Grew up in West Milford, considered locally to be the West Virginia of New Jersey by some, with its beautiful mountain landscapes and dense pine forests, then from there my family moved to a typical American suburb with lawns and picket fences and many trips down the shore throughout my childhood - living here has made me love America. Grew up in a family that was moderate Republican and were also great admirers of the arts, although to some this might be hard to swallow. My father was an amateur photographer who idolized Ronald Reagan and my mother was a painter and active in local politics. The unflattering portrait of the GOP as popularized in American culture I was never fully aware of until I was in high school. In fact, NJ was practically a 'red state' up until the re-aligning 1992 election, President Clinton's win in Jersey was the first time a Democrat took the state since 1964. For a brief time I distanced myself from the party before registering as a Republican for a local 2003 primary election. I've always believed in the importance of local politics over major election years and regularly vote in them. Since then, I've become an admirer of Barry Goldwater, Nelson Rockefeller and Calvin Coolidge, and people who have placed their concern for the well-being of the country over winning elections, and dedicated their lives to securing personal freedom for Americans. I'm also a staunch critic of the Religious Right, people who claim to be acting in the name of God in order to advance their causes, and am proud to say that my mother spent part of her political career actively campaigning and fighting to recall board candidates backed by right-wing Christian activist groups. I feel that in order to survive into the twenty first century and beyond, the GOP must reclaim its rightful place as the party of Lincoln, Coolidge, and Eisenhower - a party of limited government that brings change from within, that works to support and strengthen the basic freedom of individuals. Growing up I was an avid watcher of AMC and Turner Classics, and reader of speculative fiction, especially books by H.P. Lovecraft, Ray Bradbury, Harlan Ellison. From time to time, I write stories and make films, in addition to my blog posts on ALT Variety, where I got to interview the great forward thinking Fred Karger and on the Clyde Fitch Report which I'm proud to call my new home.
movies, tv, hiking, yoga, swimming, boating, blogging
