Gravel Defecting to Support Green Party

[babylonsister]

http://pennsylvaniaprogressive.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/03/gravel-defectin.html

Gravel Defecting to Support Green

Former Democratic presidential candidate Mike Gravel is defecting from his Party to support a Green for President. He has announced his support for Jesse Johnson according to the DC Statehood Green Party. You can review my coverage of last July's national Green Party convention (in our archives) for more information about their candidates. It was a rather amusing several days speaking with their strange assortment of presidential contenders. I think Gravel fits in with them.

[Alter Ego]

1. Oh, Mike Gravel.

Now what will the crazy old coot wing of the party do?

[Common Sense Party]

53. As a crazy old coot, I'll probably follow him.

I don't like the two children that are spatting for top place now.

[iamthebandfanman]

2. im glad he finds good ideas amusing

but i hate to see ole mike do it

[Skinner]

3. Awfully nice of him to use our party to get publicity for his go-nowhere candidacy last year...

...before jumping ship to a third party. At least Ralph Nader has the integrity to pick one party and stick with it. (I can't believe I used "Nader" and "integrity" in the same sentence.)

Excuse me while I go delete the Gravel avatars.

[madinmaryland]

17. Hasn't Nader jumped around between independent parties, also?

[bluestateguy]

4. I guess Lyndon LaRouche was not nutty enough for him

I knew that curmudgeonly old fart would do something like this.

Fuck him.

[Birthmark]

5. Oh, great!

Now who's gonna chuck rocks in the pond for us?

Hey, what's Gary Hart up to these days?

[Warpy]

6. I'm not surprised

He was running more of a hobby campaign to get his ideas out there. It's not as though the party is ready to consider any sort of progressive candidate, not yet. They're barely tolerated until they can be forced out by lack of funding and lack of media attention.

The party can't count on trapped progressives with nowhere else to go forever. Party conservatives don't like that fact, but sneering, bullying, and dismissing won't work forever.

Eventually they'll have to adopt some of the progressive agenda.

[Echo In Light]

8. "They're barely tolerated until they can be forced out by lack of funding and lack of media"

That sums it up rather well.

[mdmc]

22. I hope the dems become more progressive

Hate to see the ray-gun revolution last another 8 years

[scarletwoman]

24. Yeah, well I wouldn't hold my breath while I wait.

The Democratic party's first loyalty is to the Establishment, they are NOT going to buck the System.

sw

[nadinbrzezinski]

33. Only problem is Gravel IS NOT a Progressive, but a left wing

libertarian... they do exist, even if they are rare birds

[scarletwoman]

38. No, the problem is, "Progressive" is a label with no hard and fast definition.

I personally see no reason why it can't encompass left-wing libertarian viewpoints -- in fact I'd prefer that it did.

[Common Sense Party]

54. Rare and wonderful birds. nt

[Selatius]

59. I generally feel the term "progressive" has been polluted beyond recognition. Many Dems are leftists

But measuring economic stance doesn't fully encompass their views on relations with other people in terms of libertarian or authoritarian stances.

For instance, I would consider myself a free-market socialist as opposed to the more traditional and authoritarian socialism that advocated central planning committees run by the state. That way, in my opinion, lay disaster. It's not that I'm opposed to state ownership of enterprises, but I favor collective ownership in that the firms are owned by their constituent workers as opposed to the state directly. In that regard, I'm a socialist except with a stronger libertarian streak, a libertarian socialist. As far as things such as gay marriage or abortion, I'm very libertarian there. In short, I lean very left wing, but I also lean closer towards libertarian as opposed to authoritarian.

The Green Party's platform, IMHO, is what the Democratic platform should be but isn't.

[Hippo_Tron]

57. Gravel supports the "fair tax", that's hardly progressive

[Echo In Light]

7. Curious: Why such animosity for a candidate that most here never cared about anyway?

Personally I don't really care one way or the other. I heard Gravel speak a few times and found him to be on the just side of things. Then again, I've voted Green before...

[stimbox]

11. Partisan hacks are like that...

I guess they don't read blog articles too closely.
He's not defecting from the Democratic Party, he's supporting a Green candidate.
I guess that's taboo. The party owns your vote it seems.
I wonder if Mike is still running as a dem...

[susankh4]

14. Thank You for the realistic review....

And, honestly, I don't blame him.

Our own nominating process has turned into a race war. And a dangerous one at that.

Thanks, Mr. Gravel.... for your service to the Dem party!

[NaturalHigh]

49. "The party owns your vote it seems"...

That's the prevailing attitude that I've encountered. Oh, and by the way, be sure to open your wallet for the party too.

[Orsino]

60. Precisely because we never cared much for him...

...we are ready to pounce on him for back-stabbing. We saw the ruckus when Clinton semi-endorsed McCain over Obama, and have recoiled in horror from the unfounded rumor that she will pull a Lieberman to run as an independent.

[mdmc]

64. fear

:shrug:

[VP505]

9. I suppose from his

perspective he feels disenfranchised, he didn't get much party support and was mostly ignored by the MSM. I think he was a victim of a pre-ordained candidate mind set from much of the party kind of like Kucinich. Not that he didn't bring it on himself by coming across as somewhat of a nut case.

[Echo In Light]

10. How is he a "nut case?"

[VP505]

16. I didn't say he WAS a

nut case, I said he COMES ACROSS as somewhat of a nut case. Some people perceive him to be a bit nutty

[EFerrari]

20. I think that's why I like him.

lol

He's just so completely uninvolved with having an image.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

12. Tsk. Tsk. Oh, Dear. Tsk. Tsk.

I guess old grumpy Mike considers allegiance to his principles are more important than party loyalty.

[leftchick]

18. shocking isn't it?

;)

[Blue_In_AK]

13. Can't say that I really blame him

considering that the Democratic Party has considered him but a joke.

[Bluenorthwest]

15. For those of us

Who do not countanance racist tactics, nor homphobic tactics, nor sexist tactics, this is a difficult Primary indeed. Thus far I intend to ride out the 2008 elections, but frankly I will feel like I am voting for a baiter and a friend to Republicans no matter which of these panderbears gets the nomination. This is the fist time for me that I don't know how I will be able to pick on of them, or manage not to puke when marking my ballott.
Mike's not so far off from where many of us are. My team got traded for a bunch of relgious bigots who actively campaigned for Bush. And I should feel some sort of loyalty? For what?
The Party needs to serve and reflect its voters. Or they leave. Simple really.
After Nov, I will reconsider my Party affiliation. Change is in the air, but at DNC is is fetid and cloistered atomosphere we breath.

[LWolf]

19. I hope he gets more respect there than he did here. n/t

[scarletwoman]

21. It just blows my mind how little respect Mike Gravel ever got on DU.

If it weren't for Gravel, the Pentagon Papers wouldn't have seen the light of day. For that one act alone, he ought to have a permanent place in a pantheon of Progressive Heroes.

But I guess for those who are committed to supporting the gutless wonders that pass as Dem politicians today, Gravel MUST be mocked. Telling the truth is just too damn radical.

sw

[mdmc]

23. he is a true hero

for those that wish to end war

[scarletwoman]

25. Yes he is! But certainly not a hero to the partisans.

A bit telling, isn't it?

sw

[fascisthunter]

27. Very Telling

very shallow too

[bobthedrummer]

28. "Inconvenient truths about the New Democrats, the Third Way, Democratic Leadership Council, etc."

a must read active GD thread for all Democrats, independents, liberals, progressives and voters that were abandoned long ago by a political machine within the Democratic Party founded and funded by the RW.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2973191

You always got it, scarletwoman.

[scarletwoman]

37. Thanks, BTD. And thanks for that superb thread.

I know you "get it", too.

[G_j]

45. I know

rather sickening

he is a real hero,

[scarletwoman]

50. Thanks.

Of course, "rather sickening" describes a good many attitudes evinced by the partisans.

Great to see you, G_j!

:hi:
sw

[Common Sense Party]

55. Amen. You all don't know what you're missing!

[fascisthunter]

26. Can't Blame Him Actually

He stands for principles that the Democratic Party loves to market.

Wish ya stayed and fought.... that I am disappointed in.

[B Calm]

29. Gravel stands for principles of the Democratic Party, oh please. LOL

[fascisthunter]

30. pick a pissing contest with somebody else

I'm not interested.

[B Calm]

32. Good!

[fascisthunter]

34. .

:puffpiece: :rofl:

[B Calm]

36. . . . .

[scarletwoman]

35. Check your reading comprehension,

the sentence is: "He stands for principles that the Democratic Party loves to market."

Not the same thing as actually HAVING those principles.

[fascisthunter]

39. .

:thumbsup:

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

31. Jesse Johnson is a former EROTIC FILM ACTOR

starred in a 1999 Cinemax-eque thing called "Phantom Love"

He sold himself to the Mountain Party in W.Va. as a real actor, but he has no resume on imdb, except for this film and a grade Z sci-fi flick from 1990. He takes credit as an extra in "hook" as having worked with Spielberg

He frequently inflates his resume regarding activism. He's regarded as a joke in WV who sells himself as something he' not.

I'm sure Gravel didn't have the full story.

[stimbox]

40. Good for Mike.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
11 March 2008

Contact:
Joel Brown, 703 864 5199, [e-mail]
Steve Kramer, 240 426 3338, [e-mail]
Committee to elect Jesse Johnson

Chris Petherick, 703 980 8055, [e-mail]
Jon Kraus, 203 209 7736, [e-mail]
Gravel for President


National Statesman and International Hero Senator Mike Gravel Supports Jesse Johnson’s Bid for President


In what has to be the most unprecedented cross party statement of support Democratic Party Candidate for President Mike Gravel announced that he has decided to support the campaign of Green Party Candidate Jesse Johnson running for the nomination on the Green Party Ticket.

After a meeting between the two in Washington DC Friday, Gravel stated, “My political party long ago walked away from taking the necessary steps that will safeguard our nation’s and our children’s futures. I worked dedicatedly throughout my career as a U.S. Senator to protect the precious resources our country had within it’s boundaries as well as to mitigate the negative impact our businesses and individuals were having on the planet. I have watched the ever important job of stewarding these gifts vanish from the political landscape and I hold the Democratic Party leadership responsible for giving up that fight.”

Why did Gravel choose Johnson from among the other candidates vying for the nomination in all the campaigns of all available political parties? Gravel explains, “I’m supporting Jesse because he began his political career with the determination that the environmental plundering must stop. He placed every other interest on hold to run for office, in his home state and now nationally, to challenge the corporations that destroy our national resources and then harvest from this practice a toxic energy source; coal. The mountain top mining practices devastate the landscape by blowing apart mountains and then carbon belching plants burn the coal creating a form of energy that serves as one of the major contributors for global climate change.”

Gravel continues, “We must have a voice in the political realm speaking earnestly and intelligently about all of our environmental needs. Johnson and the Green Party have that environmental credibility that we Democrats have lost.”

Senator Gravel intends to travel and campaign with Jesse Johnson as their schedule allows.

Jesse Johnson, former chair of the West Virginia Mountain Party and two time candidate for statewide office, said that this sort of cross party support “was just the kind of non-traditional, selfless act that we have come to know Senator Mike Gravel to make. When he read the Pentagon Papers into the Congressional record, or filibustered to end the draft he had his eye – at all times –- on the big picture and the needs of others. I am not surprised that a true patriot and advocate of the citizen as leader of our country would take such an unprecedented and bold stand. And I am honored and humbled that he has selected my campaign and the Green Party as his allies in this very important race to save our environment from the actions of humans.”

Gravel closed by saying, “We’ve seen the havoc the two parties can wreak, on a global scale, by locking out the voices of reason -– by eliminating the third party voices. I want to amplify those voices to save our country from our own shortsighted and greedy actions. If we want to end the war in Iraq, provide health care to all citizens, educate our young people, we’re going to have to start not only working together with these alternate parties: but literally working to support them. That’s why I’m supporting Jesse Johnson’s campaign for President.”

[matcom]

41. Who?

:boring:

[stimbox]

42. Like you don't know. Why even bother to reply? n/t

[bobthedrummer]

46. Go back to The Lounge then...

[IntravenousDemilo]

43. Maybe he had a good look at the behaviour of the two remaining Democratic candidates and their

supporters, shrugged, and said, "Screw these brats..."

[NaturalHigh]

48. You think?

[IntravenousDemilo]

52. Well, I sure would. n/m

[NaturalHigh]

56. I can't disagree.

[stimbox]

44. Mike's still running as a Democrat.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x105927

[NaturalHigh]

47. I wonder if there'll be as much heartburn about Cynthia McKinney...

as there seems to be about Gravel. After all, she's the one actually running for the Green party presidential nomination.

[LWolf]

51. Black and female in one package,

as well as being a true progressive. I'm sure the heartburn about McKinney is because she represents a bigger threat of a split vote than Gravel does.

[EFerrari]

58. I met her. She's about my mom's size. Good things come

in small and explosive packages.

:)

[LWolf]

63. I'll second that one.

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[Eric J in MN]

61. Are there any direct quotes from Mike Gravel on this? NT

NT

[depakid]

62. My guess is that the Green Party doesn't want him

and certainly doesn't support many of his whack Libertarian policies.