Mr. Gravel certainly writes better than he speaks. I have a really hard time liking the guy, especially as a debater, but let's hear it for this piece! Bravo.

Thank you, Mike Gravel. I support your bid for the presidency of the United States. You are a gem!

Gravel and Kucinich are the only candidates that can be counted on not to pander to opportunism and not to cave to war interests.

leobixby - How good its is to hear you say that you have a hard time liking the guy but support his stance on Iran. What does liking someone have to do with when voting for a president? Hopesfully we don't need a president who we would like to have a beer with. Lesson learned, right?

I am from Alaska and I remember Mike was a honest, statesman as a Senator. He does not have a prayer of becoming President, but you have to admire his guts and candor!

We are being fooled! I don't believe that Kuchinich has only 1% of the Democratic vote.

The whole objective of MSM is to make these guys look like loosers.

On the other side our election system sucks until we have a paper trail varifying our vote was recorded correctly.

Absolutely right Senator Gravel, When pounding through granite (both of heart and head)one must be persistent and it is imperative to have many hammers as this old stone is also thick and wide. We cannot placate Ms. Clinton's fence riding strategy just to prove the inevitability of a first woman president. Obama and Edwards need a smart uncle like you. Go Mike.

Clinton just wants to show she is cock of the walk.
She'll do anything to claw her way back into the whitehouse. Kiss any ass, dance for pennies, strut for the boys, pray with the pawns, gab with the girls, play with the power-brokers, lie with the war-mongers. Nothing is beneath her and it is all for herherher--everything else be damned.

Jaded Ron Paul also.

Hillary Clinton represents a clean continuation of the neo-con vision as currently in realization by the Bush Administration. Hillary is the war candidate. Those who want another disastrous war to rip the country further asunder should vote for Hillary. Those who think the Iraq war has been bad, and that another more serious war would be at least as bad again, must not vote for Hillary Clinton.

Since most of the public is against the war, would be aghast if we attack Iran; and, at the same time Hillary is the Dem frontrunner -- something is obviously amiss.

Either Hillary is not actually the fontrunner, polled Democrats are uninformed, or polled Democrats are focusing on peripheral personality traits or abstract notions of competence from Hillary at the expense of her disastrous positions on key issues.

My guess would be the last one -- focus on her femininity, her experience, the way she carries herself instead of listening to what she is actually going to do when and if she gets in. She is not only the most hawkish "Democrat," she probably also would be on the hawkish side if she were running as a Republican.

There should not be a single anti-war American that supports Hillary Clinton. It's that simple.

When people step in front of a gun for the cause of freedom their prayer is, "If I'm going to die, please don't waste it!" And what a disgrace that anybody who thinks and speaks outside the imperial prison-colony is ridiculed away by the (further disgrace), our "free press"---Kucinich and Gravel have been the only reasons to watch anything produced by the Dems...

Just follow the money - corporate interests who benefit from war and chaos support those candidates who support their bottom line by waging war(s).

Thanks Mike

Senator Gravel,
It might also be affective to start bringing up AIPAC (the big elephant in the room that everyone is too afraid to discuss) since that's who Hillary answers to. Perhaps it should all be put out there on the table during the debate since the MSM won't even mention the special interest group that is pushing us into war with Iran.

Are Obama and Edwards Democrats. And at the level they both play at, don't hold your breath waiting for them to do this. It goes against the fundamental principles and beliefs of the top of the Democratic party which of course fully supports another war. Just like the Democrats have supported every US war since WWII with the exception of a view years when the anti-Vietnam war movement was so strong that it brought the Democrats along with them (dragging the Democrats along kicking and screaming then as always too).

So, don't hold your breath waiting for this to happen. Especially with Obama who feels close enough to gaining power that he's not about to break with the Democratic Party on this issue. Maybe Edwards would be more desparate, but I've never seen anything in Edwards that makes me think he truly believes in this sort of strong anti-war position, so from him I'd take it more as a last-gasp, hail-mary type of move to try to put some life into a campaign that's losing and is going to need life-support by mid January to keep it alive.

Last night I dreamed I had invented a machine that could write messages across the sky, messages that would be visible from every vantage point in America, and it worked in such a manner that the location of the projecting machine could not be determined. I entered into the control panel of my machine the words "NO WAR WITH IRAN", and everyone across America looked up to the sky and read them. But it was a bad dream. America invaded Iran anyway.

The most immediate and strongest emotion is fear.
So politicians incite it.

The easiest person to fear is an enemy.
So politicians invent them.

The greatest heroes fight the greatest enemies.
So the most insignificant become the worst imaginable and are equated with the acme of evil, Hitler.

More than ever we now need not politicians but statesmen and stateswomen, people entrusted with our power to make us safe, not make their careers.

Yes, please Mr. Gravel - keep at it, keep chipping away at 'em, you along with Dennis Kucinich.

If Obama and Edwards don't come up with any acceptable response, at least the audience at debates, TV and actual, will keep your words in mind and, I hope, ponder on them.

Thanks for your efforts, they are much appreciated.

Thank you Mike Gravel. Please keep the heat on this issue. Bombing Iran could easily ignite the entire region, with unpredictable but dire consequences. Bush and co. are recklessly playing with matches inside the gunpowder room. He must be stopped.

With due respect to Gore and the global warming peace prize hoopla, the threat of an incident igniting a nuclear exchange is far more pressing than ice caps melting.

Gravel is a return to the progressive movement which ended after Carter. I hope his return is more of a sign that we are about to enter a new period of sanity than a sign of just how dire our position really is...

Good stuff, Mr. Gavel, but I strongly differ with:

The Iranian navy will cut the oil supply
of the European economies and a worldwide
depression will hit American markets.

that's a dangerous statement. A depression -- a serious depression -- is headed our way due to the classic tendency in capitalism for the financial system to drain money from the real economy. One of the rulers' motives for inciting a war with iran is to generate an explanation for the economic collapse which will mask the real reason: the economic system sucks.

Bravo the message should be spread wide and loud
is there any independant poll being conducted on the candidates can someone help me put such a poll on my website one vote per psrson system. Everyone should be flooding their representatives with email and calls.
Can the International Criminal Court be used?

Obama has stated he would support a missle strike on Iran.

Still want him running for president?

Thank you Mr. Gravel for your note to Obama and Edwards. You are tough and spunky, and this very serious matter of war hype against Iran needs optimal exposure. I beleive impeachment proceedings must begin now in order to tie the hands of this administration and could stop it from starting another war of aggression before it's time in office is up.

Thank you for your leadership on this, Senator Gravel.

The MSM is trying their best to annoint Hillary. The only story on the news today is her new lead in the polls---among voters who are not even following the campaign, by the way, and probably couldn't name even one of her policies.

Hey Team Edwards: Get John going on this one.

As usual, Mike hit the nail on the head. Thanks Mr. Gravel, you are one of the only reasons I even bother watching the Democratic debates. You and Dennis Kucinich at least call the rest out on their hypocrisy.

Take a deep breath and listen. This is what the unvarnished truth sounds like. It may not be a seamless designer truth, but it is far from the standardized and test-marketed version of NewSpeak which most of the other demo candidates exude. Of course, Senator Gravel hasn't the chance of a snowflake in hell. Why? Because so many of us are inured to the smoothness of the high dollar, pre-packaged image. As sheep we turn and move as directed. Truth and integrity stand for nothing. —As in the cases of Gore, Kerry, and former President Carter, to name a few, whose very sense of honor places them at a disadvantage on the tilted media dominated playing field lubricated with corporate millions. This purchased version of the facts and priorities of our lives and systems is what we have chosen and what we now expect and demand. —And deserve.

Still, it is nice to hear the crusty and imperfect ring of truth on the rare occasions it becomes available.

Thanks Mike Gravel.

Let freedom ring

egon

Earth to Sen. Gravel:

Clinton, Obama and Edwards have all stepped up and said they would not rule out strikes against Iran--in fact, they all sound on board with Bush and Cheney. War mongers are our corporate media-selected "top-tier candidates."

Each of them has also said, in televised debate, that they would not guarantee troops would be out of Iraq by 2013. That should nail it for those who think any of these candidates deserve a vote. But "think" is a keyword in that sentence.

looking down the road i saw it werent no good
looking down the road it sure looked bad
told everyone that i could find
said folks i'm thinkin now's the time
to saunter off while there's time
and get somewhere this
dirty war cant
find.

Keep on truckin' Mike! You are the best candidate in my book. If you don't win, I fervently hope that we can at least adopt your National Initiative for Democracy. It is our last best hope for restoring and maintaining a democracy. I look forward to more articles from you here.

This is Hillary Clinton in the near future:

I didn't know that President Bush would use my vote to attack the revolutionary guard in Iran. I thought we were just going to freeze their assets. I did not know that Pres. Bush would add signing statements to the bill that clarified his intention to attack Iranian sites. I was duped as were my dem colleagues. I still defend my vote though as it was based on the best information I had available to me at the time. It's not my war, it's Mr. Bush's war. Of course, now that it is started, I'm going to have to finish it. I'll manage the war effort better than Pres. Bush has in the past. Thanks for your vote America :)

Well said, Mike. Please keep saying it.

As an aside, I hope folks will stop calling the candidates televised question and answer seesions "debates". They're not debates, and they're not anything like real debates.

"Obama has stated he would support a missle strike on Iran.

Still want him running for president?"

Galen, can you give me a source for this? Thanks.

The Corporate powers want war with Iran. Why? Oil prices surge/economies world-wide plunge and they have been holding assets for years.
Assets will be revalued,like a RS in a stock, the value will still be there. When the common man and asset holders bankrupt, guess who will buy up on the cheap again. Oh houses/businesses/resources will be worth next to nothing, but there will be buyers that can rebuild/consolidate/create with their gains.
A little less populations means more resources to the survivors. Don't worry, there will still be Republicans and Democrats to play the puppet show of divide and conquer in the shows, that the Wizards of OZ, choose to let us view.

http://www.commondreams.org/views07/0228-28.htm

arkitekton October 17th, 2007 2:39 am
"Obama has stated he would support a missle strike on Iran.

Still want him running for president?"
"(C)an you give me a source for this?"

It may or may not not be missiles; the catch phrase is,"All options are on the table".

The Words None Dare Say: Nuclear War
by George Lakoff
Published on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 by CommonDreams.org

http://www.commondreams.org/views07/0228-28.htm

Search this site for - Obama "All options are on the table" to get expanded list.

thank you BogusStory, you hit the nail on the head. Hillary lied through her teeth on Keith Olbermann the other night when she said her vote was simply an attempt at 'diplomacy.' Her vote was in fact yet another blank check for Bush to start yet another war.

Democrats are the real problem. If we keep voting Democratic as an option against Republicans, more wars and carnage will be the result. Reject these criminals, enlighten those idiots at Democratic Underground or every pro-Democratic blog and support the creation of a Third Party NOW. GO CINDY GO.

Meanwhile:

Clinton Eclipses Obama, Giuliani, Romney in Wall Street Money

Oct. 17 (Bloomberg) -- Hillary Clinton raised more money on Wall Street last quarter than Barack Obama, Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney combined.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=ajK1PQvX6tk4&refer=us

Hilary supports Attacking Iraq!

What this news segment:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0icVblxh2dI

Gravel and Kucinich often speak the truth which makes them "unelectable."

If the corporate media is going to run with fabricated stories about Gore and Kerry, hardly progressives, simply because they are only 90 percent "with the program" and not 100 percent like Bush, does anyone seriously believe that same media would not smear Gravel or Kucinich if either ever gained any traction? They would let the loopy right-wing media come up with some fantastic tales, probably using some writers from The National Enquirer on loan, and then the mainstream corporate media would repeat such stories over and over again with no fact check in sight, until the offending (truthtelling) candidate was knocked back into his place. By now, everyone should know the drill.

Gravel is the only authentic candidate in the race, and that includes Kucinich, who, once the convention is over, will lead everybody back into the big party tent just like he did back in 2004. But Gravel is 77 years old in a country that fetishizes youth, so he's finished. Unlike the other candidates, though, he knows it, and that's why he's playing it like he's playing it.

And Kivals is right, Lincoln could be running now and all the media would be able to focus on would be his lack of formal education. Clearly college degrees do so much for our political leadership.

Hillary understands that the American people must be kept in perpetual fear of outside "enemies" in order to secure their ongoing submission to the rule of capital.

Secretary of Defense Gates has reaffirmed the Bush doctrine that "All options are on the table for Iraq". I think most of us kmow it is only a matter of time and opportunity and here we go again! We will see if our weapons of mass destruction are capable of eradicating their weapon in progress.
It seems interesting that one of the first items on Pelosi`s agenda was to take impeachment "off the table". Is everyone down there in Washington crazy or what? Sometimes it seems that our country is doomed no matter what we do.

Good article, Mike.

The 'Dream Ticket' to restore the government with checks and balances and real oversight with prosecutions of Cheney/Bush and their usurpation of power would be:

Kucinich/Gravel or Gravel/Kucinich. Either combination is fine with me.

A million thanks to you Senator. You are a gem. I am with you 100% Please keep hammering on Hillary and the clones, let her laugh for 15-20 seconds each time you call her on her hypocracy. She thinks that we are all stupid, opiated or something. Don't let her off the hook, she will soon be exposed as the fraud that she is. You, Kucinich and Ron Paul are the only truth tellers. The rest of them are bought and paid for. That simple. God bless you! You are a great patriot.

Let's hope Gravel gets votes instead of prayers as prayers don't get counted on election day. Edwards and Obama might just succeed at upbraidiing Hillary when push comes to shove as it gets closer to voting time. But their current posturing certainly puts Gravel in the top spot far as I am concerned.

locust seems to have been inside Rove's head. But his last sentence is correct which is why Gore is probably the best this country has that could run the government. Since he won't run, Gravel is second best being the statesman he is. Proof of his statesmanship in his position as a senator is his vote and what he says are his political views.

kloro, there is nothing that will hide the stinking economy Bush has put America in.

If Gravel goes, jcephrie, so go the progressives, if he is the only representative of them.

Hassan ought to stick his misogynist opinions where the sun doesn't shine or give evidence for his accusations. He might express sentiments many hold but his rants needs to be backed up or his 'thoughts' is just a lot of hot wind.

Emails and calls to candidates do no good anymore as they are disregarded out of hand. There are just too many of them for candidates to take under advisement. Organized groups are the only way to go these days. Real bodies out there doing real protesting, real candidate offices visits, real public advertising, and so forth. If any agency needs to be inundated with correspondence it needs to be the MSM and with hundreds of thousands of it; emails, letters, phone calls, whatever you've got. Posters everywhere wouldn't hurt either.