To be an effective advocate for progressive causes and social issues, it is important that you know your opponents. Understanding their positions, especially those coming from smart people with whom you may disagree, will help you hone your position and strengthen your arguments.
With that in mind, Joey Novick and I travelled to Morris Township earlier today to have a conversation with Republican Assemblyman Michael Patrick Carroll. Carroll is a libertarian in the Ron Paul mode, and while most of his views are outside of what we may consider the mainstream, he is firmly entrenched in his principals. Our discussion included slavery, marriage equality, the voting rights act, anti-bullying legislation, medical marijuana, and what to do about Camden's crime and poverty. Some of Carroll's thoughts may be surprising or even shocking.
Something familiar! Something peculiar!
Something for everyone! A comedy tonight!
Something appealing, Something appalling
Something for everyone! A comedy tonight!
- Comedy Tonight, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
- Music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Jeff Gardner & Joey Novick in togas Two of the Funny Things at the Forum
That's Jeff Gardner on the left and JoeyNovick, two of my favorite people, and two of the stars of an all-lawyers production of A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum tonight at NJPAC.
The musical is a benefit, part of an all-arts effort to raise money for New Jersey Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, which matches lawyers giving their time to members of the state's arts community, particularly to low income artists & non-profits. Joey's done that.
Both these guys hang out at Blue Jersey, but they're also both in politics - Joey's a former Hunterdon County Democratic Chair who was the only lifelong Dem on Flemington's Borough Council for 12 years. Jeff ran for State Senate earlier this year from LD-35. Both are local municipal chairs for the Dems.
I was chillaxing in Trentonia minding my own bee's wax when I spotted Rosi Efthim's State Senator Mike Doherty (r.) crossing paths with her boy-toy, Joey Novick (l.) in front of Steve Lonegan's Winnebago.
Thursday night I'm going to be in Newark, watching some great comedians - political & otherwise - help send my friend Ron C. Rice back to work for a 2nd term at the Newark Council, where he reps the West Ward. The last comedian, Baratunde Thurston, just clicked into place, and some amazing people are giving their time to power Ron's campaign.
This is all very inside for me. See, I help run Democracy for America - NJ, and Ron was the very first NJ candidate nationally endorsed by DFA. Ron's a founding member of Essex DFA; he was their candidate. He's solid grassroots. And Ron's a member of the Blue Jersey community.
It's also inside for me because a lot of this show was put together at my house. Joey Novick put it together with Vin Gopal, for Ron. And Joey's hosting. Show's almost sold out, and it's a wallet-friendly $25 for Ron's campaign, so in case you can still score a ticket, here's who's coming:
Leighann Lord was named Most Thought-Provoking Black Female Comic and got an NYC Black Comedy Award for that. Like the rest of this show, she's scary-smart and has performed in clubs around the world, and for our troops in the Middle East.
Scott Blakeman is a political comedian who founded Standup for Peace: the 2 Comedian Solution to Middle East Peace, with Palestinian-American comedian Dean Obeidallah, and he gets people thinking as hard as they're laughing. He's also a regular on NPR.
Listen, Ron is a progressive. A class act. Pro-equality, including marriage equality. Community activist before he ever wore a suit. Used his Newark Council seat to organize the pro-active West Ward Collective. Veteran of night patrols & efforts helping residents take control of their neighborhoods.
Progressive Democrats of America to host Statewide Conference & Winter Warm Up Dinner
Conference will feature local and state progressive champions including U.S. Congressman Donald Payne, SICKO's Donna Smith, PDA National Director Tim Carpenter and others.
As Day One of the state legislature's lame duck session continues, there are more than 300 pro-equality people who showed up at the statehouse today - fired up and ready to lobby - compared to less than 75 anti-equality advocates, peddling that garbage. Listen up, Senators and Assemblymen. Stakes are high and we're going to remember how this turned out - for years, and elections to come. Photos were just sent in by Joey Novick, who's down there lobbying and snapping pictures right next to Jay Lassiter (whose photos are here).
Joey's pix:
3 lonely rabbis and a camera. Turnout's light for the anti-equality crowd
Rev. Bruce Davidson & religious leaders speaking for equality
TomObamaRama will bring together some of your favorite progressive political comics in a hilarious night of election year comedy.
STARRING: Joey Novick and Sam Greenfield
HOSTED BY: Kevin O'Driscoll
FEATURING: Michael Hayne and Harry Terjanian
WITH SPECIAL GUEST STAR: Alex Adams as Rudy Giuliani
