer

Tonight's Teachable Moment is sponsored by Bud Light, Red Stripe and Blue Moon Beer

Tonight, Black Professor Henry Gates, White Cop James Crowley and our Bi-Racial President Barack Obama, will be meeting to bury the hatchet (aka the Race Firestorm of 2009) over a pint.  Various bars across Washington DC are offering beer specials (and useless opinions ) based on the likely top three beer choices:

  • Obama likes Bud Light
  • Professor Gates likes Red Stripe
  • Crowley likes Blue Moon

The event is intended to be a "teachable moment" for the three—specifically on the issue of race and policing that has twisted the undies of a nation for the last few weeks.  I am not sure what the teachable moment is exactly. I get the intent, but tonight strikes me more as a "diffusional moment" more than a teachable moment.  I mean are they expecting African Americans and White Cops will start doing "Meet Ups" in bars across the land to share feelings and hug out the racial divide?  Doubtful.  Instead, I think this is intended to put some closure (vis a vis a photo op) on an event that Obama stumbled into.  If some broader policy fixes bubble up as a result, then a teachable moment it was.  Otherwise, it’s a chance for Team O to negate claims of being anti-cop which hounded him since the "acted stupidly" comment .

Of course, there is a protest scheduled for the event, by the very literal: "Citizens Against the Beer Summit at the White House."  The protest is spearheaded by Pastor Emmett Burns, an elected Democrat to the Maryland State House (say whaaa??) His beef:  Obama is encouraging underage drinking and youth alcoholism. Uh-huh.  Totally.


  • meanie

    Everyone is missing the point of the Gates arrest, it has very little to do with race and more to do with the issue of cops having an authority hard on. Calling it a race issue *blackwashes* it in to fodder for NAACP and leaves out the discussion on cops being power mad dicks.

  • meanie

    Everyone is missing the point of the Gates arrest, it has very little to do with race and more to do with the issue of cops having an authority hard on. Calling it a race issue *blackwashes* it in to fodder for NAACP and leaves out the discussion on cops being power mad dicks.

  • http://carfreeusa.blogspot.com/ Aphorism153

    Biden drinks Bucklers, a low-alcohol “beer.” Do you think drinking makes him garrulous?

    COMMENT DU JOUR! C’mon!

  • http://carfreeusa.blogspot.com Aphorism153

    Biden drinks Bucklers, a low-alcohol “beer.” Do you think drinking makes him garrulous?

    COMMENT DU JOUR! C’mon!

  • Trevor

    There’s no “teaching moment” unless until we see the need to restrict the discretionary authority of police to arrest anyone they want, for any reason they want, for “disorderly conduct” or “obstruction of justice.” There’s a reason most of those cases are never tried. It’s because there’s no constitutional basis for them, and victims generally sue for punitive damages instead of legal reform of police practices.

  • Trevor

    There’s no “teaching moment” unless until we see the need to restrict the discretionary authority of police to arrest anyone they want, for any reason they want, for “disorderly conduct” or “obstruction of justice.” There’s a reason most of those cases are never tried. It’s because there’s no constitutional basis for them, and victims generally sue for punitive damages instead of legal reform of police practices.

  • Jennifer

    I think both Gates and Crowley acted stupidly. (Since when is it smart to yell at a cop? Or arrest a homeowner for doing nothing but entering his own home?)

    However, Crowley is the one with the gun, the handcuffs, the power to detain, and the power to provide someone with an arrest record. He was clearly not in danger and thus, there was no reason to arrest Gates.

  • Jennifer

    I think both Gates and Crowley acted stupidly. (Since when is it smart to yell at a cop? Or arrest a homeowner for doing nothing but entering his own home?)

    However, Crowley is the one with the gun, the handcuffs, the power to detain, and the power to provide someone with an arrest record. He was clearly not in danger and thus, there was no reason to arrest Gates.

  • voter

    Hopefully the constitutional law professor schooled the cop as to why he violated the law in arresting this innocent man without probable cause.

    And “bury the hatchet”?

    Um, you need to go have a drink with the Mucklehshoots now, maybe they will host you at their casino.

  • voter

    Hopefully the constitutional law professor schooled the cop as to why he violated the law in arresting this innocent man without probable cause.

    And “bury the hatchet”?

    Um, you need to go have a drink with the Mucklehshoots now, maybe they will host you at their casino.

  • ObamaNerd

    @5. Bury the hatchet is actually a Native American term meant to symbolize a new peace. It actual comes from a Cherokee (?) ceremony, I think.

  • ObamaNerd

    @5. Bury the hatchet is actually a Native American term meant to symbolize a new peace. It actual comes from a Cherokee (?) ceremony, I think.

  • http://manywordsforrain.blogspot.com/ Mr. Baker

    In an extrodinary display of empathy I have chosen, not one, but four Widmer Hefeweizen beers to drink.
    One beer drank with the same respect and dignity the Beer Summit, and the beers themselves, deserve, one each in support of each one of those brave souls.

  • http://manywordsforrain.blogspot.com/ Mr. Baker

    In an extrodinary display of empathy I have chosen, not one, but four Widmer Hefeweizen beers to drink.
    One beer drank with the same respect and dignity the Beer Summit, and the beers themselves, deserve, one each in support of each one of those brave souls.

  • Jeff

    @6 Iroquois, actually. Or at least so says this wikipedia article with absolutely no citations.

  • Jeff

    @6 Iroquois, actually. Or at least so says this wikipedia article with absolutely no citations.

  • Barb

    In solidarity with Beer Summit I drank several Elliot Bay Pilot IPA’s last night and I will say I felt a warm sense of love for the entire human race!

  • Barb

    In solidarity with Beer Summit I drank several Elliot Bay Pilot IPA’s last night and I will say I felt a warm sense of love for the entire human race!