A funny moment came during Lynne Cheney's introduction of her husband. Mrs. Cheney said that one of their young grandchildren recently asked the Vice President if he knew anyone famous.
The most memorable speech thus far in the convention came from Zell Miller, a Democratic senator from Georgia. Miller's speech was a fiery tongue lashing to his own party -- a party which he perceives as having deserted him and others like him. Miller said, "Now, while young Americans are dying in the sands of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan, our nation is being torn apart and made weaker because of the Democrat's manic obsession to bring down our Commander in Chief."
Senator Miller, a retired Marine, reminded the audience and the nation of the importance of the American soldier. Miller declared:
It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us the freedom of the
press. It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of
speech. It is the soldier, not the agitator, who has given us the freedom
to protest. It is the soldier who salutes the flag, serves beneath the
flag, whose coffin is draped by the flag, who gives that protester the freedom
to abuse and burn that flag. No one should dare to even think about being
the Commander in Chief of this country if he doesn't believe with all his heart
that our soldiers are liberators abroad and defenders of freedom at home.
Miller also spoke about President Bush's toughness. He said:
No matter what spider hole they may hide in or what rock they crawl under,
George Bush wants to grab terrorists by the throat and not let them go to get a
better grip. .... He is not a slick talker but he is a straight
shooter and, where I come from, deeds mean a lot more than words. I have
knocked on the door of this man's soul and found someone home, a God-fearing man
with a good heart and a spine of tempered steel.
Miller went on to express his admiration and support for George W. Bush. He said:
I first got to know George Bush when we served as governors together.
I admire this man. I am moved by the respect he shows the first lady, his
unabashed love for his parents and his daughters, and the fact that he is
unashamed of his belief that God is not indifferent to America. I can
identify with someone who has lived that line in "Amazing Grace," "Was blind,
but now I see," and I like the fact that he's the same man on Saturday night
that he is on Sunday morning.
Senator Miller concluded his speech by saying:
In this hour of danger our President has had the courage to stand up. And
this Democrat is proud to stand up with him. Thank you. God Bless
this great country and God Bless George W. Bush.
These excerpts are by no means the only highlights from Senator Miller's speech. Click here to read the entire transcript. It is not too long, and it is extremely entertaining.
