Mike Gravel: Power To The People! (UPDATED thrice!!!)

It occurred to me: we never see Mike Gravel diaries.

It's always Edwards, Obama, Edwards, Obama, Edwards, Obama, Hillary, Edwards, Obama, an occassional Kucinich or Dodd, even Ron Paul. But where's the love for Mike Gravel?

Now, is that not worthy of respect? We've had plenty of diaries on the various candidates' ad campaigns, and their surrogates' ad campaigns, but has anyone done anything like that?

And he wants to wish us all a Merry Christmas, too!

Update [2007-12-26 20:45:20 by Turkana]: In the comments, DMiller adds this important bit of information:

Update [2007-12-26 21:6:26 by Turkana]: Also in the comments, and on a much more serious note, peace voter adds this:

Not only a great sense of humor, but a true hero for the ages!

Update [2007-12-26 21:22:47 by Turkana]: And grannyhelen gives us this thoughtful dialogue!

•  all we are saying

  is give mike a chance!

  by Turkana on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 05:09:09 PM PDT

  •  I cant give Mike

    a chance but I will give you a rec.

    by ratador on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 05:12:25 PM PDT

    •  Can't have a Mike Gravel diary without including

      the classic Mike Gravel video:

      by DMiller on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 05:42:20 PM PDT

      •  ohhhh!

        i have to update!

        by Turkana on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 05:43:39 PM PDT

        •  It's the weirdest

          campaign video ever!

          by DMiller on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 05:44:51 PM PDT

          •  He's not a candidate, he's a concern troll

            thats why no one bothers with diaries. Whenever he's asked his position on anything he just disses Democrats.

            by dotcommodity on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 06:20:41 PM PDT

            •  He speaks the truth, why should he take it easy

              on his own party? The Democrats are hardly blameless when it comes to the mess we are in. Its called keeping them honest.

              by snackdoodle on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 06:58:50 PM PDT

            •  And if we had more concern earlier we would be in

              better shape then we are NOW.

              Sorry Dot but turning a blind eye on things and making excuses has lead this country onto the rocks.

              by skippythebox on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 10:19:39 PM PDT

          •  I found it to be odd but quite powerful

            makes you a bit uncomfortable and forces you to think.

            And this country has got to start thinking again.

            The symbolism of the rock in the pond was nice as well...

            by skippythebox on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 10:20:58 PM PDT

      •  I've always thought Gravel and William S

        Burroughs had a "separated at birth" thing going, but now you've convinced me.

        Check this out:

        by grannyhelen on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 05:54:10 PM PDT

  •  I like Mike!

    He's one of my heros.

    He's one of only two in the field of eight who favor full equality for all - including the right to marry.

    Go Mike!
    
    
    `````
    peace
    
    

    by peace voter on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 05:25:57 PM PDT

  •  You've stolen my bit! Shame on you!

    by DemocraticLuntz on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 05:26:35 PM PDT

    •  stole the other one,

      too!

      but it needed to be diaried!

      by Turkana on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 05:27:46 PM PDT

      •  It's not like I made the Power to the People

        video anyway.

        by DemocraticLuntz on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 05:30:25 PM PDT

        •  who ever did

          deserves a webby or something!

          by Turkana on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 05:31:05 PM PDT

          •  I do claim credit for causing MissLaura to rebuke

            me, though

            by DemocraticLuntz on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 05:32:43 PM PDT

            •  well, hell

              who hasn't rebuked you?

              by Turkana on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 05:35:24 PM PDT

              •  I think most front-pagers have.

                by DemocraticLuntz on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 05:52:23 PM PDT

                •  and the cool thing is

                  there's a new crop, every year!

                  by Turkana on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 05:54:01 PM PDT

          •  Newsweek had an article about how it came to be

            linky

            :-)

            by Trix on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 06:11:30 PM PDT

            •  The person responsible also made this classic vid

              by Trix on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 06:13:25 PM PDT

              •  That should come with a warning...

                ...Bush on Red Bull with an espresso chaser. Wow.

                by grannyhelen on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 06:16:29 PM PDT

              •  This is supposedly...

                the most popular political video in YouTube's history.

                by Trix on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 06:16:42 PM PDT

                •  Correction...

                  the Newsweek article says it's one of the most popular political videos... not the most popular.

                  by Trix on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 06:32:34 PM PDT

    •  You were the first person I thought of...

      upon seeing this diary.

      :-)

      by Trix on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 06:10:08 PM PDT

    •  He's stolen your bit?

      Then you should steal his hat.

      by SundayHighway on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 06:11:34 PM PDT

  •  I love that

    video!

    by DMiller on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 05:35:44 PM PDT

  •  I'm so rec'ing this!

    I mean...at least the guy has a sense of humor ;-)

    More Gravel - a must-see for any Gravel supporter!

    by grannyhelen on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 05:45:56 PM PDT

  •  Why is it that, of late...

    ...I keep thinking I'm reading diaries that are in need of a /snark tag?  Am I completely played out on all the "straight" news?  Hopelessly cynical?

    Dunno.

    by Land of Enchantment on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 05:53:02 PM PDT

    •  It's not just you.

      Unless it's snark, this one's nicer than the Kucinich diaries. And Kucinich is a far better candidate than Gravel.

      Gravel does have a sense of humor, though, I'll give him that. I'll bet you have to have one of those to actually live in Alaska :)

      (disclaimer: from PA, lives in FL, hates cold weather!)

      by o the umanity on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 07:14:45 PM PDT

    •  because it both is and isn't

      sort of in the spirit of gravel's campaign.

      by Turkana on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 07:17:30 PM PDT

  •  Thanks, T!

    I never had a crazy old doddering grandpa, and Mike Gravel helps fill that lack. :-)

    by kath25 on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 07:20:36 PM PDT

•  I think he's an arm

  of the The Yes Men, doing politics jamming.

  by bumblebums on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 05:14:10 PM PDT

  •  he is

    the walrus!

    by Turkana on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 05:20:40 PM PDT

    •  but who is the egg man? n/t

      by grannyhelen on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 05:55:46 PM PDT

      •  hmmm

        

        Funny McCain Pics archive updated regularly

        by InsultComicDog on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 06:17:55 PM PDT

        •  OK, here are the lyrics that go with

          that graphic

          by Sally in SF on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 06:42:18 PM PDT

    •  Well here's another clue for you all

      The walrus is Ron Paul

      Funny McCain Pics archive updated regularly

      by InsultComicDog on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 06:01:32 PM PDT

      •  Coo-koo ca-cho! Baby! n/t

        by grannyhelen on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 06:07:14 PM PDT

        •  HAAA!

          Ba-dum-bump! :)

          Great sig line, grannyhelen--is that really from a Billy Bragg tune?

          by o the umanity on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 07:17:03 PM PDT

      •  no

        John is the Walrus.
        
        
        ````
        peace
        
        

        by peace voter on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 06:42:21 PM PDT

•  Mike is HUGE in New Hampshire!

  AND he uses wood to hold up his signs, not wire and flimsy plastic.

  Very old school and classy.

  by ek hornbeck on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 05:16:53 PM PDT

•  LOL

  pour one for me

  by eeff on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 05:17:36 PM PDT

  •  anyone viewing

    this diary has to be bored

    for punishing me I did rec though

    by eeff on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 05:20:27 PM PDT

    •  hey!

      it's the best video i've seen, this campaign season!

      by Turkana on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 05:21:30 PM PDT

      •  Absolutely the best! Really!

        by ShainZona on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 05:24:05 PM PDT

      •  Hubby liked it a lot n/t

        by grannyhelen on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 05:56:23 PM PDT

•  I met Mike. He's highly entertaining.

  Why not let him enjoy himself ...  He's earned it:}

  by godislove on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 05:22:05 PM PDT

•  Gravel for Prez

  I'm sold.  I had been undecided, previously.

  by willb48 on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 05:22:06 PM PDT

  •  I'm with you!

    by ShainZona on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 05:24:28 PM PDT

•  I think those videos are WONDERFUL.

  What a strange guy - but very very real, isn't he?

  For all of you who are b*tching about Politics as Usual - here's something new!

  by ShainZona on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 05:23:20 PM PDT

  •  we definitely need

    some politics as UNusual!

    by Turkana on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 05:24:33 PM PDT

  •  He's honest, and not full of himself. A very

    smart guy. He is what America should be about. While everyone else is talking, he's doing. Supported him before in the Senate, supporting him now, and proud of it.

    by raindrop on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 06:22:40 PM PDT

•  Rec it up. Good stuff.

  Why won't you let me say what I wanna say?  Hee Hee Hee.  Classic.  He's a keeper.

  by godislove on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 05:24:27 PM PDT

  •  i'd love to see him

    just once on the rec list! for the holiday season!

    by Turkana on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 05:25:23 PM PDT

    •  Indeed. Save a kitten, fight fascism.

      Let Mike speak!!!

      by godislove on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 05:27:09 PM PDT

      •  Every time a Gravel diary gets rec'd

        an angel gets its wings :-)

        by grannyhelen on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 05:57:32 PM PDT

        •  He really deserves this moment.

          I missed him terribly in the last few debates.  Maybe he will keep you-tubing for us.  Give peace a chance.  Power to the people.  I like Mike!

          by godislove on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 06:04:53 PM PDT

          •  after all the others have been knocked out

            it'll be mike, hanging in to the convention!

            by Turkana on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 06:06:34 PM PDT

            •  He was the only candidate who showed at the FL

              state convention.  Indian River County loves Mike!

              by godislove on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 06:17:43 PM PDT

    •  Ask and ye shall receive! n/t

      by Sally in SF on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 06:36:04 PM PDT

•  Fun fact for the day

  The technicolor cartoon running in the background of the video postdates the most recent election that Mike Gravel won.

  Heck, I postdate that election, and I'm in my 30s.

  by brittain33 on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 05:24:27 PM PDT

  •  most of the rest of the candidates

    postdate that election! but he's definitely young at heart!

    by Turkana on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 05:26:08 PM PDT

•  Mike Gravel in the news

  

  by DH from MD on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 05:31:05 PM PDT

  •  OMG - now that IS funny n/t

    by grannyhelen on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 05:58:20 PM PDT

•  I strongly support...

  chucking rocks into ponds.

  by blueyedace2 on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 05:31:45 PM PDT

  •  i'm more into

    skimming them! and the latest polls show that most of the most likely caucus-goes most prefer skimming, mostly!

    by Turkana on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 05:33:11 PM PDT

•  Vote Gravel, Get Masel

  Slated as his delegate in the WI 2nd.

  by ben masel on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 05:32:36 PM PDT

  •  damn!

    that alone should get wisconsin voters motivated! good for you!

    by Turkana on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 05:34:11 PM PDT

  •  You certainly know how to excite the youth.

    Massive UW turnout for marijuana could alone be enough to get you to 15% if the nominee is decided.

    by DemocraticLuntz on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 05:57:15 PM PDT

•  Mike Gravel is a good man

  anyone who fillibustered the draft and placed the Pentagon Papers in the Congressional Record is worthy of mention as one of the good guys on our side.

  However, if you want to run for president, you have to run a real campaign.  If he had done so, perhaps he could have been a more forceful voice for urging our current congress to end this war.  I don't think protest candidacies are useful unless you focus like a laser on a single issue, which Gravel hasn't done.

  by mcfly on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 05:33:47 PM PDT

  •  Pentagon papers

    If it weren't for Gravel, I wouldn't have had to read the pentagon papers for my history of US foreign policy class this past quarter.  And that would have been unfortunate.

    by ryangoesboom on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 07:58:55 PM PDT

•  I'm not gonna get that first video

  outta my head for a week. Curse you!

  And if I have weird dreams about that turtle, I'll sue.

  by decembersue on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 05:43:06 PM PDT

  •  What was that

    turtle's name?

    by DMiller on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 05:46:28 PM PDT

    •  Mike? n/t

      by decembersue on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 06:00:12 PM PDT

•  the inside skinny on the petagon papers

  
  
  
  If you've never seen this, you really must watch it.
  And if you've already seen it, you should watch it again.
  
  
  `````
  peace
  
  

  by peace voter on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 05:50:53 PM PDT

  •  makes me proud to have shaken his hand,

    used his cell phone, and helped organize and donated to a fundraiser for his campaign.  He gave me goosebumps.  Dedication and determination, patriotism and passion.  Really an amazing man.  Inspiring, seriously.

    by godislove on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 06:14:45 PM PDT

  •  Thanks so much for posting this.

    What a treasure it is.

    by Sally in SF on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 06:33:26 PM PDT

  •  :-)

    I hadn't seen the video before, and I didn't know the story about the Pentagon Papers in the Senate record because back in the days of my youth I wasn't into politics much, but that's quite a story!  Wowzers!  No one would filibuster like that now, I believe (complete with urine/colostomy bag, no less!).  The only filibuster I followed showed people bringing in cots and they had bathroom breaks, if memory serves.

    Whatever else Gravel has or has not done, that whole story, told with such a humorous style (even though it really was quite daring and very brave of him), is a wonderful piece of Americana.  They don't make 'em like they used to....

    by NonnyO on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 06:56:20 PM PDT

•  Turkana - this is ART

  Honestly - this is actually pretty cool:

  by grannyhelen on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 06:05:28 PM PDT

  •  And thanks for adding it into the update!

    I'm honored :-)

    by grannyhelen on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 06:39:30 PM PDT

•  I love the Pentagon Papers video

  I've been recommending it to people here for months.

  :-)

  by Trix on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 06:09:13 PM PDT

  •  and now

    just snuck onto the list! his time has come!

    by Turkana on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 06:10:18 PM PDT

•  The DMilller video in the update: Mesmerizing.

  Mike makes waves.  Very deep.

  by godislove on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 06:10:09 PM PDT

•  Mike throwing the rock in the water

  is the most important political/philosophical message of our time - surpassing even Johnson's daisy petals and XLI's "read my lips."  It's sad that all the non-Gravelites out there don't understand it, but par for the course.

  Thanks for the Mike diary, Turk - not only did he need one; we all did.

  by Unitary Moonbat on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 06:18:25 PM PDT

  •  Yes, we needed this diary. And you're right

    about the rock in the water.  I'm a non-Gravelite but I understood.

    by Sally in SF on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 06:32:30 PM PDT

  •  Gravel Explains "The Rock" video...

    
    
    
    ````
    peace
    
    

    by peace voter on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 06:33:54 PM PDT

    •  With that sort of clarity

      it's amazing Mike hasn't been simply acclaimed President - were more people to hear his explanation of metaphors, maybe we'd be able to dispense with this electioneering horsecrap altogether.

      Great video - I never realized he had a whole truck full of stuff to toss in the lake!  Thanks!

      by Unitary Moonbat on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 06:58:37 PM PDT

    •  Wow...!

      Gravel waxed philosophical regarding artistic expression!  I can't think of any other politician who could grasp the whole concept of seeing the world through the eyes of an artist.

      by NonnyO on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 07:15:06 PM PDT

•  You guys scare me.

  "Follow the money people, follow the money". It's a good thing Gravel was in those debates. People thought he was trying to be funny. I agree with Gravel that we're likely to end up with exactly what we've got now.

  by Mike Taylor on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 06:24:41 PM PDT

  •  clearly

    even he is taking this very tongue-in-cheek, but he also wanted to have his say. there's actually a sensibility behind both aspects of it.

    by Turkana on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 06:26:54 PM PDT

    •  I think satire is his best weapon...

      ...as he's going into this thing being dismissed - humor can catch folks off guard and then they'll listen.

      I actually think it's a pretty sound strategy to get heard.

      by grannyhelen on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 06:43:38 PM PDT

      •  and considering

        the surreality of the current political climate, you have to maintain a sense of humor just to psychologically survive!

        by Turkana on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 07:10:40 PM PDT

        •  The more we get it, the less funny he is.

          He deserves to be taken seriously. But as many comedians say, the truth is often hilarious.

          by Mike Taylor on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 07:23:59 PM PDT

•  WooHoo, rec list.

  Merry Christmas, Turk.  Maybe I should go read the fact, so I can learn to update your tags.  Mike will be stoked when he hears.

  by godislove on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 06:27:26 PM PDT

  •  The FAQ. I'm giddy, who can spell?

    Or construct sentences?  This is so exciting!

    by godislove on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 06:28:56 PM PDT

  •  do you have tu status?

    if you do, you just select "edit tags" - but it's best to open the editing in a seperate window - or in permalink form - otherwise - if there are lots of comments being posted it can be very challenging to edit the tags.
    
    
    It was my great priveledge to add the recommended tag to this diary.
    
    
    ````
    peace
    

    by peace voter on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 06:30:54 PM PDT

    •  Thank you for that! I neglect my duties as a TU,

      and miss out on honors such as this one tonight, by not studying the FAQ nearly enough.  Kind users like yourself have guided me through my year here.

      by godislove on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 06:36:57 PM PDT

•  LOL! Gravel sure does have a great

  sense of humor.  Clever videos.  And the one from peace voter is a treasure ;-)

  Thanks for a such a fun diary and appreciating Gravel.  

  by Sally in SF on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 06:28:14 PM PDT

•  YAY, variety in candidate diaries!!!!

  by andgarden on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 06:31:29 PM PDT

•  Can we have that 1stone and the Hindi Obama video

  playing side by side at the Dem convention on 20 foot tall screens? I would like that.

  by decembersue on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 06:35:57 PM PDT

•  seriously

  Gravel's had the best YouTube videos this cycle.  Hands down.  The best video content, period, since Andy Warhol's ad for Braniff Airlines.

  by dday on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 06:45:24 PM PDT

•  Yup

  He's a hero. We are lucky to have him. And hopefully, to learn from him.

  by mikolo on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 07:20:26 PM PDT

•  Well, I've never tried Acid...

  ...but I bet the "Power to the People" vid would be pretty intense.

  Thumbs up for Mike!

  by Sanuk on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 07:22:27 PM PDT

•  everyone knows about his bit with the

  Pentagon Papers, but he's one of the first politicians to actively challenge fission based nuclear power, as well, in 1970.

  He's not perfect: Mike also supported the trans-Alaskan pipeline.

  But then again, which candidate is perfect?

  by shpilk on Wed Dec 26, 2007 at 07:33:35 PM PDT

  •  and i doubt

    any alaska politicians opposed the pipeline- just a