Mike Gravel

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Mike Gravel.

Maurice Robert "Mike" Gravel is a former Democratic senator from Alaska, who briefly ran for the Democratic Party presidential nomination in 2008, then switched his affiliation in March 2008 to unsuccessfully seek the Libertarian Party presidential nomination. He is otherwise best known for his career in the U.S. Senate during the 1970s. His current activities include campagning for a national initative and referendum to be implemented at the federal level in the U.S.

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[edit] Senatorial career

Gravel served as the Senator from Alaska from 1969 to 1981. His most notable achievements during this time were filibustering the Vietnam draft twice, appealing a case to the Supreme Court to have the Pentagon Papers read into the record, and opposing nuclear testing in Alaska.

He lost his seat in the 1980 election due largely to an anti-incumbent backlash in Alaska over anger over the Alaska Lands Conservation Act, which passed in 1980. That Gravel had opposed the Act and even tried to filibuster it didn't matter; Gravel had earlier opposed and successfully blocked a weaker "compromise" lands bill, and because of this he got the blame for the stronger bill passing. Alaskans were pissed off enough that he lost the Democratic primary, and the victorious Democrat then lost the general election to Republican Frank Murkowski.

[edit] 2008 US Presidential Election positions

[edit] The Good

He was pro-choice on everything, ranging from abortion to gay marriage and pot. While he supports the FairTax initiative, just like Jesus's homeboy, it should be noted that Gravel calls his version the "Progressive FairTax," which includes a full rebate for necessities like food. Sweet! He is in favor of a carbon tax and international action on climate change, as well as a new guest worker program. He also is highly against the war in Iraq, as many Libertarians are.

Gravel is officially a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church, though he is suspected of being a deep-cover atheist, or at least some kind of non-believer. He communicated support for the Rational Response Squad during his 2008 campaign, supports more funding and rigor in science education, and opposes creationism. Gravel also released a video on YouTube called "The Oppressive Nature of Religion" and dodged questions on his belief in religion at debates, saying that our society should be guided by love and not religion.[1]

[edit] The Really Good

He supported a constitutional amendment that would allow voter initiatives and referendums on a federal level, similar to the system in Switzerland...but bigger. He supported the impeachment of Curious George, and the United State's second amendment. Finally, his campaign ads were superb works of Bill Viola-esque video art.

[edit] The Ugly

Um...He was very very old. Older than McCain.

[edit] 9/11 conspiracy

Senator Mike Gravel supports a new investigation into the 9/11 attacks.[2]

[edit] See also

[edit] Footnotes

  1. RRS on Gravel, Gravel: "Oppressive Nature of Religion, Gravel debate
  2. http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2010/09/09/senator-engineers-911-controlled-demolitions/
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