Tone in N.Y. begs Demos to react

NEW YORK — In the movie "Braveheart," the rebellious Scots lifted the back of their kilts in an insult toward their English adversaries.

Republicans have been doing the same thing, metaphorically speaking, to their Democratic rivals throughout the four-day GOP convention, and by Thursday night, when George W. Bush formally accepted the party's nomination and brought the convention to a close, they seemed to be begging the Democrats to bring it on.

Democrats, meanwhile, are crying foul.

"The Republican message is taking root with the masses, and the Democrats see the field turning against them," said Utah state Rep. Chad Bennion, R-Murray.

Democrats took to the airways Thursday to counter the parade of Republican keynote speakers taunting the Democrats and the Democratic nominee, John Kerry.

Democrats were apoplectic, calling the Republican convention slash-and-burn partisan politics at its worst. And they were predicting a backlash from independent and undecided voters.

The lion's share of criticism was directed at Sen. Zell Miller, a Georgia Democrat who was given a prime-time slot where he angrily accused his own party of betraying him and veterans everywhere.

Things got even hotter when the combative conservative all but challenged MSNBC-TV interviewer Chris Matthews to a duel.

"What you see is what you get with Zell Miller," said Sen. Bob Bennett of Utah, who has known Miller for years. "And what you get with him is a highly offended Democrat: A Democrat who believed his party has been the vanguard of democracy and freedom, but he now feels a sense of betrayal that is no longer true."

And Bennett said he could feel the anger Miller feels toward the betrayal.

"He said things no Republicans could have said," Bennett said. "Or if they had, it would be labeled partisanship beyond the pale."

MSNBC's Matthews is known for an aggressive, rapid-fire interviewing style, and he and Miller interrupted each other several times during the program.

"I wish we lived in the day where you could challenge a person to a duel," the 72-year-old Miller angrily told Matthews, 58.

Miller was at the Madison Square Garden convention site and Matthews was at an MSNBC set several blocks away, so there was no chance of a physical confrontation. But at one point, the senator told Matthews, "I wish I was over there, where I could get a little closer up into your face."

Miller's keynote convention speech, which reverberated throughout the day on television talk shows and all-news cable channels, was made possible because of an invitation by another Utahn — Sen. Orrin Hatch, who calls Miller a close friend.