Recently, Mike Gravel had seen new life as a Libertarian candidate, after announcing his intention to run for that party's nomination on March 25, 2008. After giving it his best at the Libertarian Convention, he was not selected as a candidate to represent that party.

His website seems to indicate that he will not continue in any capacity and will not run as an independent candidate.

Final Gravel Update from the Libertarian Convention

It took 6 ballots to determine the Libertarian Party nomination for president and vice president. Senator Mike Gravel was eliminated on the 4th ballot. The Libertarian Party has selected Bob Barr and Wayne Allyn Root as their candidates for President and VP, respectively.

Mike Gravel has not stated what he will do next, whether he will run as an independent or exit the race.

Update: Senator Gravel has gotten the required number of delegates to participate in tonight's C-Span Libertarian debate at the convention. The debate will be broadcast on C-Span 1, beginning at 9-11 p.m. ET, May 24.

Senator Gravel will debate the following Libertarian Party competitors: Bob Barr, Mary Ruwart, George Phillies, Steve Kubby, Michael Jingozian, and Wayne Allyn Root.

Update: The Libertarian National Convention will be held May 22-26 in Denver. Go to the Libertarian Party Convention website for more information about the convention and for hotel availability.

Update: On Monday, May 12, 2008, The Libertarian party of West Virginia hosted its annual Libertarian State Convention, where a straw poll was held. Senator Gravel narrowly beat Dr. Mary Ruwart:

* Senator Mike Gravel - 5 votes
* Dr. Mary Ruwart - 4 votes
* Steve Kubby - 1 vote
* Jim Burns - 1 vote
* Christine Smith - 1 vote

All State Conventions are over. The Libertarian candidate will be selected at the Libertarian National Convention in Denver, May 22-26 (See Above).

Update: Results from the April 27th Indiana Libertarian Party Debates and Straw Poll. Gravel has placed third in the last two straw polls, and is a close contender.

As I stated above, the Indiana LP left no clear message of who they support for the 2008 LP presidential nomination. It should be interesting to see how the delegate allocation at the National convention plays out. Below are the straw poll results:

* George Phillies - 22
* Bob Barr - 22
* Mike Gravel - 20
* Mary Ruwart - 19
* Michael Jingozian - 16
* Wayne Allyn Root - 16
* Daniel Imperato - 4
* Barry Hess - 3
* Christine Smith - 2
* Steve Kubby - 1
* Alden Link, John Finan, Jim Burns, Dave Hollist, Robert Milnes - 0
* None of the Above - 5

Update: Wednesday, April 30, 6-8PM

Senator Gravel will hold an event at the College Perk Coffee House in Baltimore, Maryland.

This event is being co-sponsored by the Peace Forum and Community Roots.

Location: College Perk Coffee House, 9078 Baltimore Avenue, College Park, MD, 2074

For more information, contact the event coordinator, Heyfa K, at katuru83@hotmail.com

Update: Saturday, April 26, 9-12 Noon

Flushing, New York at the Reception House, 16717 Northern Blvd, Flushing, NY11358-2638

Senator Gravel will attend the New York Libertarian State Convention. For more info, call 516-767-4688 or email at nylibertarian@hotmail.com.

Update: Tuesday, April 22, Noon-2 p.m.

Scranton, PA - Senator Gravel will attend a Anti-Nuclear Event.

Update:Monday, April 21, 3:30-7 p.m.

New Brunswick, NJ at Rutgers University (Tent State)

Senator Gravel will attend a Direct Democracy & Higher Education Event.

Update:Saturday, April 19, 9AM-5PM

Tacoma, Washington at the Titlow Lodge, 8425 6th Avenue, Tacoma, Washington98465

Senator Gravel will attend the Washington State Libertarian State Convention. For more info, contact convention2008@ipwa.org. The following candidates will join him at the convention:

Michael Jingozian
Mary Ruwart
Wayne Allyn Root
George Phillies

Update: This is Mass Donation week for Mike Gravel. If you are so inclined, he has requested people make You Tube videos to spread the word. April 22 is the big day, but any donations throughout the week are appreciated. If you want to give Mike Gravel's campaign chest a boost, now is the time.

To contribute to Mike Gravel's Bid for President in 2008.

Update: April 11-13 - North Carolina Libertarian Party will be holding its State Convention.

Senator Gravel will be in attendance along with Bob Barr, George Phillies, Wayne Allyn Root and Mary Ruwart.

This event will be held at the La Quinta Inn in Burlington, North Carolina. You can easily reach the La Quinta from I-85. Traveling north on I-85, take Exit 145 and turn left onto Maple Ave. La Quinta will be on the right. Traveling south on I-85, exit at Exit 145 and turn right. La Quinta will then be on the right. Reservations are available by calling La Quinta Inn at 336-229-5203.

For more information about the event, contact Brian Irving of the North Carolina Libertarian Party at (910) 987-5844.

Update: Mike Gravel is on a tour of the Northeast making stops in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania.

Thursday, April 10 @ 7 p.m. - Allentown, Pennsylvania. Senator Gravel will address the Muhlenberg College community. This event is also open to the public. The format of this event will be a general speech, following an open Q&A. The event is being hosted by the Gay-Alliance organization and will be held in Miller Forum at Moyer Hall.

Update: April 8

Straw Poll Results for Libertarian Debate, April 5, Kansas City, Mo.

* Wayne Allyn Root: 22
* Bob Barr: 20
* Mike Gravel: 15
* Mary Ruwart: 12
* Michael Jingozian: 8
* George Phillies: 7
* None of the Above: 3
* Christine Smith: 2
* Barry Hess: 1

The Ohio State Convention was also held over the weekend. Senator Gravel finished second in the Straw Poll there. We do not have any hard number counts for that vote.

Libertarian Candidate for President in 2008: Bob Barr

Libertarian Candidate for Vice-President in 2008: Wayne Allyn Root

The War in Iraq

Senator Gravel's position on Iraq remains clear and consistent: to commence an immediate and orderly withdrawal of all U.S. troops that will have them home within 120 days. The sooner U.S. troops are withdrawn, the sooner we can pursue aggressive diplomacy to bring an end to the civil war that currently consumes Iraq. Senator Gravel seeks to work with neighboring countries to lead a collective effort to bring peace to Iraq.

One of the leading opponents of the Vietnam War, Senator Gravel was one of the first current or former elected officials to publicly oppose the planned invasion of Iraq in 2002. He appeared on MSNBC prior to the invasion insisting that intelligence showed that there were indeed no weapons of mass destruction, that Iraq posed no threat to the United States and that invading Iraq was against America's national interests and would result in a disaster of epic proportions for both the United States and the Iraqi people.

Today, more than four years into the invasion, the death toll of U.S. troops has climbed over 3,300 with over 50,000 more permanently maimed, some having lost limbs, others their sight. Tens of thousands more are afflicted with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and urgently need psychological care. The Iraqi civilian death toll nears three-quarters of a million, and still there remains no end in sight to the bloodshed.

As President, Senator Gravel will call for a U.S. corporate withdrawal from Iraq and hand over reconstruction contracts to Iraqi businesses which will empower Iraqi nationals to reconstruct their own country.

The National Initiative for Democracy

Mike fully supports the National Initiative for Democracy. The NI4D is a way to bring legislative power back to the people. In many states, citizens can put measures on the ballot and Mike believes as citizens of the United States we should all have that power.

Iran and Syria

Senator Gravel opposes a military confrontation with Iran and Syria and advocates a diplomatic solution to the current situation.

Global Warming/Climate Change

Senator Gravel believes that global climate change is a matter of national security and survivability of the planet. As President, he will act swiftly to reduce America's carbon footprint in the world by initiating legislation to tax carbon at the source and cap carbon emissions. He is also committed to leading the fight against global deforestation, which today is second only to the energy sector as a source of greenhouses gases. However, any legislation will have little impact on the global environment if we do not work together with other global polluters. China, India and under-developed nations all work together fighting climate change can only be effective if it is a collective global effort. As President, Senator Gravel will see that the U.S. launches and leads a massive global scientific effort, integrating the world's scientific and engineering community, to end energy dependence on oil and integrate the world's scientific community in this task.

Progressive Taxes

A fair Tax Senator Gravel's Progressive Fair Tax proposal calls for eliminating the IRS and the income tax and replacing it with a national sales tax on new products and services. To compensate for the tax on necessities, such as food, lodging, transportation and clothing, there would be a "rebate" to reimburse taxpayers. This would be paid in a monthly check from the government to all citizens. The focus on taxing new goods would also help tackle the global climate change problem.

Healthcare

Senator Gravel advocates a universal healthcare system that provides equal medical services to all citizens, paid for by a retail sales tax (a portion of the Progressive Fair tax). Citizens would pay nothing for health benefits.

Reproductive Rights

Senator Mike Gravel supports a woman's right to decide if and when to have children. He also supports a woman's right to make the difficult decision about abortion without interference by government authorities. Comprehensive, age-appropriate sex education, including accurate information about contraception, can always be provided in order to reduce the number of unintended pregnancies and abortions. Parity in health insurance and access to specialized family health care services, including family planning education, would also benefit the health and welfare of infants and children, who need and deserve to be wanted and loved.

Immigration

Senator Gravel favors protecting our borders and monitoring the flow of immigrants into our country. He also favors a guest worker program and setting up naturalization procedures that would fairly bring immigrants into legal status. America must address the root cause of illegal immigration. Any discussion of immigration must include NAFTA and the concept of "free trade." The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has been a disaster for the working class of both the U.S. and Mexico and a boon to the international corporate interests. A study by the Economic Policy Institute found that over 1 million U.S. jobs were lost as a result of NAFTA, a third of them manufacturing jobs. In Mexico, 1.3 million farm workers lost their jobs in the same period. This has led to a wave of immigrants looking for work in the U.S. Reforming unfair trade policies spawned by measures like NAFTA will stimulate job growth on both sides of the border.

LGBT Rights

Senator Gravel supports same-sex marriage and opposes the Defense of Marriage Act. He supports expanding hate-crime legislation and opposes laws that allow discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or one's gender identity or expression. Senator Gravel strongly opposes the military's "Don't Ask Don't Tell" legislation on the grounds that it is unconstitutional, as it restricts the rights of gay Americans. He opposes any state or national constitutional amendment that restricts the rights of the gay community.

Education

Access to public education is a bedrock American value. Why is it then that the United States ranks 49th in literacy and that an estimated 30% of our students don't graduate from high school? Investing in education provides a pathway to a thriving national economy, to individual and family economic opportunity, and to the reduction of poverty. A successful education system requires the commitment of families, the community, and government. It's time to re-order our national budget priorities in order to improve the American education system. Parent education and access to preschool programs such as Head Start need to be expanded so that children from low-income families are equally ready to benefit from elementary school. Universal pre-kindergarten would also enhance readiness. Encouraging our students to be the best they can be will require flexibility from the federal and state governments, within school systems, and from groups with a stake in educational success. Flexibility may mean extended school days and summer learning opportunities or extended school years. It may mean online and broadcast courses to provide access to highly qualified teachers. It may mean charter schools to address the needs of local communities, smaller classes, enrichment programs for students at risk, and vocational options. One thing we know for sure: No Child Left Behind has left too many children behind. It needs to be reformed and adequately funded. It needs to acknowledge the need for a fuller curriculum that encourages critical thinking-not just math and science test-taking. A high school diploma should be the minimum goal for all students; without it, our children will be condemned to a substandard economic existence.

Veteran's Affairs

As President, Senator Gravel would ensure that veterans receive full funding for their most important needs, including healthcare that is indexed to the increasing cost of care and medicine. He would make sure that all soldiers receive a full medical diagnosis to assess what their individual needs would be. He would also make sure that the VA system is fully financed and has sufficient well-trained personnel to provide the finest care that is available. As the Senator says, "We can do no less and we will do much more." Mike Gravel is the only military veteran in the democratic race.

The War on Drugs

The War on Drugs has been a failure. It is time to end prohibition and start treating addiction as a public health problem. This has ravaged our inner cities, and we are losing an entire generation of men and women to prisons. We must regulate hard drugs for the purpose of treating addicts, which would emphasize rehabilitation and prevention over incarceration. We must decriminalize minor drug offenses and increase the availability and visibility of substance abuse treatment in our communities as well as in jails and prisons. The United States incarcerates more people and at a higher rate than any other industrialized nation in the world. Some 2.3 million Americans are now behind bars. This tragedy must end.

Net Neutrality

Net Neutrality aims to keep the Internet free from large companies, which are trying to limit the number of web sites their customers can view and the speed at which they can view them. Senator Gravel guarantees a free and open Internet with unlimited access to all sites. He will do this by supporting legislation and regulation that keeps you in control of your Internet usage and promotes free speech.

Human Rights

Senator Gravel is adamantly opposed to torture, indefinite detention, and the deprivation of lawyers/speedy trials. He opposes the Military Commissions Act, flagrant ignorance of the Geneva convention, and Guantanamo.

Source for more information and clarifications.

I place Mike Gravel in the same category as Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich. All three have served or currently serve in the house or senate, and all three of them are vocal about how the government is being run. I get the impression that all of them are seeing what is being done in congress, and simply aren't going along with it, whatever 'it' may be.

They are definitely on the side of the people, our side, the side of their constituents. I think many of the men and women in congress have forgotten how they got to where they are now. These three men have not.

To set Mike Gravel apart from Paul and Kucinich, however, Gravel is Pro-Choice, a stance that Paul opposes bitterly. Kucinich is also Pro-Choice, but does not have the fiscal experience that Gravel does.

Although Gravel and Paul both want to reverse the Fed's stranglehold on our economy, I think Gravel is more properly aligned to deal with this issue, despite Paul's drumbeating on the economy and the nation's banking structure.

There is no doubt that a Gravel/Paul ticket would be a strong ticket for the Libertarians (for a change), or a Gravel/Kucinich ticket for disenfranchised democrats would be equally tempting.

Sadly, anyone who isn't McCain, Obama or Clinton seem to be ancient history, and a great deal of press would have to be surrendered, or a greater tide of internet support presented to make anyone else, including Gravel, viable.

Gravel is the oldest of the candidates at 77, which many people see to be setback, and some view him as a cranky old uncle. Still, he seems to have more fire than Reagan did as he coasted to the same age at the end of his second term. Maybe Gravel has enough energy for one term, and that might be enough to make a difference.

The Libertarian party may give him the opportunity he and a good running mate need to take a shot at Obama/Clinton and McCain.

I look forward to seeing how the Libertarians choose their candidate, and who the candidate for VP will be to shake things up. If Clinton and Obama take the Democratic Primaries to the wire, and McCain drags his heels on picking a running mate, the Libertarians might be able to wake voters up and steal some votes.

I wouldn't put any money on it, but a good three way race would be more entertaining than the uninspiring, ho-hum McCain/Democrat slapfight for which we're being set up.

Mike Gravel was a senator for Alaska between 1969 and 1981.

Ideally placed when he first took office, he assumed an anti-war stance as the Vietnam War raged.

He's been away from politics for an awful long time, which seems to be part of the reason he had little following, but he adheres to the policies he set forth almost 30 years ago.

Strongly and consistently Pro-Choice.

Strongly and consistently opposed the death penalty, and has supported its abolition.

Supports Campaign Finance Reform.

Supports an organized path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, as well as a guest worker program.

Supports same-sex marriage on a national level.

Supports the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), and the repealing of "don't ask, don't tell" policy.

Supports 2nd amendment rights but supports mandatory training program prior to gun licensing.

Supports anti-war stances and opposes the application of executive power to make decisions in times of war. It is suggested that had he been senator during 9/11 and the buildup for Afghanistan and Iraq, he would have opposed or voted against some if not all wartime measures.

Source: About.com