An officer from a neighbouring police department was describing a DUI fatality accident over the New Year's Weekend and described the driver who caused the accident as "drunk as Hogan's goat." We used to use that expression in the US Navy, but rather uncritically, I now understand. Who was Hogan and why was his goat intoxicated?

An Irishman? And self-explanatory after that. (Before anyone out there gets their Irish up over this, I'm of Irish descent myself.)

Ah, but was the goat Irish?

Just as Irish as the pig down the lane at Paddy's place.

Clay Henry

I met the original Clay Henry before he was elected mayor, but I never bought him a beer or asked him if he was Irish.

Hey Consue, ever see Clay Henry dead drunk?


http://www-personal.umich.edu/~jimknapp/goats.html

Hence the term "Drunk as a Tennessee goat".

My dear friend, Mike Hogan directed me to the ff:
"This phrase usually appears in the form 'As screwed up as Hogan's Goat.' The Dictionary of American Regional English lists it. It connotes the idea of stinks like Hogan's goat. The phrase is attested to as early as c. 1942, but is probably considerably older.

"Hogan in this sense is believed to derive from R.F. Outcault's cartoon of that name, better known as The Yellow Kid (c.1895-1901). Also in use is Hogan's alley used to connote untidiness."

http:// R.F. Outcault

My Mom has used the phrase in this way rather than for drunk people or goats. In that case she'd make reference to my Uncle Bucky.
My neighbor has a billy who will bleat when a microphone is presented. My singing voice has been compared favorably to his.

Inevitably:

From this "Hogan's Heroes?"

more bleating