The tragedy that is Zell Miller...

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Sat, 20 Aug 2005 17:32:14 -0700 (PDT)

The tragedy that is Zell Miller...

 

 

 

 

The tragedy that is Zell Miller

Posted 10:11 am |

 

Guest Post by Morbo

 

In Sinclair Lewis' book about the coming of fascism in America, " It

Can't Happen Here, " a character named Adelaide Tarr Gimmitch eagerly

serves the crypto-fascist Sen. Buzz Windrip by rallying the women of

America to his self-serving brand of phony populism.

 

When Windrip is elected president, Gimmitch expects a big payoff and

lets it be known that she would like a cabinet position. Instead, she

is offered the slot of customs inspector in Nome, Alaska.

 

I thought about Gimmitch lately when I read the news that Zell Miller

has been appointed to a seat on the American Battle Monuments Commission.

 

Miller sold out his party, his constituents and his country — and this

is all he gets? I thought for sure he'd be named ambassador to the

Seychelles.

 

Miller says he's eager for the job and noted that it won't take up

much of his time. This is important, because that will give Miller

plenty of time for his full-time gig as a performing monkey in the

Religious Right's circus. (Anyone catch his act during " Justice Sunday

II " ? All that was missing was the little red embroidered jacket and

tiny fez.)

 

Zell Miller was a popular Democrat in a conservative state. He could

have used his powers for good, not evil. He could have stood up for

the poor residents in the rural parts of Georgia. He could have been a

true populist. He could have rebuked the powers that be for creating a

system that leaves the common man behind as the superrich pile up more

and more wealth. Miller claims to take his religion seriously. Great.

He could have cited the New Testament and the teachings of Jesus as he

undertook this crusade. It would have been something to see.

 

Instead, he threw it all away because not enough courthouses are

displaying the Ten Commandments.

 

Miller said he plans to write a book about Appalachia. That enraged

me. I can tell already what type of book it will be — one that extols

the " culture war " issues that for so long have convinced so many in

this unfortunate part of the country to vote against their own

interests. (I know; I was born there.) In short, it will raise the old

right-wing bogeymen of God, guns and gays. This powerful trinity has

misled many rural folks. How else can you explain dirt-poor blue

collars workers living in substandard housing supporting a party that

wants to abolish Social Security?

 

You get one shot at this life. As you prepare to die, you might, if

you're lucky, be lucid enough to take stock of how you lived. Most of

us, never having had the chance to take part in public life as Miller

did, won't have much to answer for that goes beyond our own intimate

circle of family and friends.

 

Miller will. Miller was given a rare opportunity to make life better

for lots of people, to make a difference, to stand up against

injustice, to raise some hell. He threw it away, choosing instead to

make a fuss about raunchy rap lyrics.

 

As legacies go, it's beyond lame. http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/