I'm a uniter, not a divider...

[ceebeegee]

More from the Washington Post (with snippage):

Arlington, Va.: I thought John Edwards was right, I sensed a lot a hate in those speeches last night. Miller was downright scary, if not a little crazy. Would you agree that the country is more polarized now than during the Clinton years? If so, do you feel there is any group in particular to blame for this?

Robert G. Kaiser: The anger on Miller's face really surprised me, I confess. I've argued here many times that it's not the country that's polarized so much as the politicians and their partisan adherents. Polls always show the public to be more measured, more moderate, more thoughtful and more GRAY than the politicians are. But this is bad, and getting worse, no doubt about it. I don't think it's my role to cast the blame, but as a citizen, I think it is right to hold any politician accountable for his/her rhetoric, the more so when it seems unfounded or extreme.

Rosslyn, Va.: Zell's speech was a little crazy, it's being compared as worse than the 1992 Buchanan speech. Do you think the GOP will try and distance theirselves from Zell? Most of his rhetoric about Kerry seemed completely false, especially since he was praising Kerry just a few years ago. Although, I have to admit, when the crowd kept on shouting flip-flop when Cheney was speaking I did laugh.

Portland, Maine: I'm hearing comparisons of Miller's speech to Buchanan's '92 speech. Please refresh my memory -- how damaging was Buchanan's speech to H.W. Bush's campaign? It's given credit as a contributing factor to his defeat, but I have my doubts. Can one speech from a fringe politician really scuttle an incumbent?

Robert G. Kaiser: Good question. Of course one convention speech doesn't determine the outcome of an election. In '92, I always thought, Buchanan's speech was more symptom than cause: a symptom of the fact that the right wing of the GOP had turned against Bush 41, and would not do its best to reelect him. And that turned out to be the case.

Frederick, Md.: In exchange for the Democratic convention avoiding harsh direct attacks on Bush the Republican convention and its various supporting groups are making little or no pretense or attempt to restrain negativism and such attacks on Kerry.

Houston, Tex.: Mr. Kaiser,

What exactly is going on with Zell Miller? I saw his speech last night, and frankly it left me stunned, he seemed so angry and unhinged. How can a man go from saying nice things about Kerry a few years ago to basically destroying him now?

Robert G. Kaiser: ...He is an odd duck. I found the quotation from 2001 that Mark Shields read last night on PBS, from a speech in Atlanta when Miller introduced John Kerry. He added:

"John Kerry has fought against government waste and worked hard to bring some accountability to Washington...He fought for balanced budgets before it was considered politically correct for Democrats to do so. John has worked to strengthen our military, reform public education, boost the economy and protect the environment."

Charlotte, N.C.: Did Zell Miller hurt more than he helped last night? He came off as crazed. His performance with Chris Matthews after his speech was downright bizarre (he challenged Matthews to a "duel").

Lucian Perkins: Seeing it live, his speech sounded angry and vindictive. But the crowd in Madison Square loved it. As a matter of fact they went wild. It will be interesting to see how it plays for most Americans.

Charlotte, N.C.: Two of the GOP's biggest heros spoke on Monday night when many were watching football.

Laura and Arnold spoke Tuesday to good reviews, but seemed flat. For contrast compare Arnie with Obama. I'm not sure these two moved the ball much.

Last night Zell Miller may have done more hurt than good. Cheney was Cheney, and I'm not sure that is a big help either.

If Bush doesn't give a really good speech tonight could this convention end up being considered a failure?

Robert G. Kaiser: ...David Broder and Jonathan Weisman have a fascinating piece in today's paper, to which we will link here, on the fact that the Bush campaign is trying to ignore the economy. Every lesson of American political science is that the economy has more impact on an election than anything else. ...

* * * * * * *

Man, I sure don't want four more years of this kind of hatred. Way to take the low road, guys.

Comments

[jayspec.livejournal.com]

I didn't see the speech. My opinion of Zell Miller was formed quite some time ago. Did you see the interview with Chris Matthews? He's looney toons.

Now, before you jump on me for my blind hatred, keep in mind the following:

I don't automatically hate a politician for being a Republican, and speaking at the convention. I still love John McCain, and I still like George Pataki, Rudolph Giuliani, and Michael Bloomberg.

I don't even automatically hate a politician for being a Democrat and speaking on behalf of the President at the Republican convention. If Ed Koch was running for office, for either party, I'd strongly consider supporting him. Sure, Koch isn't in politics anymore, but let's say a prominent, somewhat conservative Democrat like, say, Joe Lieberman, came out and said, "I disagree with much of the Republican platform, but in this time of crisis, my support goes to the President," I'd be disappointed, but I wouldn't hate him.

Zell Miller is a fucking prick.