Zell Miller: The secret weapon to woo Bubba

Charlotte Observer ^ | 09/04/04 | KATHLEEN PARKER

[Pikamax]

Zell Miller: The secret weapon to woo Bubba

Testosterone-drenched speech rallied faithful, excited undecideds

KATHLEEN PARKER

Tribune Media Services

NEW YORK - Note to Howard Dean: About that Bubba vote? Two words. Zell Miller.

Wonder no more what gets the good ol' boys' juices flowing, and don't pay no never mind to them talking heads on this question. The answer is this: real men taking charge, talking straight, telling truth, and leaving the girlie men to fuss about the nuances of terrorist sensitivity.

Miller's fiery, brimstone-studded speech on the penultimate night of the Republican convention was a quintessential testosterone moment that got professional harrumphers flustered and swing voters inspired. While pundits wondered whether Zell was over the top, too hot or too tough, heartland Americans were high-fiving and arm-pumping yessssssssss.

Out beyond the Beltway and other bluster zones, Americans have been waiting for someone to articulate the unvarnished truth. To them, the crossover senator from Georgia was a burning bush. Sure, he spoke Republican and was hyperbolic in condemning John Kerry. Hawkish and hawk-faced, his blunt speech wasn't just red meat; it was steak tartare.

[Holden Magroin]

Zell's speech is a major reason Bush got such a big bounce. That's why the liberal media has moved Zell to the top of its hit list. The media's venomous personal attacks on Zell reveal how petty and childish these self-styled intellectuals in the media really are. The L.A. Times called his speech "vile." I don't remember them using that word to describe the demagogic speeches of Ted Kennedy, Al Sharpton, and, of course, Al Gore. For some reason, listing Kerry's votes against various weapons systems is "vile," but saying Bush "betrayed America" is not.

[twhitak]

Zell Miller's speech was not just the greatest oratory of my lifetime. It stands proudly beside the best speeches ever delivered.

I couldn't agree more.

[yoe]

"...his Marine anger and paternal sincerity rang true, while the message he delivered -- in the voice of father, grandfather and great-grandfather -- spoke to deeper truths that many Americans feel even if they haven't been able to articulate them. The world changed on Sept. 11, 2001, and the old modes no longer work. The old political templates and loyalties do not apply.

Clarity with the thump and fervor of 'Ol Time Religion, Zell spoke with an honesty long unheard in the county where political correctness has tried to snub it out. Where the McCain-Feingold fiasco tried to silence freedom of speech for all but the media; where John Kerry tried to silence the chorus of fellow Veterans who find him unfit to command – Zell Miller laid all that had to be said, on the table – we can only hope more such honesty will be heard in the land in these next few weeks. If terrorism isn’t stopped, all other issues will be meaningless.

[twhitak]

I don't remember them using that word to describe the demagogic speeches of Ted Kennedy, Al Sharpton, and, of course, Al Gore.

I actually heard one of the Dem talking heads saying that there was nothing angry in their convention and that they only talked about the issues. What nerve!

[GreenHornet]

I'M MAD AS ZELL, AND I'M NOT GONNA TAKE IT ANYMORE!!!!

[practicalmom]

Just went to Apple to dowload the Zell speech, and guess what the top five searches are today (9/4)?

Hot Searches:

1. Hurricane Frances
2. President Bush
3. SETI
4. Zell Miller
5. Serena Williams

[LS]

It was particularly good because of the DETAIL. He didn't just said "Kerry voted to cut defense," Zell said "He voted against the F-15 that flew protective missions over this city on 9/11," or, "He voted against the B-1 bomber that delivered 80% of the ordinance against Tora Bora." He only had ONE reference amidst all the weapons systems to things used in IRAQ, and everything else was the Gulf War, Afghanistan, or 9/11. Very powerful stuff.

[No Blue States]

Well said, the details hit home and needed to be told.

Zell also made it clear that nothing was done about it during Clinton terms, that Americans had been murdered by terrorists for years listing each atrocity.