Zell Speaks Up

And a Told Ya So.

Here's Georgia senator Zell Miller's statement on the Democratic strategy memo:

I have often said that the process in Washington is so politicized and polarized that it can’t even be put aside when we’re at war. Never has that been proved more true than the highly partisan and perhaps treasonous memo prepared for the Democrats on the Intelligence Committee.

Of all the committees, this is the one single committee that should unquestionably be above partisan politics. The information it deals with should never, never be distorted, compromised or politicized in any shape, form or fashion. For it involves the lives of our soldiers and our citizens. Its actions should always be above reproach; its words never politicized.

If what has happened here is not treason, it is its first cousin. The ones responsible — be they staff or elected or both — should be dealt with quickly and severely sending a lesson to all that this kind of action will not be tolerated, ignored or excused.

Heads should roll!

I think Miller's analysis of the political situation is right on. But he's just huffing and puffing here. No house will get blown down. And no heads will roll. And he'll still remain a Democrat.

(Thanks, Susanna.)

It looks as if I may have been right earlier when I said I also think that its discovery will make no practical difference: the Republicans will still let the Democrats play rope-a-dope with them. Here's Kate O'Beirne at The Corner yesterday evening:

Is anyone else hearing from conservatives who are furious that so many Republican senators appear to be rapidly "moving on" following the disclosure of the memo from the Dem side of the Intelligence Committee? Are Jon Kyl (and Zell Miller) badly outnumbered by a Republican caucus that doesn't have the stomach for a fight worth fighting? One furious conservative observer: "I hope there's something I don't know to explain the roll-over. Have they gotten a commitment to confirm a half-dozen judges?" Uh, no.

Gee. Isn't Bill "He'll Be So Much Better Than Trent Lott" Frist out front on this one?

You know, blackmail from information acquired from 900 raw FBI files that found their way somehow into the Clinton Whitehouse a few years back, and then into who knows what other Democrats' offices, could just possibly explain the reluctance of one or another Republican senator to buck the other-party line. But surely I fantasize.

Of course, if they get enough flack about this, maybe the Stupid Party Republicans in the Senate will find some spine.

Lane Core Jr. CIW P — Thu. 11/06/03 11:19:26 AM
Categorized as Political.