2008 Election Game: Campaign Thread

[Donerail]

Mike Gravel Campaign Announcement

Announcement at the National Press Club

Good evening. I'm Mike Gravel, a former US Senator from Alaska, and beginning next week, I shall actively seek the nomination of the Democratic Party for the President of the United States. I served two terms as the Senate's maverick, from 1969 to 1981, as a critic of the Vietnam War and government secrecy. I led a one-man filibuster against the draft, and I read into the Congressional record 4,100 pages of the Pentagon Papers. I'm running for President to be your voice, the voice of the people, against government secrecy and a lack of transparency. I'm also running to be your voice against these wars. We're doing harm every day our troops remain in Iraq, harm to ourselves and to the prospects for peace in the world. As President, I would remove our troops expeditiously, without contingency, and go back to the days where it was the Congress, accountable to the people, that declared war. President Bush’s mistake is not worth the life or maiming of more American soldiers. I'm also going to fix our tax code; our current code's unfairness is only superceded by its incomprehensibility. I'll put forward a straightforward national sales tax with proper consideration for the necessities of life through a pre-bate. I'll also put forward a plan to put real money in the Social Security Trust Fund, invest it properly and identify the interests of individual beneficiaries so they can leave their surplus funds to their heirs. I'm Senator Mike Gravel, and I'm running for President!

[Donerail]

Mike Gravel Campaign Schedule

October 8, 2007
- Campaign kick-off in Manchester with State Legislators Steve Vaillancourt and Joel Winters (endorsement)
- Nashua rally with Gov. John Lynch (endorsement)
-Freeport meet & greet with Gov. John Baldacci (endorsement)

October 9, 2007
-Meeting with NRA and Gun Owners of America - possible endorsement
-Major DC fundraiser with endorsements Sen. Russ Feingold, Sen. Jon Tester, and Sen. Jim Webb, as well as Sen. Gordon Smith and Sen. Olympia Snowe to emphasize Gravel's ability to work with Republicans.

October 10, 2007
-Appearance on 20/20
-Appearance on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart

October 11, 2007
-Appearance on Good Morning America
-Meeting with ACLU in NYC
-Appearance on The Colbert Report

October 12, 2007
-Second major DC fundraiser with endorsements: Rep. Mike Arcuri, Rep. Paul Hodes, Rep. Tim Penny, Rep. Dennis Kucinich, Rep. Rubén Hinojosa, Rep. G. K. Butterfield, and Rep. Mike Thompson.
-Meeting with (seeking endorsement) National Stonewall Democrats and Democratic Freedom Caucus
-Meeting with Nick Gillespie for interview in Reason.

October 13, 2007
-Appearance with Twin Falls County Commission candidate Randy Carpenter in Twin Falls, Idaho
-Appearance with Congressional candidates Larry Grant and Walt Minnick in Boise, Idaho
-Appearance with Gov. Bill Richardson (endorsement) in Elko, Nevada

October 14, 2007
-Appearance with former Gov. John Kitzhaber (endorsement) in Eugene, Oregon
-Appearance with Attorney General Jerry Brown (endorsement) in San Francisco
-Interview with Gene Burns for his radio show on KGO.

[Donerail]

1. What would you primarily push for right after being inaugurated?

My primary push after my inauguration would be to take our troops out of Iraq immediately, and move aggressively toward a diplomatic solution between the UN, the European and Asian communities, and regional powers, to help end the civil war in Iraq and establish stability in the region. I also believe we, with our allies, regional powers, and the UN, must sponsor direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, with the goal of a two-state solution. We also must end the Military Commissions Act of 2006 and outlaw torture against detainees.

2. What is your ideal Supreme Court Nominee?

My ideal Supreme Court nominee is one that would uphold the Constitution and all our civil liberties, from a prohibition on torture (cruel and unusual punishment) to the protection of our 2nd Amendment rights as well.

3. What is your greatest weakness. (Being honest is better than saying "nothing is my weakness")

I am in my 70s, and we've never inaugurated a President in their 70s before; Reagan was 69. I know some people will raise questions of my age, saying I won't live through a full term. But  in my opinion, well, it's pretty clear Washington is in great need of adult supervision right now, so maybe age isn't such a bad thing after all.

[Donerail]

At a rally in Iowa, John Thune endorses Mike Gravel for President...

I know I may be upsetting some in my part for doing this, but Mike Gravel is a true American hero. We need him as our next President!!!

Mike Gravel gives his heartfelt thanks to Mr. Thune for his endorsement, and best wishes on his speedy recovery.

[Donerail]

Mike Gravel Campaign Schedule

October 15, 2007
- Interview on The Tammy Bruce Show
- Interview with Matt Welch
- Interview with Markos Moulitsas
- Interview for Playboy
- Appearance on Real Time with Bill Maher

October 16, 2007
-Meet & greet in Manchester, NH (special guest: Steve Vaillancourt)
-Meet & greet in Nashua, NH (special guest: Joel Winters)

October 17, 2007
-Rally in Laconia, NH
-Fundraiser in Concord, NH alongside Gov. John Lynch to assorted NH legislators and influential peoples

October 18, 2007
-Speech in Newport, NH
-Rally in Lebanon, NH
-Appearance on Tucker

October 19, 2007
-Rally in Cedar Rapids, IA
-Speech in Davenport, IA
-Fundraiser in Dubuque, IA with Sen. Russ Feingold and notable Iowa Dems

October 20, 2007
-Rally at the University of Northern Iowa
-Speech at the University of Iowa (contrast with the Lincoln campaign)
-Meet & greet in Waterloo, IA

October 21, 2007
-Meet & greet in Keene, NH
-Rally in Berlin, NH with Rep. Paul Hodes

[Donerail]

October 15, 2007
- Interview on The Tammy Bruce Show
- Interview with Matt Welch
- Interview with Markos Moulitsas
- Interview for Playboy
- Appearance on Real Time with Bill Maher

That would be a very interesting day

Fun and Lunacy on the Campaign Trail '08.

[Donerail]

Democrats- Gravel was largely viewed to have greatly exceeded expectations and received a bump which was only magnified by Thune's cross party endorsement. No one lost ground however but many Democratic viewers stated that they wanted more than just "Bush did it"

Gravel doubles numbers in many states, Awareness is rising

Gravel has been receiving an uptick in support following the debate and Thune's endorsement and it is clear the more some moderate voters know about him the more they support him. He's been doubling totals from last week in Iowa and New Hampshire.

October 11, 2007
-Appearance on Good Morning America
-Meeting with ACLU in NYC
-Appearance on The Colbert Report

http://jhfowler.ucsd.edu/colbert_bump.pdf It's real!

[Donerail]

We are currently waiting on schedules from Gov. Richardson and Rep. Paul.

[Donerail]

Gravel Ad #1
Mike Gravel Thinks Differently

This ad is scheduled to run primarily in New Hampshire and Nevada, as well as limited distribution in Michigan.

Gravel Ad #2
Power To The People

This ad will have... significantly restricted microtargeting in urban areas.

Gravel Ad #3
Christmas With Mike

This ad will run nationwide on Christmas Eve.

Gravel Ad #4 & 5
Rock and Fire

This ad will be released via the Internets.

Gravel Explains Ads

This is free publicity for putting out such strange ads which are also apparently art.
UPDATE: Yep, totally art.

[Donerail]

Psh, all of you that are just choosing real ads are lame. I had to make mine.

I actually found a Gravel ad developer on another forum (see how the first ad is unlisted?).

[Donerail]

1:17-1:44 is the official campaign song

Mike Gravel Campaign Schedule

October 22, 2012
-Meet & greet in Pahrump, NV
-Meet & greet in Paradise, NV
-Fundraiser in Las Vegas, NV

October 23, 2012
-Town hall in Reno, NV
-Speech in Sparks, NV on the Iraq War
Speech excerpts
-Rally in Gardnerville Ranchos, NV
-Fundraiser in Carson City, NV

October 24, 2012
-Rally in Fernley, NV
-Speech in Fallon, NV
Excerpts, made up nice for the Internet
Additional comments: If we really want to stop young men and women from dying every day, we need to end the wars. If we want to end the wars, we must first have a national conversation about this critical issue. And it is for those reasons that I am proud to announce that I will attend the Afghanistan/Iraq debate Senator Clinton proposed.
-Meet & greet in Elko, NV
-Satellite appearance on The O'Reilly Factor

October 25, 2012
-Kickoff of Eastern Iowa Mike Gravel/John Thune Bus Tour in West Des Moines, Iowa
-Bus tour rally in Pella, Iowa
-Bus tour rally in Newton, Iowa
-Fundraiser in Des Moines, Iowa

October 26, 2012
-Bus tour rally in Ames, Iowa
-Bus tour rally in Boone, Iowa
-Bus tour rally in Fort Dodge, Iowa
-Bus tour rally in Storm Lake, Iowa

October 27, 2012
-Bus tour rally in Spirit Lake, Iowa
-Bus tour rally in Sioux City, Iowa
-Fundraiser in Council Bluffs, Iowa

October 28, 2012
-Appearance alongside Gov. Lynch in Manchester
-Rally with Rep. Hodes in Concord

New Gravel Ad
Cheating at Chess
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sS_GQcwfT7U

[Donerail]

We are waiting on schedules from Sen. Biden and Govs. Richardson and Henry.

[Donerail]

who else needs to post

Sen. Biden and Gov. Richardson have until 11:20 tonight to post their schedule.

[Donerail]

I believe the allotted 48 hours have elapsed and thus this week is over (with Biden and Richardson marked down as not campaigning).

[Donerail]

1. More than four years into the invasion, more than 3,300 US troops have died. 50,000 more of our young men and women have been permanently maimed, some losing their limbs, some their sights, and some losing things we can't see. That number doesn't include the tens of thousands more afflicted with post-traumatic stress disorder and in urgent need of psychological care. The death toll among Iraqi civilians nears three-quarters of a million, and there still remains no end in sight to the bloodshed. I don't want our young men and women dying, and I don't want any innocent people dying. There was no reason to invade, intelligence showed there were no weapons of mass destruction, and there was no threat to the United States or her national interests. This war was lost the first day it began, when George Bush invaded Iraq on a fraudulent basis. I believe we should end this disaster of epic proportions, and it has been a disaster both for the Iraqi people and the United States, and bring our troops home. Iraqi oil is not worth the life of one more American, and quite frankly nobody who voted for that war is fit to be commander-in-chief.

2. I've made this very clear over the course of the campaign. I've made this very clear since 2002, when I was one of the first political figures to publicly oppose the invasion, like I opposed the Vietnam War, and George Bush lied to the American people the same way Lyndon Johnson lied to us 30 years ago. When I am elected, I will commence an immediate and orderly withdrawal of all US troops that will have them home within 120 days. I would also pursue aggressive diplomacy to bring an end to the civil war that is currently consuming Iraq, and work with neighboring countries to lead a collective effort to bring peace. I would also lead a US corporate withdrawal and hand over our reconstruction contracts to Iraqi businesses, to empower Iraqis to reconstruct their own country. The real way to support our troops is to not send them into harm's way in a fraudulent conflict; I would bring our troops home.

3. I know what this question is really asking about, and that's Iran. With respect to Iran, we've sanction them for 26 years. We've scared the bejeezus out of em when the current President says they're "evil". Well, you know something? These things don't work. They don't work. We need to recognize Iran, exchange ambassadors, and you know something else? The greatest violator of the Nonproliferation Treaty? The United States of America. We signed a pledge that we would begin to disarm and we're not doing it, we're expanding our nukes. Who the hell are we gonna nuke? Tell me, Hillary: who do you wanna nuke? You've said that "nothing is off the table" in regards to the Iranian nuclear program, and quite frankly that frightens me. There was a vote in the Senate quite recently in which Joe Lieberman, who authored the Iraq Resolution, has offered another resolution, and it is essentially a fig leaf for George Bush to go to war with Iran. I'd like to congratulate Chuck, for voting against it, Blanche, for voting against it, and I'm ashamed of you, Hillary, for voting for it. You're not going to get another shot at this, because what happened, if this war ensues, we invade and the neocons in the Bush administration looking for an excuse to do it, and Senator Obama wasn't even there to vote. So no, I don't believe we should have another war, I don't believe that's a good idea, and when I'm President I won't send more of our boys off to die in vain in another war of imperialism.

4. I served in communications intelligence, in the Counter Intelligence Corps in Germany and France in the early 1950s. While I wasn't on the front lines, I served three years as a first lieutenant. I've known the military first-hand because I served in the Army, which is someone no one else up here competing for the nomination of my party can say. I served in the Senate during the Vietnam War, when I fought to end the draft. I know what war is, and this has been a damn bad one. Senator Clinton has run ads showing the horrors of what's been happening in Iraq, and there's my reason for wanting to get our troops out now. We need a diplomatic solution, nations working together to bring stability, or we'll just see more of what Senator Clinton has already shown the nation. I want to end that, and end it now.

[Donerail]

Gravel Debate Statement
Assuming I get a 30-second rebuttal of some kind

Senator McCain said that Germany didn't attack us at Pearl Harbor, and he's correct. However, the government of Germany formally declared war against the government and the people of the United States of America. Iraq never did that. He says Germany posed a threat to the peace and security of America, and he's correct, Germany did. Iraq, however, did not and does not. We had no reason to go to war in Afghanistan, as they, unlike Germany, posed no threat to the United States or her interests.

[Donerail]

Mike Gravel Campaign Schedule

October 29th:

-Kickoff of Iowa 'Mississippi bus tour in Fort Madison, Iowa
-Rally in Burlington, Iowa
-Speech in Muscatine, Iowa
Look, if you want someone who voted for the War in Iraq, you have Clinton and Lincoln. If you want someone who didn't even show up to vote on Senator Lieberman's resolution that would allow President Bush to go to war with Iran, you've got Obama. If you want someone who voted for that resolution, you've got Clinton. If you want someone with a consistent, principled record of opposing these senseless wars, you've got Howard and me, and I'll admit, I'm a big fan of Gov. Dean and I think he'd make a fine President. But I think if you look at the candidates, the number one candidate, who stood in the Senate against Vietnam and is standing before you now against Iraq, is me.
-Meet & greet in Davenport, Iowa

October 30th:

-Meet & greet in Clinton, Iowa
-Rally in Dubuque, Iowa
-Rally in Mason City, Iowa
-Meet & greet in Cedar Falls, Iowa

October 31st:
-Speech in Waterloo, Iowa
How many of you like paying income taxes? Sounds good, because under President Gravel, none of you would have to pay any income taxes. Our income tax code is punched full of holes, exceptions, incentives, and just plain giveaways to the 30,000 lobbyists in Washington. The tax code costs the private sector $270 billion in compliance alone. I served eight years on the Senate Finance Committee, and if you elect me, I'll pass the Fair Tax. The Fair Tax would change America from a nation of spenders to a nation of savers. Instead of having an exception-fueled incomprehensible tax code, we'll have a simple, transparent national sales tax. It's simple, it's transparent, and there's no exceptions for the special interests. If you vote for me, you'll see lower taxes, and who doesn't want more money in their pocket?
-Rally in Marshalltown, Iowa
-Trick-or-treating with families in Cedar Rapids, Iowa

November 1st:
-Rally in Iowa City, Iowa
-Meet & greet in Oskaloosa, Iowa
-Meet & greet in Ottumwa, Iowa

November 2nd:
-Rally in Concord, New Hampshire alongside Rep. Paul Hodes
-Rally in Laconia, New Hampshire alongside Gov. John Lynch
-Appearance on Hannity and Colmes

November 3rd:
-Rally in Keene, NH
-Meet & greet in Claremont, NH
-Meet & greet in Lebanon, NH
-Speech on LGBT rights in Berlin, NH
I support same-sex marriage. As President, I will repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, and will veto any law presented to me that allows discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. I also oppose the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, as it appears to restrict the rights of gay Americans. It's been proposed that we amend the Constitution to define marriage; I am not an opponent of that per se, but I will oppose any amendment that attempts to restrict the rights of any community of Americans.

November 4th:
-Telephone interview on The Neal Boortz Show (seeking endorsement)
-Rally in Manchester, NH
-Telephone interview for The Ed Schultz Show
-Fundraiser in Nashua, NH

[Donerail]

Gravel Ad #7
Set to air in Iowa, Nevada, and New Hampshire

(opens to dark pictures from the Iraq occupation)
Announcer: 61% of Americans believe we should have stayed out of Iraq. Why doesn't Senator Clinton realize this? She voted for the Iraq War. She claimed Saddam Hussein gave assistance to al-Qaeda members. Anyone who had access to the intelligence the Senators did at the time should have known better. No one who voted to cause the deaths of thousands of innocent people is qualified to be President.
(opens to bright, happy pictures of Mike Gravel)
There is a better option. There is a Presidential candidate who wants to keep our troops out of harm's way, the only Democratic candidate to have served in the military, a candidate who has spoken up against these senseless wars ever since he filibustered in the Senate against the draft in Vietnam. There is a candidate who will bring our troops home: Mike Gravel.
I'm Mike Gravel, and I approve this message

[Donerail]

It's been 48 hours (well, actually around 53). I guess Sanford and Henry don't count as campaigning this turn.

[Donerail]

Mike Gravel Campaign Schedule

November 5th, 2007:
-Rally in Fallon, Nevada
-Meet & greet in Lovelock, Nevada
-Rally in Winnemucca, Nevada
-Townhall in Carlin, Nevada

November 6th, 2007:
-Rally in Wells, Nevada
-Meet & greet in West Wendover, Nevada
-Townhall in Ely, Nevada

November 7th, 2007:
-Fundraiser in Des Moines, Iowa
-Townhall in Lamoni, Iowa

November 8th, 2007:
-Meet & greet in Fairfield, Iowa
-Fundraiser in Davenport, Iowa
-Meet & greet in Dubuque, Iowa
-Rally in Fayette, Iowa

November 9th, 2007:
-Rally in Manchester, New Hampshire
-Townhall in Durham, New Hampshire

November 10th, 2007:
-Rally in Nashua, New Hampshire
-Fundraiser in Keene, New Hampshire
-Meet & greet in Plymouth, New Hampshire
-Townhall in Hanover, New Hampshire
At the townhall meeting, Senator Gravel announced that, in order to present to the American people his innovative tax system as well as his other economic ideas, he would be attending the debate proposed by Senator Lincoln.

November 11th, 2007:
-Appearance on Meet the Press
-Appearance on Fox News Sunday
-Rest

Excerpt from news appearances:
Host: You've been taking heat from some prominent figures, Mark Warner, Ted Kennedy, and Bill Nelson among them. Care to respond?
Mike: I would like to respond, and what I find interesting is that these folks aren't criticizing my ideas. They're not criticizing the proposals I'm bringing to the table, they're going after my record. So let's look at my record. I served as Speaker of the Alaska House of Representatives for two years, before serving in the Senate for twelve, and during my time on the Senate, I did not make myself a friend of the establishment. Now, these folks seem like part of the establishment, and what I did in the Senate won me no friends in the establishment, but I'm proud of my record. I'm proud of waging a five-month one-man filibuster against the draft, and it eventually forced Nixon to cut a deal and effectively end the draft. I'm proud of reading into the Senate record 4,100 pages of the Pentagon Papers, because, while it may not have won me friends among those who were backing the war, my constituents and the American people have a right to know the truth behind the war. I don't care if it upset the establishment, if it made them look bad, because the American people had a right to know the truth behind that war. I'm sorry, you folks in the establishment, if the truth makes you look bad, but the American people deserve to know it. My record is of fighting for the truth and for the good of the American people, I'm proud of that, and it's something I'd continue as President.

[Donerail]

Gravel Press Release: My Record

Since some other folks are criticizing it, here, for the American people, is my record. You might not like all of it, but in the interest of full transparency, this is an accurate recollection of my time in the Senate and in the Alaska House.

Alaska State Legislative Record
Mike Gravel served in the Alaska House of Representatives from 1963 to 1966, including as Speaker of that body from 1965 to 1966. His accomplishments there include:

• Alaskan High Schools: While in the House, Mike authored legislation establishing the structure and budget for a regional high school system in rural Alaska, allowing native students to receive their education near their homes rather than travel to the Bureau of Indian Affairs' schools outside Alaska.
• Legislative Reform:  Mike also effected several legislative reforms, including securing budgets to provide staffs for members and to expand research and support facilities, initiating electronic voting, and developing an intra-session hearing process throughout the state to foster citizen participation.

US Senate Record
Mike Gravel served in the United States Senate from 1969 to 1981, serving on the Finance, Interior, and Environmental and Public Works committees, and chaired the Energy, Water Resources, Buildings and Grounds, and Environmental Pollution Subcommittees. His accomplishments there include:

• The Alaska Pipeline: In 1973, Senator Gravel introduced an amendment to empower the Congress to make the policy decision on the Alaska Oil Pipeline's construction. Alone at the beginning, Mike Gravel built support and gained allies who eventually helped secure the amendment's passage in the Senate by one vote. This accomplishment has helped put Alaska on a new economic footing, contributing 20% of the US oil supply, a substantial part of the nation's balance of payments, and has yielded economic benefits that dramatically improved the quality of life across Alaska. A recent analysis has revealed that, absent that amendment, the pipeline would probably not have been built, relegating the nation to greater foreign dependency and environmental pollution.
• The Cannikin Nuclear Tests: In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the Pentagon was performing five calibration tests for a nuclear missile warhead that was already obsolete under the seabed of the North Pacific near Amchitka Island, Alaska. These tests created large caverns under the seabed wherein life-threatening nuclear wastes that would last more than a thousand years were encapsulated. This area was prone to earthquakes, which could rupture the caverns and spew contaminated waste into the North Pacific, compromising a major food source. Mike Gravel fought the tests in Congress and organized worldwide opposition to the Pentagon's plans, and succeeded in halting the program after its second test.
• Nuclear Fission: Mike Gravel was the first in Congress, in 1970, to publicly oppose a national nuclear policy calling for far-greater expansion of atomic energy. He used his office to help organize citizen opposition. His efforts contributed to making the production of commercial electricity through nuclear fission less commonplace, applying the brakes to a policy threatening the global environment and global security by proliferating both nuclear wastes and bomb-grade nuclear materials.
• The Peacetime Draft: Mike Gravel began in May of 1971 a one-man filibuster, which he continued into September, in order to force a deal to let the military draft expire, eventually forcing President Nixon to agree to a compromise deal to let the draft expire in two years (1973).
• Relationships with Greece: Mike Gravel spoke out in the Senate against Nixon's support of the Colonels in Athens on behalf of exiled Greek journalist Elias Demetracopoulos. Both Nixon and the Greek Junta were trying to silence his effective leadership in the American opposition to Greece's military dictatorship. Mike Gravel was an ally in Demetracopoulos' efforts and gave him personal support. Gravel also counseled with Melina Mercouri and Jules Dassin in their opposition to the junta, and used his influence to side with the Greek position on the Cyprus Question.
• Environmental Legislation: Mike Gravel's service in the Senate on the Environment and Public Works Committee placed him in a leadership role on every major piece of environmental legislation dealing with air, water, waste and energy that emerged from the Congress during that period.
• Law of the Sea: In the mid-1970s, the UN was moving towards creating a legal regime for the oceans. Senator Gravel worked with UN leaders and committees, the Secretary of State, our UN ambassador, and other government agencies to advance the UN's adoption of the Convention on the Law of the Sea. The momentum behind the UN effort, however, was undermined by legislation introduced by Senator Warren Magnuson (D-WA) and Ted Stevens (R-AK) that allowed the US to unilaterally take control of the 200-mile waters bordering it. Senator Gravel successfully delayed this legislation for two years, but ultimately failed to stop its passage. The agreement was not reached into 1982, and the US is the only nation in the world that has failed to ratify the Convention.
• China: Six months before Henry Kissinger went to the People's Republic of China, Senator Gravel introduced legislation to recognize and normalize our relations with the PRC, in the hope of bringing about a re-examination of our outdated policy towards China.
• Native Claims Settlement Act: The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, which Senator Gravel co-authored and provided outspoken leadership for, was the first major political settlement of aboriginal claims, and removed the federal government's paternalistic role in the management of native economic affairs.
• Satellite Communications: Senator Gravel helped pioneer satellite communications through a project establishing links between remote Alaska villages and the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, for medical diagnostic communications. He also developed a proposal for the Alaska Legislature for a satellite communications and video transmission system which has since been implemented, making Alaska's system the most advanced in the US.
• AGSOC: Senator Gravel authored and secured the passage of the General Stock Ownership Corporation (GSOC), Subchapter U of the Tax Code. He then brought a ballot initiative in the 1980 general election in Alaska on the creation of an Alaska General Stock Ownership Corporation (AGSOC). As part of that effort, he negotiated an agreement with British Petroleum to sell its interest in the Alaska Pipeline to AGSOC. The initiative failed, and BP now considers its interest in the pipeline to be one of the most profitable of its holdings. Had the AGSOC been approved, it would be paying out dividends of several hundred dollars annually to every citizen/shareholder in Alaska.
• Circumpolar Conference: Senator Gravel instigated and secured a private grant for a circumpolar conference on culture, environmental, and other concerns. There are periodic convocations on culture, environment, and other regional concerns of those who live in the Arctic regions of the globe. The conference is arranged by the Alaskan North Slope native leadership and includes Inuit representatives from Canada, Greenland, Norway, and Russia.
• The Pentagon Papers: Daniel Ellsberg, a former Pentagon analyst who helped write the secret Pentagon Papers, attempted to secure the Papers’ release through a member of Congress in order to provide legal protection for the release of this highly classified historical study, which detailed how the United States had ensnared itself in the Vietnam War. After Congressional leaders Ellsberg initially approached failed to act, he turned to the New York Times and Washington Post, which published excerpts of the study in June 1971. The Nixon Justice Department sought an injunction against the newspapers, and a Supreme Court decision that was due at the end of June put the publishers at risk. The day before the Supreme Court decision, in an effort to moot any action that might intimidate the newspapers, Mike Gravel officially released the Pentagon Papers in his capacity as a Senator communicating with his constituency, reading 4,100 pages of the 7,000 page document into the Senate record from the floor of the Senate. As it happened, the Supreme Court did not rule against the newspapers, but Senator Gravel continued to press for release of the full text of the Pentagon Papers by publishing the papers in book form. He was turned down by every major (and not-so-major) publishing house in the nation, save one. Beacon Press, the publishing arm of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, faced down the Nixon Administration by publishing The Senator Gravel Edition of The Pentagon Papers. The Justice Department next brought legal action against Beacon Press and against the Senator's editor, Dr. David Rotberg. Mike Gravel intervened in the case, using his Senate office as a shield for Beacon Press and Rotberg. Decisions at the District Court and the Court of Appeals protected the Senator from prosecution but left Beacon Press and Rotberg at risk, so, against the advice of his attorneys, Gravel took the matter to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court rendered a landmark constitutional decision (Gravel v. United States) in the spring of 1972, narrowly defining the prerogatives of an elected representative with respect to the “speech or debate” clause of the constitution. Senator Gravel's defeat before the Supreme Court placed him at risk of prosecution, along with Beacon Press and Rotberg. With Watergate afoot, the Nixon Justice Department lost interest in the prosecution of Ellsberg, Gravel and Rotberg. However, the Court's decision did set the stage for its later decision on the Nixon Tapes, forcing Nixon's resignation from the Presidency.

[/list]

[Donerail]

Would anyone be interested in having the next turn move us forward to the middle of Dec.? We are starting to lose people and I don't want any uncontested nominations

Posting like 3 weeks of schedule? I could do that. Make it a 72 hour period though.

[Donerail]

Would anyone be interested in having the next turn move us forward to the middle of Dec.? We are starting to lose people and I don't want any uncontested nominations

Posting like 3 weeks of schedule? I could do that. Make it a 72 hour period though.

Deal. After this turn  is concluded we'll do that and there will be a primary polling map

New Gravel Attack Ad: Oprah Winfrey. Howard Dean. Barack Obama. And a couple of Republicans from South Carolina and Texas. These are the only people standing between America and a brand new shiny primary polling map. There is a better option. Mike Gravel has already posted his schedule. He believes in a primary polling map being available for all Americans. Do you choose obstructions, or do you choose Gravel?

[Donerail]

Gravel Campaign Statement

I don't say this often, but I'd like to thank Senator Clinton for removing her ads. Exploitation of a national tragedy for political gain is never acceptable, and I'd like to congratulate the Senator on coming to her senses and pulling her ads that do that. Hopefully we can now have a civilized conversation on the differences between our party's candidates without having to resort to politicizing a national tragedy.--Mike Gravel

[Donerail]

OOC: So are we posting three-week schedules now or what? I'm a little confused. Thanks

I'm pretty sure we'll post three-week schedules once Sanford/Paul post theirs for this turn, in order to make this move a bit faster to get us up to a week or two before Iowa.