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Zell Miller uses Snake Analogy for why Saddam Hussein Must go.
Oct 3rd | Senator Zell Miller

Posted on 10/11/2002 7:30:14 AM PDT by Texas Mom

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: 202 224-7777
October 3, 2002

Miller Co-Sponsors Iraq Resolution Uses Snake-Killing Story As Analogy for Why Saddam Hussein Must Go

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Zell Miller (D-GA) today announced that he is an original co-sponsor of the resolution to give the president the authority to use military force against Iraq. Here is the statement Miller delivered on the Senate floor:

"Mr. President, I have signed on as an original co-sponsor of the Iraq resolution, and I'd like to tell you story about why I think it is the right path to take:

"A few weeks ago, we were doing some work on my back porch back home, tearing out a section of old stacked rocks, when all of a sudden I uncovered a nest of Copperhead snakes.

"Now, I'm not one to get alarmed at snakes. I know they perform some valuable functions, like eating rats. "And when I was a young lad, I kept snakes as pets. I had an Indigo snake, a Bull snake, a beautiful colored Corn snake and many others. I must have had a dozen King snakes at one time or another. They make great pets and you only had to give them a mouse every 30 days.

"I read all the books by Raymond C. Ditmars, who was the foremost herpetologist of the day. That is a person who is an expert on snakes.

"For a while, I wanted to be a herpetologist, but the pull of being a big-league shortstop outran that childhood dream.

"I reminisce this way to explain that snakes don't scare me like they do most people. And I guess the reason is that I know the difference between those snakes that are harmless and those that will kill you.

"In fact, I bet I may be the only senator in this body who can look at the last three inches of a snake's tail and tell you whether it's poisonous or not. I can also tell the sex of a snake, but that's another story.

"A Copperhead will kill you. It could kill one of my dogs. It could kill one of my grandchildren. It could kill any one of my four great grandchildren. They play all the time where I found those killers.

"And you know, when I discovered these Copperheads, I didn't call my wife Shirley for advice, like I do on most things. I didn't go before the city council. I didn't yell for help from my neighbors. I just took a hoe and knocked them in the head and killed them. Dead as a doorknob.

"I guess you could call it a unilateral action. Or preemptive. Perhaps if you had been watching me you could have even called it bellicose and reactive.

"I took their poisonous heads off because they were a threat to me. And they were a threat to my home and my family. They were a threat to all I hold dear. And isn't that what this is all about?"


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; US: Georgia
KEYWORDS: snakes
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He sure has a way with words..

Sorry I don't have a link.. It's probably on his website but my son who lives in Georgia emailed me this.

His comments.
I don't like to send stuff from work but this one makes me proud. The only thing I can't understand is his choice of political party - It must drive them bonkers!

1 posted on 10/11/2002 7:30:14 AM PDT by Texas Mom
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To: Texas Mom
BTTT
2 posted on 10/11/2002 7:41:38 AM PDT by Texas Mom
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To: Texas Mom
Zell Miller is a good man in my opinion, I agree with you though on his party affiliation. But one has to understand that the DemocRatic party is big down south, but on the other hand alot of those DemocRats vote Republican nowaday's. One good thing about him being DemocRat though is that he looks down on Party Partisan Politics and that reflects badly on those who do practice it such as Tom Dasshole. If it's good for his constituents than he votes for it, he is one of the few DemocRats that I genuinely respect.
3 posted on 10/11/2002 7:41:58 AM PDT by HELLRAISER II
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To: Texas Mom
A little homespun downhome wisdom from Georgia. Nicely put I might add. I just wish the dude would take his stand with the Republicans and acknowledge that the Rat party is not the party of old. The old time Democrats had a h*ll of a lot more conservatism and principle than this bunch.
4 posted on 10/11/2002 7:43:02 AM PDT by el_texicano
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To: Texas Mom
Zell should use a snake analogy on why Daschle and Leahy should go.
5 posted on 10/11/2002 7:43:11 AM PDT by doug from upland
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To: HELLRAISER II
If it's good for his constituents than he votes for it, he is one of the few DemocRats that I genuinely respect.

But I'll bet he does drive the other Rats crazy.. I imagine he comes from an old southern family who can't become a republican because " it would just kill my Momma." I know someone like that, a good friend right here in Texas.

6 posted on 10/11/2002 7:45:36 AM PDT by Texas Mom
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To: Texas Mom
I love this story. And, even if he had chosen to remove the snakes and carry them to a place a greater distance away--he still would have done something. He acted. Action was needed for the safety of his family. (I'm glad he killed them as I'm one of those that cannot stand snakes--I'm certain there's an overpopulation of them!)
7 posted on 10/11/2002 7:51:03 AM PDT by Boxsford
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To: Texas Mom
Zell Miller make a lot of sense on some issues. I don't understand why he stays in the Party of utter non-sense (a.k.a. the Dimocratic Party).
8 posted on 10/11/2002 7:51:04 AM PDT by Destructor
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To: Texas Mom
Link:

Snakes Eat Rats

9 posted on 10/11/2002 7:53:39 AM PDT by Damocles
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To: doug from upland
Come to think of it,Bill Clinton could always use a hoe!
10 posted on 10/11/2002 7:55:13 AM PDT by TShaunK
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To: Damocles
Thanks for the Link..
11 posted on 10/11/2002 8:01:13 AM PDT by Texas Mom
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To: Boxsford
""And you know, when I discovered these Copperheads, I didn't call my wife Shirley for advice, like I do on most things. I didn't go before the city council. I didn't yell for help from my neighbors. I just took a hoe and knocked them in the head and killed them. Dead as a doorknob.

I think this was my favorite line in the whole speech..

12 posted on 10/11/2002 8:03:16 AM PDT by Texas Mom
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To: Destructor
Zell Miller make a lot of sense on some issues. I don't understand why he stays in the Party of utter non-sense (a.k.a. the Dimocratic Party).

Zell Miller is a democrat. Most of the democrat party has been taken over by socialists.

The socialists run as democrats but their agenda is different than a democrats.

A democrat loves this country and wants to see it succeed. A socialist wants to cripple this country, to further one world government and to make the UN stronger. - Tom

13 posted on 10/11/2002 8:03:17 AM PDT by Capt. Tom
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To: TShaunK
Clintons got a hoe....although it's a skanky hoe ; )
14 posted on 10/11/2002 8:03:40 AM PDT by Delbert
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To: Texas Mom
>"A Copperhead will kill you. It could kill one of my dogs. It could kill one of my grandchildren. It could kill any one of my four great grandchildren. They play all the time where I found those killers.

Oh boy! People who don't know what they're talking about, really should try to speak less. This makes me wonder if he has any idea what he''s saying about anything.

This is from the Ohio Division of Wildlife and it is about Copperhead Snakes. As an aside, I know people who keep copperheads on display in terrariums in their homes.

Note this part:

The copperhead will take a defensive posture only when directly threatened. Interestingly, when it is aroused, it may vibrate its tail like a rattlesnake, although it has no rattles. The bite of a copperhead, while painful and capable of producing severe illness, rarely results in death.

15 posted on 10/11/2002 8:04:13 AM PDT by DrCarl
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To: Capt. Tom
A democrat loves this country and wants to see it succeed. A socialist wants to cripple this country, to further one world government and to make the UN stronger. - Tom

As Ronald Reagan said when he was asked why he left the Democrat party. " I didn't leave them, they left me."

16 posted on 10/11/2002 8:05:48 AM PDT by Texas Mom
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To: Capt. Tom
That's a good explanation. Thanks.
17 posted on 10/11/2002 8:07:53 AM PDT by Destructor
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To: DrCarl
The bite of a copperhead, while painful and capable of producing severe illness, rarely results in death.

It can cause you to lose a limb and it does result in death in some cases. Just like the fire ant. A few bites won't hurt you, but if you get caught up in a mound of them they sure will especially a small child or someone who is in poor health. I don't know about you but every time I see a mound of those suckers I cover it with poison to kill them.

If it is poisonous it has the potential to kill you. If you want to go play with a copperhead have at it, but don't expect us all join you.

18 posted on 10/11/2002 8:13:16 AM PDT by Texas Mom
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To: DrCarl
You delude yourself city slicker. See, in real life it is very common to accidently put a copperhead on the defensive and it is too late until you find it out. You make yourself sound like a moron. I suggest if you don't know what you are talking about you don't talk... as in this case. Sorry to be so blunt but your absurd post was too much.

I like snakes and study them myself.

19 posted on 10/11/2002 8:20:00 AM PDT by smoking camels
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To: smoking camels
There's no point in trying to explain to you how incredibly stupid you are because your being unable to understand is part of what identifies you as being an imbecile.

Let's see if I can see as low as where your brain exists. I have a friend who is one of the world's foremost zoo vets. Suppose I send him a copy of Zell Miller's speech and simply ask the following question.

"Anything stupid here?"

If he comes back and says "Yeah, the copperhead is very rarely dangerous and almost never deadly." will you understand that you're a moron?

20 posted on 10/11/2002 8:46:38 AM PDT by DrCarl
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