It's the only explanation that makes sense.
By choosing former Georgia governor Zell Miller as his running mate, Al Gore could add intellectual brainpower, rhetorical firepower, and lots of plain old populist piss-and-vinegar to this staid election.
[...]
Zell Miller is also a world-class campaigner and orator. His keynote address to the 1992 Democratic convention ranks with Barbara Jordan's and Mario Cuomo's as one of the finest examples of powerful rhetoric and partisan passion.
At a time when politics seems moribund, Zell would bring energy. When people are looking for heroes, Zell's the real thing. And when Democrats need someone who's not afraid to open up a can of whupass on the radical right [on behalf, I think you mean--ed.], they need look no further than Zell Miller.
No wonder he wants Dean out. He wants Democrats to suck.
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I was too young to remember
I was too young to remember Zell Miller at the 92 Democratic Convention. He came to my attention as the man who supported Bush's war on terror and challenged Chris Matthews to a duel at the 04 Republican convention. From what I have read, Carville is intent on seeing Hillary becoming the nominee and is working in his capacity as a party leader to ensure that this happens. Why is he dispensing advice concerning a possible Gore canidacy?Â
Carville's comment also begs the question of where the Democratic party is at this moment in history. This past election has indicated that a period of history which began with Barry Goldwater's campaign in 64 is now coming to an end. The coalition which began to develop since then is now beginning to fracture electorally, and the Democratic Party is beginning to acquire individuals who fomerly identified with the Republicans. If the Republican failure of leadership has new created opportunities for the Democrats, than what kind of platform do they now represent. Is it the party of the New Deal, the Great Society, the Rainbow Coalition of Jesse Jackson, the party animated by the political protest and activism of the 1960s, the party enjoying the return of the Reagan Democrats, a party resembling Truman's Cold War hawkishness. the party responsible for pioneering the Third Way a la Bill Clinton, or the party of early 20th century Southern populism as Carville's suggestion of putting Miller on a ticket with Al Gore would indicate? The Democrats have never been good at forming ideologically cohesive coalitions, and it seems that this problem will continue to plague them as they capatilize on voter discontent with the Republican Party.                   Â
Carville's comment also begs
It actually doesn't. It's just an internal power play.Â
The Democrats have never
The Democrats have never been good at forming ideologically cohesive coalitions...
No American political party has been good at forming ideologically cohesive coaltions. In fact, no coalition, which is essentially an alliance of groups with common and varied interests, can long sustain a cohesive coalition given the contradictions, issues and demands of America. The great genius or good fortune of FDR and the architects of the New Deal is that they cobbled together a coalition that lasted nearly 50 years and it controlled Congress and the White House for the greater portion of that time.
The Democratic Party represents possibility at this stage of its development or existence. Those of you who have the energy and the time should seize this opportunity and look with fresh eyes at what lies before you. You may be too young to remember Zell Miller's speech in 1992 but you are old enough, I hope, to recall his speech in 2004 at the Republican National Convention. He ain't our friend. Â