Mike Gravel appreciation thread.

[BuyingThyme]

[fascisthunter]

1. Ya Know What... I'll Give Him a Kick

Lot's of what he has said is right.

[roguevalley]

27. I voted for him when he was our Senator. Good man, Mike.

He's not afraid to risk himself for the greater good.

[fascisthunter]

30. That's What I Really Respect about Him (nt)

[shadowknows69]

2. Hell yes

The man spoke truth to power at every turn in the debates he was in.

[stimbox]

3. I appreciate Mike! He got my vote in the CA Primary.

Mike Gravel on the Issues:
The War in Iraq
Immediate and orderly withdrawal of troops followed by aggressive diplomacy

National Initiative for Democracy
Empower Americans and turn every citizen into a lawmaker by enacting a national initiative.

A Fair Tax
Eliminate the income tax and replace it with a progressive national sales tax - Fair Tax.

America's System of Education
Education should be our nation's priority. We need to foster competition and rethink the system.

Social Security
Put real money in the Social Security Trust Fund and invest it properly so Americans can leave surplus to heirs.

Veterans Affairs
Fully finance the VA and end the war on our nation's vets.

National Healthcare
Enact a national, universal, single-payer, not-for-profit U.S. healthcare system.

Drugs
Legalize Marijuana. The War on Drugs has not been a success.
Other drugs should be available by prescription from a doctor and the US should have the resources in place to rehabilitate drug users.
Current inmates should have their cases reviewed. The jails are overloaded.

[slick8790]

4. Mike seems like a great guy.

Great views on most stuff, and ran a quirky, interesting campaign. He's got all my respect for his work against the draft. It really is a shame he didn't get the exposure he deserves.

[New Dawn]

5. K&R

[lynch03]

6. haha, how random

But Mike Gravel is the man.

[Hippo_Tron]

7. When he apologizes for his campaign against Ernest Gruening in 1968, we'll talk

[BuyingThyme]

9. Is that the Simpsons guy?

[Hippo_Tron]

10. You guys always think I'm joking when I mention this...

Ernest Gruening and Wayne Morse were the two Senators who voted against the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution in 1964. Mike Gravel challenged Gruening in the primary in '68 and beat him by running a campaign almost entirely based on Gruening's age.

I think it's karma that most of America looks at Mike Gravel as a crazy old man. He unseated one of the best Democrats in the senate based on that.

It amazes me that people who start threads about Mike Gravel don't know all that much about him.

[BuyingThyme]

11. I only started the thread because somebody paid me to do it, but

the only thing I ever really needed to know about the Gravel was that he was willing to raise hell about the Iraq invasion and the lies used to get us there.

[stimbox]

12. Still going on about that huh? n/t

[Hippo_Tron]

13. I think it's something Gravel supporters should address

[stimbox]

14. It's a non-issue imho.

How about your great Democratic senator getting beaten in the primary then running as an indy and getting beaten again?

[Hippo_Tron]

15. Unlike Liberman Gruening was loyal to the Democratic Party and should've have been unseated

[stimbox]

18. But he was. Oh well. Hopefully soon Lieberman will be marginalized. n/t

[Blue_In_AK]

26. Gruening and Gravel were/are both good guys...

I don't fault Mike for his ambition, and he was a strong antiwar voice himself, if you remember right. I'm proud that both of these two outstanding senators came from my state.

[roguevalley]

28. Mr. Gruening was a great, great man. Bar none.

[VolcanoJen]

8. Best ad of the 2008 Campaign

[Hart2008]

16. Gravel Rocks!

:yourock:

K & R

[ellisonz]

17. Legalize.

:smoke:

[helderheid]

19. Gravelbot!

[robbedvoter]

20. The candidate most attacked on DU - funny that I see this thread - bit late

I remember those attacks as well....

[Politicub]

21. K&R for Mike Gravel!

He was always at the top of the list when I took the early "who should you vote for" quizzes. And, the stone in the lake ad is timeless avant-garde art.

:kick:

[demokatgurrl]

22. Gravel admirer here!!!

He was the "candidate of my heart" but of course he had no chance. Kudos to him for hanging in there.

[leftchick]

23. yeah mike!

:loveya:

[Blue_In_AK]

24. I love Mike...

I wish he was still my senator.

[Orwellian_Ghost]

25. K&R n/t

[asdjrocky]

29. Met his daughter Lynne Mosier-

at the Salinas Straw Vote. She was really great, and a wonderful speaker. I hope to see her run for office in the state of Ca someday soon.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/asdjrocky/32

[Lilith Velkor]

31. Fuckin' A.

[cd3dem]

32. I was just thinking about Mike Gravel today...Really! thought. I like Gravel better than Obama...

Gravel was funny and he made me laugh! said what was on his mind!

Obama scowls too much... says what is on other peoples mind!

Go Mike!!!