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Tag(s): Delegates; Elections; Gravel Mike; Media; Politics; Reality; Right Wing Strategies; Rights
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January 31, 2008 at 11:01:46

Headlined on 1/31/08:
Why Supporting Sen. Gravel's Right to be Heard is Important

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

www.opednews.com

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I’m in touch with Mike Gravel’s campaign manager, I have a good relationship with the Gravel Campaign and I believe that I have a good shot at getting him to come on my radio show at the following; http://www.blogtalkradio.com/liberalpro.

You can see an interview I had with Sen. Gravel that I posted on OpEdNews.com at called "An Exclusive Interviw with Mike Gravel". This was before the campaign for 2008 really started to get moving. I saw in Mike Gravel a voice that echoed my concerns as well as many other people that believe in the Progressive movement. Mike Gravel needs a fresh look and we need to reevaluate his candidacy now that he is the only Progressive voice left.

We can pretty well agree that Sen. Gravel doesn’t have too much of a chance to capture the Democratic nomination. However, his candidacy leaves other options on the table for the Progressive community. A strong showing by Gravel could lead the way for a third party candidate. The thought of a third party provokes many Democrats to decry such an idea, believing that a Progressive bid would throw the election to the Republicans. Well that may be true, but if it indeed happened to become a reality, the Democrats have nobody to blame for that but the Democrats. The nasty business of excluding Kuchinich and Gravel from the debates is something that they must own. They can punish Florida for moving up their Primary date, but they willingly went along with the networks when they excluded two of their own. That was unconscionable. Let them reap the benefits. If an independent run by a Progressive would actually spoil the chances of the Democrats gaining the Presidency, they should have thought about that when they excluded the voice of the Progressive wing of the party.

Either we have a Democratic election or we don’t. Party politics have tainted this election as so many elections that have come before this one. If Gravel can garner enough delegates to bring the fight for delegates to the convention floor, we might see someone other than Obama and Clinton, the two corporate candidates, lead the Democratic ticket. They have both led nasty campaigns that foreshadow a possible nasty administration. We have already lived through eight years of dirty tricks and lies told to the American people on a daily basis, I don’t believe that Americans are looking for another four to eight years of dirty politics. I surely don’t believe that we are ready to accept 28 years of two families sharing the White House.

We must keep Senator Mike Gravel in this race. We need to make it known that we want him included in future debates. The corporate media should not have the last word on which candidates we should be allowed to hear. We have let them get away with far too much already. Gravel emerging as the last Progressive voice now gives us a focal point in regards to which candidate we should support (at least his right to be heard). We need to support Gravel regardless of which candidate actually gets our vote. As I said before, either we have a democracy or we don’t. We should press the issue and answer this question that we all have thought about at one time or another.

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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12 comments

Human Being
GarryHuman Being

I agree!

Gravel is great.

by Garry (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 25 comments) on Thursday, January 31, 2008 at 3:08:48 PM

Progressive private citizen.
CJSmithProgressive private citizen.

MoveOn censorship

I received an email poll from MoveOn today asking for a vote to determine MoveOn's endorsement. The only choices were Obama and Clinton. I wrote MoveOn that I consider this dishonest and unethical, and that I will be reconsidering my support for them.

I expect to vote for Gravel in the 2/5 primary, and in November if he continues as an independent.

by CJSmith (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 5 comments) on Thursday, January 31, 2008 at 4:02:43 PM

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

I did Exactly the Same Thing

I told them that they could be bringing on the end of Move-on with this support two corporate controlled candidates.

by Timothy V. Gatto (348 articles, 177 quicklinks, 38 diaries, 574 comments) on Thursday, January 31, 2008 at 4:19:50 PM

retired comm. fisherman, former teacher of the deaf-blind, Grandfather in a wonderful family (I'm a lucky/blessed man), environmental and radical/progressive political activist, Aging Hippie (60), Refusenik in the Vietnam era, served 2 years alternate service as a "judicial conscientious objector", counselor to young people on alternatives to military service.
Papawhaleretired comm. fisherman, former teacher of the deaf-blind, Grandfather in a wonderful family (I'm a lucky/blessed man), environmental and radical/progressive political activist, Aging Hippie (60), Refusenik in the Vietnam era, served 2 years alternate service as a "judicial conscientious objector", counselor to young people on alternatives to military service.

What took you so long?

I left MoveOn months ago when they dropped the ball about Kucinich. That goes double fro the Democratic Party, the bums.

by Papawhale (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 62 comments) on Thursday, January 31, 2008 at 4:36:48 PM

This will be the 2nd Time

I gave them another chance when they started a meet-up group in Greenville, SC. I guess it was the wrong thing to do. Our "new" relationship didn't last long :)

by Timothy V. Gatto (348 articles, 177 quicklinks, 38 diaries, 574 comments) on Thursday, January 31, 2008 at 4:40:27 PM

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.

I voted for Gravel today in California, by absentee ballot.

I don't really buy his flaky tax plan -- it was a protest vote. (I would probably have voted for Edwards if he was in serious contention for California's delegates.)

In November, I'll vote for a socialist. I'll be proud to not vote for whatever lousy Democrat is nominated. The 2 remaining 'D' choices are both corporatist/militarists. That should be unacceptable to anyone with any self-respect.

by Richard Mynick (2 articles, 3 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 1168 comments) on Thursday, January 31, 2008 at 4:40:59 PM

Mike has some great ideas.

It's hard to agree with someoneone on EVERYTHING. Besides, his tax plan, in case he managed to get elected, probably wouldn't see the light of day.

by Timothy V. Gatto (348 articles, 177 quicklinks, 38 diaries, 574 comments) on Thursday, January 31, 2008 at 4:45:47 PM

I am a Vietnam Vet disabled by MS and other various diseases. On average I am a Moderate with slight Conservative leanings although it truly depends on what issue I am concerned with at the time.
Hayesml47I am a Vietnam Vet disabled by MS and other various diseases. On average I am a Moderate with slight Conservative leanings although it truly depends on what issue I am concerned with at the time.

Go! Go! Gravel!

At this moment Mike Gravel is our only hope in the Democratic party. I fear that we will need to come up with the American Constitutional Party for Kucinich and Gravel to get the respect they truly deserve. We must have a better choice than it appears we are headed for. I doubt that we can mount a big enough campaign to have a successful write in work. I may not agree with all of Mike's values but his honesty makes up for any disagreements I might have with him. I was really hoping that Dennis would back Mike when he quit. They are the most alike within the Democratic race. I guess we need to start showing Clinton and Obama's voting record in the Senate and how it has been hurting our country. I think I am starting to get desparate!

by Hayesml47 (4 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 471 comments) on Thursday, January 31, 2008 at 8:14:35 PM

I will be writing About Mike Gravel

I'll be pointing out many things about the Gravel campaign in the coming weeks and months. I have a good relationship with him and the people that run his campaign. There are many questions that will be answered and a great many things to be learned in that time. Keep an eye out for these articles.

by Timothy V. Gatto (348 articles, 177 quicklinks, 38 diaries, 574 comments) on Thursday, January 31, 2008 at 8:20:04 PM

retired and loving it
dave stanleyretired and loving it

vindicated

The Right Honorable Mr Gravel. makes Mccain appear like a brute.Emperor Disgustus Bush and Brutus Mccain The empire strikes back team.while huckleberry and Romney stand agape.The Right honorable Ron paul has the experience,the light and the fortitude .Denis Kucincih justice for the people these all would be great leaders save for die boldly Machines that count votes the way the programer decides.Electoral college .The guanlet of lies,injustice,
dirty politics gun boat diplomacy
The bildergerers.

by dave stanley (5 articles, 1 quicklinks, 7 diaries, 286 comments) on Friday, February 1, 2008 at 1:58:13 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, Timothy.

Let's write Mike in, and encourage him to pick Dennis as VP. I suspect I could live with that!

What sends me spiralling is the "progressive" American'ts who like to parrot and holler, "It can't be done!"--when in fact, the only thing making that self-fullfilling prophecy true is their own pathetic attitude, dimunitive mindset, and, evidently, lack of self-esteem.

If our species were unversally of that bent, we'd still be sitting in caves--without the benefit of a few 2D drawings on the walls!

by Daniel Geery (26 articles, 58 quicklinks, 121 diaries, 690 comments) on Friday, February 1, 2008 at 10:22:11 AM

Sinologist, psychiatrist. Resides in Stockholm
mhenridaySinologist, psychiatrist. Resides in Stockholm

Supporting the right of both

Gravel and Kucinich to be heard is important, in that it demonstrates that another discourse about the USA:s wars - not merely the ones in Iraq and Afghanistan - is possible - a discourse that doesn't merely hold, à la the New York Times of 2008 (which, of course, has endorsed Ms Clinton) that this or that war is inadvisable, cannot be won, is badly run, etc, but that these wars are illegal, immoral and ill-intentioned. This, rather than any concern for wasting the electorate's time with so-called «un-electable candidates», is I suspect, the real reason that these two gentlemen were not allowed to participate in the debates : the consequences of such a discourse resonating with the people of the United States are, for the ruling elite, too dire to contemplate....

Henri

by mhenriday (0 articles, 11 quicklinks, 5 diaries, 150 comments) on Sunday, February 3, 2008 at 5:07:36 AM