Draft Dana for Assembly

If Dana runs for this seat, (0.00 / 0)

she would unquestionably be one of Garden State Equality's handful of top prorities in the 2007 legislative election cycle.  We'd work and raise money for her day and night.  It would be a matter of good versus evil.

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by: Steven Goldstein, Garden State Equality chair @ Mon Jan 15, 2007 at 21:35:19 PM UTC

dana, are you reading this? (0.00 / 0)

I am pretty sure Dana can count on the netroot too. 

activist for hire.

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by: Jay Lassiter @ Mon Jan 15, 2007 at 21:49:34 PM UTC

Run Dana Run... (4.00 / 1)

Dana can absolutely count on the netroots if she decides to run.  With no federal races in 2007 and the popularity of Blue Jersey among the national netroots, I wouldn't be surprised if her base of support extends beyond just our little community here.

The Republicans who currently occupy these Assembly seats are completely out of touch, irrelevant, and poor representatives of the district.  Michael Patrick Carroll refers to pro-choice voters as "pro-aborts" and Richard Merkt is so immature that he walked out of the Governor's state of the state address when he didn't like what he heard.

Pit the energetic, independent, and brilliant Wefer against either of them and I smell an upset in Morris County.

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by: Scott Shields @ Mon Jan 15, 2007 at 22:20:17 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

"Choice Nazis" (0.00 / 0)

It's funny when a comment like "choice Nazis" is overshadowed by one like "pro-aborts".  Michael Carroll has used 'em both.  In one article.  Sorry I didn't mention it in my earlier comment.

Wow.

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by: Scott Shields @ Mon Jan 15, 2007 at 22:33:06 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I guess (0.00 / 0)

he never had an unwanted pregnancy.  Gawd, he gives the Irish a bad name.

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by: SmartyJones @ Mon Jan 15, 2007 at 23:31:11 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Merkt and Carroll come from the Rick Santorum school (0.00 / 0)

They are ultraconservative, ouspoken and extremely partisan, and many find their behavior and words offensive.  Santorum lost so badly in PA because people were simply fed up with his  partisan style.  If either Merkt or Carroll (or both) loses, it will be for the same reason.

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by: Scott Weingart @ Tue Jan 16, 2007 at 01:22:30 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

are they also anti-contraception? (0.00 / 0)

Are the NJ GOP legislators, like Chris Smith, trying to deny women birth control?

I commented earlier, but it didn't seem to take.

I said, "choice Nazis, indeed", regarding the GOP's more recent mvmt to deny women contraception.

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by: kwilkinson @ Tue Jan 16, 2007 at 03:57:00 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Kind of unclear... (4.00 / 1)

In comments at Fred Snowflack's blog at the Daily Record, Michael Patrick Carroll seems to argue that the Catholic Church is well within its rights to deny Communion to Catholics who practice birth control.

Major Premise: it is wrong to take innocent human life, and government exists, in no small measure, to protect innocent human life against those who would take it.

Minor Premise: human life -- self-evidently and irrefutably -- begins at conception.

Conclusion: Government should protect all innocent human life, commencing at conception, against those who would take it.

Contraception and taking human life are two completely different things, but Carroll doesn't seem to recognize this.  So while it's a little unclear (as are most things that come out of Carroll's brain), it does seem that he opposes contraception.

Maybe someone else can answer for Merkt...

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by: Scott Shields @ Tue Jan 16, 2007 at 04:35:39 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

I think (0.00 / 0)

he is responding to the comments earlier in the thread about abortion.  It's still pretty strange, as the earlier comments were obviously not really serious.  He seems to be a perfect example of the fundamentalist/fanatical mind.

Frank LoBiondo Record and Jon Runyan Watch

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by: Hopeful @ Tue Jan 16, 2007 at 06:11:07 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Carroll is anti-contraception (0.00 / 0)

He isn't responding to the abortion discussion, since he addresses his remark to Fred, who only raised whether you could take communion if you use contraception.  The minor premise that life begins at conception, says it all.  I honestly believe that if voters understood that these guys hold this view and could be in a position to deny access to or even outlaw birth control, they would rethink their support.  I thought the same about Chris Smith.

There is a slight difference between the church position and believing that life starts at contraception - you may allow condoms and anything that blocks contraception, which the church doesn't allow (they are still considering what to do about AIDS in Africa and in the meantime they will not advise to use condoms).

The papers mostly still go to the choice issue, usually using the right wing framing of it "pro-abortion" etc, so good for Fred Snowflack for talking about contraception and drawing a pol out on it.

And thanks for doing the research, Scott.  Could be useful to Dana, if she agrees to run.

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by: kwilkinson @ Tue Jan 16, 2007 at 20:54:00 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Carroll and Contraception (0.00 / 0)

Carroll is obviously a poster boy for contraception. We really wish he parents had used it!

B

"Discrimination caused by ignorance and fear is a tax on human progress" - Barbra Casbar Siperstein

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by: Babs NJSD @ Tue Jan 16, 2007 at 06:50:53 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Why State Assembly and not State Senate? (0.00 / 0)

Are Thom Jackson and Janice Schindler going to run for State Assembly again?  If so, I think that the three of them would be a very strong team.

If someone wants to make the argument that some other configuration of these three candidates for these three seats would be better, I am open to hearing it.

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by: Bertin Lefkovic @ Mon Jan 15, 2007 at 23:34:43 PM UTC

Re (0.00 / 0)

Dana's not old enough for the State Senate.

XT

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by: Thurman Hart @ Mon Jan 15, 2007 at 23:53:21 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

thanks for the quick response (0.00 / 0)

What are the age requirements for State Assembly and State Senate?

Is it safe to assume that either Thom Jackson or Janice Schindler are old enough to run for State Senate if either was so inclined and the other could run for State Assembly with Dana?

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by: Bertin Lefkovic @ Tue Jan 16, 2007 at 00:03:17 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Re (4.00 / 1)

You have to be 30 to run for the Senate and have lived in the state for 4 years.  To run for the Assembly, you have to be 21 and have lived in the state for 2 years.

XT

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by: Thurman Hart @ Tue Jan 16, 2007 at 01:33:20 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Only 18 years old n/t (4.00 / 1)

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by: PocketAces @ Tue Jan 16, 2007 at 02:28:46 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Also (4.00 / 1)

Merkt and Carroll are more controversial and more vulnerable than Bucco.  Yes, Bucco may have behaved like a pig in the past, but Merkt and especially Carroll are perhaps the least civil public officials in the state of New Jersey this side of Steve Lonegan.

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by: Scott Weingart @ Tue Jan 16, 2007 at 01:11:41 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

I was thinking... (0.00 / 0)

Jackson and Wefer for Assembly and if Schindler wants to run for anything, it should be Senate, but if no one runs against Bucco, that's fine as well.

Jackson and Wefer are by far the stronger candidates, but the two State Assembly seats, as others have stated, are far more winnable than Bucco's spot.

I think Jackson is looking for the Assembly seat.  He made a very strong bid for the seat in 2005, and I believe he might just have a chance to take it this time, amidst the anti-Bush, anti-Republican sentiment building throughout NJ.  I have a feeling that Schindler will not be running this time around, but if she does, and Jackson indeed makes another go (as I predict he will), and the Draft Wefer succeeds in getting Dana to enter the race, I hope she would gracefully pursue the state senate option instead of having an unnecessary, bloody primary fight.

Jackson and Wefer have both managed to get part of a split ticket endorsement of the Daily Record in the past two consecutive years, and I believe they will again score the endorsement, and I believe that Carroll, the more vulnerable of the two, will probably come in third place, between either Jackson and Wefer, with Merkt getting the most votes.  I'm not sure which will do better among Jackson and Wefer, but I do know that this year is the best chance the Dems have ever had for winning Carroll's seat away from "Mr. Mountain Man".

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by: progressivemuslimnj @ Tue Jan 16, 2007 at 18:48:50 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I hope Joe Cryan and Lew Candura are reading this, too (4.00 / 1)

Because the list of people and and of groups ready to stand behind Dana is going to be a long one.

At last month's statewide DFA meeting, we agreed unanimously to advocate national Democracy for America (DFA)endorsement for Dana. She already has statewide NJ for Democracy (DFA-NJ) endorsement. And that was just for Freeholder. I believe an Assembly run will only drive our committment to her deeper. Dana's what we call homegrown DFA.

As Scott so colorfully illustrates, Merkt and Carroll are out of step even in a traditionally conservative Assembly District, because they have long ago stepped over the line of decency. Dana is a forthright, hard-working person who works for open government and justice. The choice is easy as pie.

Run, Dana. You know the mighty, mighty field operation of Morris DFA will have your back. You know NJ for Democracy is behind you, and we will do everything we can to nationalize your race. Do it!

It's not a particularly snappy signature, but here's what I think we need in the next NJ Democratic State Chair.  

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by: Rosi Efthim @ Tue Jan 16, 2007 at 00:14:41 AM UTC

If Dana runs she will be a priority of NJ Stonewall Democrats (4.00 / 1)

Dana is the future of New Jersey and the time to build for the future is now.  Steven calls it good versus evil, I think there is a lot of agreement here. This is a case of "no gray area", it's that clear!

I'm prepared to write a personal check and call our volunteers!

I would hope someone is collecting the quotes of M P Carroll, what he thinks and says about the people he is supposed to serve, and expose him to his district as the wonderful "human being" he really is!

Babs Casbar, President NJ Stonewall Democrats


"Discrimination caused by ignorance and fear is a tax on human progress" - Barbra Casbar Siperstein

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by: Babs NJSD @ Tue Jan 16, 2007 at 03:09:45 AM UTC

Collecting quotes (4.00 / 1)

It's a daunting task, Babs, but it's been a passing hobby of mine for some time now...

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by: Scott Shields @ Tue Jan 16, 2007 at 03:20:48 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Passing Hobby! (0.00 / 0)

I see that you have a very good hobby! These right wing nut jobs that are elected to serve the people need to learn the word "responsibility" for their words and actions.

Carroll's apparent grandious ego and callous disdain for  minorities, or it seems anything "reasonable" for which he disagrees, should yield a wealth of good verse!

Babs

"Discrimination caused by ignorance and fear is a tax on human progress" - Barbra Casbar Siperstein

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by: Babs NJSD @ Tue Jan 16, 2007 at 05:59:25 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

That's great, Babs! (0.00 / 0)

But we've got to draft her first -- send out an email to get more people to sign the pledge!

And I'll get cracking on research too.

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by: JRB @ Tue Jan 16, 2007 at 03:42:38 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Carroll and Merkt: Right Wing ideologues (4.00 / 2)

Living in the 25th district, Carroll and Merkt are an absolute embrassment.  These are the future Mike Fergusons and E. Scott Garretts.  They are without a doubt the two most conservative ideologues in the state legislature.  Just some examples:

1.  Michael Carroll, who made a little girl with juvenile diabetes cry by telling her that stem cell research offered her no hope of living. 

2.  Richard Merkt, who recently walked out of Governor Corzine's address to the State Legislature

3.  Carroll and Merkt, who both sponsored legislation to name Route 15 (Dana lives there) after Ronald Reagan

4.  Carroll proposed changing the name of Clinton, NJ to "Reagan, NJ" (Even though it has nothing to do with former President Clinton)

5.  They both have been vehement opponents of all civil rights legislation, and have been vehement opponents of gay rights and womens rights. *they likely have the worst voting records in the entire legislature on those issues

6.  Horrible Environmental Records- both have almost ZERO ratings from groups such as PIRG and Sierra Club. 

7  Carroll has made insane statements supporting Bush's plans to expand the war into Iran and Syria and even called for "Nuking the whole Middle East" following 9/11.

Now is the time to unite behind good, decent, kind, progressive people to finally get rid of Carroll and Merkt.  (and their partner in the Senate Bucco)

Dana is such a person, and also young and female (two groups sorely underrepresented in our legislature)  Its time to finally vote Carroll and Merkt out (Thom Jackson and Janice Schindler took 45% against them last time) 
Please support us in the 25th district!

Chip Robinson
Morris DFA/PDA

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by: BootGOP2006 @ Tue Jan 16, 2007 at 04:33:54 AM UTC