The History of "Grog"
Getting out the vote was as important in the 18th century as it is today. On election day, 1758, George Washington, who was then running for the Virginia House of Burgesses, delivered 160 gallons of rum, beer, and other spirits to the 391 people who comprised the electorate. "Swilling" the voters became an institution in several states to the extent that, in 1792, the Gazette of the United States opined that "The voice of the people is the voice of grog."
This "swilling" of the people continues today in various forms. No longer is it simply rum, beer and spirits, but pork spending, corporate welfare and government programs.
Where Did the name "Grog" come from?
Edward Vernon ("Old Grog") (1684–1757) who was an English naval officer. His nickname derived from the grogram coat he wore. Grogram is a coarse fabric of silk mixed with wool or with mohair and often stiffened with gum.
Vernon's enduring claim to fame was his 1740 order that his sailors' rum should be diluted with water. The rest of the Royal Navy rapidly followed his lead, calling the new drink "grog" after Vernon's nickname.
Previous Golden Grog Award Winners
NAME: Laurence Vance
EVENT: The Morality of the Iraq War Debate
DATE: June 9th, 2007
Laurence squeaked out a win with 51% of the votes.
AUDIO: 
NAME: Deborah NotkinEVENT: The Immigration Debate
DATE: June 2nd, 2007
Deborah won with 60% of the votes.
AUDIO:
NAME: Dr. Darden NorthEVENT: Health Care Debate
DATE: May 26th, 2007
Dr. Darden North won with 55% of the votes.
AUDIO:
NAME: Jennifer Bradey
EVENT: Gun Control Debate
DATE: May 19th, 2007
Jennifer Bradey won the online voting with 53.8% of the talley.
NAME: Michael Van WinkleEVENT: Public Education Debate
DATE: May 12th, 2007
Michael Van Winkle won the online poll with 75% of the votes.
AUDIO:
NAME: Burt HumburgEVENT: Intelligent Design Debate
DATE: April 28th, 2007
Burt won easily with 83.3% of the online cast.
AUDIO:
NAME: Charles ChristieEVENT: Sex Education Debate
DATE: April 21th, 2007
Charles ended up edging out Frieda Saraga by garnering 66.7% of the votes cast.
AUDIO:
NAME: Larken RoseEVENT: Tax Debate
DATE: April 14th, 2007
Larken Rose won the "Tax Debate" listener poll with 89.1% of the votes.
AUDIO:
NAME: Roger SimmermakerEVENT: Trade Debate
DATE: April 7th, 2007
Roger Simmermaker won the "Trade Debate" listener poll with 62.5% of the votes.
AUDIO:
NAME: Sander MoodyEVENT: Drug War Debate
DATE: February 6th, 2007
Professor Sander Moody was able to squeak out the victory despite a very persuasive and well presented argument by Jerry Cameron.
PHOTOS: Drug War Gallery
NAME: CPT Trip Bellard
EVENT: Iraq War Debate
DATE: January 16th, 2007
Trip won the award after two rounds of voting by the audience. CPT Trip happily accepted the award but conceded that the Jacksonville demographic certainly worked in his favor.
PHOTOS: Iraq War Gallery
Allen Buckley (left) and Tom Wright (right) were both awarded the coveted Grog Award for their participation in the inaugural SoapBox event held on November 21st, 2006. Their debate was on the The Fair Tax.
PHOTOS: Fair Tax Gallery
