Zell Miller, as honest as he is loyal

Posted: 7/11/05 at 3:41pm

Former Georgia governor Zell Miller is probably best known for his foaming-at-the-mouth rant at the 2004 Republican convention where he spoke out against John Kerry, his own parties nominee and endorsed George W. Bush. Among the many questionable charges he leveled against nominee Kerry was that 'fact' that he was "Anti-military" and would send US troops into battle armed with spitballs and pea shooters.

Since then, Miller has written a book condemning "A lack of conscience" in the Democratic party and appointing himself as "an arbiter of Moral Behaviour in public office."

It has also come to light that Miller took over $80,000 of public money when he retired from office in 1999. $20,000 was for "Unused Leave" time accumulated when he was governor (basically unused sick time), which is not allowed for elected officials in Georgia. Miller has recently paid this money back, saying he was "Unaware" that he was not entitled to it. He also pocketed $60,000 in unspent entertainment expenses for the Governor's Mansion. When challenged recently by a TV News reporter's expose, Miller refused to discuss the matter on camera, but said he was eligible to take the unspent money because "No one said I couldn't" No other governor in the state's history has asked to keep unspent expenses.

In his recent book, Miller bemoans our "Deficit of Decency": "Is it decent? is the right question. It's one all of us know and can answer, law degree or not. Is it decent? demands not wordy responses or over-educated legal beagles to interpret it, but simple truth, which doesn't need many words and doesn't lean into the technical."


Macon Telegraph on Zell Miller Updated On: 7/11/05 at 03:41 PM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 7/11/05 at 4:12pm

"No one said I couldn't"--nice one, Zell.

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 7/11/05 at 4:15pm

Does anyone else think that, after he said that quote, that he stuck his tongue out at the reporter and followed it with a raspberry?

[cturtle]

Posted: 7/11/05 at 5:13pm

and that's why we've always called him Zig-Zag Zell.

[Kringas]

Posted: 7/11/05 at 5:38pm

I have to admit that I loved watching his meltdown at the RNC. It was like performance art.

Edited to correct RSC to RNC. I'm very tired.

Updated On: 7/11/05 at 05:38 PM

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 7/11/05 at 5:41pm

And, he made great SNL fodder!

Posted: 7/11/05 at 6:01pm

Who did he threaten with a dueling pistol because they dared to asked him about his speech? Was it John Stewart?

I just remember someone saying "Isn't it a bit of hyperbole to say he wants to arm them with Spitballs?" and Give'em-Hell-Zell exploding in a rant that ended with him challenging his questioner to pistols to sort it out.

[TonyInATL]

Posted: 7/11/05 at 6:02pm

Yep. This is a guy who, along with Sean Hannity, only a month or so ago attended a rally with and endorsed Ralph Reed's campaign for Lt. Governor.

From Ralph's website:

Zell Miller and Sean Hannity
Praise Ralph Reed at Rally
Over 1,000 Grassroots Supporters Jam the Galleria in Cobb County to Support Reed

Former U.S. Senator Zell Miller, the former national chairman of Democrats for Bush, and national radio and television personality Sean Hannity heaped praise on Ralph Reed at a Family and Freedom rally this past Friday in Cobb County as over 1,000 grassroots Republicans cheered.

“I am for Ralph Reed as strongly as I have ever been for anyone," Miller declared from the podium to a roar of approval. "I know a little something about the Lt. Governor’s office, having held it for 16 years. And Ralph Reed will make an outstanding Lt. Governor of Georgia."

“What I see in Ralph Reed is the next generation emerging ... Everything I see in those men, I see in Ralph Reed.’’ said Hannity as he referenced great leaders like Ronald Reagan.

God help us.

I wonder if, during their outpouring of praise, Miller and Hannity happened to mention Ralph's recent dealings with a certain casino-owning Mississippi Indian tribe.