By Elliott Brack
Editor and publisher, GwinnettForum
MARCH 27, 2018 | As you get older, you learn to trust your instincts. You have no reason for thinking the way you are thinking, but you do. After all, it’s instinctive.
Back in 2015 and up until the 2016 election, we felt that Hillary Clinton would not become the 45th president. We didn’t know why we felt that way. All this was before the Trump Movement. We thought that Hillary might get the nomination, but felt that she would not be our next president. We even wrote about this.
In a similar vein, looking at the Georgia gubernatorial race, we have this feeling that one of the front runners in the Republican Party, Casey Cagle, will not be the next Georgia governor. This isn’t something that popped into our mind after his recent Delta debacle. We’ve thought this for several months now.
However, we have no instinct about who the next governor of Georgia might be. There are several what you might call “standard” people seeking the office, plus one or two non-traditional candidates. We don’t envy any of them, for it takes a tremendous amount of work, a good war chest, and lots of patience and even good luck to ascend to such high offices.
We’re merely saying that we don’t see Casey Cagle elevating himself to the next office.
Yep, we may have egg on our face later on, but that’s our instinct.
Miller
FEW PEOPLE IN GEORGIA have been as prepared for governing our state than the late Zell Miller, who passed away last week at age 86.
Look at the offices and history he held before he became governor:
- Mayor of Young Harris for two years;
- A state senator for four years;
- Lost two races for the U.S. Congress;
- Chief of staff for four years for Gov. Lester Maddox;
- Lieutenant governor of Georgia for four terms, 16 years!
- Lost a race for U.S. Senator to Herman Talmadge;
- Was governor for two terms, eight years.
Miller even finally made it to the Senate, upon the appointment by a former opponent, Gov. Roy Barnes, where he served for five years. What a record of public service he had!
In later life, Miller confounded a lot of people with his stands, for long-life a Democrat, but turning more conservative toward the end of his life. He even was keynote speaker at the Democratic National Convention, then later, at the Republican National Convention. He supported George W. Bush for the presidential nomination, and later addressed the Republican convention with a controversial speech criticizing many elements of the Democratic Party.
Once a rebellious teenager, Miller joined the Marines, and rose to the rank of sergeant. Of this he said: “In the twelve weeks of hell and transformation that were Marine Corps boot camp, I learned the values of achieving a successful life that have guided and sustained me on the course which, although sometimes checkered and detoured, I have followed ever since.”
Zell was a good friend to Gwinnett County over the years, his family living in Norcross during much of the time he served as lieutenant governor. His wife, Shirley, was the proprietor of a dress shop in downtown Norcross. But Zell’s heart was always in his mountains at Young Harris. And his mountain twang never left his speech. He was true to himself all along.
Zell Bryan Miller, 1932-2018: May you rest in peace.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
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