Partisan partying

Fresh from the grassroots campaign for the governor's office and staring the 2008 presidential election in the eye, a political neophyte might find the current political waters a bit intimidating. Fear not: Several new groups offer voters of all colors the chance to get involved simply by starting a conversation, playing a game, or raising a glass. In a new twist on Tip O'Neill's famous trope, for these groups, all politics is social.

Socializing for Justice

In early August 2006, activist Robbie Samuels had an idea: lose the cause, for a night anyway. ''People don't want to go to another meeting or discussion,'' says Samuels. ''This is a fun way to get together without adding to people's commitments. Social networking is popular online - why not do it in person?''

Using meetup.com as an organizing tool, SoJust plans all-ages events both large and small in venues across the city. The group has no party affiliation and instead aims to bring together all Bostonians working for justice: people working against racism, environmental agitators, gay-rights advocates, class activists, and more. The group's 450 members have sponsored bowling for justice, knitting for justice, roller-skating for justice, and a recent Scrabble night at Soul Fire Grill in Allston.

''I got burnout on political activism, but now I'm ready to get involved again,'' says attendee Chris Beaman, who organizes the Cambridge Political Documentary meetup group. ''I'm hoping that socializing leads to action.''

''We're trying to eliminate barriers like location, age, race, or issue,'' Samuels says. ''If you get people in a room and they trust each other, they start talking and have the time and space to get to the finer points of their arguments.''

Instead of name tags reading ''Hi. My name is,'' organizers distribute tags that say ''Ask me about'' or ''Looking for'' as a means to help people to connect over issues they care about, to find a new job, a new roommate, or a new friend.

Says Samuels, ''At a recent event at the Foggy Goggle, there was a woman whose name tag said, 'Ask me about abortion.' Not something you see every day. But she wanted to make a statement.''

Less provocatively, people have found jobs, roommates, and even dates. Says Samuels: ''It's about getting past the 'hi, how are you, where do you live or work?' to the greater connection.''

Visit sojust.meetup.com for upcoming events in your area.

Drinking Liberally

Begun in New York City in 2003 as ''one-part support group and one-part strategy session,'' Drinking Liberally now has three chapters in the Boston area - Boston, Cambridge, and Brookline - that allow blue-staters to mingle and exchange ideas in an informal setting. Every Tuesday, up to 20 like-minded lefties gather at Middlesex Lounge to talk about Capitol Hill, Beacon Hill, and everything in between.

''Most of our regulars tend to read political blogs and watch the left-leaning satire shows on Comedy Central, so they're very politically aware,'' says host Shai Sachs.

Attendee Bill Hees, a libertarian who ran for Cambridge City Council in 2005, says the liberals are ''a fun group to hang out with, and I know we have things in common - desire for peace, importance of civil liberties. When I point out where I disagree with liberals, we have a civil discussion.''

In fact, he was inspired to organize Drinking Freely for his fellow libertarians, who meet periodically at Flat Top Johnny's in Cambridge.

From time to time, Sachs and co-host Baratunde Thurston organize theme nights, like a recent ''Blogger's Night,'' where they helped people who wanted to get involved in blogging. Nationally, Drinking Liberally has spawned the film series Screening Liberally, the reading series Reading Liberally, and the comedy tour Laughing Liberally, which comes to Boston this spring and features comedian Thurston. Whatever the reason, the idea is to get people out and get them talking.

''Someone who is a political newbie but follows the news a bit will probably feel quite comfortable joining us,'' Sachs says.

Drinking Liberally meets every Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Middlesex Lounge (315 Mass. Ave., Cambridge); the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 7 p.m. at Matt Murphy's (14 Harvard St., Brookline); every Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at the Bell in Hand (45 Union St., Boston). drinkingliberally.org

In Choice Company

NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts is taking its message to the after-work crowd in the hopes of educating as well as entertaining. The low-key, happy-hour format creates a more relaxed atmosphere where you can talk about issues. Along with free appetizers, you'll hear a speaker for 15-20 minutes. Past guests have included state representative Marty Walz and state Senator Jarrett Barrios. At the next event, political strategist Lynda Tocci will discuss the role reproductive rights will play in the 2008 presidential election and how both parties might find common ground.

Since the kick-off event in January 2006, the group has held four events in bars and restaurants from Boston to Worcester. ''We try to hold an event every three months or so as a way for young professionals to get involved in the organization,'' says NARAL staffer Heather Geldhof.

With committee and staff members on hand to answer questions, you can sign up for more volunteer opportunities or simply enjoy the evening. The crowd is largely female, but the organization hopes future events will attract a more diverse crowd. Says Geldhof, ''Many people are pro-choice but not politically engaged. This is a chance to be exposed to different opportunities.''

In Choice Company meets next on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Tonic (1316 Commonwealth Ave., Allston). prochoicemass.org/events/inchoiceco.shtml

GReater Boston Young Republicans

''Republicans are a rare breed in Massachusetts,'' says Ashley Maagero, secretary of the Greater Boston Young Republicans, a group of 18- to 40-year-olds who gather twice a month for camaraderie and conversation.

As evidenced by the ''Help! I'm Trapped in a Blue State!'' T-shirts for sale on the GBYR website, being a Republican in Massachusetts is tough, but not as lonely as you might think.

''Massachusetts is more accepting of a wide range of conservatives, hard core to more moderate,'' says Maagero. ''In Texas we might be considered Democrats.''

Patrick Johnson, an active college Republican at UMass Boston, started the group in 2003.

''I saw how well the Internet worked for Howard Dean's campaign and decided to try it for myself,'' says Johnson. ''One of the great things about the group is that you can get involved at whatever level you want. You can come for a drink, do a stand-out, holding signs for a candidate.''

Having lost the governor's office, the Republicans are looking ahead to the 2008 presidential election. ''Because Mitt is from Massachusetts, there is an opportunity for local Republicans to get involved in his campaign on the ground floor,'' says Maagero, who notes that representatives from other campaigns are drumming up local support as well.

Newcomer Andres Dominguez found the group online and came to see what it was all about. As Andre Green noted, ''If you come out to Hennessey's when it's 8 degrees outside, we know you're looking for a way to get more active.''

Greater Boston Young Republicans meet the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 6 p.m. at Hennessey's (25 Union St., Boston). bostonyr.com

Billionaires for Bush

With 60 chapters nationwide, the satirical troupe Billionaires for Bush mocks its target by becoming it. Members take on the personas of corporate lobbyists, decadent heiresses, and CEOs with names such as Lee Vemhangen, Avery Damon Penny, and Ivana More-Enmore, the ''richly upholstered chair'' of the Boston-Metro chapter.

''Polarization in politics demands satire. It short-circuits anger and gets people talking,'' says More-Enmore, a.k.a. Jill Kolva. ''If you are confronted with an angry person shouting an angry slogan, you think, 'How can I get away?' If someone comes up to you in a tiara and an evening gown, handing out billion-dollar bills, you stick around.''

''Basically we're political party crashers,'' Kolva adds. ''We attend other events - Deval Patrick's inaugural or the commemoration of the anniversary of the Iraq War - and walk around with leaflets and billion dollar bills.''

On the last Wednesday of each month, members meet for happy hour to plan their next outing. Prospective performers should come early and introduce themselves to the old guard, which ranges in number from six to 20 and in ages 20 to 60. ''People use the troupe as a creative outlet,'' says Kolva. ''You have to be confident enough to dress up and go out, but the smiles you get in return are unbelievable.''

The Billionaires are out for more than just a laugh, however. They plant tongue firmly in cheek in the hopes of planting questions in your mind.

Billionaires for Bush meet the last Wednesday of each month from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Clarke's Restaurant (21 Merchants Row, Boston). bostonb4b.blogspot.com