Mike Gravel is a former Senator from the state of Alaska. He served from 1969-1981 refusing to swing to the beat of Washington. He has been running for President since April 17, 2006 making him the first candidate to officially launch his bid. He is the "bizarro world" version of Ron Paul.
In 1971, he waged a successful one-man filibuster for five months that forced the Nixon Administration to cut a deal, effectively ending the draft in the United States. What he is most famous for is his release of the Pentagon Papers.
Senator Gravel was never able to get his candidacy off the ground. He constantly struggled for campaign cash and worked hard to get federal funds to match donations. He made very strong showings in the debates being the vicious attack dog against Clinton, Edwards, Obama. He did not mention Dodd, Biden, or Richardson by name but felt they were just as bad as the front runners. The only person he could spar was Rep. Dennis Kuchinich who he often fell in the same boat with being a staunch liberal advocate and an extreme underdog. He did however receive surges in attention after his showings in the debates. His website received more hits than any other candidate, had hundreds of thousands of his you tube clip viewings, and had a jump in contributions.
What Senator Gravel has long championed on his shoulders is "The National Initiative for Democracy". He spent many years fighting to elect good people to office, but eventually started to give up finding that political office changes people. He felt that the only way for the people to be heard in government is for them to take part in the law making of government through voting on national initiatives much like most states currently have.
In the very beginning of the race he was seen in the light of Rep. Ron Paul of Texas who was running for the Republican nomination. People that followed the race that early in the game, hardly knew who these two men were and joked at their prospects of moving in the polls past 1 percent.
Ron Paul was able to however make the big move bringing his candidacy from a nothing to a "Ron Paul Revolution". He was successfully able to court to anti-war conservatives and independents by drumming a new tune in the political spectrum.
He strongly emphasized the Constitution and founding fathers as he would argue for lost personal liberties and a disgracefully historic foreign policy. He takes issue on the country not declaring war since WWII, the implementation of the Patriot Act and the Iraq war. Both issues of which he was one of the only Republicans to vote against. He has also argued for the abolishment of the CIA, IRS, Department of Homeland Security, Federal Reserve, and leaving the UN.
In spring of 2007, I felt that if there were to be an underdog candidate on either side come out of the shadows it would be Senator Gravel on the Democrat side. Historically that is how things go. The Republicans pick the person in succession to the nomination while the Democrats give the underdog a chance. They clearly did this in 1976, 1992 and 2004.
What I failed to recognize back then was that the 2008 election is simply different and can not be compared to history. The Republican Party is at a crossroads on which way to go ideologically while the Democrat Party needs to win the White House or concede political viability on the national level.
The country is frustrated with almost everything and so are these two candidates. The Democrats have their stronghold candidates while no Republican was ever able to grab hold and unite the party. The Republicans are continuing to not unite behind one candidate because of many divisions. The Obama for Change movement and the Clinton War Machine have silenced the possibility for Democrats to take a look at all the candidates.
Rep. Ron Paul probably will not succeed in his bid for the nomination, but his message has gotten out which seems like his biggest goal. There can be no denying the showing that he made and hence, Why? Senator Gravel has under the cover of darkness conceded that he will not be the nominee. His goal is to get his message out and most of all to succeed in his National Initiative for Democracy. It is the only chance for citizens to have a real say in what their government does.
http://www.nationalinitiative.us/
http://www.gravel2008.us/
http://www.ronpaul2008.com/
-Ed Paxson (a Mitt Romney supporter)
Fairbanks, Alaska
Sunday, February 3, 2008
An Ironic Battle of Words
Only about 19% of Americans call themselves liberal as opposed to moderate or conservative. It is clear that more than 19% of Americans are liberal. Could there be a stigma to the word? Below is a mock debate between Democrat candidates for President. The Republicans have been argueing over ideology in their debates while the Democrats have been arguing over race and gender (something you can not control) in theirs. I have turned the tide on the Democrats and they will now debate over ideology. They will not be progressives, they will be liberals!
Tim Russert: Senator Edwards, you have claimed to be the only "true liberal" in the race citing weak stances on corporations and the poor from Senator Clinton and Senator Obama. Do you feel that Clinton and Obama represent the values of liberalism you often talk about?
Senator Edwards: Thank you Tim. I feel that they have fallen short of what we as liberals originally set out to do. I was the first to offer a universal health care plan. I rarely hear them talk about standing up for the little guy. Does it surprise me though? No, their receiving all their money and endorsements from lobbyists and wall street. That's not the values of the liberalism. The liberalism started by FDR and continued through LBJ and Jimmy Carter to enact social programs that people need is what they have failed to align themselves with and I will call them on it and show them for the ideology they really are.
Tim Russert: Senator Clinton would you like to respond?
Senator Clinton: Yes, Senator Edwards is going around saying he's the clear liberal, but you can not just say you are a liberal. Liberalism will not happen by talking about it or demanding it. It only happens by fighting for it and I have been fighting for it along side me for 35 years!
Tim Russert: Senator Obama?
Senator Obama: Uh Thank you Tim. Senator Clinton and Senator Obama have a lot of talk on this issue, but do they have the voting record? In the Illinois State Senate, the title of "most liberal voting record" went to me. Both of these two have had a watered down liberal voting record in the Senate. I do not recall Senator Edwards supporting universal health care in 2004. I fail to see how a vote to invade Iraq could be considered liberal on any front. A watered down form of liberalism is not what the country needs.
Senator Clinton: You know, Senator Edwards claims he was the first one to offer a universal health care plan, but that is not true. I was the lone ranger at the begining of the Clinton Administration that set out to do what is right. The Republicans will try and try again to use it against me but I bear the scars from that fight and am prepared to continue on until every American is covered. Liberalism works best when everyone equally relies on government and that is the America I have grown to love over the years.
Senator Obama: I have seen the effects of what were talking about up close and personal. I saw the devastating effects of the Reagan Administration while I was fighting for folks on the south side of Chicago while Hillary was a corporate lawyer on he board of Walmart in Arkansas. I saw the effects of Carter compared to Reagan and it sends shivers down my spine that we had to lose what we had.
Tim Russert: Senator Gravel, let you have a word.
Senator Mike Gravel: I find it so amusing listening to these three talk about their minute differences thinking they mean something. I can much easier unite the three for you. They all support the war on drugs, they all refuse to take nukes off the table, they refuse to take war with Iran off the table, they can't say when they will actually have all the troops out of Iraq and harms way. Obama took a swipe at Hillary saying she was Bush Cheney lite, well they all seem to be a lite version of the Bush Administration. They do not support giving power to the people through the National Initiative for Democracy, they support the corrupt tax system, have been weak on standing up against polluters, support the military industrial complex, support NAFTA, and can't even bring themselves to support gay marriage. They don't hold a candle to the values I've been a part of and fighting for going on decades now.
Senator Edwards: You know, I had a career of fighting for people. As a trial lawyer, I fought for the kind of people that I grew up with in rural North Carolina. I know what it is like to struggle and I will fight for those people as I have dedicated my life to it. I will fight against the corporations that have more than their fair share. I will fight corporate America which is destroying the middle-class. I will not be a part of politics as usually in the oval office and the American people are starving to get away from politics as usual which is why I think me and Senator Obama came in first and second in Iowa.
Senator Obama: Well hold on now. Since John and Hillary seem to enjoy talking about their record, let me join in. I was just assessed by the National Journal to have the most liberal voting record in the senate in 2007. I have consistently retained a higher score than Senator Clinton on the issues. I was also said to have the most liberal voting record when I was in the IL senate and I feel that a voting record shows what you will fight for and we need a real liberal in the White House next January to undo what the President and the many years of Republican dominated Congress have done.
Tim Russert: Senator Clinton I'll let you respond with the last word as we need to move onto the next subject.
Senator Clinton: The dream of President Harry Truman for the country to have universal health care is a dream that I too share and will not give up on. I have learned from my 35 years of experience of fighting for liberal change. We will not retreat, we will not back down and we will prevail.
Tim Russert: Senator Edwards, you have claimed to be the only "true liberal" in the race citing weak stances on corporations and the poor from Senator Clinton and Senator Obama. Do you feel that Clinton and Obama represent the values of liberalism you often talk about?
Senator Edwards: Thank you Tim. I feel that they have fallen short of what we as liberals originally set out to do. I was the first to offer a universal health care plan. I rarely hear them talk about standing up for the little guy. Does it surprise me though? No, their receiving all their money and endorsements from lobbyists and wall street. That's not the values of the liberalism. The liberalism started by FDR and continued through LBJ and Jimmy Carter to enact social programs that people need is what they have failed to align themselves with and I will call them on it and show them for the ideology they really are.
Tim Russert: Senator Clinton would you like to respond?
Senator Clinton: Yes, Senator Edwards is going around saying he's the clear liberal, but you can not just say you are a liberal. Liberalism will not happen by talking about it or demanding it. It only happens by fighting for it and I have been fighting for it along side me for 35 years!
Tim Russert: Senator Obama?
Senator Obama: Uh Thank you Tim. Senator Clinton and Senator Obama have a lot of talk on this issue, but do they have the voting record? In the Illinois State Senate, the title of "most liberal voting record" went to me. Both of these two have had a watered down liberal voting record in the Senate. I do not recall Senator Edwards supporting universal health care in 2004. I fail to see how a vote to invade Iraq could be considered liberal on any front. A watered down form of liberalism is not what the country needs.
Senator Clinton: You know, Senator Edwards claims he was the first one to offer a universal health care plan, but that is not true. I was the lone ranger at the begining of the Clinton Administration that set out to do what is right. The Republicans will try and try again to use it against me but I bear the scars from that fight and am prepared to continue on until every American is covered. Liberalism works best when everyone equally relies on government and that is the America I have grown to love over the years.
Senator Obama: I have seen the effects of what were talking about up close and personal. I saw the devastating effects of the Reagan Administration while I was fighting for folks on the south side of Chicago while Hillary was a corporate lawyer on he board of Walmart in Arkansas. I saw the effects of Carter compared to Reagan and it sends shivers down my spine that we had to lose what we had.
Tim Russert: Senator Gravel, let you have a word.
Senator Mike Gravel: I find it so amusing listening to these three talk about their minute differences thinking they mean something. I can much easier unite the three for you. They all support the war on drugs, they all refuse to take nukes off the table, they refuse to take war with Iran off the table, they can't say when they will actually have all the troops out of Iraq and harms way. Obama took a swipe at Hillary saying she was Bush Cheney lite, well they all seem to be a lite version of the Bush Administration. They do not support giving power to the people through the National Initiative for Democracy, they support the corrupt tax system, have been weak on standing up against polluters, support the military industrial complex, support NAFTA, and can't even bring themselves to support gay marriage. They don't hold a candle to the values I've been a part of and fighting for going on decades now.
Senator Edwards: You know, I had a career of fighting for people. As a trial lawyer, I fought for the kind of people that I grew up with in rural North Carolina. I know what it is like to struggle and I will fight for those people as I have dedicated my life to it. I will fight against the corporations that have more than their fair share. I will fight corporate America which is destroying the middle-class. I will not be a part of politics as usually in the oval office and the American people are starving to get away from politics as usual which is why I think me and Senator Obama came in first and second in Iowa.
Senator Obama: Well hold on now. Since John and Hillary seem to enjoy talking about their record, let me join in. I was just assessed by the National Journal to have the most liberal voting record in the senate in 2007. I have consistently retained a higher score than Senator Clinton on the issues. I was also said to have the most liberal voting record when I was in the IL senate and I feel that a voting record shows what you will fight for and we need a real liberal in the White House next January to undo what the President and the many years of Republican dominated Congress have done.
Tim Russert: Senator Clinton I'll let you respond with the last word as we need to move onto the next subject.
Senator Clinton: The dream of President Harry Truman for the country to have universal health care is a dream that I too share and will not give up on. I have learned from my 35 years of experience of fighting for liberal change. We will not retreat, we will not back down and we will prevail.
Romney for President
Governor Mitt Romney has my endorsement as I will caucus for him on February 5th in Alaska.
Despite what Barack Obama would like you to think, conservatism is the real inspiration. Conservatism is the ideology that says government is the problem. You are the solution. You are the one that makes this work. You are the one that makes this great. You are the one that is capable of more than you even know.
I have recently jumped on the Romney bandwagon. The race has come down to three corners. The McCain base, the Romney camp and the Ron Paul Revolution. The McCain base is able to survive because of moderates and independents voting for him. The Romney camp is the last group of traditional conservatives while the Ron Paul Revolution looks for an entire new way to lead the country. They pride an opposition to Iraq, want a "humble foreign policy", protecting personal freedoms and restoring fiscal discipline. Ron Paul has a strong and loyal base, but does not have a shot and does not seem to be taking votes away from any particular candidate. Mike Huckabee is still in the race. Because the nominee with either be McCain or Romney, a vote for Huckabee is a vote for McCain. His only base is evangelicals and they tend to have Romney as their second choice. The difference in support for Romney over McCain is not overwhelming, but clear.
When it comes down to the core, it is most crucial that we keep a liberal out of the White House in 2008. We must continue to fight the war against those who want to destroy us and everything we stand for. War is never easy or fun, but sometimes necessary. Peace through strength is the only way we will overcome. Also, the economy under the ideal of liberalism would mean higher taxes, more spending, and more regulation. The last time these policies were in place in an unchanging economy was the Carter Administration.
Mitt Romney is not unelectable as many in the media would love for you to think. He has charisma, a strong understanding of the past, an even stronger vision for the future and even good looks. All of these factor into decision making during the general election. Both Clinton and Obama score fairly well in these areas. To put a candidate against them without these characteristics would give us early results to a loss.
One of his strongest credentials though, would be his understanding of the economy. He understands it from the working in the private sector and overseeing it from the government sector. He is the only candidate that has a firm hold on foreign economics. The rise of China and India is not surprising news to him as he has plans to strengthen America's competitiveness in the world economy. He wants to lower the corporate tax rate (the 2nd highest in the world), makes the Bush tax cuts permanent, reform immigration, provide 21st century education, strengthen transportation and pass tort reform. The many corners of what makes the economy flow is addressed in his vision.
He is a clean spoken American that demands success at everything he tackles and his past has shown that. The governor stands out in his experience because his resume is not just a list of all the office titles he has held. It is story after story of him turning obstacles into success.
He demanded success when he went to college receiving his B.A., with Highest Honors, from Brigham Young University in 1971. In 1975, he was awarded an MBA from Harvard Business School, where he was named a Baker Scholar, and a J.D., cum laude, from Harvard Law School.
He demanded success when he started his business career to grow and improve the operations of companies. In 1984 he found Bain Capital, one of the nation's most successful venture capital and investment companies.
He demanded success in 2002 when he was called on to turn around the Salt Lake City winter Olympics in controversy and a financial crisis.
But most of all, he has made it clear that he will demand success in the White House. Elections are about the people that want a better future and he has no trouble recognizing that.
The Republican nominee will have an uphill battle ahead of them to the Presidency as there is much uncertainty facing the country. Romney is the one ready to bring his case of optimism and a strong country to the American people. That's what wins elections.
"And if you believe that as I do, that our source of strength is our people, then when America faces a new generation of challenges like we do today you don't look to government. You don't look to make government bigger. You don't look to make government stronger. You look to make the people stronger. Because that has always been and will always be the source of our destiny. And when we need to call on the strength of America we look to strengthen the American people."
-Governor Romney
Despite what Barack Obama would like you to think, conservatism is the real inspiration. Conservatism is the ideology that says government is the problem. You are the solution. You are the one that makes this work. You are the one that makes this great. You are the one that is capable of more than you even know.
I have recently jumped on the Romney bandwagon. The race has come down to three corners. The McCain base, the Romney camp and the Ron Paul Revolution. The McCain base is able to survive because of moderates and independents voting for him. The Romney camp is the last group of traditional conservatives while the Ron Paul Revolution looks for an entire new way to lead the country. They pride an opposition to Iraq, want a "humble foreign policy", protecting personal freedoms and restoring fiscal discipline. Ron Paul has a strong and loyal base, but does not have a shot and does not seem to be taking votes away from any particular candidate. Mike Huckabee is still in the race. Because the nominee with either be McCain or Romney, a vote for Huckabee is a vote for McCain. His only base is evangelicals and they tend to have Romney as their second choice. The difference in support for Romney over McCain is not overwhelming, but clear.
When it comes down to the core, it is most crucial that we keep a liberal out of the White House in 2008. We must continue to fight the war against those who want to destroy us and everything we stand for. War is never easy or fun, but sometimes necessary. Peace through strength is the only way we will overcome. Also, the economy under the ideal of liberalism would mean higher taxes, more spending, and more regulation. The last time these policies were in place in an unchanging economy was the Carter Administration.
Mitt Romney is not unelectable as many in the media would love for you to think. He has charisma, a strong understanding of the past, an even stronger vision for the future and even good looks. All of these factor into decision making during the general election. Both Clinton and Obama score fairly well in these areas. To put a candidate against them without these characteristics would give us early results to a loss.
One of his strongest credentials though, would be his understanding of the economy. He understands it from the working in the private sector and overseeing it from the government sector. He is the only candidate that has a firm hold on foreign economics. The rise of China and India is not surprising news to him as he has plans to strengthen America's competitiveness in the world economy. He wants to lower the corporate tax rate (the 2nd highest in the world), makes the Bush tax cuts permanent, reform immigration, provide 21st century education, strengthen transportation and pass tort reform. The many corners of what makes the economy flow is addressed in his vision.
He is a clean spoken American that demands success at everything he tackles and his past has shown that. The governor stands out in his experience because his resume is not just a list of all the office titles he has held. It is story after story of him turning obstacles into success.
He demanded success when he went to college receiving his B.A., with Highest Honors, from Brigham Young University in 1971. In 1975, he was awarded an MBA from Harvard Business School, where he was named a Baker Scholar, and a J.D., cum laude, from Harvard Law School.
He demanded success when he started his business career to grow and improve the operations of companies. In 1984 he found Bain Capital, one of the nation's most successful venture capital and investment companies.
He demanded success in 2002 when he was called on to turn around the Salt Lake City winter Olympics in controversy and a financial crisis.
But most of all, he has made it clear that he will demand success in the White House. Elections are about the people that want a better future and he has no trouble recognizing that.
The Republican nominee will have an uphill battle ahead of them to the Presidency as there is much uncertainty facing the country. Romney is the one ready to bring his case of optimism and a strong country to the American people. That's what wins elections.
"And if you believe that as I do, that our source of strength is our people, then when America faces a new generation of challenges like we do today you don't look to government. You don't look to make government bigger. You don't look to make government stronger. You look to make the people stronger. Because that has always been and will always be the source of our destiny. And when we need to call on the strength of America we look to strengthen the American people."
-Governor Romney
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