Zell Miller Endorses Bush

The Weekly Standard ^ | 10/29/2003 | Fred Barnes

[HarleyD]

SENATOR ZELL MILLER OF GEORGIA, the nation's most prominent conservative Democrat, said today he will endorse President Bush for re-election in 2004 and campaign for him if Bush wishes him to. Miller said Bush is "the right man at the right time" to govern the country.

The next five years "will determine the kind of world my children and grandchildren will live in," Miller said in an interview. And he wouldn't "trust" any of the nine Democratic presidential candidates with governing during "that crucial period," he said. "This Democrat will vote for President Bush in 2004."

Miller, who is retiring from the Senate next year, has often expressed his admiration for Bush. He was a co-sponsor of the president's tax cuts in 2001 and 2003. The two got to know each other in the 1990s when both were governors.

The senator's endorsement is important for several reasons. With Miller on board, Bush will have a head start on forming a Democrats for Bush group in 2004. Such a group would woo crossover votes from conservative or otherwise disgruntled Democrats next year. In 2000, an effort by the Bush campaign to form a Democrats for Bush organization fizzled.

Since he came to the Senate in 2000, Miller has become increasingly critical of Senate Democrats and the national Democratic party. He recently published a new book, "A National Party No More: The Conscience of a Conservative Democrat," in which he criticizes the party for being too liberal, too elitist, and subservient to liberal interest groups. In the book, Miller singles out Democratic presidential frontrunner Howard Dean, whom he knew as governor of Vermont, for being shallow.

[deport]

Does Zell have the 'gift'?

[cwb]

"Essentially, the liberal Democrats are saying: "Slow the march to conservatism even if it kills our Party."

Yes...and in this process they are also saying that Bush is the greater threat to "them" than Saddam, OBL or terrorism. If Democrats exhibited half the contempt they show for Bush towards our real enemies, this country's resolve would be unmistakeable and freightening to our enemies everywhere. Instead, we have our enemies using the Democrats own words in their speeches, as they rally their commrades to kill Americans.

[ChadGore]

Why isn't this the front page screaming headline all across the news ????

[LurkerNoMore!]

Hannity's interview with him is tonight.

[TontoKowalski]

That's why they get so royally pissed about these things---they don't see them coming!

That's true. They have this pollyannish view that everyone wants to be just like them. I think we're all realistic enough to know that holding, say...the Illinois Senate seat, will be a stuggle. Most savvy posters here wouldn't be floored if we lost that seat.

Over at DU, they're all just absolutely certain they're keeping Georgia and North Carolina and will knock off popular conservatives in Republican strongholds...

Off topic, but any truth that Zell is a Superdelegate to the Democratic Convention? Should be amusing to see/hear him cast a vote for Bush at the Convention...

OK, that's a dream. He'll resign his position.... won't he?

[RandallFlagg]

Tom Daschle is ... Well, you know.

--Short?

[Chunga]

This is astonishing. Zell is a Party man through and through.

Perhaps, by swinging this far to the right, he's attempting to save his Senate seat for a fellow Democrat in a state finally free of more than a century of Democrat control.

[nickcarraway]

This is a change for Miller. Not that he would agree with Bush, but so far he has tried to remain ``loyal'' to his party, even if they didn't agree with him.

[nickcarraway]

That would be great

[ALOHA RONNIE]

Finally...

a DEMOCRAT Patriot...

in -Time of War-..!!!

[firewalk]

bttt

[Anti-Christ is Hillary]

Boy there is a lot of anger in that room!!!!!! It's just one more difference between us and the rats. There is a bunch of VERY angry potty mouths in their camp. One of the funniest things I have read.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Zell Miller is a brave soul. And, his support will be a real help in holding together the "Reagan Democrats" in the South through the 2004 election.

Thank you, Senator.

[solo gringo]

A good Senator with sound ideas.I didn't think i would ever say this but this is a good democrat.

[nicksaunt]

He did say it. Mayor Koch said that he would vote for President Bush in 2004 over any of the declared Democratic Presidential candidates. I think it was from a soundbite that Rush played a few weeks back.

[cwb]

You know why:( Because it's not a Republican like John McCain or Jim Jeffords. Interestingly, even McCain never endorsed a Democrat (that I know of)...and even though Jeffords left the GOP, he still officially never became a Demoncrat.

[cwb]

Yep. He even wrote it in an op-ed piece, declaring that if none of the 9 dwarfs changed their position, he would vote for Bush.

[ALOHA RONNIE]

...And now suddenly Sen. FEINSTEIN endorses BUSH Fire-Fighting Forest Bill that she's been stonewalling forever...

...as HILLARY Minion Gen. WESLEY CLARK again blames BUSH for the Attacks of Sept. 11th.

The Enemy is now Within...
and always has been.

[nutmeg]

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[nutmeg]

FoxFan ping!

Sean Hannity interviews Zell Miller tonight on 'Hannity & Colmes'.. 9pm ET.

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