I give Ron Paul a bit of a pounding on here now and again (which reminds me, I have another one coming soon…), and there are two simple reasons for this. The first is that while I like his foreign policies and his general attitude of limited government, his domestic policies downright scare me and seeing him get so much support frequently irks me.
The second is far more direct. I am absolutely green with envy at the swell of support he is getting. So I ask you all, where’s the love for Mike Gravel?
Support for the Democrats is dwindling thanks to a general trend of inaction and/or cowardice in the face of the GOP machine. With the candidates still acting as though Karl Rove is still lurking in the shadows and that a majority in Congress still isn’t enough (“we can’t override a veto!”), it’s more than a little disheartening to see so little change. When I found that a website called The Smirking Chimp hosted an article abandoning the party, that told me we have a problem.
The solution? Mike Gravel.
Annoyed that Democrats are all wimpy in opposing the war? Mike Gravel wants out now and tore into Hillary over her vote over it. The man wrote an article called “Why Hillary Scares Me” for chrissakes.
Hillary, as an active supporter of the war, you are one of many Americans who are guilty. And now all Americans are left responsible, regardless of whether we supported or opposed he war. When we pull out, our hands will drip with the blood of the tens of thousands of American casualties and hundreds of thousands of Iraqi dead. The Iraqi government didn’t start this, we did.
Bam!
I point at OnTheIssues frequently to give people a perspective on candidates, and the page on Gravel is no less illuminating. No, he doesn’t have a lot of votes to go off of, but he has plenty of statements and they paint a clear picture of the guy. You want a tough Democrat that won’t hem and haw? Mike Gravel’s your man.
Pow!
Name an issue the Democrats have failed us on and Gravel isn’t fooling around. Iraq? Let’s get out. Iran? Hell no. Universal health care? Let’s get it. Drug laws? Get rid of ‘em. Gay marriage? Of course. Stem cell research? Let’s get it going. Abortion? Rare but legal.
I can already hear a criticism. Oh sure Hanlon, you say, he sounds great and all but what has he done? Why should we care what he’s jabbering about if he doesn’t produce results?
Good call, reader, but let me ask you a question. Are you glad there’s no draft today? If so, you have Mike Gravel to thank. I don’t mean that he helped end the draft or that he co-sponsored a bill that led to the end of the draft, no. Gravel went on a five-month filibuster, by himself, to halt the reinstatement of the draft. You want to talk about political accomplishments that we can appreciate today, it’s hard to top that.
I’m going to repeat that. In 1971, Alaskan Senator Mike Gravel embarked on a five-month long filibuster by himself to stop the draft being reinstated. When Chuck Rangel proposed bringing back the draft, it was considered lunacy. Why? Because Mike Gravel killed it 26 years ago and relegated it to the history books.
I often worry that the Democratic party is going to lose its “netroots” support because so many are focused on the Big Three and getting angry at their rightward drift (or possibly their forgetting about their spines), totally forgetting that we’ve got a wolverine hidden in the back.
No, he’s not seeing much support now and is in that area where his poll numbers are lower than the margin of error, but that’s just my point. Pick an issue and Gravel is bang-on. We’ve seen that Ron Paul could go from an unknown to a top tier, so why couldn’t Gravel follow suit? Get your asses over to his campaign page and show him some love.
Gravel does not stand a chance against a strong democratic field. Hillary and Obama are simply too powerful for anyone else to have a chance at the nomination. The republicans are weak and they hate Ron Paul, voting for Ron Paul in the Primaries represents the chance at real change and the anihlation of the neocon republicans.
Since either Hillary or Obama is going to get the democrat nod, and there is nothing that anyone can do about that, its best to put you vote to use where it can actually be effective and destroy the new republicans by voting for Ron Paul. He’s got the best chance of any protest candidate, and if elected he will end the war now. There will be time in the future to protest his domestic policies, but right now the only protest vote with a chance is Ron Paul.
I think that Mike Gravel and Dennis Kucinich are both nice guys, but they cannot beat the strong candidates that the Democratic Party has this year, but since the democrats are strong and the republicans are weak its best to support Ron Paul because it will fuck up the Republicans and might make them a 3rd party.
Pingback: Dating Blogfeeds » Where’s the love for Gravel?
I like Gravel, of course he has no chance to win, but he makes more sense than most of the other guys (and gal)!
Why should we show Gravel love when he can’t even articulate his view points? He can’t speak coherently in the debates, and therefore he just seems like he is getting senile. Do you honestly think we should support someone who can’t answer a question without loosing track of his thought? No reason at all that he should be taken seriously, because he doesn’t even take himself seriously. He basically laughs himself off in the debates. This article makes no sense just like Gravel.
JohnnyB, Paul may end the war, but he’ll also end a hell of a lot of other things if given the chance to. Things like welfare, social security, the minimum wage, and labor regulations. This isn’t a one-issue election.
Rob, I disagree. He may come off as a bit crotchety, but he definitely answers (aside from a bit of a dodge over the role of prayer) and he answers fiercely.
Gravel is #1
America sucks because it’s not a real democracy and Gravel hasn’t been given a fair venue to get his point across. F**king moderators at the debates laughing at him and cutting his time short- Gravel is the one who’s really earned the shot at president. America is dumb. Pure and simple. The whole country has Down’s SYndrome.
LISTEN TO ALL THE COWARDLY TALK HERE .wHATS UP WITH THAT?iF YOU BELEIVE IN SOMEONE STAY TRUE TO THAT AND VOTE HONESTLY.
gravel might stutter and trip over words, but listen closer…he makes FAR MORE SENSE than either barack or hillary, with their million dollar smiles and perfect enunciation but their absolutely vacuous statements. for chrissakes, have we become this shallow in america, that we are so programmed to judge only on appearances? all i am saying is LISTEN TO HIS WORDS, AND NOT THE WAY HE SAYS THEM. then tell me he doesn’t make any sense. hillary and barack are strong because they have bought attention from the media. anyone who says they are unbeatable is a programmed media zombie who worries more about being on the side that’s winning than standing for what they believe in, kind of like ALL MAINSTREAM DEMOCRATS.
it’s time to start using our brains again.
I agree with Big A. I’m tired of sheeple trying to justify voting for someone else just because who they really like “probably won’t win anyway.” Voting for the lower tier candidates or third, or independent parties helps send messages to the rest of the country that there is support out there afterall. THEN the days will come when we aren’t just run who has the most money. Oh and Gravel seems to lose his train of thought thats just because he is appauled and angry, but he always answers and speaks the truth, but I guess you just want to hear the other candidates talk like politicians are “supposed” to talk. Ron Paul is cool, but my vote still goes to Gravel. I will not vote for Hillary and McCain or Gulliani or Obama. Fuck what the media says.
Pingback: Where’s the love for Gravel? | The Central Tabulator
What’s crazy?
Is it the young single mother buying the latest cell phone
when the baby needs formula?
Or is it the old man in the street begging for more… change?
You think he wants the change in yo’ pocket
but you might have it twisted, see
he might be askin’ for a change in you & me
Diverted glances with no second chances…
screaming at the top of his lungs for anyone listening…
“They got us! Don’t you understand? They got us!”
And what if it’s true?
If he’s speaking the truth, the crazy ones are me & you
Maybe he was forced to the end of his rope,
that place of no hope… and how far are each of US from that end?
For now, we see the fields exactly as they want us to…
big & full , but of empty promises
We see roses covered in dew
Meadows span the horizon covered endlessly in greens of every hue
Plentiful & lush with all the bullshit they feed us…
You bite. You swallow. You bite. You swallow… why don’t you ever chew?!
And now we have fresh faces fightin’ to be
the next leader of the home of the brave & the land of the free
But ‘the brotha’ saying the same ol’ shit & so is ‘the she’
You can mark my words and see what I mean
when they swear in President Giuliani
and that crazy old man will still be screaming in the streets
Is crazy him spittin’ the truth all over ya face?
Or is it you, tryin desperately not to look his way,
pretendin’ again that everything is ok?
Stay blind if you want to, ’cause the defiant ones know crazy…
But is THAT actually being insane?
Seeing the truth plainly & not placing blame?!
The world stage is set…
Ignorance & silence will buy your inclusion and eventually… your applause.
The lone, lonely sound of one hand clapping…
One voice screaming and no one listening…
Is that crazy, or is it just me?
I can’t possibly be the only one that sees…
~Kitty ’07
Gravel has gravitas! He’s fighting like hell to empower US to take back our government. I say follow your heart and ask others to do the same. A one term Gravel Administration would be amazing in that it would end the politics as usual that has gotten us into a seemingly endless cycle of lies, waste and wars. You want more of the same — there’s a gaggle to choose from. Support Gravel like your future depends on it — because it very well does!
It is a shame that both Gravel and Kucinich get no love in this election. I think if people really listened, they would find that the points both make are way more logical than that of Obama or Clinton, and don’t even get me started on Edwards. That being said, this is the most important election in years and the Dem’s can’t afford to lose again!
The most interesting thing about Gravel, IMO, is that he doesn’t even get that much love online. Kucinich at least has a strong net presence, and Ron Paul is obviously huge online. Check this study out, its an interesting comparison.
http://www.spartaninternet.com/2008
Mike gets about 4 minutes out of 120 in these debates. Usually after being made to wait nearly an hour to speak. Usually only being given 30 second slots within which to answer.
Anyone criticizing his debate appearances has not seen all of them, because he has injected some pretty good critiques of the corruption inherent in the system. The fact that politicians are more worried about getting reelected, raising money, and serving their contributors than in doing the right thing. And he is the only one that offers a practical alternative (The National Initiative).
Please, people, quit parroting what the MSM and other candidates say about him, and learn for yourselves. Hit his channel on youtube and start watching! He gives *real* answers and opinions on things, not BS political doublespeak like Hillary et al.
One of the best appearances so far was when he fielded live questions from a class of High School students. They did not hold their punches, and neither did he. He had a full hour, and blew me away with the depth of his knowledge of history and world politics. There is *no* candidate more thoughtful and qualified than Gravel.
Former Senator Mike Gravel discussed his candidacy for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination with students from Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology.
The event was held at MHz Studios in Falls Church, Virginia.
http://tinyurl.com/2okrk4
Shame on Johnny B. and Rob! For one, the reason that Gravel doesn’t “stand a chance” against Hillary and Obama is because we’re not giving him his rightful support, RIGHT NOW! Second, Gravel is a very coherent man, and I have had no problem following his train of thought or delivery in any debate or interview. Gravel is a brilliant man who was at the helm of some fantastic legislation in the 1970s, and who stood up to the military industrial complex with his reading of the Pentagon Papers and his one-man marathon filibuster to end the draft. Plus, he is the only candidate ready, able and willing to offer real, direct empowerment to the American citizens to become lawmakers.
Gravel supporters! In case you haven’t seen, on his website, you can make a great contribution to his campaign while getting some cool stuff through the “Gravel Gear” link. Check it out!!
The folks above who are telling us that the nomination is a done deal are our and their own worst enemies.
They have bought the hallucination the Top Down Media has been pushing as “the way things are”. They soft-sell mind control has done its job on the soft material between… their ears.
It’s a real shame to see people neuter themselves this way. Self mutilation is so revolting!
Please, someone, stop them as they all line up at the cliff, waiting their turn to take the fall.
I disagree with both Gravel and Paul on some significant points, but I’d love to have to choose between them in November 2008.
The odds against that are long indeed, though.
Hello Everyone
Mike Gravel is an amazing person, and in the debates what he says sounds rushed and a little jumbled up. But like others said if you really listen to him you will understand what he has to say… which is absolutely true. I had the great honor of interviewing him and having lunch with him. When he gets time to actually speak it makes even more sense.
Here is my article
http://www.dt-mag.com/blog/2007/08/senator-mike-gr.html#more
hope you all like it
Josh L
Hello Everyone
Mike Gravel is an amazing person, and in the debates what he says sounds rushed and a little jumbled up. But like others said if you really listen to him you will understand what he has to say… which is absolutely true. I had the great honor of interviewing him and having lunch with him. When he gets time to actually speak it makes even more sense.
Here is my article
http://www.dt-mag.com/blog/2007/08/senator-mike-gr.html#more
hope you all like it
Josh L
If I were a democrat, I would vote for either Gravel or Kucinich in the primary.
If I were a republican I would vote for Paul in the primary.
Unfortunately, for most of us Americans we will only be able to vote for 1 out of 2 candidates.
I love Mike Gravel and have donated to his campaign. I’m glad he’s up there showing the top tier democrats for what they are. He is a national hero that singlehandedly stop the draft.
I whole heartedly supported Kucinich last election.
However, Ron Paul is the one to vote for in the primaries. Strategically there is really a opening to win here. The Republican party is susceptible to a take over. Ron Paul can win with a small percentage. Hardly anyone votes in the republican primaries and Ron Paul’s people will be able to tip the balance in his favor.
I beg all people like you to vote for Ron Paul. The issues you don’t agree with him on should be throughly researched. He is simply following the constitution. He isn’t going to end welfare or outlaw abortion. He couldn’t even if he wanted to.
He will however end the war. Stop the military-industrial complex from siphoning the wealth of the nation. Try to save the dollar. Pardon non violent drug offenders. He will reverse our slide into a totalitarian police state.
Please reconsider Ron Paul.
This is why the Democrats are destined to the ash heap. When a Republican who shoots straight from the shoulder comes along, he is rallied around and meritoriously carried on the shoulders of party members. When a Democrat finally comes along, who doesn’t just appear to make sense, but actually does, the liberal base retreats and supports a bunch of silver spooned mollycoddles.
For example, people keep waiting for Obama to *take off*, but looking as far back as his 2004 convention speech he was always an empty suit sputtering platitudinous pleonastic trash.
The Democratic party deserves to lose this election.
One answer to your question “Where’s the love for Gravel?” is the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. We have a local grassroots organization set up to support Gravel. If you like him and are anywhere near the Twin Cities, go to our site and learn about our meetings and Gravel-awareness raising projects.
Seriously, what has Hillary accomplished? Status quo. Obama hasn’t written ANY significant legislation, & accomplishments, name one? Lip-service. Corporate MSM has elevated them to where they are – most registered Dems still have no idea who Gravel is or what he accomplished. So, how best to elevate awareness of his campaign, accomplishments/effectiveness & candidacy??? Regardless of who you favor the man deserves a chance & a voice. The fat lady has yet to sing.
He didn’t go on a filibuster for five months you idiot. Thats impossible, in case you didn’t know what a filibuster is they must keep talking and cannot!!!!!!!!!! leave the floor untill they’re done for any!!!!!!! reason. He would be dead long before he reached 5 months. He blocked the bill for 5 months due to his filibuster.
I think its too late for Gravel, the first primary is in 60 days, and his support has not really increased. I’m in the Ron Paul movement now. He actually stands a very good chance of winning, and who knows, maybe he will pick Gravel for VP?
I have nothing against Gravel. I think he’s an honest man. I disagree with him on many issues but he does at least have some integrity. That being said, Gravel is going nowhere. He’s tried, but just can’t seem to catch on. Ron Paul already had a small but dedicated following before he even announced he was running for President. The Paul freedom movement is a brushfire quickly turning into an inferno as the November 5th $4.2 million fundraising effort shows. Paul has nearly 65,000 grassroots volunteers who have come together on their own to support his candidacy. Gravel on the other hand has 78 volunteers.
I take no pleasure in saying this, but it’s time for Gravel to go. His p0ll numbers are still in the ** range. His fund raising hasn’t made any significant advances. The Democratic Party has shut him out and he doesn’t have the grassroots support that Paul has to overcome it. He has even gone so far as to show up at Ron Paul rallies to try and drum up support. Trying to ride Dr Paul’s coattails in other words. It hasn’t worked. Honestly, what else can he do? I’ve always been one to believe you should never give up in a race no matter how far back you are because you never know what may happen. But I can’t honestly see any way up for Gravel.
Sen Gravel has once again made a unprecedented impact on American and world political stage by upstaging all the candidates with his acumen, showing a way to go forward in the future. He like all great persons are misunderstood and thats too bad because he is amazingly clear in thought and argument as shown by his timeless performance on the debating stage. He has allready done more for the American people than any other candidate, he is a National Treasure and should be elevated there please make a petition for his contribution to US and humanity. He should get a Noble Peace Prize at least.
i still think if you like gravel, you ought to donate to him and support him, because when you don’t vote for him because he doesn’t have a chance, you’re just hurting yourself more than anyone else. gravel can do this, he just needs some help.
It’s amazing to me that people complain about the Democrats not doing anything, but still don’t give Gravel the time of day. Non nonsense, progressive, anti-politicians, with teeth like him are exactly what this country needs.