Former U.S. Senator Mike Gravel (D-Alaska) was the first person to announce for the 2008 presidential nomination. Gravel served in the Alaska House of Representatives from 1963-66, and as Speaker from 1965-66. He represented Alaska in the U.S. Senate from 1968-1981. He served on the Finance, Interior, Environmental and Public Works committees. He chaired the Energy, Water Resources, Buildings and Grounds, and Environmental Pollution subcommittees. Sen. Gravel mounted a one-man fillibuster to end the draft and revealed the truth about the Vietnam War by releasing the Pentagon Papers while serving in the senate. HIS VIEWS: National Initiative for Democracy would empower Americans by making every citizen a lawmaker by enacting a national initiative. Supports Fair Tax--favors eliminating the income tax and replacing it with a progressive national sales tax National Health Care--enact a national, universal,single-payer, not-for-profit U.S. heathcare system War in Iraq--supports an immediate, oderly withdrawal of troops, followed by aggressive diplomacy. Supports equal rights for gays and lesbians "Let The People Decide"