Lando 
Posted on 05/15/2004 3:43:44 PM PDT by coca-cola kid
Kerry 'dangerous,' Miller tells state GOP
By JIM THARPE The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published on: 05/15/04
COLUMBUS — Sen. Zell Miller skewered fellow Democratic U.S. senator and presidential hopeful John Kerry on Saturday as a man out of touch with Main Street and "dangerous" to the nation's security.
Georgia's lame-duck senior senator, speaking to a Bush-Cheney organizational meeting at the Georgia Republican Convention, used some of his most heated rhetoric to date in a fiery attack on his fellow lawmaker.
ROBIN TRIMARCHI/AP (ENLARGE) Sen. Zell Miller (D-Ga.), whose philosophical closeness to Republicans has upset his party's leaders, addresses the Georgia GOP on Saturday in Columbus.
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"This man wants to be the leader of the free world. Free for how long?," Miller told state Republicans. "This man is so out of touch with the average American it would be comical if it were not so dangerous."
The speech was a ringing endorsement of President Bush's re-election bid, and several key Republicans said afterwards that they would like to see Miller on the podium at the party's national convention in August.
"I know we have a strong commander in chief guided by the right principles, and I know that my family and the people of this nation are more secure with George W. Bush in the White House," Miller declared.
The senator's 30-minute address was interrupted two dozen times by thunderous applause, cheers and shouts of "amen!" When it ended, it was clear that he was the Democrat who came to the Republicans' annual party and stole the show.
Miller was given a standing ovation when he entered a packed room of about 500 people, some of them crowded along the walls. They snapped pictures of the senator as he spoke.
"He is one of our great friends and we treasure him," said Evelyn Levine of Cobb County. "He's a true patriot."
A spokesman for Kerry's presidential campaign said Miller was slinging mud for the "Bush attack machine that smeared his friend and decorated veteran Max Cleland," a former U.S. senator from Georgia.
The Kerry campaign also circulated statements Miller made at a Democratic fund-raiser several years ago, where he praised the Massachusetts senator's military service in Vietnam and his support for the armed forces.
"Sen. Miller knew then that John Kerry stands for the strongest military on earth, balanced budgets, middle-class tax cuts and affordable health care," said Kerry spokesman Anthony Coley, Miller's former press secretary. "George Bush doesn't have a record to run on; he has a record to run away from."
Miller said months ago that he would support Bush's re-election and has made no secret of his differences with Kerry. But his appearance at the state Republican convention and his ramped-up rhetoric hinted at the key role he is likely to play in the upcoming election.
"What Lieutenant John Kerry did in Vietnam is to be praised and we should thank him for it," said Miller, a former Marine. "But not his shameful record on national defense as a U.S. senator."
Known for his one-liners, Miller unleashed a torrent of criticism at Kerry, painting him as weak on defense, quick to raise taxes and out of touch with the average American. He chided Kerry's media consultants for dressing him in a "canvas hunting coat with a pink power tie" to make him appear in touch with the average voter.
"Look, John Kerry couldn't find Main Street with both hands," Miller said. "You can't make a chicken swim, and you can't make John Kerry anything but an out-of-touch ultraliberal from Taxachusetts."
Some of Miller's toughest language was aimed at Kerry's positions on the war in Iraq and national defense. "With John Kerry on national security, it's vacillate, retreat and turn over to the U.N.," he said.
He said Kerry has proposed $900 billion in new taxes that would hit average Americans in the wallet and undermine the economic recovery, which Miller attributed to Bush's tax cuts.
"There once was a candidate who said he wanted to feel your pain," Miller said, "Now we've got a candidate who wants to steal your gain."
Zell does it again!
He's been on the war-path this week!
We are winning ~ the bad guys are losing ~ trolls, terrorists, democrats and the mainstream media are sad ~ very sad!
Lando
I'm hoping Zell gets a slot in the next Bush administration
Like your avatar, BTW!
Guess Zell won't be getting a Christmas card from Kerry.
Isnt it a shame we dont have any Republicans with Zell Millers chutzpah? We sure could use one what happened to that Doctor that got the Senate leadership job?
Guess we can rule out Zell as a VP choice for Kerry.
Go Zell!
what happened to that Doctor that got the Senate leadership job?
The doctor could return to his role as an outstanding heart surgeon; of course, a Democrat governor in TN would replace him with a Democrat! My thinking is that the politicians have a great desire to be praised by their colleagues, particularly those on the other side of aisle, to show how "open-minded" and "fair" that they are. So they are not likely to raise much of a fuss about much of nothing.
you can't make John Kerry anything but an out-of-touch ultraliberal from Taxachusetts."
Not when there is a great desire for "change." Many now say in the polls that we are on the "wrong track." Even some Bush supporters are telling that to pollsters.
I'll bet that gigolo John Kerry could find another elderly woman with a multimillion dollar net worth with both his hands.
bttt
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