Rounding Out the Menu

Living just outside of Boston, it's been difficult to avoid hearing about the supposedly big scandal taking place between the Cambridge Police Department and Henry Louis Gates, Jr., a professor at Harvard University. It's now become a national story because President Obama was ambushed by a reporter during a press conference on an unrelated topic, and his reply went out all over the country. In my opinion the situation was a series of misunderstandings, but I am not a black man living in an urban setting, nor a patrol officer in a large city, so I really can't judge. Before I go any further, please understand that this is not meant to be a political or racial rant, more a glimpse into my thoughts on what our media outlets consider important news.
Any-hoo, things have all supposedly been worked out here, and Henry, James Crowley, (the officer involved) and President Obama were hanging out at the picnic table outside the Oval Office yesterday afternoon.

Even the choice of beer has been national news! Bud Light for the President, Blue Moon for Sergeant Crowley, and Beck's or Red Stripe for Mr. Gates, although some media outlets have reported that he does not drink. So they sat in the hot sun and drank beer? How about some munchies to go with it? Did Henry and James ( I love that those are their names!) bring some yummy treats? Maybe mini club sandwiches, or a seven-layer dip? It would have been challenging to transport those on a plane from Boston. I'm sure President Obama had some traditional beer nuts around the White House kitchen. Even better, how about Combos, a cheesy-pretzely munchy that I've seen some bars have out. Almost everyone likes potato chips, especially the kettle-cooked kind, like Cape Cod chips, my personal favorite.
But what about Mr. Gates? If he ate all these salty treats, he'd want something to drink, and water just doesn't cut it with these foods, at least for me. Maybe he's a traditional guy and chose some kind of cola. Or, he might be old-school or watching his calories and request a Fresca or a Tab. In the summer I always enjoy a Fresca. Since the White House likes to serve domestic drinks and other foods whenever possible, maybe Professor Gates could have insisted on Polar soda, which is a New England company that makes a variety of standard flavors and some that are more difficult to find like my two favorites, raspberry-lime and birch beer.
Whatever they at, drank, or said, I'm glad that the occasion has come and gone and the President can go back to trying to fix up the nation, Sergeant Crowley can keep the streets of Cambridge safe for drunken college revelers (Which I was once one of!), and Professor Gates can enrich the minds of future generations.
So...if you were hosting a casual beer gathering, what kind of brewskie would it be? What munchies are a must-have for you?