The Green Party Should Endorse Ni4D

I don't see Mike interested in being Vice President or even Secreatary of This orThat, were those positions to be offered. Mike is at the end of his office holding career. VP is a job for a seat warmer. It's a bookend position. It's not worth a bucket of warm spit, said some VP of FDR's. You can bet that Obama, "Mr Change without changing". will never offer Mike any position of power or responsibility in his regime, if he has one.

Mike's run was a shot at the lottery. They often don't pay off. But he got a tremendous amount of publicity for the NI4d. Who on this list, or reading this list, had ever heard of the NI4d before Mike stood up in South Carolina just over a year ago and made the following points :

• The US war against Iraq was lost when it was begun on a false basis.
• An end to the war could be effected by a bill passed in the House and a Senate filibuster on such a bill defeated by a daily vote on cloture. The way to do so was not lacking but the will was.
• The recent threat of a pre-emptive nuclear strike in the "war on terror" was immoral and would be dropped under a Gravel administration.
• All American armed forces who died in Vietnam died in vain and American armed forces in Iraq are dying in vain. As bad as that was and is it is worse to allow American armed forces to continue to die in vain.
• America has no important military enemies. It is the influence of the military-industrial complex that has conditioned us to think of the world in terms of enemies. We ought to view the other nations of the world as equals rather than to try to dominate them.
• A "war on terrorism" will be as unsuccessful as a "war on drugs". In fact the invasion and occupation of Iraq have made terrorism more likely.
• The CIA overthrow of democracy in Iran in the 1950's lies at the root of our problems with that country. The sanctions in place since the US hostage situation in Iran have not had any positive effects. It is a fact that the US is in violation of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and that Iran is not.

These are not the public statements of a VP, or a Sec Whatever.

These are the public statements of a giant. And it was the stature of this man that led me to investigate the NI4d. I will admit that not all the others of Mike's ideas resonated with me. Although I think that a national VAT is an interesting theoretical proposition its magical implementation never appealed to me.

But the NI4d  seems to me to be truly brilliant. And it is a singular tribute to Mike that it stands before us all today as a real possibility.

I have written to several candidates... McKinney and Nader among them, Gordon Clark the Green Candidate in MD's eighth CD, a few others so far... exhorting them to join the USpvp. All it takes is a commitment to the NI4d for the implementation of direct democracy and to the Campaign Finance Reform amendment for the reform of representative democracy to be a member. Say you're one and you're one, and then carry through on your pledges.

It's possible that those running for office either do not really know about the NI4d or do not think that it's so well-known and supported among the electorate. It is our job to make sure that they know  about the NI4d and about its support among the electorate.

Altenative politics is a small arena. The NI4d can achieve high recognition and high priority in this small arena, and from there spread, as support for an alternative must if it is to be a real alternative, throughout the body politic. And  Mike Gravel will be in great demand to recount the spirit behind it and to spearhead its enactment.

I got an email form "Mike" today, outlining his plans for a speaking tour on behalf of the NI4d in conjunction with promoting his books. A speaking tour needs audiences. We need to be making the alternative political class aware that the push for the NI4d is now beginning in earnest, and that they need to invite Mike to explain all about it and to drum up conversation and debate on it during this and, I'm sure, the next few election cycles.

The NI4d is not a sprint for president. It is a marathon that will only be won if we have the staying power to go the distance.

And who can argue with the characterization of Mike as the Marathon Man?

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Times have changed. We are going to empower the American people. Let’s work together. I am tough. I’m not afraid. None of this politics as usual. Mike Gravel

http://www.greenpartywatch.com/2008/06/green-vice-president-indulgent.ht...

http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/emk/gG5B2C