] 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.

Zell Miller was the featured keynote speaker at the convention, but now we're supposed to believe he was only speaking for himself?

For those who haven't been following this, Miller went on to all but challenge Chris Matthews to a duel, which has led to days of references, between my wife and I, to the "tomacco" Simpsons episode which also features Homer challenging everyone to duels.

[ It's pretty obvious this was their plan from the start. I'm not sure it'll work, but having a crazy democrat to put on display could damage the dems as much as the repubs, if people buy it. Plus, Bush gets to come out and be the calm, steady voice of reason to soothe the more extreme elements of his party. All of that should be in big quotes of course, since that's all shite, but it's a valid ploy.

I'm not sure it's gonna work. I don't really think that many undecided voters view Zell as a legitimate dem. I think he's widely regarded as a tool, who should've switched parties based on ideology, but won't because he's more useful to the right as a way to paint the democrats as divided or weak. I don't think that many people will buy that.

Anyway, he had the *keynote* at *YOUR* convention, W, and he endorsed *YOU* for president. He's fucking yours. It's ultimately unseemsly to trot out your rabid caged democrat and then disavow him for doing precicely what you expected him to. -k]

MSNBC - GOP backs away from Miller's blast