Russert's UFO and other Debate Mysteries

A few thoughts on last night's debate:

* "Where's Mike?" Isn't it amazing that GE and NBC could suddenly drop me from the debates and none of my opponents would even comment on it? It's like Stalin's Russia when someone would just stop showing up for work but no one in the office dared to ask; "Hey, what ever happened to Ivan?" What does it say about the state of American politics and the Democratic Party when our presidential candidates don't have the guts to question a TV network?

* Sticks and Carrots? Great to see Edwards and Obama finally challenge Clinton for supporting the march toward war with Iran. For months I've been educating the public about this phony crisis. My many Huffington posts and my "I'm ashamed of you, Hillary" moment in the last debate got me in big trouble with the power elite. But last night's Hillary-bashing rang false. Was it based on genuine disagreement or just political calculation? Obama, after all, refused to vote on the Kyl-Lieberman amendment. And last night I still heard a lot of tough talk from almost all the candidates about never allowing Iran to go nuclear, keeping all options on the table and "sticks and carrots." Sticks and carrots? Maybe a good way to start diplomacy would be to show the Iranians some respect and stop referring to them as donkeys that must be bribed or beaten into compliance.

* Tim Russert's UFO. Once again Russert assumed his role as the establishment's Hatchetman. Last debate, he sandbagged me with the bankruptcy question. This time he clocked Dennis with the UFO. When is Russert going to ask Hillary about the billing records or the cattle futures during a debate? Russert is America's most overrated journalist (Wolf Blitzer's a close second). Russert failed to challenge administration flacks in the lead up to Iraq (remember, he was one of Scooter Libby's go-to journalists) and now he's joined the drum beat for war with Iran. Last night he repeatedly pestered the candidates: "Will you pledge that when you're president, Iran will not develop nukes?" Was that a question? A twisted mantra? Or was it a demand for a profession of faith that we need to bomb Iran? Talk about trying to undermine diplomacy. Enough of Tim Russert!

Last night's debate showed that my campaign has reshaped the national debate about Iran. This is exactly what the warmongers and profiteers feared -- an aggressive opposition with a national platform. And this is why I wasn't invited last night.

But I'm still the race and I've been invited to other debates. I hope that if another network suddenly decides to exclude me, maybe I'll get some support from the candidates who are now following my lead.

Comments

[tejasgole]

Mike, great job with the debate. Its sad the MSM and other candidates are completely blocking you out.

Sadder still that even this site does not seem to be giving you much time on the front page.

[brettday]

Keep on speaking truth, Mike, we're with you!

[Zal Moxis]

As usual, Sen. Gravel is right on! It's hard to add to his cogent comments, last night during the "debate," or in his remarks today. Thank you, Mike.

[toddpw]

Well, if Ron Paul can get on Leno (good clip, btw, I recommend it) then there's still hope for a non-establishment message as long as it brings in the contributions. GOP voters are finally waking up to what their party has become, and voting with their dollars.

The Dem voters have yet to wake up to the truth-- all rhetoric aside, their front-runners are in the pocket of big money and won't fix what truly needs fixing. Blogs like DailyKos are running out of simple excuses since Reid and Pelosi keep throwing fight after fight that by all rights Congress should win.

We need more people like Mike, Dennis, and Ron sticking up for the truth and forcing real issues out into the media, in spite of the "censorship of starvation" that is the true hallmark of state-controlled media.

Except in our case, the State extends out through the military-industrial-financial complex into the rest of our society. Mike was right when he said they "own our culture". It's literally true! And scary.

[dailyrev]

Bravo, and bravo again, Mike! People, I've been around as a voter since the days of Nixon, and I have not seen an abler, saner, clearer-speaking, more bullshit-free candidate for this office than Mike Gravel. As I said at the blog today, there's a year to go, and those front 3 of the Dems could hack one another to pieces or (worse yet) try and back their way softly into the Oval Office, and that would open the door wide for Mike. I refuse to give up on this man, and I would suggest that if he strikes a chord with you, you shouldn't give up on him either. Go Mike!!!

[horhay]

Thank you Senator Gravel. Keep bringing important issues into the presidential race. The MSM and corporatocracy may be trying to force you out of the race, but here in the blogosphere we hear your message loud and clear. Please stay in until the primaries (or however long you can stand it).

[HeevenSteven]

I completely agree with you; Russert is an overrated pumpkin head.

[Qbear]

I missed you at the debate and wanted to thank you for your post on Queerty lambasting Obama's callous use of hate-spewing closet case Donnie McClurkin.

[Dantheman99]

Give 'em Hell, Mike!!!

Keep telling the truth! And, the better let you speak at the Convention!

[Marlyn]

Yes Mike, you have been a leader, and thank you for speaking out so forcefully.

I enjoyed your discussion of the debate online last night. That is a great format, being able to freeze the action to make a point.

[FogBelter]

Senator Gravel you were sorely missed, and your absence was an affront to our Democratic process.

Since when can a Corporation decide the validity of a Candidates campaign? To abreviate the Democratic Process by excising certain candidates based on some Corporate success formula is unAmerican.

It is not surprising you were treated that way, Senator, like Kucinich and Paul, you bring alternative views into the Race that are out of step with the Clinical Corporate Status Quo message that has been constructed and approved for public consumption.

I hope that you and all of the other Democratic Candidates will stay in the Race, come Hell or High Water, until the Convention. It would be the Patriotic thing to do.

Thank you, Senator

[threasoner]

I just got the note from GE's Gary Sheffer, that it is OK to exclude a candidate because they didn't spend enough time in a couple of small, predominately white states, didn't poll high enough (in the right poll) or didn't raise enough money.
Excluding a candidate on the basis of dollars is un-American. Politicians are elected by the number of votes they get, not the amount of money they accept from the rich and powerful and linking the two demonstrates how badly our system is being taken over by the money, instead of the people.

[mattm.sf]

All his points are spot on.

Mr. Gravel, I am proud to say I watched your webcast debate last night, and it blew my mind! I hope it lands you several major articles in several major news papers, which will garner you more support to fight the establishment!!

[RickTheScribe]

Thanks, Sen. Gravel, for continuing to speak out. We need to take our country back and from what I'm seeing the "mainstream" Dems are only moderately more palatable than some of the Repubs. I was really ashamed that you weren't allowed to participate last night and I'm ashamed that, as a country, we're such sheep that we can be led around by the nose so easily. And most of the debate moderators have been disgraceful. All they want to do is pit the candidates against each other in a big food fight. They don't care about the real issues. If they did, Russert might have asked Rep. Kucinich about his impeachment bill rather than trying to paint him as some sort of kook with the UFO question. The only one worth a crap thus far was Keith Olbermann. Keep your voice loud and strong Senator.

[Henry]

Thanks.
You're right. And you were missed.