Richland's Jim McCabe has got an offer for Pasco's Doc Hastings.
If the seven-term Republican congressman shows up on a Tuesday night at the hotel lounge inside Richland's Shilo Inn, the left-leaning Richland blogger will buy him a beer.
"Absolutely," McCabe says. "I'd buy him 10."
But that would require something a bit uncommon, though not necessarily unwelcome -- a Republican entering the inner sanctum of the Tri-City Chapter of Drinking Liberally.
In fewer than three years, the informal social group of liberal locals has risen from humble beginnings to become a Tuesday night staple at the bar. It's just one of 11 Drinking Liberally chapters in Washington and 245 chapters nationwide where patrons sit on bar stools "promoting democracy one pint at a time."
"The emphasis is on the 'liberally' and not the 'drinking,' " said Richland's Heidi Hill during a recent gathering.
Not on a work night anyway. The 7 p.m. gatherings often thin out by 9.
McCabe and Kennewick's Kendall Miller formed the chapter in 2005 when they looked around town and wondered where all the Democrats were. Having seen Drinking Liberally chapters thrive elsewhere, including Seattle where discussions are even recorded and posted online, they wondered who might turn up in the solidly Republican Tri-Cities.
There were some slow nights at first. Valentine's Day 2006, was one such night, or as Miller recalls it, "loser night." He was the only one to show.
"But I persevered," Miller recalled. "I drank."
But as many as 20 or so sometimes show at the Richland gatherings now. As many as 100 different people have dropped by from time to time.
Democrats' underdog status in the Mid-Columbia has helped the local Drinking Liberally chapter survive.
"We know we have to hang together or hang separately," Miller said.
That said, it's not a place where locals have to toe the party line, even if they often do as discussions meander about.
"I'll trash a Democrat as soon as I'll trash a Republican," said Richland's Michele Levenite.
By design, Drinking Liberally gatherings are highly informal so as not to scare anyone off. The group is built on newcomers, so strangers are welcome. Weekly events typically include a mix of regulars and part-timers.
No one takes roll or keeps minutes. You want a quorum? The city council is meeting just up the street.
Discussion varies depending on which table you're sitting at, but subjects range from city politics on up to the presidential race. What's in the news often drives conversation.
This is how it's supposed to be. Behind the scenes the national organization is quite serious that local chapters and gatherings are to be organized to promote the casual and inclusive atmosphere. So much so that chapter organizers are encouraged to participate in a monthly conference call with the national Drinking Liberally office.
That office has posted dos and don'ts for setting up a chapter on its website, www.drinkingliberally.org.
For instance, cheap bars are recommended. Early arrivers are encouraged to buy the first pitcher. And participants don't even have to know what they're talking about.
"You don't need to be a policy expert and this isn't a book club," the website says.
But getting sloshed is frowned upon.
So is endorsing candidates or ballot measures. That involves process and who wants that when you're shooting the breeze and sipping suds?
As the website puts it, "There are plenty of other places to visit if you're hungry for Robert's Rules of Order."
As McCabe sees it, there's only one thing missing from Drinking Liberally -- Republicans. He wouldn't mind a few.
"I would be really happy to see Republicans show up," he said. "We've got to keep the discussion going."
*Chris Mulick: 360-753-0862; cmulick@tricityherald.com; blog at www.olympiadispatch.com.
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