Zell Miller: Finger-pointing, Apologies Over Prisoner Treatment Only Boost Enemy

[thedrifter]

Miller: Finger-pointing, Apologies
Over Prisoner Treatment Only Boost Enemy
"I Refuse to Join In National Act of Contrition'

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Zell Miller (D-GA) today delivered the following statement on the floor of the United States Senate addressing the situation at the Abu Ghraib prison.

“Mr. President, here we go again, here we go again. Rushing to give aid and comfort to the enemy. Pushing and pulling and shoving and leaping over one another to assign blame and point the finger at America the Terrible. Lining up in long lines at the microphones to offer apologies to those poor, pitiful Iraqi prisoners.

“Of course, I do not condone all the things that went on in that prison, but I for one, Mr. President, refuse to join in this national Act of Contrition over it.

“Those who are wringing their hands and shouting so loudly for “heads to roll” over this seem to have conveniently overlooked the fact that someone’s head HAS rolled - that of another innocent American brutally murdered by terrorists.

“Why is it? Why is it that there’s more indignation over a photo of a prisoner with underwear on his head than over the video of a young American with no head at all? Why is it that some in this country still don’t get that we are at war? A war against terrorists who are plotting to kill us every day. Terrorists who will murder Americans at any time any place any chance they get.

“And yet here we are, America on its knees, in front of our enemy, begging for their forgiveness over the mistreatment of prisoners. Showing the enemy and the world once again how easily America can get sidetracked and how easily America can turn against it self.

“Yes, some of our soldiers went too far with their interrogation tactics and clearly were not properly trained to handle such duty. But the way to deal with this is with swift and sure punishment, and immediate and better training. There also needs to be more careful screening of who it is we put in these kinds of sensitive situations.

“And no one wants to hear this, Mr. President and I’m reluctant to say it. But there should also be some serious questioning of having male and female soldiers serving side by side in these kinds of military missions.

“But instead, I worry that the HWA - the Hand-Wringers of America - will add to their membership and continue to bash our country ad nauseam. And in doing so, hand over more innocent Americans to the enemy on a silver platter.

“So I stand with Senator Inhofe of Oklahoma, who stated that he’s “more outraged by the outrage” than by the treatment of those prisoners. More outraged by the outrage. It’s a good way of putting it. That’s exactly how this Senator from Georgia feels.”

http://miller.senate.gov/press/2004/05-13-04prison.html


Ellie

[thedrifter]

Zell Miller Blasts Fellow Democrat Kerry


By DICK PETTYS, Associated Press Writer

COLUMBUS, Ga. - Georgia Sen. Zell Miller, the Bush campaign's most famous Democratic attack dog, ripped into John Kerry (news - web sites) Saturday as an "out-of-touch, ultraliberal from Taxachusetts" in a speech before Georgia Republicans.


Miller, the lone Democratic senator publicly backing Bush, commented in remarks prepared for a Bush-Cheney grassroots event, held in conjunction with the state Republican convention.


"I'm afraid that my old Democratic 'ties that bind' have become unraveled," he said.


Miller said the nation is more secure with Bush in the White House.


"With John Kerry on national security, it's vacillate, retreat and turn over to the U.N.," he said. "With John Kerry on domestic policy, it's tax, spend and redistribute income."


He called Kerry's Senate voting record on national defense "shameful," declaring that Kerry voted "against every single major weapons system that won the Cold War."


"The man now wants to be the commander in chief of U.S. armed forces? U.S. forces armed with what, spitballs?"


Miller said Kerry's handlers are trying to soften the Democratic candidate's image and depict him as an average guy.


"Look, John Kerry couldn't find Main Street with both hands," he said. "You can't make a chicken swim and you can't make John Kerry anything but an out-of-touch ultraliberal from Taxachusetts."


Miller, a lifelong Democrat, was Georgia's governor from 1991 through 1998 and was lieutenant governor for 16 years before that. In 2000, Democratic Gov. Roy Barnes chose him to succeed the late Sen. Paul Coverdell, a Republican.


Miller won election that year to the balance of Coverdell's term but announced last year he will not seek re-election.


In 1992, he was a strong, early supporter of Democratic presidential candidate Bill Clinton (news - web sites) and delivered a nominating speech for Clinton at the party's national convention.


But he has ruffled the feathers of Democratic colleagues since his appointment to the Senate, siding with Republicans on virtually every key issue and writing a best-selling book in which he accuses his party of being out of touch with Southern voters.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...d=694&ncid=716


Ellie

[DSchmitke]

There is a Democrat with big brass ones. way to go Sen. Miller give all hell!

[BC22]

I'll give an ooh rah to Sen. Miller.

[rsta]

Semper Fi, Senator! You're right on. How refreshing to hear someone stand for what they believe and not being concerned about jumping on their party's bandwagon.

[Barndog]

"Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not their own facts."

Facts compiled from:
http://www.taxfoundation.org/massachusetts/index.html
http://www.taxfoundation.org/georgia/index.html
http://www.taxfoundation.org/pr-businesstaxclimate.html
http://www.taxfoundation.org/taxingspending.html

First of all, since Kerry happens to be elected to the Federal government he has little control over state and local tax policy in his home state. But, since Zell wants to play that game, let's turn to the facts.

According to those lovable nuts over at the Tax Foundation, Taxeorgia's state and local tax burden ranks 18th in the nation, at precisely the national average of 10% of income.

While in small government loving Massachusetts, the state and local tax burden ranks 36th in the nation, at 9.6% of income.

What about business friendlyness? Well, Zell, sorry to say once again your tax-loving state of Taxeorgia with its totally complicated tax code appears to be downright hostile to business! At least compared to the free market haven of Massachusetts! You see, Massachusetts, according to the Tax Foundation, ranks 12th in the nation while Taxeorgia ranks 25th!

And, hey, what do you know? It appears you welfare lovers in Taxeorgia are sucking at the federal government's teat! Taxeorgia gets more from the federal government than it sends in taxes! For every buck you freeloaders send to DC you get $1.01 back! What of Massachusetts? Well, suprise surprise! Massachusetts is supporting layabouts like Taxeorgia! A whopping $.25 of every dollar Massachusetts sends to the Feds is stolen from them and redistributed to states which can't manage to take care of themselves, like Taxeorgia.

(kudos to Atrios)

As for the Defense spending votes and related issues (which are wholly distorted) see here >

http://www.factcheck.org/article.aspx?DocID=147

At the bottom of the page there is a complete listing of ROLL CALL votes in the Senate - as to who sponsored the bill in question, and how it was voted upon by whom. The facts speak for themselves. (funny how these are the same talking points used in the current commercials......)