Caucus

Sounds like some venereal disease. "He's gotten over his case of Caucus quite nicely and fortunately it hasn't spread to others".

No, knowing the slightest bit about our history I know that many of the decisions were made either in a pub over several pints of strong ale or at a private home under the same conditions. And let's not forget the smokes.

And so we have:

This day learned that the Caucas Clubb meets at certain Times in the Garret of Tom Daws, the Adjutant of the Boston Regiment. He has a large House, and he has a moveable Partition in his Garrett, which he takes down and the whole Clubb meets in one Room. There they smoke tobacco till you cannot see from one End of the Garrett to the other. There they drink Phlip* I suppose, and there they choose a Moderator, who puts Questions to the Vote regularly, and select Men, Assessors, Collectors, Wardens, Fire Wards, and Representatives are Regularly chosen before they are chosen in the Town...

*Phlip a drink made of beer rum and sugar.

And we wonder why this country is so screwed up. Considering the aging alchies in congress I'm amazed that they have a coherent thought left among them. And we saw the results of the last ten years of the dry drunk that occupied the White House. His handlers played him like a fiddle. Also consider that the only people who have the time to attend such events have too much time on their hands and haven't looked past talking points.

And nothing worse than a mean drunk or worse than that a reformed drunk. Take your pick the place is crawling with them (either persuasion).