Newspaper Page Text
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 2018
BARROW NEWS-JOURNAL
PAGE 5A
Memories of Zell Miller and the
gubernatorial campaign of 1990
The recent death of Zell
Miller, who held several
elected offices in his career,
brought back a ton of political
memories, especially the 1990
governor's race in our state.
That year’s primary was
very entertaining for several
reasons and also memorable
for me because it
was the first time
I was able to vote.
Miller eventually
was the winner of
the Democratic
primary and was
later elected gov
ernor during a time
when Democrats
were still elect
ed statewide in
Georgia.
The Democratic
primary that year featured
Miller, who had been lieu
tenant governor for what
seemed like an eternity, civil
rights icon Andrew Young,
lawyer Roy Barnes (in his
first statewide campaign),
state Rep. Lauren “Bubba”
McDonald and former con
troversial governor Lester
Maddox.
Miller was the favorite
going in because he had been
lieutenant governor for so
long. However. Young also
had a lot of name recognition
in the state. Barnes was some
what unknown statewide as
was McDonald.
Maddox had no chance of
being elected governor again
by this point but he certainly
added entertainment value to
the race.
I still have a candidate
forum that was aired on an
Atlanta television station from
the summer of 1990 and have
watched it numerous times
through the years. Miller was
criticized heavily by Barnes
for being able to draw a higher
retirement rate than teachers
who worked 30 years. Miller
was unable to really defend
that issue and was only able
to laugh about it and to tell
Barnes to not get so
worked up about it.
The highlight of
that forum, though,
was Maddox point
ing out how Miller
used his influence
as an elected official
to get certain perks,
noting he didn't
need a retirement
fund because he had
basically already
lined his pockets so
much through political influ
ence.
“There's not a position Zell
Miller hasn't stood for at one
time or another,” Maddox
said. “He wanted to ride a
bicycle in a parade but they
wouldn’t allow him because
he was declared a danger with
all his zig zagging all over the
place.”
Miller sat there with a blank
look on his face like he want
ed to punch Maddox.
Miller and Young eventu
ally went to a runoff before
Miller won the Democratic
nomination and then defeated
Johnny Isakson in the general
election. Remember this was
still more than a decade before
the Republican tide swept
over Georgia when it came to
statewide elections.
Miller would serve two
terms as governor and later
serve as U.S. senator. He actu
ally drew primary opposition
in 1994, something unusual
for an incumbent governor.
Two of his primary oppo
nents that year had what I
thought were some of the best
campaign slogans I've ever
heard. Jim Boyd used the slo
gan of “Jim Boyd as governor
could not be worse than Zell
Miller.”
Mark Tate ran primarily
based on Miller wanting to
change the state flag. Tate’s
signs read “Zell No! - Mark
Tate For Governor!”
In later years Miller
became viewed as somewhat
of a loose cannon, appear
ing at Republican National
Convention, speaking against
the Democrats. He will be best
remembered for bringing the
lottery to Georgia and helping
generations of students attend
college.
Miller was definitely a
career politician and many
people view him as a cause
for term limits. For me, I have
always said we have term lim
its. No politician is guaranteed
any amount of time in office.
Voters have the ability to send
them packing at any time. If
voters are too lazy to do so,
well, that’s their fault.
I've thought a lot about the
spring and summer of 1990 a
lot in recent days and the fun
times that were that campaign.
I remember going into the vot
ing booth for that first time.
Much has changed since then,
however, both in politics and
for me personally.
Winder resident Chris
Bridges is a former editor of
the Barrow News-Journal.
You can reach him at pchris-
bridges@gmail.com.
chris
bridges
Terrell continued from 4A
Random Rants in Rhyme
Why We Celebrate Easter
He was a simple Jewish carpenter,
with no known formal education.
How did He manage to cause such a stir
throughout the entire Jewish nation?
He had at least a dozen men
who abandoned all they had to participate
in the life and work of this charismatic man
who had a future they believed was great.
The Chief Priests and the Pharisees
thought it was best to spy on Him -
which was an easy thing to do -
they simply pretended to follow Him.
The message they heard from this vagabond preacher
was different from any they had ever heard.
He taught with authority — like some great teacher.
Some even converted on hearing His word.
His actions and teachings, some thought were quite odd.
Why, He even healed on the SABBATH day!
and claimed to be the SON OF GOD!!
To the Chief Priests and scribes, they hastened their way.
A stern convocation soon was called,
and they rallied around the High Priest, who said,
“It is better for one man to die than for all
of our people and nation to be dead.”
A mock trial was held. “He is worthy of death,”
they agreed, so they took him before the Governor.
“He is innocent,” Pilate claimed, almost gasping for breath.
“Crucify Him,” they cried over and over.
They crucified Him, and placed him in a sepulcher,
sealed with a huge stone, and with Roman guards attended.
On the third day, horrified, they discovered
the stone was rolled away, and He had ascended.
They tried to claim His disciples had stolen Him.
They paid large sums of money to the guards.
But, since so many of His followers saw Him
to gain much traction for their story was hard.
“Christ is alive!” they preached with such great fervor,
completely changed from the fearful men before.
“He bled and died to become your Savior,
that you might live forevermore.”
Christ is alive! That rock-hewn tomb is empty!
Christ is alive, and at God’s right hand forever.
He came to earth to be our Savior, simply,
and that is why we celebrate Easter.
© 2018, cbs
On the other side, some
one posted a message saying
the CDC reported that an
average of six teens a day
die from motor vehicle acci
dents and injuries.
Another source quoted
that in 2016, 64,000 people
died from opioid overdoses;
yet they are still being pre
scribed.
And there were 37,461
deaths that year in the U.S.
by vehicle, yet cars are still
on the road.
Two high school students
from Pennsylvania told
Breitbart News there would
be no need for a Second
Amendment if there were
no guns in the United States.
Reactions to the Parkland
shooting have gone from
rational to irrational.
At Lacey Township High
School in New Jersey, two
students received a five-
day suspension for posting
photos on SnapChat taken
during a family visit to a
rifle range.
Another student in Ohio
was suspended for not par
ticipating in the National
Walkout (of School Day).
Headmaster’s
Corner
by
Steve Cummings
ii
GOOD FRIDAY - Christians
will observe Good Friday this
week by recalling Jesus’ death
on the cross. On Sunday,
Christians will celebrate Eas
ter as the day Jesus triumphed
over the grave and rose from
the dead.
H.G. Wells said this about Je
sus: “I am a historian, I am not
a believer, but I must confess
as a historian that this penni
less preacher front Nazareth is
irrevocably the very center of
history. Jesus Christ is easily
the most dominant figure in all
history.”
This statement is true be
cause Jesus is THE Savior. No
other figure in history claimed
to be the Messiah, then rose
from the dead to prove it. I hope
you know this Jesus.
ATHENS
CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
“Affordable Quality Education Since 1970”
K3-12TH CALL (706) 549-7586
www.athenschristian.com
He refused to take sides in
the debate, arguing that divi
sive politics did not belong
in the high school classroom.
A New York Congress
man (Tom Suozzi) suggest
ed that U.S. citizens should
take up arms against Pres
ident Trump if he doesn’t
follow the law.
It sounds as if he is pro
posing more violence to get
the action he wants.
And, finally, there is a
plethora of information
available from all sides on
the mental health issues and
concerns. We must be very
careful not to allow either
side to hijack the current
situation and we must weigh
all available information.
The U.S. Constitution
and the Bill of Rights have
served us well. It is imper
ative that we work together
to preserve these documents.
Jimmy Terrell is retired
from a career in law enforce
ment in Barrow County and
is a Winder city councilman.
He can be reached at ejter-
rell65 @ gmail.com.
Dr. CB Skelton is a retired Winder physician and author of several books.
Thompson continued from 4A
And then, like anyone who had ever
paid attention to him or U.S. politics
knew would happen, he cowered.
Excuse the teenagers if they don’t
trust the adults to solve problems by
themselves.
When Emma Gonzalez spoke at the
“March for Our Lives” rally last week,
she rattled off the names of the 17
people who were killed at her school
that day and then stood silently for six
minutes and 20 seconds, representing
the amount of time it took the shooter
to act.
Her silence was certainly loud. I
heard it. I hear their voices, and I hope
they don’t go away.
Scott Thompson is editor of the Bar-
row News-Journal. He can be reached
at sthompson@barrownewsjournal.
com.
March 28, 2018 ~ Crossword Puzzle
Across
1. Greatest
5. Tartare
8. Scrape
13. World’s fair, e.g.
14. Nimbi
16. Basic food item
17. Gyrate
18. Scallion
19. Bit of ash
20. Ref. work
21. Grain-storage bin
22. “God’s Little
24. Part of BYOB
25. Hole-cutting tool
27. Influence
30. Marched
31. Mental flash
32. Have a debt
35. Voided volley
37. Vamoose!
38. Out on a
40. Look-alike
42. Bog fuel
43. Where cowboys get a few bucks
44. Lass
45. Wrap
47. Hereditary unit
49. History chapter, perhaps
50. Staring intently
52. Mountain’s melody
54. Pain
56. Eighteen-wheeler
57. Negatively charged atom
58. Nibble
59. “He All the Way”
60. Nature’s Band-Aid
61. Rumple
64. Flier’s aide
67. Spanish monetary unit, once
69. Poker word
72. Pastrami seller
73. Image
75. Head
76. Strategy
78. Stagnant
80. Long narrative
81. Stop
82. Fortuneteller’s card
83. Of the ear
84. Overly frank
85. Cove
86. Seven days
Down
1. Stupefy
2. Authority
3. Arachnid
4. Cargo unit
5. Rajah’s mate
6. Legal excuse
7. Romance
8. Squalid sites
9. Tin product
10. Coiffure
11. Went by airplane
12. Forest growth
14. Unicorn feature
15. Fierce flower?
16. Fun-house shout
21. Beat
23. Invent
26. Equine sport
28. Cats’prey
29. Alone
33. Extend
34. Abrasive stuff
36. London brew
37. Narrow-interest doctor
39. Feathered stole
40. Shaq, e.g.
41. Pack animal
43. Strict diet
44. KITT’s fuel on “Knight Rider”
46. Writing tool
48. Indian bread
51. Metallic element
53. Boxcar rider
55. Piece of music
57. Perspective
62. Congressional body
63. Cigar
65. Shelley, for one
66. Crown
67. Frost or Keats, e.g.
68. Taken (surprised)
69. Random attempt
70. Title of nobility
71. Hosiery shade
74. Satiate
77. “ to Midnight”
(Bronson film)
79. Check
80. Sty dweller
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