He's not going to win, but...

...I love him.




I never heard of Senator Mike Gravel from Alaska until this debate (South Carolina). Even after two terms in the Senate, he believes in peace and he's a radical (comparatively). Listen to what he's got to say. I wish he could be rewarded for his positions with votes, but we don't vote for ideas anymore. Not at this level. Barack and Hillary have already been ordained as the two we get to choose from. I don't have a problem with either of them. I like them both. But they will never say anything too creative or go out on a limb.

Our process for picking candidates guarantees we'll never get anyone that strays too far from the center. The differences will be nuanced. Of course, I desperately want to see a Democrat in the White House, but it's mostly because of what they won't do rather than what they will do. They won't appoint a justice to the Supreme Court who doesn't agree with Roe v. Wade. They won't sign the Federal Marriage Amendment. They won't use gay issues to divide the nation.

But (sadly) I doubt they will provide health care for all. I doubt our schools will improve under a Democrat. The nuance here is that I know under a Republican, we won't have health care for all. I know our schools won't improve. You see the differences are pretty small.

But I don't know if I can survive another term of Republican arrogance. I don't know if our country could survive it. So take a look at Senator Gravel, and dream, just for a second, that our candidates will have such brave ideas. And then just wait and see who wins the fundraising war.

Coffee tip #5: Today was a heat advisory day, with temperatures reaching 100 degrees. For the die hard "don't water down my coffee" iced coffee drinker, try making coffee ice cubes. Put those in your iced coffee and never experience watered down coffee again! Or, put some toothpicks in the ice tray and make coffee popsicles. Yum!