Let the People Decide

Although you would not recognize it by looking through political news, Gravel is still in the running for the Democratic presidential nomination. However, Alaskans remember the vivacious senator - the year Mike Gravel lost his Senate seat to Republican Frank Murkowski was the year Alaska fell from political importance. Thus, Alaskans remember Gravel even as they look for their newest democratic senator, in hopes of capitalizing on their current national spotlight.

Gravel has a "zero chance of getting the Democratic nomination," being given little attention throughout the primaries. He and Kucinich are the two variants - they are the unique candidates, who (if they could muster up more popularity) would be voted into office based on their platform and beliefs. However, the big three (Clinton, Obama and Edwards) are said to have "policy differences among the candidates are so slight, voters appear to be left to choose on the basis of a candidate's personality and life story." Immigration? All would leave 12 million illegals to earn citizenship. Iraq? Troops for Obama and Clinton would be left only to protect the U.S. embassies/citizens, while Edwards' looks to leave a residual force in Kuwait...basically the same concept. Gay rights and abortion? All three say yes. Thus, for the frantic voter trying to compromise his/her own beliefs with these candidates..maybe a look to the outsiders would be worthwhile, where Gravel and Kucinich dare to be different.

Senator Gravel is invited to the Sundance Film Festival, where he and a panel of entertainment moguls, will invite discussion about the intersections of entertainment and politics. This shows that while the news and media may not find the time for this man's opinions, people outside the political world are interested in his voice. Also, Noam Chomsky released a statement lauding Senator Gravel's efforts in politics. "Alone among...Congress, Senator Mike Gravel had the courage to...[help end] the atrocious Indochina wars...[and] also made a great contribution to breaking the wall of secrecy that governments erect...referring to his release of the Pentagon Papers, properly called "the Gravel edition...Gravel has continued to show the same moral integrity and courage, particularly with regard to war and aggression, the severe threat of nuclear war, the destructive impact of the military-industrial complex on American democracy, and the programs of aggressive militarism... It may be that these consistent and honorable commitments are responsible for his being largely excluded from the media, even from presidential debates. And the same integrity and courage should be an inspiration for people who care about their country, the fate of its people, and its role in the world."