Finally...

Finally, I've been wanting the campaign to start concentrating on past accomplishments for a while now. Mike filibustered for 5 months in 1971 to end the VietNam Draft.

Incidentally, he also read thousands of pages of the Pentagon Papers into congressional record while the Supreme Court was convening to possibly ban their publication. Yeah, he went through a long legal battle after that stunt, but still thought it was important enough to stand up for what he thought was right.

That is what I find key. I'm not crazy about the National Initiative and the National Sales Tax does have (correctable) drawbacks as it stands and those are Mike's two major platforms, BUT, I do like the notion that their is actually one politician out their who will stand up when they see something wrong, regardless of the consequences to themselves, and I cannot say that about any other candidate out there right now. Mike Gravel has proven it time and again.

On the flip side, he does a horrible job of explaining some of his very legitimate notions. He talks about passing a law to make the war in Iraq illegal and make the President and Vice-President felons if they don't comply. Well, that just sounds ridiculous when framed that way.

But think about it for a second, and you can dissect it. a little. Frame this as Congress having weakly given up its power to declare war for obvious reasons (from the wikipedia link above):

Not declaring war provides a way to circumvent constitutional safeguards against the executive declaring war, and also, in some cases, to avoid feeling bound by the established laws of war. Not using the word "war" is also seen as being more public relations-friendly. For these reasons, governments have generally ceased to issue declarations of war, instead describing their actions by euphemisms such as "police action" or authhorized use of force."

In fact, the last war we did declare was on December 8th, 1942. You know what comes with the declaration of war? The power to undeclare it. Back in the day, Congress told us when a war was over, not the President. But now we can't do that. Our Congress has betrayed us by giving up a specifically reserved power.

So, whats left to be done if the vast majority of the country wants our troops to come home, and yet the bastard in the White House does not? Cut funding to the war. Thats about the only power they have left to end this thing. But that is an unpopular move. It uses the troops as an emotional weapon against the executive branch and it looks bad so congress people are disinclined to do it.

Of course, they are the legislative branch and in essence they make the rules. Enter Mike Gravel, the war-ender with United States Armed Forces Withdrawal From Iraq Act. The full text is there, here is the gist:

1) All members of the US Military except for the sovereign guard must leave Iraq within 3 months.

2) In that time, money can be used for withdrawal and defense, but not for mounting offensives.

3) The executive branch must supply verification that they are complying with the law (this is shakey ground as you can't make laws directed at individuals, but we're very clear that these are Public Offices, regardless of who occupies them, so its kosher)

4) Penalties if you violate the law

5) Repeal the authorization of force made to enter Iraq.

And thats it. Seems pretty straightforward to me, anyone else want to help me start a grassroots movement just for this bill?