Open Letter To Senator Zell Miller

R Grizzle

[RGrizzle]

Senator Miller,

I very much appreciate the leadership you have shown and the votes you have cast during your tenure as Georgia’s Senator. I do feel that you have carried forward the work of Senator Coverdell who preceded you. As much as I value your voting record, I do hold one issue against you. I would ask you, dear Senator, to please reconsider your party affiliation.

In the coming days your chosen party will seek to redefine itself given the enormous losses it received this Tuesday. The Democrats will need to clearly articulate its identity before they can hope to undo the damage that Tuesday’s election brought. It is highly likely that the party will choose to separate itself from the path President Bush has chosen.

How will you respond? You could choose to remain in the party in hopes of championing the party back to an area where you and I would hope the nation would emerge. It is my assertion that this will be a difficult and disappointing challenge for you.

The politics of Georgia have changed dramatically since your time as our Governor. Long-time Democratic house speaker Tom Murphy has been defeated. The Georgia State Senate is on the brink of a Republican majority. Gov. Roy Barnes is no longer among the list of Democratic rising stars. Cleland is gone despite your unending support. Your national party is in complete disarray. You have another choice.

I humbly request that you join the ranks of the Republicans. I am not a prominent citizen with enormous influence. I cannot offer much to fill your coffers for your reelection campaign. I do offer my full support if you choose the path that is more reflective of your convictions. You will have my energy. You will have my time. You will have my vote. Please join us.

Regards,

R Grizzle - Humble Constituent

[the_doc]

Good letter.

[w_over_w]

Phil Graham did it . . . Ben Nighthorse did it . . . pardon the expression but a Miller switch would drive a stake through the heart of the Democrats. Meantime it's on to Louisiana!

[DWPittelli]

What's amazing is that the House is looking for new Dem leadership -- probably to the left of Gephardt, but there is no such news concerning the Senate, where you'd expect it's more needed (since the Dems just lost control).

On that note, given what he's said in the past, I think it's clear that Zell Miller isn't going to change parties without a better new reason than just "stick to the winners." Look for it to happen if, and only if, Daschle is replaced with someone to his left.

[Naspino]

Zell is leaving the senate in 2004 and will be replaced by a Republican. I suspect that the DNC will run Roy Barnes in his place.

Zell said Cleland was his hero and that Saxby Chambliss should be ashamed of himself. With that rhetoric I don't see Zell switching parties.

[Damocles]

As much as I would like to see Zell switch, it may not be the best we could hope for. Zell allows the Repubs to work accros party lines and claim bipartisanship to squash those that will soon be screaming the president is jamming his agenda down the throats of the senate.

I think he serves us better from his current side of the aisle. JMHO.

[Texas Mom]

At the very first opportunity, we need to remove Zell from the Senate!

Rumor has it that Miller isn't planning on seeking re-election.

[KriegerGeist]

With Pelosi poised to take over the minority leadership from Dicky Gephardt, and then move the Democrapic party all the way to the far extreme left of anything any liberal-socialist could even imagine, perhaps Senator Miller will take this letter to heart.

Plus, if Senator Mary Landrieu runs left of what she did before November 5th and against President Bush to resemble more of Pelosi's vision for the Dem minority, then Senator will watch another defeat.

The Senator will also witness the legal troubles going on with yet another two Democrats: Senator-elect Mark Pryor (D-Ak) and Senator-fraud-elect Tim Johnson (D-SD). All this could make any self-respecting Democrat want to switch. And Senator Miller is a man with self-respect and the respect of many.

[coramdeo]

Phil Graham did it . . . Ben Nighthorse did it

But, there was one big difference. Gramm immediately resigned and ran for re-election as a Republican. Many of the criticisms I have of Jumpin' Jim Jeffords apply equally to the Horse. I think if Miller is going to switch, it will be when he runs for re-election.

In the meantime, if we don't need his vote to be in the majority, I kind of enjoy seeing him frequently poking the Dem leadership in the eye with a sharp stick.

[dmcnash]

Zell will not switch because he is a loyal democrat.
But if the Rats convulse to the left as they appear to be doing and with Republican Governor appointing his successor, perhaps he will resign for the same effect?

[Blue Screen of Death]

Gramm immediately resigned and ran for re-election as a Republican.

Gramm has honor and class. If he wanted to he could have run for his own seat this time, counted on Perry getting elected and then resiging and letting a Republican governor appoint his replacement. This would have eliminated the threat Kirk made to that senate seat. In other words it would have been Gramm vs Kirk with Conryn as the winner.

[epow]

I guess there's always hope for Zell to come to his senses, but I'm afraid it will never happen. Too bad, I would like to vote for him because of his stand on 2nd amendment issues, and because he represents a tiny minority of Dems who still love and support their country. But I just can't trust the character of anyone who will stick with the corrupt Democrat party and it's immoral, Nazi-like support for killing unborn babies.

BTW, I just saw the results of Tuesday's vote for statewide candidates here in my north GA county. Perdue beat Barnes by 65-35%, Chambliss beat Cleland by 61-39%. YES!!!

For 10th congressional district, Republican Nathan Deal ran unopposed. Our Pub state senator and 2 of our 3 Pub state reps ran unopposed. The other Pub state rep beat the Dem challenger by 79-21%.

I would say that's pretty much a clean sweep in my little corner of the state. If only the entire nation was as patriotic and sensible as the red-zone folks around here!

[RGrizzle]

(This is a copy of the second letter I have sent to Zell since Tuesday's election. I'm not so crazy to think that the junior staffers reading these will take the time to pass them on to Zell, but it's fun to lament. This site allows me the opportunity to have someone read them anyway.)

Senator Miller,

Today’s Washington Times reports (to my disappointment) that you will not consider a switch to the Republican Party. Clearly, now is not the appropriate time for conversion. A switch at this moment will appear both cowardly and opportunistic. However, as the Democratic Party emerges from its search for its soul, I would humbly ask that you reconsider this position.

It is essential that the Democrats establish a clear distinction between their positions and those of President Bush. This leftward swing will also differentiate you from the leadership of the Democratic party and create the opportunity needed for you to align your convictions with your political party.

Some may argue that Barnes lost due to the flag controversy. Some may argue Cleland lost due to his failure to pass the Homeland Security bill. Without exit polls, no one can say for sure. However, it is clear that both were once extremely popular. Both are now gone. Cleland lost despite your appearance in many of his campaign ads. Your endorsement could not salvage his seat.

The foundations of Georgia politics have changed. While the national Democrats will soon move sharply to the left, Georgia has moved decisively to the right. You do receive enormous attention as a rogue Democrat. However, the Republicans’ sweep of Georgia despite your campaigning should raise questions of your longevity in the Senate as a Democrat. An unelected rogue receives little attention.

Again, I would humbly ask that you reconsider your party affiliation. You agree with Republican principles. Follow the example of my representative in the 9th congressional district Nathan Deal. Please join us. Put the energy that swept Georgia to work for you in your next campaign. We will make you proud.

Regards,


RGrizzle - Humble Constituent

[w_over_w]

I kind of enjoy seeing him frequently poking the Dem leadership in the eye with a sharp stick.

Yes! Talk about amunition for the Pubbies.

Balla Con Dios!

[ThinkDifferent]

I kind of enjoy seeing him frequently poking the Dem leadership in the eye with a sharp stick.

Exactly, he's their McCain.

[jpl]

Zell said Cleland was his hero and that Saxby Chambliss should be ashamed of himself.

I have the utmost personal respect for outgoing Senator Cleland. But he's the one who should be ashamed of himself for opposing much needed Homeland Security measures for such petty political reasons.

[bulldogs]

I am from IL. Georgia looks like a good place to move.

[Only1choice____Freedom]

Dear Zell,

It's not that you would be leaving the Democrats.
They have already left you.
Please join your friends and give up on restoring the heart to the party of perjury.
Carville, Daschle, Lautenberg, and McAuliffe have already decided they don't want one.

[SwinneySwitch]

Phil Gramm said, at the time, "I didn't leave the Democrat Party, the party left me."