Zell Miller makes a complete ass out of himself

This has to be some of the funniest shit ever:

Maybe Zell Miller was just strung too tight following his wild-eyed attack on John Kerry Wednesday night. But following his prime-time convention address, he made the rounds on the cable TV circuit and stole the show -- and not in a good way.

Miller's speech was so over-the-top (he essentially questioned Kerry's loyalty to America), it prompted mild-mannered talking head David Gergen to compare Miller to racist demagogue Lester Maddox, while Time's Joe Klein had to pick his jaw up off the ground before he could analyze it.

But Miller's post-speech cable performance was even more jaw-dropping, as he first badly fumbled questions from CNN anchors, then lost it with "Hardball's" Chris Matthews, repeatedly challenging the MSNBC host to a duel and telling him to "shut up."

On CNN, he came under respectful but close questioning from Wolf Blitzer, Judy Woodruff and Jeff Greenfield, who pressed the wayward Democrat about why he mocked Kerry for using the phrase "occupiers" when describing U.S. troops in Iraq (Miller prefers "liberators"), when President Bush has himself used the same phrase for the same U.S. troops.

Miller clearly had no idea that was the case and passed on giving a response. He was also asked why just three years ago he had introduced Kerry in Georgia as an American hero who had worked hard for our nation's security (the speech is still up on Miller's web site (http://miller.senate.gov/speeches/030101jjdinner.htm)). Miller suggested he was new to the Senate at the time and basically didn't know what he was talking about.

And about those weapons system votes that Miller criticized Kerry for making over a decade ago -- wasn't it true that while as secretary of defense Dick Cheney raised similar doubts about those very same systems? Miller said he'd let Cheney answer that himself.

Finally, Blitzer asked Miller why he looked so angry during his speech, and couldn't that hurt the cause he was pushing? Miller, who in fact looked like he was suffering from flashback Atlanta road rage at the podium periodically, said he was sorry if he came across as angry because he didn't mean to.

But that was just the warm-up. Next it was over to Chris Matthews' "Hardball" on MSNBC where Miller, perhaps still bruised by his wobbly CNN showing, just plain lost it. Actually, Miller appeared from Madison Square Garden, while "Hardball's" set was over in Herald Square.

And when Miller was announced he was greeted with a chorus of "boos" by the crowd of local Democrats assembled behind the "Hardball" taping area. Things went downhill for Miller from there.

Matthews asked Miller to defend his speech, and particularly his allegations that John Kerry voted "against" various defense appropriations. (As both Matthews and Miller know, voting against a large appropriations bill doesn't necessarily mean that you disapprove of every part of the bill).

Miller got progressively angrier as Matthews persisted in holding him to his statement, telling Matthews several times that he wished he was in the studio so he could "get up in your face."

As Miller steamed, Matthews asked him if he thought that he was helping the political discourse in the country, and then, whether he even thought he was helping the Republicans by what he was saying.

At that point Miller's meltdown peaked. He started waving his arms around, demanding Matthews "shut up" and let him answer the question. Miller then lapsed into a dialogue with himself wondering, "I don't know why I even came on this program," before returning to Matthews and announcing he wished they lived in a previous era because he would have "challenged you to a duel."

Thursday morning, Miller may deny he was serious when he said all of that, but the semi-deranged expression on his face at that moment suggested he'd truly lost control. Matthews, slightly embarrassed by the whole thing, laughed off Miller's left-field explosion, and invited him back tonight in person for a "more civil discussion."

More important, Matthews insisted the show would get great ratings because everybody would be waiting to see if Miller was going to "beat me up."

Later, country star Larry Gatlin told MSNBC's Ron Reagan that Matthews was "out of line" and "rude." When the live audience booed, Gatlin told them, "Shut up or we'll have another duel." Another example of how Republicans are making good on George Bush's 2000 promise to "change the tone" of American politics -- apparently substituting dueling for debate.

"Tonight was the night of the Angry White Men at the Republican Convention," said former Howard Dean campaign manager Joe Trippi, quickly adding, "I don't mean that in a bad way," as if he was just too tired to get into a fight over it.

Eric Boehlert, Salon.com

 

I like how the GOP dumped Zig-Zag Zell less than 24 hours after he gave his speech.


GOP backs away from Miller’s blast
Democrat ‘speaking for himself,’ Bush aide says

After gauging the harsh reaction from Democrats and Republicans alike to Sen. Zell Miller’s keynote address at the Republican National Convention, the Bush campaign — led by the first lady — backed away Thursday from Miller’s savage attack on Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry, insisting that the estranged Democrat was speaking only for himself.

Late Thursday, Miller’s name was removed from the list of dignitaries who would be sitting in the first family’s box during the president’s acceptance speech later in the evening. No explanation was immediately offered, but the change was made only a few hours after Laura Bush, asked about Miller’s deeply personal denunciation of his own party’s nominee, said in an interview with NBC News that “I don’t know that we share that point of view.”

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5897622/

 

Of course, when Miller gave the keynote speech at Clinton's convention, he was right on target, right TA?

Team Atomic, do you ever come up with any thoughts yourself, or is everything cut and pasted from one of your beloved wacko lefty Bush-hating sites?

Just the usual tripe.

Zell basicly told Mathews to go fuck himself when he attempted to use his usual bully tactics on Miller. Mathews came off looking like the idiot he is.

 

Jesus, man! Are you really trying to say that Zell was being cool and that Matthews came off like an idiot ?!?!

 

"Miller praised Kerry in a speech in 2001 as "one of this nation's authentic heroes" who has "worked to strengthen our military, reform public education, boost the economy and protect the environment." Kerry and Miller have also had identical Senate voting records on intelligence funding, and both voted for increased defense spending in 2002."

Zig-Zag Zell -'2001.

 

If you're going to just copy and paste this stuff, at least have the decency to give credit to where you are ripping it from.

 

1. Eric Boehlert, Salon.com
2. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5897622/
3. DNC website.

There's your sources.

 

What else do you have to cut and paste, Chuckie? Are you getting all panicky yet? Did you see the latest poll results?

As far as your quote, yeah, he answered that one too. Senator Miller admitted that he was wrong when he said that. How about that? A politician admitting he was wrong? He said he hadn't researched Kerry's voting record before he was handed Kerry's bio and ask to introduce him. If you're going to judge a politician, what better way than to examine his voting record to see where he stands on an issue? I like Zell. He still says he's a Democrat, but that his party has swung way too far to the left. I voted for Zell. I voted for Sam Nunn. They are the only two Democrats I can say this about. There is no liberal or conservative wrong or right. There is just wrong and right.

 

“Senator Kerry has made it clear that he would use military force only if approved by the United Nations,” he said. “Kerry would let Paris decide when America needs defending. I want Bush to decide.”

“Faint-hearted self-indulgence will put at risk all we care about in this world,” Miller said. “In this hour of danger, our president has had the courage to stand up. And this Democrat is proud to stand up with him.”

Miller recited a long list of what he said were “all the weapon systems that Senator Kerry tried his best to shut down.” He apologized for sounding “like an auctioneer selling off our national security, but Americans need to know the facts.”


I clicked on the MSNBC link you provided. The above quotes came from there. I agree with all of them.

What I didn't see in that link was any reference to a speech in 2001 that Miller gave praising Kerry, or any comparisons of voting records, which is what I asked about.

I didn't waste my time with the other 2 "sources" as they could hardly be called un-biased. MSNBC isn't much better, but we have to start somewhere I guess.

 

Linky about Zell's 2001 speech on Kerry...

Miller Accused of Flip-Flopping Over Kerry

 

Wonder why nobody defends Zell's antics with Chris Matthews?

Another article.

Zell Miller: Why the Democratic senator loathes Democrats.

 

Watch the interview for yourself!

http://www.dailyrecycler.com/blog/2004/09/zells-barnstormer.html


Personally, Matthews is almost always out of line, and I'm glad Zell got onto him for it. Besides, it was good TV. hehe...

 

Mike, are you freakin' blind or somethin'? It's quite obvious that he's jockeying for that cushy "Minister of Propaganda" position in the Kerry administration.
If I ever meet Chuck face-to-face, first thing I gonna do is check his back for one of them rings attached to a string! He's more amusing than that whiney-ass bitch Terry McAullife!

 

[cough] ok..Karl Rove master of deception [/couch]

Zig-Zag Zell is a liablity.

 

Miller made a tremendous fool of himself. Republican's may love to hear a Democrat parrot their party line but no one respects this guy. How can you!? He just betrayed his party as the dancing monkey at the RNC!

I sympathize with Miller in that the traditional southern Democrat lost its party. That niche now resides in the Republican party and has for some time. Miller can pine away for yesteryear but that doesn't chance the political landscape on iota. He needs to get with the program and follow his beliefs to the party where they belong. I'll still never respect him after this stunt though.

 

After watching that interview with Chris Matthews, I applaud Senator Miller even more loudly. I think he handled himself admirably. He said nothing to be ashamed of. Way to go, Zell!!!

 

I hate I missed it. I tuned in for the McCain love-in and miss all the fireworks on Hardball this week. Ugh.... Atleast all my hardwork this week has netted me a packed truck pointed toward Road Atlanta. T minus 7 hours to lift off.....

 

Watch it, Joe. LINK

Scroll down and see for yourself. Matthews tried to bully Zell and Zell never backed down. :up:

 

Thanks Jay. I'm checking it out now. I love second chances! Thank Al Gore.....the internet has rescued me again.

 

:up: to Al Gore!