Legislative Draft Proposal to end the War
May 18th, 2007 by Elliswonder
Could the moderators/anybody please post a pdf of this for all of us to read. Thanks.
Also, what's been happening on that front ? Is it being pushed to any Congressmen or Senators yet ? Any forumites in the know about this ?
- Login to post comments
Comments
Here's the letter I prepared
Submitted on May 19th, 2007 by Mainer4MikeHere's the letter I prepared -- feel free to use as you deem appropriate: Mainer
Presidential candidate Mike Gravel presented the U.S. Armed Forces Withdrawal from Iraq Act before a group including anti-war activists earlier this week. The legislation would make it a crime if the Bush Administration did not withdraw our troops within 60 days of enactment. A clear, concise and effective vehicle for ending this misbegotten folly. The American people can get behind this legislative package -- the details of which can be obtained through Gravel's website (www.gravel2008.us)-- that will achieve the desired outcome because: (a) the vast majority of Americans want us out now!; and (b) mandatory prison terms would be imposed if the law was ignored.
Unlike non-binding resolutions and ineffectual congressional talks with the White House, Gravel's legislation will get results. Gravel had the guts to stand up to Richard Nixon during Vietnam. Now he's provided the American people with the vehicle for ending this ugly chapter in our history if we do our part. Add a request that Congress pass the U.S. Armed Forces Withdrawal from Iraq Act to all of your communications with your representative and senators. Now, more than ever, make your voices heard -- loudly and often.
Use the DNC Portal to Blitz the Media
Submitted on May 19th, 2007 by Mainer4MikeCheck out the letter to the editor function at www.democrats.org. I registered as a Gravel supporter (that's a good thing so that the DNC sees more Gravel strength) and then used the available functions to send out letters to my local papers advising them of the Gravel Plan: U.S. Armed Forces Withdrawal from Iraq Act. If anyone wants to use my letter as a template -- send me a note at mainer4mike@yahoo.com and I'll do my best to respond asap.
We are, collectively, making a difference working as part of Gravelution!!!
Publicity for The Withdrawal Act
Submitted on May 20th, 2007 by jflYes, I've got my copies of the draft Act and the strategy as well. I think they are very good documents.
I've sent them off to my friends and have been sending them to my dynamic trio, congressman and senators, daily. And to Reid, Pelosi and the Demoblican Party itself daily as well. I hope many others are doing the same thing.
There's no reason that this initiative cannot work if thousands grow to tens of thousands grow to hundreds of thousands grow to millions all doing the same thing.
Faxing and snail mailing ought to be even more effective than email.
The Act itself ought to fit on a placard that can be hand-carried in pickets at the Capitol and White House.
Hand delivery to representatives' and senators' offices ought to be effective as well.
I didn't discover how to register "for Gravel" at the Demoblican site, I'm already registered to vote, but I did use their machinery to send a letter to Texas newspapers lauding the arrival of the Withdrawal Act and exhorting others to find it and to demand that "their" representatives and senators pass it.
Thanks for the heads up on that function.
Thanks for posting the plan!
Submitted on May 18th, 2007 by gopher1Well, it was a little late in coming but the .pdf's look great.
Speaking for myself, all our "complaining" is meant to send signals to the campaign about how they can best promote themselves through the web, and enable their supporters to "get the word out". It is not meant to denigrate the efforts of the web team in the least, but give them friendly, if insistent, advice.
I second gopher's opinion
Submitted on May 19th, 2007 by jflI second gopher's opinion. We are desperate for a unified effort to end the war and Mike is the only bona fide option in town. How sad is that? Pretty sad.
But Mike is an option! A strong option and our winning option.
I'm beginning to realize that although all websites are the same size there are really just a few people who have to pull all the levers back of this one. Thanks to all of you. I apologize for my impatience with you, but not for my impatience with the 535 + 2 war criminals in Washington DC. They've made me a war criminal for far too long already.
But now I feel we finally have a real lever, a real means of forcing them to do the will of the people rather than just watching them continue the ongoing war crime in Iraq, in my name, on behalf of the Oil Lobby, the War Lobby, and the AIPAC.
I'll be sending a copy to my dynamic trio in Washington DC early and often, sent it once already, and to all my friends, just in case they are unaware of its existence, so that they too may send it early and often to their respective dynamic trios in Washington DC.
Thanks for coming through for us! Now it's up to us.
I read it at 2:45PM EDT
Submitted on May 18th, 2007 by pacomIt looks good , with the TWO attachments,
the second explaining the strategy.
tannhauser PACOM , tanaiste
There's two of us, anyway
Submitted on May 18th, 2007 by jflThere's two of us, anyway, who'd like to try and actually use Mike Gravel's plan.
Two of us who would actually like to end the war.
Could you please give us a .pdf of the draft legislation?
Pretty please?
With sugar on it?
Two of you ending the war?
Submitted on May 18th, 2007 by Juan FloresWhat an incredibly arrogant and stupid thing to say. The Gravel team works 24/7 to keep the campaign rolling and all you guys can do is bitch and moan. You posted Alex and Elliott's info on their own site to take complaints? What kind on an asshole are you?
I think you have the wrong idea of what supporters are supposed to do. You don't call out the campaign for not meeting YOUR needs. You should shut the hell up and check your ego at the door. Keep up the good work Gravel crew. You guys are doing the impossible. Taking a guy who's been out of the spotlight for 26 years and putting him in a position to make a difference. Don't listen to fools, they will always be there. Keep on keeping on.
Thank You Honourable One
Submitted on May 18th, 2007 by ElliswonderYou make your points eloquently, and succinctly. I won't say you are "stupid". No I won't. Neither will I say you are "an asshole". No Sir, I won't.
But may I humbly suggest, that in future, you post these wonderful comments (since they are specificly aimed at individuals) directly to the person they're meant for. If you look just a little closer you will find that the webteam has provided us with a private messaging too, cunningly disguised as "write to author".
That way, no one else who comes to the forums need be put through reading such comments that aim at caressing the heart.
"Write to author"? Then why did YOU post in the forum?
Submitted on May 18th, 2007 by B AllenDude, total egomaniac. Total b.s. You lay into the Gravel crew, then ask not to be called out in the forum? Spineless.
In world of conflict, victims and executioners, it is the job of thinking people, not to be on the side of the executioners - Camus
three of us and counting...
Submitted on May 18th, 2007 by gopher1Hey Gopher, crawl back in your hole.
Submitted on May 18th, 2007 by Suzy 2sI've email his campaign people
Submitted on May 18th, 2007 by ElliswonderI'm fed up. I've sent the following email to the following people, and I suggest you do the same.
--------------------------
Field Director
Elliott Jacobson
202 558 6394 - Office
202 294 3266 - Cell
elliott@gravel2008.us
Press Secretary
Alex Colvin
310 650 7481 - Cell
alex@gravel2008.us
---------------------------
Dear Sir,
I am a supporter of Mike Gravel. I am writing to you about the amazing latency involved in the website being update.
The specific complaints are as follows.
1) Why are the videos/audio clips of Mike's appearances not being updated as soon as they happen ? Either on the YouTube(gravel2008) website or the www.gravel2008.us website ? Some times they are not posted at all, and it is left to forum members to provide links to them.
2) Mike's legislative plan to stop the war in Iraq. There have been repeated requests on the forums to post a copy of the draft as a pdf for the forum members to read. Some of us might call/alert our congressmen/senators and pressure them to support it.
3) The supporters have repeatedly asked for Mike's appearance schedule. To take a quote:
"Posting Mikes schedule? Whats he been up to since the debates? The Colbert report and a couple radio shows? What are his upcoming events? It wouldn't cost to post this on the site and I cant see any drawback to doing so." http://www.gravel2008.us/?q=node/991#comment-3433
To put things in context, the polls have not registered Mike getting any share of support, and the main stream media makes a joke out of him. I, along with many others feel that is it crucial for him at the least MAINTAIN the support that he does now possess. We need feedback. One important way to do this is to have a frequently updated website and keep us informed. It is currently performing well below the level that it needs to.
If you look to the forums, you will see that I am far from being the only one who's upset about this. We see Mike is our only hope for a better America, and a better world, and the website is not doing his campaign any justice.
I look forward to your reply.
Warm Regards,
E Wonder
PS> I will be posting this on the forums
Very bad move, man.
Submitted on May 18th, 2007 by Cubbie GirlYou actually posted their info asking us to call them and complain about the work they do? You don't get it. Elliott and Alex are the good guys. We support them. We need them and they need us. They have personally responded to EVERY email I have ever sent them.
We don't show them up. We carry them. You should be ashamed. I suggest you issue an apology to them both.
Listen
Submitted on May 19th, 2007 by ElliswonderFor the uphteenth time. The number is on the Contact Us page up there. So don't give me this nonsense. Secondly, I have on many occasions said that they need to post things like videos and have not got any responses from them. So don't pass judgement without knowing facts.
I'm on here to support Mike. Not to have this kind of talk. And I really do feel that the people in the background need to pick things up where possible.
Lastly, this legislative draft is very important. As Mike says, people ARE dying as we speak. Therefore whomever can contribute to helping him get his legislation heard must first read it. Which is what I've been trying to get from them. Why has it taken them 4 days to scan such an important document ? It takes less than 5 minutes. If there are some unexpexted things that delayed it, then say so. It makes no sense.
So don't try to sit there crowding around the others, and throw in your assanine comments. Yes I did are tell people to write to them to complain so I just cut and pasted their contact details that so happend to have their contact numbers, my mistake but so what ? If they don't want to be telephoned, then they wouldn't have posted them would they ?
And yeah, how wonderful for you to be able to pat them on the back for the great job they've done. Brilliant. I personally think they can do better. And in fact should do better. And'll tell them so, instead of keeping mum and hoping things will pick up.
Does that mean, I've lots respect for them, NOT AT ALL. What I have lost, is some respect for some of you sheep. If you don't like my opinion, fine. Critisize me, fine. But don;t make it personal. And yes, there is a distinction.
This is the last I will speak of the matter here.But if I think they're slacking off again, you can bloody well be sure I'll tell them so. While the rest of you "pat them on the back". Yeah, great. If I think they're doing a good job I'll tell them. In either case it's my opinion after all, and YOU don't have to like it. Maybe you don't want Mike elected as much as I do. That's fine. But don't you dare try to make it prosonal.
Quit your whining, Ellis
Submitted on May 19th, 2007 by B AllenSomeone please kick this guy off. They post their number to be contacted by press, not for dumbasses like you to show them up. Yeah we pat them on the back, we GET it. YOU are telling US not to take it personal? When you go and do a stupid ass thing like post their numbers and you say WE are taking it personal? Alex and Elliott may not mind that you did such a stupid thing, but to me its b.s. I hope this is the last we hear from you.
In world of conflict, victims and executioners, it is the job of thinking people, not to be on the side of the executioners - Camus
Heh, you wrote lots instead
Submitted on May 19th, 2007 by jordanamdahlHeh, you wrote lots instead of lost in the 7th paragraph and it almosts looks like your saying the opposite of what you mean (I'm not taking anyone's side here, I just thought that was funny).
This is total crap.
Submitted on May 18th, 2007 by Suzy 2sYou have the balls to sign 'warm regards' after you post their phone numbers? 'Amazing latency'? What the hell do you know about running a campaign? Let me tell you, I've worked on 4 congressional campaigns in Minnesota and there is always some dick like you who thinks they can do a better job.
Alex, if you read this I encourage you to kick this jerk off of this forum. You guys have enough on your plate. You don't need to deal with some idiot who claims to be a supporter and is undermining your efforts. You guys totally rock. Thank you for everything you are doing. I can't imagine how much work is involved in a national campaign with such a limited budget. Gravel has gone from total obscurity to the spotlight overnight. Just because these guys think its their right to call you out doesn't mean you aren't doing a damn good job.
I'm starting to get pissed off now
Submitted on May 18th, 2007 by ElliswonderPissed? So what's your next dumb move?
Submitted on May 18th, 2007 by Suzy 2sYou're being judged for your own actions, pal.
Gravel team: We are with you!
Don;t make me get prosonal with you like you have with me.
Submitted on May 19th, 2007 by ElliswonderOK. Let's relax and get back on track.
Submitted on May 19th, 2007 by carterWhat Ellis did by posting staff information on the site is more naive than 'stupid'.
Elliott is listed as Field Director. I have never seen him on the Gravel forum and would think that he has absolutely nothing to do with the content that goes onto the website. Posting his info is not a wise move under any circumstance. It would achieve nothing and has only angered Gravel supporters.
Alex is listed as Press Secretary. He has a presence on the forum, he answers questions asked of the Senator. That is what a Press Secretary does. He acts as a spokesman, not as web administrator.
I have seen posts by others that claim to be web staff. They should receive any inquiries about the site, not the Field Director and Press Secretary.
As for whether Ellis is kicked off, that remains up to the Gravel team. I do think there is an argument for it, he intentionally tried to show up key staffers. His intention was a bit malicious and his accusation of 'latency' is out or order and completely inappropriate. His responses have been just as ignorant.
Nonetheless, let's get back to business.
Those numbers are posted
Submitted on May 20th, 2007 by jordanamdahlS
Submitted on May 19th, 2007 by ElliswonderWebsite Concerns
Submitted on May 18th, 2007 by alexAll videos are posted as soon as we are able. The Kotecki videos were posted within hours. The press conference video was linked by forum members and that's fine. It was the best footage available at the time so it's on the video page.
We appreciated the pdf requests. The web team is working hard, and doing a phenomenal job, on many things to keep the website updated. We will get you one as soon as we can. Meanwhile, its been re-posted.
We have no plans to post the senator's travel schedule at this time. Please respect this. We will post his media schedule on the forum.
Thanks to all the supporters who are offering their advice and services. It truly helps. We have been overwhelmed with calls and emails of support and positive feedback about the website. We encourage your input. I do ask that you continue to use my email address to contact me with any website concerns.
Gravel 08
growth
Submitted on May 19th, 2007 by kelargoI think you guys are aptly adjusting to growth.
Thanks for all your hard work!
It can appear to be overwhelming at times.
That was really quick
Submitted on May 18th, 2007 by ElliswonderThanks, for uploading them so quickly.
Regards,
EW