Wonkette

It would have been better if they had put an apple in front of his face, Magritte-style.

Or maybe a big tub of feces . . . .

Wait wait, its art. His staring at the camera is symbolic of the many debates and commercials, he's "Staring us right in the face" just like solutions we can never see. Then the rock is his campaign, how so that should be clear. Then the long walk into the distance is his leaving the public eye after his rock sinks...

The fire one is "Gravel 2008 is HOT, it's SMOKING, its..." going down, down, down, in a burning ring of fire?

You mock what you do not understand!!

Ru Paul and Mike Gravol in '08!

ThEy'Re ThE mAn!!!!!!!

Somebody needs to tell him about Imovie, he doesnt need to do single shot videos and add the titles using the camcorder itself any more. Im surprised they could even figure out how to upload to youtube.

So what happens after he goes into the black lodge?

Politics as performance art.

Reminds me of the fellow who was running for sheriff of Aspen, Colorado a couple of years ago. His campaign wasn't helped by a "performance art" movie that made it to YouTube, showing him masturbating into a hole in the ground.

Or he was ahead of his time... since that's basically what we've been doing in Iraq the last two years.

isn't this a clip from Inland Empire?

(I think I like it.)

If you don't have anything good to say ...

Wow. Dada is in for 2008, I guess. Boy, I'm looking forward to those campaign commercials.

Haha, the youtube comments are hilarious. The Gravelites are all pretending like they actually like those videos. Dorks.

I'd like to have the trilogy. Does anyone have the one of him watching paint dry on his garage floor?

fucking awesome.
translation : voter youngsters have bascially no idea what they're looking at or doing.

I used to do a lot of drugs. Not just pot. A lot of psychedelics. Mushrooms and acid. It was fun. And I sit here watching these videos and asking two things:

1) Would they be fun to watch if I were tripping balls?

2) What has Mike Gravel been doing (taking?) during his 30 years of isolation in the wilderness of Alaska?

@Notreadyforwonkette: That's what I was thinking. He's definitely got the Fluxist vote locked up.

Ingmar Bergman ain't got jackshit on Mike Gravel!

The creepiest political ad. . . ever

This video was kind of brilliant for the following reason: it was a perfect campaign ad. He's not about a lot of talk. He's not all talk, no walk. He's all no talk and all walk. It's genius. The fire: he's a doer and he will be there until the end. It's a bit too postmodern for some, but I'm kind of into the creepiness of it all. If this guy makes it to my state primaries, I'm totally voting for him.

If the alternative is the usual "My opponent does it with donkeys for the entertainment of terrorists," there's only one thing to say:

I like Mike!

I don't know what all the fuss is about. That's exactly how I spend my vacation.

Sure it's boring when you watch in real time . Speed it up 3x and add the Benny Hill theme and it's fucking awesome!

Hey! Atleast he is silent! Take a second to think about it, however, the person shooting the video didn't go for any questions like 'Which part of Alaska do thery always dump you in after a flip-out' or 'When will you spit on one of the major candidates already?' Those are gold mine questions, worthy of Mike Gravel, but it wasn't taken at all :-(

The first on was a little awkward at first but damn it I loved the Fire. It's like the Yule log we put on the video for Christmas. I like Mike too.
If he runs on reforming credit card laws and leaving Iraq I will switch over from Ron Paul.What will his bumper stickers and lawn signs look like? Something from ATHF no doubt
Funny, right now I'm reading Bill Hillsman's book Run The Other Way and I wonder....

I believe this man has just KICKED BONO'S ASS in the obnoxious political cred dept.

Would have been better if a Michael Bay TRANSFORMER jumped out of the lake and TOTALLY CROUCHED ON GRAVEL'S UNFLINCHING HEAD! Or maybe Gravel in ROOM 1408 with the guy from Better Off Dead!

Christopher Walken could have done this better, btw...

That second one is a reel from a David Lynch film. Also lacks Walken.

Hey, at least it's original.

I think we've found the alternate ending to the last Sopranos episode.

You guys fell for it big time. This is subliminal hypnosis at its finest.

Don't believe me? How many of you saved the fire footage as a screensaver? I rest my case.

Suddenly, I have the overwhelming urge to get off his lawn.

Don't they know they have to add the voiceover BEFORE uploading it? What is this, a public demonstration on campaign advertising production?

Definately could have used some Walken. And cowbell, I gotta have more cowbell.

shouldn't he wait get alzheimers till after we elect him?

I think this will be the hands down winner of the "Creepiest Film Since Un Chien Andalou" category at the Oscars next year. Or at the very least the Golden Globes. So good news, Mike Gravel! When you don't get the nomination, you can always look forward to a lucrative career as a Hollywood director!

Insane, creepy and old. Hard to say which one is Mike's best quality. The old part isn't that big a deal as long as we can implement euthanasia.

The creepy part is harder to deal with. When politicians start talking about totally creepy subjects (as Mike and Dennis do) like war and death and our multi-trillion dollar debt, it is so horrible I stick my fingers in my ears and sing one of Hillary's swell theme songs. Campaigns are supposed to be about having a good time and smiling a lot. Oh and shaking hands too. Lots of hands. Lots of smiling. Lots of waving. Not creepy stuff like people dying and little kids getting their arms and legs ripped off. Yuck, that is so gross.

The insane part is really the toughest one. What we all really want is someone who speaks eloquently to the people, is energetic and motivating and able to wield firm control over our nation. Someone who will restore our dignity and our world standing. Someone who will demand respect from other nations and get it.

That's why Adolf Hitler has my vote.

These ads bring to mind the pre-introduction Infiniti "rocks and trees" ad campaign from 1989.

That campaign was also much derided, but it was effective in establishing the brand.

This is the BEST campaign ad I have EVER seen. It will engrave the batshit insane memory of Mike Gravel in all our minds for years to come. I am going to trick all my friends into watching it.

"Gravel '08 -- He Knows Where All The Bodies Are Buried!"

Laurence Olivier might have been better here. "But is it safe?"

Gravel's no more insane than the rest of us. Anyone who would vote for an asshole who proclaims that he's for Jesus because, "...he changed my heart..." deserves what they get. Armageddon? I can hardly wait. Then I'll know I was right.

I love the soothing sounds of the campfire. ThisGuy in 08!