The Most Anticipated Round of Drinks in History!

I read E.J. Dionne's editorial today about how we as a nation need to stop all the racial score-settling. I found it very interesting that it was Henry Gates himself who once warned about:

"...a discourse in which everyone speaks of payback and nobody is paid," and concluded that "the result is that race politics becomes a court of the imagination wherein blacks seek to punish whites for their misdeeds and whites seek to punish blacks for theirs, and an infinite regress of score-settling ensues."

Makes me wish that he had listened to his own advice, because I don't think a round of beers in the Rose Garden can repair the damage that was done by this incident. I hope I'm wrong. A lot could be riding on how this meeting goes -- if it goes well, it may turn a step back into a step forward.

But am I the only one thinking that the media coverage of this is bordering on the ridiculous? I mean, we know all about the table they will be sitting at, exactly which brands of beer each man will be drinking... I wish I had the means to make a video -- but I was fulling expecting the coverage today to go something like this:

Jill: Well, the "Beer Summit" is just hours away, and we have a reporter at the scene with the latest. John, can you tell us if there are any new developments?

John: Well, I should mention there are protesters here who are enraged that an American, Canadian, and Jamaican beer are being consumed. They feel that the exclusion of beers from other parts of world shows a lack of diversity. But there are other, very important details we have learned.

First, we have an exclusive from the kitchen staff, that there will -- I repeat, there will be coasters used at the summit. There was some concern that there could be damage done to the customized picnic table and the plaques with the Presidents' names, but coasters will prevent that tragic possibility.

Second, we have learned that the men will not be drinking straight from the bottles, but will in fact be using glass mugs.

Jill: Have you been able to find out if the mugs will be frosted?

John: Wait I have someone signalling to me now... aaaand... Yes! I am able to confirm that indeed the mugs will be frosted!

Okay, maybe it won't be all that ridiculous. But it will be interesting to see  -- under this huge microscope, with expectations so high -- exactly what will be accomplished when three men sit down and imbibe some alcohol, shoot the breeze, talk about the weather, and maybe some sports... And then try to tackle one of the most serious issues in our nation.

We're going to need some pretzels with that.

                                                    

Comments

[AriG]

DUmmie FUnnies 07-28-09 (Obama tells Gates, cop: "Stay thirsty, my friends")

CERVEZA- BO- BEERACK OBOTTLE - STAY STUPID, my friends

His ego is expanding faster than the national debt. He once bowled a 37. Honest. He lives vicariously through his teleprompter. The police often question him, just so he can say they acted stupidly. His blood smells like arugula. Every time a pitcher throws a perfect game, he claims to know them. He's been known to cure insomnia, just by holding a press conference. People hang on his every word. They're so bored they hang themselves. He can speak Indonesian . . . in Kenyan.

He is the Most Irritating Man in the World.

"I don't always drink beer, but when I do, I make a photo op out of it."

"Stay stupid, my friends."

[Pat]

Classy, AriG. This is why political discourse goes nowhere in this country.

Never thought I'd hand you an unsolicited thumbs-up, Moran, but this post was pretty funny.

[Colette Moran]

Thanks Pat -- I was going to try and cajole my husband into making a video, but you know, he's a professional, with an exclusivity contract and all that jazz... :)

[ChunLing]

I didn't know they were going to actually try and accomplish anything. Media attention aside, if this is a serious conference on matters of national importance, shouldn't the participants try to stay sober?

The whole point of having a discussion over drinks is...well, the drinking.