OpEdNews » With Edwards Pulling Out, Mike Gravel is the Only One. Maybe it's His Time!

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Tag(s): AIPAC; Banking; Corporations; Democracy; Edwards John; Gravel Mike; Oil; Palestinian
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January 30, 2008 at 09:46:02

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With Edwards Pulling Out, Mike Gravel is the Only One. Maybe it's His Time!

by Timothy V. Gatto Page 1 of 1 page(s)

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With John Edwards announcing that he will drop out of the Presidential race today and Dennis Kuchinich doing so last week, leaves only one Progressive still in the race. This happens to be the one man I originally supported, before I was sidetracked by Edwards, who had promised all of his supporters that he would remain in the race until the end. I guess that Edwards has had enough. Maybe it is a good thing for America, for if he can’t weather the storm of a Presidential race, what kind of president would he have made?

The only Progressive still in the race and who remains true to his principles is Mike Gravel. To line up behind Gravel is easier to do now more than at any time in his candidacy. We have only two corporate candidates that are opposing him, the choices have narrowed to such a point that to support Gravel is now a no-brainer. Am I proposing that Mike could capture the Democratic nomination? Of course not, but a strong bid by Gravel could pave the way for a third party run by Gravel or maybe somebody else. There is nothing that Gravel has said that I cannot support.

The greatest thing about supporting Gravel is that by doing so, you will not hurt any other candidate that don’t need to be hurt politically. Throwing in for Mike Gravel would make a statement nationwide that we understand what is happening to our political process and we are not going to stand for it. Mike is the only one with the tenacity to see this process through to the end. A strong show of support for the only Progressive still in the race is the only logical thing for us to do. Forget about “the lesser of two evils” argument. This is a terrible way to choose a leader and we shouldn’t have to be put in a position like that.

Mike might be a folksy, homespun type of guy, but he is the only one that see’s through the smoke and mirrors that all the rest are using. Hillary Clinton may have been a Progressive once in her life, but the support of the oil and pharmaceutical industries and the banking interests, as well as her membership in the Bilderburg group and her support of AIPAC and it’s objectives, completely destroy her credentials as an agent of change. The exact same case can be made for Obama and his pandering to AIPAC. He has also taken money from the same corporations that have made our democracy nothing but a front for corporate controlled government. His recent remarks about Israel “defending themselves” from the Palestinian terrorists on the Gaza Strip have also negated any call for change that he may have supported in the past.

Supporting Mike Gravel is the only real choice that we can make. The thought of him becoming a player in the political arena would send a message to corporate America that we are not defeated. This would be a message that they would hear loud and clear. The message we must send to these political candidates and their corporate backers is “What are you going to do about us?” We have their number and we shouldn’t go away quietly, or play nice with their candidates. If you think you are beaten you are. Maybe, just maybe, we can pull off a miracle, God knows we need one, As Dylan once said; "You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows".

That’s the way I see it.

http://liberalpro.blogspot.com

Tim was banned from the site for posting private email from the publisher to him on his blog, and then attacking the publisher and the site in emails and articles. OEN has no responsibility to publish articles from people who attack the site. Tim's accusations that he was banned for his political positions are untrue. Check his articles. He repetitively wrote about and had published exactly the things he claimed he was banned for doing.

Former Chairman of the Liberal Party of America, Tim is a retired Army Sergeant. He currently lives in South Carolina. A regular contributor to OpEdNews, he is the author of Kimchee Kronicles and is currently at work on a new novel.

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11 comments

Tim was banned from the site for posting private email from the publisher to him on his blog, and then attacking the publisher and the site in emails and articles. OEN has no responsibility to publish articles from people who attack the site.

Tim's accusations that he was banned for his political positions are untrue. Check his articles. He repetitively wrote about and had published exactly the things he claimed he was banned for doing.

Former Chairman of the Liberal ...

to see more of bio, click on member name
Timothy V. GattoTim was banned from the site for posting private email from the publisher to him on his blog, and then attacking the publisher and the site in emails and articles. OEN has no responsibility to publish articles from people who attack the site.

Tim's accusations that he was banned for his political positions are untrue. Check his articles. He repetitively wrote about and had published exactly the things he claimed he was banned for doing.

Former Chairman of the Liberal ...

to see more of bio, click on member name

This is a Serious Article

On a Serious candidate.

by Timothy V. Gatto (348 articles, 177 quicklinks, 38 diaries, 574 comments) on Wednesday, January 30, 2008 at 9:56:16 AM

Geery lived off the grid for 15 years in an earth-sheltered, solar heated home, while his kids learned in school that solar energy isn't feasible. NAPTA hosts a page on Geery's foibles in education, and explains how he got his butt fired from a tenured teaching position. Here's a short clip of his most recent solar contraption; for more on that project, and Geery's contention that the Wright Brothers took a wrong turn, please visit his airship page (hyperblimp.com). Apparently, Geery is the only...

to see more of bio, click on member name
Daniel GeeryGeery lived off the grid for 15 years in an earth-sheltered, solar heated home, while his kids learned in school that solar energy isn't feasible. NAPTA hosts a page on Geery's foibles in education, and explains how he got his butt fired from a tenured teaching position. Here's a short clip of his most recent solar contraption; for more on that project, and Geery's contention that the Wright Brothers took a wrong turn, please visit his airship page (hyperblimp.com). Apparently, Geery is the only...

to see more of bio, click on member name

Thanks for the reminder!

Mike is so low on the psychopaths' radar that I often forget he exists (just as, of couse, they like it).

Last I did any reading on him, I was duly impressed. Maybe I won't have to write in Kucinich after all!

by Daniel Geery (26 articles, 74 quicklinks, 123 diaries, 750 comments) on Wednesday, January 30, 2008 at 9:57:49 AM

Joel S. Hirschhorn is the author of Delusional Democracy - Fixing the Republic Without Overthrowing the Government (www.delusionaldemocracy.com). His current political writings have been greatly influenced by working as a senior staffer for the U.S. Congress and for the National Governors Association. He advocates a Second American Revolution, beginning with an Article V Convention to propose constitutional amendments. He is Chair of the Independent Party of Maryland.
Joel S. HirschhornJoel S. Hirschhorn is the author of Delusional Democracy - Fixing the Republic Without Overthrowing the Government (www.delusionaldemocracy.com). His current political writings have been greatly influenced by working as a senior staffer for the U.S. Congress and for the National Governors Association. He advocates a Second American Revolution, beginning with an Article V Convention to propose constitutional amendments. He is Chair of the Independent Party of Maryland.

Losing credibility for the dissident community

If any candidate is more neo-insane than Ron Paul it is Mike Gravel, so when I see this kind of writing my first reaction is total sadness, because it disgraces legitimate political rebellion against the current corrupt and dysfunctional two-party plutocracy.

by Joel S. Hirschhorn (133 articles, 37 quicklinks, 60 diaries, 533 comments) on Wednesday, January 30, 2008 at 11:10:43 AM

Examples?

Much rhetoric, but no examples. I'm surprised. I interviewed Sen. Gravel at length and didn't find any evidence of this. What would be your take on who to support or what path to take besides an Article V Convention that has no chance in an election year?

by Timothy V. Gatto (348 articles, 177 quicklinks, 38 diaries, 574 comments) on Wednesday, January 30, 2008 at 11:42:08 AM

Richard Mynick is a US citizen who, despite the best efforts of the corporate media, noticed something disturbing about how the 2000 election was decided, & felt it augured poorly for democracy.
Richard MynickRichard Mynick is a US citizen who, despite the best efforts of the corporate media, noticed something disturbing about how the 2000 election was decided, & felt it augured poorly for democracy.

That doesn't seem quite fair to me. Gravel's tax plan is

dubious & can certainly be criticized, but you have come out publicly in favor of Michael Bloomberg, who's at least as criticize-able, on many grounds. (He's an anti-labor plutocrat who hasn't in the slightest stood up to Bush, in the way that, for example, the mayor of Salt Lake City has.)

Can you spell out your objections to Gravel a bit more specifically? Calling him "more neo-insane than Ron Paul" is strong language. I agree that Ron Paul is neo-insane, but can't imagine how you could say Gravel is anywhere near the nut-case that Paul is.

Anyone who's going to vote for Gravel in the primaries is merely trying to cast a protest vote. No one's under any illusions that he'd even get 1% of the vote. So what is wrong with dissidents casting a primary ballot for him, exactly?

by Richard Mynick (2 articles, 3 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 1232 comments) on Wednesday, January 30, 2008 at 11:57:54 AM

I am a 22 year old graduate of the University of Chicago, majoring in Philosophy with a minor in Ancient Greek. I have been happily married for 3 and a half years, no kids. I live in Springfield, Oregon where I am currently unemployed. I grew up the son of an evangelical minister but have completely rejected the institution of the church and the existence of God. I consider myself now to be an Atheist with a "spiritual" side. My wife says I'm a pantheist because I love nature so much. I wa...

to see more of bio, click on member name
Caleb FrizI am a 22 year old graduate of the University of Chicago, majoring in Philosophy with a minor in Ancient Greek. I have been happily married for 3 and a half years, no kids. I live in Springfield, Oregon where I am currently unemployed. I grew up the son of an evangelical minister but have completely rejected the institution of the church and the existence of God. I consider myself now to be an Atheist with a "spiritual" side. My wife says I'm a pantheist because I love nature so much. I wa...

to see more of bio, click on member name

I Like Mike

Gravel is a fine choice for president and I hope that anyone who, for whatever reason, can't stomach voting for Ron Paul will end up voting for (and actively supporting) Mike Gravel.

by Caleb Friz (2 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 28 comments) on Wednesday, January 30, 2008 at 11:11:03 AM

Kelly O'Connor of the Rational Response Squad, co-creators of the infamous Blasphemy Challenge, will be writing to address theist talking heads in the media. Kelly is a psychology major, co-host of the Rational Response Squad Radio show, and has been featured on ABC's Nightline twice, along with other media sources.
Kelly O'ConnorKelly O'Connor of the Rational Response Squad, co-creators of the infamous Blasphemy Challenge, will be writing to address theist talking heads in the media. Kelly is a psychology major, co-host of the Rational Response Squad Radio show, and has been featured on ABC's Nightline twice, along with other media sources.

Info on Mike Gravel

Not trying to article-whore here, but in case you missed it, I have one here that has some info on an email we (Rational Response Squad) received from Gravel's campaign advisor. We have since gotten another email from his publicity director and will likely be doing an interview with him soon.

I must say, this is the first time I've ever been contacted by a presidential candidate for assistance, and I had no idea who he was before getting the email. I don't think that he's perfect, but he's WAY better than the alternatives.

by Kelly O'Connor (9 articles, 1 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 18 comments) on Wednesday, January 30, 2008 at 3:42:48 PM

Aka "Peace Brother", I am a health professional and writer interested in promoting global peace and justice.
Kris MalmquistAka "Peace Brother", I am a health professional and writer interested in promoting global peace and justice.

Think Positive!

Call me delusional, but I remain hopeful that circumstances will change and a miracle will happen and Mike Gravel will become our next president. How about a Gravel/Bloomberg Third Party Ticket??

by Kris Malmquist (9 articles, 0 quicklinks, 39 diaries, 101 comments) on Thursday, January 31, 2008 at 8:18:09 AM

I'm a 29 year old male.
TyI'm a 29 year old male.

Agree

I voted for Gravel after Kucinich dropped out. There is nothing insane about Gravel except his tax proposals. Anyone who votes for Clinton or Obama is wasting their vote. I will vote for Cynthia Mckinney in the general election if she wins the Green nomination.

by Ty (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 888 comments) on Friday, February 1, 2008 at 10:07:42 AM