Mike Gravel -- Wants President Obama to Stop Torture

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Monday October 20, 2008 · 12:35 AM PDT

2008/10/20 · 00:35

So, I'm sitting in Barnes & Noble in Anchorage on Saturday, minding my own business, working on my laptop, sipping my latte. It becomes clear that the staff are setting up for some book discussion. A few people are gathering together. By a few, I mean about seven. (Later I find out that it's a few former Alaskan state senators and included a former writer for TPM Muckraker.) I sip. I type. I listen. It becomes clear that the author is ex-Alaska Senator, and ex-presidential candidate Mike Gravel.

Mike Gravel was an Alaskan Senator from 1969-1981. While I did not live in Alaska any of that period, it appears that majority of folks I've talked with recently have a somewhat negative view of him..."off kilter," "an embarrassment." He referred to himself as a "real maverick." He recounted his awe being in the Oval Office with Nixon as a freshman senator--as Nixon tried to sway him on a Vietnam vote. He told about his "famous" filibuster experience. The stories were interesting.

What I will take from the short time I was able to sit there was his word to the potential President Obama. He questioned how quickly Obama would be able get out of Iraq. He questioned how much of his plan he would actually be able to work through congress. But, he said, whatever President Obama will be able to do, he should immediately sign an executive order to stop all torture by the United States of America. He will have the power do so and it will immediately help our military and our standing in the world.

Look, I admit that Senator Gravel was never on my radar. I knew very little about him before meeting him yesterday. I still know very little about him. He seemed like a nice enough guy with some great history to share. However, he was passionately against the Vietnam War and is passionately against the current war and is passionately opposed to the US torturing prisoners. I wouldn't think Gravel would have any particular pull with Obama, but it appears that he would do what he could to have this be on the agenda.

I can respect that.
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UPDATE -- Having a little trouble with the comments. Tip Jar got deleted. Comments posting twice. Anyway, hope you like the diary itself. I can go without the tips. Others around here are far more deserving than myself.

Poll
98 votes Show Results
So, what should President Obama first do when he takes office?

Stop torture

Take a nap

Find some pie

Catch up on his DailyKos reading

Have a seat in the Oval Office and take it all in

See if Dominos delivers

98 votes Vote Now!
So, what should President Obama first do when he takes office?

Stop torture

49 votes

Take a nap

2%

2 votes

Find some pie

10 votes

Catch up on his DailyKos reading

7%

7 votes

Have a seat in the Oval Office and take it all in

23 votes

See if Dominos delivers

7%

7 votes

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