Politics is often described as show business for ugly people. While some may disagree, what politicians do have in common with Hollywood is a sense of remoteness and the detachment of celebrities. The worst politicians are completely remote and rarely appear in public. The best politicians maintain the balance between being everywhere and being remote.
Which is why it is a strange phenomenon that happens several times a year at the home of Dan Pressburg… politicians show up at his home and be themselves. State Senators, Members of Congress, City Councilmembers, Assemblymembers, candidates for office.
Is this a fundraiser? No. Does it cost hundreds of dollars? No.
It’s open to the public, and it is the rare chance to catch politicians mainly surrounded by their own kind. Dan Pressburg opens up his home, the historic Long Beach Dairy and Creamery, several Saturdays a year and serves breakfast to politicians and other politicos. It’s not a forum, and there are no ground rules. All kinds of politicians, Republicans, Democrats, pro-union, pro-business, pro-environment attend.
The interesting thing is though, most attendees are politicians, and at a regular gathering, there may be only a handful of regular, non-politico citizens.
Dan Pressburg has been putting on these get-togethers for about five years.
Why do the politicians show up if only fellow politicians and assorted press will be there?
“It’s neutral ground,” says Pressburg. “It’s an opportunity for people to be honest and civil, and an opportunity for the press to question them one on one. The atmosphere lends itself to people being able to state what they mean publicly and truthfully.”
This is why these events are a great, untapped arena for the casual observer of politics, the lay-voter, to observe the politician in a natural habitat. Like going to the wild animal park.
Don’t worry about missing out on five years of uncensored political banter; there is another one coming up. The next is on Saturday, February 21st, starting at 9:30 a.m. and lasting until around 1 p.m. or later. The address is 167 East South St. in Long Beach.
Just remember: no sudden noises or fast movements or the politicians may get scared.