Meet Like Minds

I understand the moral issue with abortions and the balance between individual rights of the parents and the supposed rights of the embryo or potential baby. The argument that human life begins at conception is a slippery slope that causes some misunderstandings of what that statement really means. To say that the potential life of the conception process is the deciding factor of "human life" with rights of their own, causes some holes in logic. If it were the case, then shouldn't every single drop of sperm that did not make it through the conception process be considered also? Sure, it is inevitable and a worthy sacrifice for the true goal of fertilization, but those cells all account for the "potential" value of the conception process. Should we call sex immoral too because it kills sperm? (... the surprising thing is that sex is immoral sometimes in religious communities, so nevermind.) Even examining the early blastocyst or embryo, consciousness is not present nor is the development as complex as an embryo a month or so later, so the cruelty of destroying them is not necessarily present unless it compromises the mother's health. I understand that many view abortion as this cruel process of killing an innocent being, but abortions if done with much preparation and early response (regulated more strictly in order to remove abuse), then abortions can potentially save the life of the mother and/or save the parents future if they are not ready to be parents for whatever reason. Why bring in a child with misery and/or negativity? Birth should be approached as a joyous occasion and with MUCH deep thinking and planning on the parent's behalf. I do realize that abortions are always going to be difficult topics to think about especially for future parents but it is incredibly important and abortion rights should be given in order to provide a second chance for the parents whether its a health or social issue. The idea of killing anything human is troubling, but if we put value in every living cell or group of cells to the point that it gets in the way of a person's liberty and freedom, we must loosen up on that and approach the issue medically and socially in terms of economic or personal reasons. It is true, abortions have been abused with some women simply not using protection and continuously have unsafe sex, but attention should be diverted from abortions to sex education and safety. Sex is a great thing, but we should teach children what to expect and how to protect themselves and make them take on a more responsible sex life. If there is more concentration on advocating sex education and birth control, we can prevent awkward and potentially damaging situations as abortions. Having an abortion does suck and is not a cakewalk, but it does save lives. Whatever is aborted is put to good use. Morally, stem cells from these aborted fetuses or blastocysts can save millions of lives with more research. That potential baby just became a savior for many others. I would think that is almost beautiful. The idea is basically taking a bad situation and making it good overall in the end.

Well,

I never thought I would vote again due to the severe degradation in our government, state and federal, but hey along comes someone I believe is a straight shooter, no nonsense and the like. Well there are some things I would like Mike to talk about, specifically our economy and how we need to think about the petrol dollar and its synthetic and unsustainable profits.What will we do?

Second I would like Mike to focus a bit more on Hispanic and Black issues and things such as the AIDS epidemic in our country. How we can become a leader and beacon for freedom and technology and at the same time become more considerate of our neighbors on this small planet.

The world is changing rapidly and people are starting to wake up and realize what they thought was reality was just a trashy novel; its sad to say but thank god W came along to help us see the reality that we have been lied to for so long. Thank god Mike came along to clean house! Peace

I hope Gravel's campaign people are reading this. Right now is the absolute perfect time for them to turn up the heat and push the Nat'l Initiative, in light of the past horrible revision of the FISA court law that past this last weekend and all of the other hard efforts ignored by congress, that the  people who have protest and campaigned for Dems who told us that there would be real change. This is the only thing that will save this country is by giving the power to the people to make laws for themselves and reduce congresses role to administrative. I hope his people jump on this opportunity.

Also on the Fair Tax, Gravel needs to point out a couple of things to make this issue clearer. One that the rebate he is proposing is a way to offset the tax liability of the 23% or what ever rate that would be used. Equal to in the income tax system the way a standard or items deductions offset tax liability that way, only the rebate checks come monthly to the tax payer since there would be no tax forms to submit.

Second Gravel should point out that there are 5 states that have a version of this in place where there is no state income tax, but a higher sales tax instead to raise revenue. Wash & NV are two that I can think of off the top of my head.

mike,

you and dennis kucinich seem to be the peace candidates. and way to the left. i am a leftie and i think we need a change to the left. what if the two of you ran together?

remember, bill clinton was the come back kid. you and dennis could be the new come back kids.

you ned more time on those debates.

good luck. hang in there. if tucker carlson doesn't like your views...you are doing something right. needless to say tucker does not think much of any liberals. i would love to see you face off on his show. you could really give it to him! 

mary

Gravel 2008 chat (that is, #gravel2008) has been added to the dropdown menu at Campaigns Wikia CGI Gateway to IRC: http://irc.wikia.com/campaigns/

I'm not entirely positive, but I'm pretty sure you'll have to create a username there first. (It would take about 30 seconds!)

http://campaigns.wikia.com/wiki/Special:Userlogin

To Matt and Jaywen - Thanks so much for your ideas and comments as I normally shy away from political involvement and try to look at things with a spiritual principle or virtue  (Justice, love, kindness, etc.) that can be applied for a given situation - not trying to appear any better than anyone else but looking for alternative solutions. Regarding some of your thoughts and suggestions - the idea about the women's right is kind of what I'm getting at in regards to moral judgements - I do think life begins at conception. It's kind of like a seed potentially becomes a tree for example - the human embryo is growing all along - it may look like something other than human but its potential is there. The life style issue - hedonism means pleasure seeking. Yes I agree we all have a right to be happy but at the expense of life is again the moral question - it may be inconvenient to parent or as with the war issues - the difficulties and the pain that war causes - people sacrifice for others - in general we need to look at better ways to resolve and solve problems that people deal with. I look at humanity like the different organs in the body - when one part doesn't fuction right the whole body suffers and doesn't work well. Moral behaviour issues is like one of those parts that make up the whole. We may not know what happens in private but I believe it still has an effect - kind of like the Law of Gravity - we may not see it or believe it - but if we go over the edge of a ten story building we'll feel the result on our way to the bottom. It's my hope that we'll work together in the spirit our common humanity to make life better for all. Kind Regards, Brad

Please excuse me for possibly sounding a bit rightous here but I've been doing some thinking and I know Mike has some clear ideas about Iraq and the morality of war and nukes, etc. (Candidates that voted for war not having good moral judgement to be leaders). I do appreciate the words that Mike speaks and I love the guy and his ability to reason through the big picture, but I now have to take issue with his willingness to go along with abortion...if the women so wants an abortion. It also grieves me that homosexuality is so easy for Mike to go along with - I appreciate his unlimited liberal and non judgemental and freedom stand, but for me I find it a contradiction or a redefining of the word morality. I feel the world today has gone too far with individual freedom issues - one could say an almost hedonistic way of life is being accepted. So, where does the idea of good or sound moral judgement begin and end Mike? We all have choices to make in life and moral judgements have to be made in many areas of our lives - some one life at a time.                   Best Regards, Brad 

Recently heard Sen. Gravel on Air America.  Interviewer spent way too much time covering his support of gay rights.  If he wants to get anywhere right now I think this should be downplayed.  Republicans are dismantling and bankrupting America, and most of the current administration and their supporters and operatives like Rove should be heading to jail - and we're talking gay rights?  Democrats should stay on mainstream issues and hammer Republicans on Iraq, security, fraud, disappearing billions, the environment, the economy, cronyism, the disappearing Constitution, banking laws, foreign trade, geez the list is endless.   The relatively small amount of media coverage he gets should not be wasted on fringe issues.  If Gravel makes it to a faceoff with Republicans they're going to have a ready supply of gay rights-type marriage issues etc to whack-and-slime him (or any other Democrat).  If Democrats want to portray themselves as progressive during a campaign that's great, but they will not make it to the whitehouse where they will actually make a difference on these issues.  Reach too soon for fringe issues and we're going to get another fascist in the whitehouse.

Mike Gravel supporters can get together at Campaigns Wikia to add and exchange information & ideas about the Gravel 2008 campaign. Editting is easy and ANYONE can use it! (This wiki uses the same software as Wikipedia, but it is not affiliated with Wikipedia)

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I recently saw online an ABC News interview with Senator Gravel and I was immediately moved. After it was over I thought to myself "I have just found my presidential candidate". I then found his web site so I could read more about where he stands, only to find he is pro-amnesty for illegal aliens... I was crestfallen. I wrote to Senator Gravel and explained that, as a lifelong Democrat, I have actually been having the unimaginable thought of possibly voting for a Republican candidate based on this issue.

If only Senator Gravel would change his position and support American citizens and legal residents instead of aiding border jumpers, I would contribute to his campaign and vote for him in a heartbeat. Is it possible for his supporters to urge him to change his position on this important issue and instead support American citizens rather than so many millions of people who have illegally invaded our country? That would make all the difference for me. He is a very powerful figure whose thinking is right on in so many other ways. I hope this message gets through to him.

    This  morning, I watched Senator Gravel in the interview with George Stephanopolis.  I am impressed to find someone who thinks like I do.   I live in a State where the majority is still Republican even though some places are strongly Democratic.  I would love to see a woman or a black person as President, but I cannot agree with what they are expousing.  This country is in deep trouble on all fronts and we are not making changes.  Senator Gravel was a breath of fresh air.  What do millions of dollars have to do with governing a country?  These are our millions of dollars going for ads that mean nothing.  When did it start to matter how rich you were  instead of how intelligent and committed to this country and the rest of the world you were?  It should not matter.  Each adult citizen of this country should have a vote, exercise that vote and directly elect our leaders, maybe then, our leaders would have to respond to the will of the people. 

   

Bob Levin -- Former US Intelligence Professional

The Monkey's Garden, Manifesto "tm"
http://home.comcast.net/~themonkeysgarden/TheMonkeysGardenManifesto.html

Current Issue:
http://home.comcast.net/~themonkeysgarden/TMGMJuly2007.PDF

The restoration of America requires that we are provided with real leaders who believe in the buttressing principles of our constitutional democracy. Mike Gravel (D) has my vote and complete support in his bid for the U.S. Presidency in 2008. The mainstream media continues to work against Mike Gravel, because they know he cannot be bought-off and will re-empower the people as the government of the United States of America. Mike Gravel and America require our assistance as citizens and human brothers and sisters. Please visit Mike Gravel for President 2008 (www.gravel2008.us), read the content, sign the petition to have Mike Gravel’s name listed on your state’s ballot, volunteer, and donate whatever you can afford. Mike Gravel is the only Democratic Party candidate who truly offers us the kind of change that recognizes the human being in all people.

Americans should take their messages to the streets, even if that means standing alone for an hour with your homemade sign and/or talking with other human beings about the crimes of this treasonous administration.

Vote out of office any politician who refuses to affirm the impeachment or indictment of the continuing criminal enterprise that I have identified as the Bush bin Laden Crime Syndicate; complicit coconspirators in the terrorist attacks against the United States of America on 911.

Ask the other candidates seeking the presidency in 2008, if they support publicly funded elections and the elimination of corporatist contamination.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions or if I may be of some service to you.

Standing for the Human Beings;

Bob Levin, Beaverton, Oregon USA

The freedom of speech and the press are so important in society. I feel sad about the many things that people do for love of power, etc. - we do see that there are some people who take the risks to speak up for justice and work for peace. Dr. Robert Anderson in New Zealand is one of those that's not afraid to speak and write about how the USA, UK and others have been using Depleted Uranium weapons over in Iraq and in other places for the last decade and nearly two. In an article He quotes, Dr. Doug Rokke,  an ex-director of the Pentagon's DU project, saying, "We must do what is right for the citizens of the world - ban DU." By using these weapons the health of civilians as well as the military people in the Middle East is under threat with long term health issues for many generations to come. Please have a read from the following site in which Dr. Anderson writes at some length about DU.  http://radio.weblogs.com/0128644/2006/07/index.html  -  May we all have the courage that some of these people have to bring up this and other issues that are break from Geneva and UN Conventions and is also a Human Rights issue. I'm remember the quote in a speech that Robert Kennedy made 1968 in which he said ... "as Tacitus said of Rome," - "They made a desert , and called it peace."   Best Regards, Brad

Congratulations on having the courage to take the "un-Democratic" position of suggesting a sales tax to replace the income tax.  We Democrats should realize that the nation wastes too much time and money on income tax collection and avoidance and we let millionaires regularly off the hook because of tax shelters and smart attorneys that the average person does not have access to.

The national sales tax can be made no more regressive than income taxes.  In Calif. we exempt many items (all food) from sales taxes.  Congress could spend their time "fine-tuning" what the sales tax applies to from year to year according to needs of the economy instead of sitting around passing unecessary legislation.  The downside is all of the tax people and lawyers who will have to find another line of work. 

An income tax is a tax on productivity.  It just doesn't make sense.  If you are not going to spend money, that's your option and a tax shouldn't be collected until somebody does spend it.

Bob M.

Carpinteria, CA

Probably a bit old, but I just saw an interview where David Schuster had Mike on to talk about the "rock" video.  I thought I liked Schuster, at least a bit, but my god, the condecension in his voice was terrible!  He says "oh, so it took you THREE takes to throw a rock into a lake?  You're a nice man, but . . ."  I mean, what kind of question is that?  This angers me in a lot of ways.  A former senator, filibustered against the draft, instrumental in the pentagon papers, what exactly are Shuster's accomplishments?  It doesn't mean that Shuster has to cowtow or anything, but a little decency or intelligent discourse please?  "I hope your next video will be about Iraq."  ?!?!?  There doesn't even seem to be a modicum of respect or evenhandedness left among the "talking heads" or main "news" programs.

 -Tony

Angela Abbott

Hi, I'm Angela,

I'm a film student and am working on a documentary. I am seeking to get some questions answered. I realize that a lot of the questions that I'm about to ask you are questions that you may not be able to answer but if you have someone in government that you can refer me to it would be great. I'm just trying to gather information to be put together for a documentary called One Love Addiction© in an effort to improve addiction recovery. Thank you for your time.

Here are the questions:

1. How much money was received in 2005 & 2006, from asset seizures in drug related crime arrests in the United States ?

2. Why is media allowed to market depression and other illnesses to advertise legal drugs on national television. i.e. commercials that sell anti depressants and other drugs therefore encouraging the public to resort to drugs as a false sense of well-being?

3. What procedure took place to outlaw the television media from advertising the sale of tobacco sales?

4. Can we implement these procedures to outlaw the advertisement of Alcohol and other legal drug sales on national television?

5. What is the difference between legal and illegal drug sales?

6. What is the difference between legal and illegal drug use?

7. Why is it that when a towns economy gets very poor, the drug stores flourish?

8. Why is it that when a towns economy gets very poor, the drug related crimes escalate?

9. If everyone stopped illegal drug use, smoking and drinking alcohol and resorted to natural health care tomorrow, what would that do to our governments economy?

10. How much does our system rely on drug addicts and people staying sick?

11. Why are there so many strict laws that limit the practice of natural health care?

12. Did you know that, based on Alcoholics Anonymous World Services' own statistics, Alcoholics Anonymous has only a 5% retention rate and therefore is at a 95% failure? Given these facts why is the government funding programs based on the 12 steps?

Mike,

   A group of young professionals here in New York City support your stances and your candidacy!  Please let us know how we can help!

Best,

Tony

ive never been involved with politics much and it is not my area of interest. i like chemistry and physical sciences but it just seems like those who go into politics as a career are slowly ruining the country. supporting Mike Gravel seems like it could possibly be the most important thing i can do, ever for the future of the country.

 

All i want is the truth, why is it so hard to find?

Demanding U.S. Media Reform Now

I'm working for Mike because I'm working for the best for my family, my country and my world.  It is critically important that we each take "ownership" of ourselves, our citizenship, and our world family.  I've just make my first contribution.  I will be making more as this campaign goes forward.  I'm volunteering to work for Mike in Arizona.  

Beth Houghland

What a concept!!  A candidate that actually thinks like most Americans and has the courage to say so.  I have always considered myself a conservative democrat.  I want common sense laws and leglislation.  I feel that Mike Gravel offers this.  I just sent a donation to his campaign.  It wasn't much because my husband's job is ending in September.  It is being shipped to Mexico.  Come on folks if I can find the money to contribute so can everyone who agrees with him.  Just think. if everyone sent the money that they would spend for taking their family to the movies one time amd donate it to his campaign it would give him a chance to level the playing field with Clinton and Obama.

Thanks, Senator Gravel for your wonderful, brave stance in last night's debate. Your candor, thoughtful comments and honesty certainly places you head and shoulders above all of the other candidates.

Just HOW did THEY get there anyway?

:)

Dear Mike,

It's good to see that you haven't faded away, and that you are still fighting the good fight. 

I've never forgotten the days when you would frequently visit the Malone Surveying office in Kenai, and the issues of the day were hotly debated by you, my brother, and father.  l admired your stance on the Vietnam War.

Both my dad and brother are gone, but what they taught me endures.  I'm hoping that for a change, someone with real ideas, real ideals, and real courage can make a difference.

I know that it's difficult to compete with political strumpets who can raise a half-million dollars at a sit-down dinner and can buy all the TV time the want, but I'm glad you're giving it a shot.  I've sent a small contribution to assist.

Welcome back.  If nothing else, you can help keep the bastards honest.

Still a friend,

Patrick Malone

Kenai, Alaska

you were awesome mike!

you won the debate.

too bad they banned applause!

 

my only question, why didnt you raise your hand in support of kucinich impeaching cheney? that man is a war criminal. bush will be next.

Sir, I am a U.S. Government Bodyguard, currently serving in Iraq. I see more than most, what is actually going on here. Thank you for having the GUTS to speak the truth, and for doing so with a level of clarity that is "Gravely" lacking in the other candidates. Based on what I've seen, You Sir, have my vote. I know that you don't have the financial "backing" that the other candidates have, but I will continue to support you as much as I can vocally, actively, and financially. Thank You, Sir. Eli

Dear Senator Mike Gravel,

I am overseas (not in the military) and will be returning home soon. I watched in despair during the last election as all Democratic candidates refused to take a position on anything and I questioned if my vote would even be counted. It was in this context that I was taken completely by surprise by Barack Obama's keynote address in 2004. My eyes pricked with tears and goosebumps made my hair stand on end as I began to believe that there was hope for change in this country.

But hope does not make change and the time has passed for pretty words. It is with someone who is willing to act that makes change. Senator Gravel's contribution to the debate yesterday (thankfully available online) is evidence that he is willing to speak without rehearsal and rhetoric because he has a plan of action. He didn't need to speak about his upbringing, invent a young child's story to draw upon for sympathy, gloss over difficult questions with measured fence sitting or minimize the impact of his past public work. He helped the country to end the Vietnam years and I'm confident he will act again to end this war. His tax plan, history of action for the environment and willingness to change the all too sacred Constitution will help save the country. To all those naysayers who would dismiss him because he doesn't have the "finesse" for foreign diplomacy - The world will be thankful to voters if the US has TRANSPARENT, CONSISTENT and CLEAR policy.

Thank you so much Senator Gravel! Tell it to 'em straight - everyone deserves it!

Sincerely,

Irene

<>Watch a clip of Mike's awesome style at the Democratic debate 4-26-07

http://www.msnbc.com/id/18300340

An important word on tax reform.  Every American needs to see, and every candidate needs to address the highly-organized documentation about the U.S. Income Tax fraud in Aaron Russo's excellent film entitled" "America - Freedom To Fascism".  You can access it via Google, and via:  www.freedomtofascism.com

Any candidate for president who is serious about tax reform needs to press for a full shut down of an illegal IRS, and an illegal Federal Reserve Sytem.

See the above mentioned movie, then respond?

Just before the American Revolution, Americans had just "had it" with taxes that totaled 10% of their income.  Now illegal burden has risen to 30,40 & 50% of our incomes.  It's time for FULL REFORM.

Katrina Vanden Heuvel writes that Senator Bernie Sanders thinks the electorate is far ahead of Congress on economy, war and global warming.

http://www.thenation.com/blogs/edcut?bid=7&pid=188192

Gravel 08

Hello,

Mike Gravel recently stopped by Vermont to hold a forum in Brattleboro. The telephone number in the paper turned out to be where Sen. Gravel was staying...to make a long story short, I was granted an interview for our local public access station. This interview turned out to be the first in a series of shows that I will be airing called "Corporate Free Media". I will also be trying to distribute this to other public access stations to air. I've chopped the interview into segments for uploading to youtube. While I'm a rookie at this, I think Mr. Gravel looks and sounds terrific. I'll have more segments to add later, I have two up so far, but my regular job of running heavy equipment for a highway dept. takes up much time. To view the clips, go to...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syvKOYiIOvs

for part one and...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahabyIXtHOE

for part two. If you like them, please click on the fifth star to keep the rating up.

I recently wrote to David Broder of the Washington Post in regard to his attrocious article covering the Winter Meeting of the Democratic National Committee. He blew off Mike Gravel's speech in a few words as though it was nothing but a piece of nonesense. I happened to tape all the candidate speeches at this event and was outraged at David Broder's "take" on them. Gravel gave an outstanding speech.

Many commented later that his was the most honest and inspiring delivery. We have to get a real handle on the media's "filtering" process whereby they pretend there are only 2 to 3 candidates, not 9 or 10. They repeat adnogium "Hillary" this, and "Obama" that, "Hillary" this, and "Obama" that. In doing so they fully endorse those candidates with corporate money behind them, not the best candidates. There needs to be a major scientific study (a la Noam Chomsky) of this abuse of getting information on all candidates to the public. There also needs to be a stop to the attrocious exclusion of candidates at the Presidential Primaries. The above abuses of journalism are NIGHTMARISH!!! This is how Democracies die !!!!!!!!

I am encouraged and motivated and directed to argue against quackery high-handed offensives of sickening violation and sadism. I critically conscientiously resist impositional bossy provocative disturbing demands to degrade health and dignity in the criminal quack vane of tyrannical assailment and claims to power to take away rights. I hate aggressive evil quackery like forced sickening poisoning druggings. There is no justification for medical fraud that insists on ruining comforts and advantages of complimentary graces. Especially bad, I kick against THE MOUNT SINAI JEWISH HOSPITALS freakish sadistic sickening quack association. Scott "el unico" Baker

I'd just like to add my two cents here. I'm not an associate of any political party, but I do hold the conviction and to the principle that everyone has the right to express their viewpoint and opinion. I find it refreshing to hear Mike's views and if his views get others to think out loud with others then he has served all of us well. Through dialogue and the clashing of opinions one can hope that truth will prevail. Consultation vs confrontation - Let's all keep on talking and seeking the truth for any given situation. Best regards, Brad

Murty Challa (mchalla00@yahoo.com)

Two refreshing things happened to me recently - I read Daniel Ellsberg's "Secrets", a memoir on the Pentagon Papers, and I caught Senator Gravel on the C-Span coverage of the Democratic Winter Conference. I was very impressed with Senator Gravel, for his courage and honesty in the Vietnam era, for his courage and hoensty about the current Iraq war, and for everything else he said about our national psyche on a wide range of subjects  I love it when someone tells it like it is.

Senator Gravel  - you are the candidate I have been looking for all these years. Please hang in there; word will get around and you will become a force to reckon with. Please use the internet, like Gov. Dean in the 2004 primaries, to get your message across. Even if you do not get the Democratic nomination, please hang in there as an independent. I think a good number of Republicans also will vote for you 

I am disappointed by the Democratic contenders, especially Sen. Clinton, and her failure to vote against the war. (Sen. Obama seems nice, but he is too green.) We need your life experiences, your honesty, your courage, and your common sense.

I will vote for you if you stick to your message and do not bow down. I have also sent in some money to your campaign. Not a whole lot, but a little each from a lot of us should work. And please do not be soiled by those blasted corporations!!!

Thanks!