Mike Gravel’s In-World Connection

An interview with Astrophysicist McCallister

by Pollywog Gardenvale

This is Pollywog Gardenvale reporting from Mike Gravel’s campaign headquarters in Second Life. For twelve years from 1969-1981, Mike Gravel represented the state of Alaska. During that time, the former New York taxi cab driver played a key role in ending the military draft. He is the one who—at great personal risk—released the contents of the Pentagon Papers and exposed a pattern of government secrecy and corruption for all the world to see.

Clearly not a man to be taken lightly, Senator Gravel was the first to declare his candidacy for the Democratic nomination in April 2006, and a year later was the first to open an official campaign headquarters in the virtual world. I’m joined by Astrophysicist McCallister, the official coordinator for Senator Gravel’s campaign in the virtual world of Second Life. In the real world, he is Skyler McKinley, the Colorado State Director of Mike Gravel’s campaign.

Astrophysicist McCallister

Pollywog Gardenvale:  Is this really the official campaign headquarters and do you have meetings here?

Astrophysicist McCallister:  Yes, this is the official SL HQ of Mike Gravel for President 2008. We usually hold meetings, discussions, etc., but the primary focus of building this place was to allow an information center.

The Official Mike Gravel 2008 Headquarters in Second Life Isles of Intrigue2 (144, 211, 701)

Pollywog Gardenvale:  And does Senator Gravel pop in now and then?

Astrophysicist McCallister:  Mike’s been in a few times. He’s got an avatar, Smike Graves.

Pollywog Gardenvale:  Oh! I’ll have to keep an eye out for him!

Astrophysicist McCallister:  Second Life has proven to be an extremely valuable tool to inform members of the online community about Senator Gravel

Pollywog Gardenvale:  I’ve noticed there are now quite a few other campaign headquarters here.

Astrophysicist McCallister:  Well, none of them are official, except one which recently popped up. ;)

Pollywog Gardenvale:  I was wondering about that. Which one is the other official one?

Astrophysicist McCallister:  Kucinich, as of about two weeks ago.

Pollywog Gardenvale:  I haven’t seen that yet.

Astrophysicist McCallister:  What’s funny though, it’s actually run by a Republican, but he’s not listed.

Pollywog Gardenvale:   That’s intresting. It seems to me that Mike Gravel is all over the Internet—not only here in Second Life, but also on YouTube, FaceBook, MySpace, and many other sites. Is there someone who is masterminding all this, or is it being handled by a group of volunteers?

Astrophysicist McCallister:  We’ve got a GREAT social networking team, but it’s very grassroots. Our Social Networking Director is Deborah Petri, who’s also our WA State Director. She’s been handling MySpace, specifically.

Pollywog Gardenvale:  Well she is doing a great job.

Astrophysicist McCallister:  I’m also the YouTube and vide08.com guy, and the Colorado State Director.

Pollywog Gardenvale: The YouTube channel is very impressive.

Astrophysicist McCallister:  Hey, thanks! I do all the video production for the campaign.

Pollywog Gardenvale:  I think that this campaign has raised the bar for effective use of the Internet—and on a shoestring budget, no less.

Astrophysicist McCallister:  Ha ha, I take it you saw the latest numbers?

Pollywog Gardenvale:  Yeah... I was in there today and yesterday, too. It seems that the average age in [Second Life] is what—thirty or so, and these people are too young to remember the events surrounding the Pentagon Papers or the draft. So what message do you use to stir up the interest of young people who are online?

Astrophysicist McCallister:  It’s interesting, we’ve never really focused a message to different members of the voting tier. Senator Gravel is a straight-shooter of a candidate, and his “unpolitical statements,” as Dennis Wholly put it, are great at mobilizing members of our society who are fed up with the status quo. Younger generations tend to accept that message more loudly than others, but we haven’t really targeted our base.

Pollywog Gardenvale:  Which issue do you believe most differentiates Gravel from the other Democratic candidates?

Astrophysicist McCallister:  Senator Gravel believes in empowering the people.

Pollywog Gardenvale:  So that is the National Initiative.

Astrophysicist McCallister:  Yes, that’s NI4D, the National Initiative for Democracy. He’s not politics as usual, he wants the people to have the power, and believes that implementing direct democracy, via the Internet will be the greatest route to solve our nation’s problems.

Pollywog Gardenvale:  You were asking Newt Gingrich to comment on that subject several times recently. As I remember, he actually did to some extent.

Astrophysicist McCallister:  Yes, both times, actually.

Pollywog Gardenvale:  Is this idea, in light of the Internet, more doable than before?

Astrophysicist McCallister:  Yes, the Internet and the concept of “Web 2.0” can play a critical role in direct democracy.

Pollywog Gardenvale:  Do any of the other candidates have a position on this subject?

Astrophysicist McCallister:  They’re all politics as usual. They’re senators, and governors, overall, aristocrats by whom empowering the people would anger.

Pollywog Gardenvale:  Who do you think might be a suitable running mate for Mike Gravel, should he win the nomination?

Astrophysicist McCallister:   Lincoln Chaffee.

Pollywog Gardenvale:  Who’s he?

Astrophysicist McCallister:   Simply put: Fomer Senator from Rhode Island.

Pollywog Gardenvale:  Oh.

Astrophysicist McCallister:  He was a Republican Senator, but now is an Independent and was hailed in congress for his progressive ideas.

Pollywog Gardenvale:  Is he also semi-retired?

Astrophysicist McCallister:  He was not reelected in 2006.

Pollywog Gardenvale:  Do you think that Senator Gravel’s age might be considered an issue, or do you think that people will see beyond that and appreciate the experience that his years represent?

Astrophysicist McCallister:  You know, I’ve never thought of age to be an issue. Not only does he have the experience from his years in Congress, but he’s also been permitted to see the general decay of Representative Government. Simply, his passion for the people far outmeasures his age.

Pollywog Gardenvale:  Regardless of what happens with the Democratic nomination, do you see Senator Gravel continuing to work to push this initiative?

Astrophysicist McCallister:  Senator Gravel is a fighter. He was longtime chairperson of the Democracy Foundation, whose sole purpose is to implement NI4D. He ran for President to inform the people about NI4D, and we’ve been successful in doing so.

Even after Iowa, New Hampshire, and all of the primaries and caucuses, Mike will still be around, and will still be spreading information for NI4D.

Pollywog Gardenvale:  He certainly seems to have a knack for putting people on the spot. I was thinking about a particular debate I saw on your YouTube channel where Senator Clinton seemed to be giggling inappropriately.

Astrophysicist McCallister:  Yes, the most recent one, the NH debate hosted by MSNBC on the 26th. Senator Clinton essentially voted on a figleaf resolution to go to war with Iran. Senator Gravel called her out on this and she laughed.

Pollywog Gardenvale:  Yes, that’s the one.

Astrophysicist McCallister:  What’s funny is that two of the other candidates immediately followed Senator Gravel’s example—calling Senator Clinton out on Iran—but they wouldn’t make the first move. He’s great like that. He’s not going to hold back any punches.

Pollywog Gardenvale:  How long have you been working with him?

Astrophysicist McCallister:  Since February.

Pollywog Gardenvale:  And what were you doing before that?

Astrophysicist McCallister:  I was working as a Legislative Liasion at the State Capitol. But more so, recovering from the ‘06 election season.

Pollywog Gardenvale:  It sounds like you’re a political junkie.

Astrophysicist McCallister:  Yes, I’m an RL political consultant.

Pollywog Gardenvale:  Well, that’s interesting, and he’s certainly fortunate to have you on his team.

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Greg Cruey | Blogspot
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