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.

[Wait4Truth]

Thank you for Senator Miller's web form link, finn. I sent him a thank you.

[Rubber Duck]

Will the last logical, patriotic, and honorable Democrat please shut off the light when they leave the party?

There is still Ben Nelson from Nebraska. It has to be awfully lonely without Zell.

[Mrs Zip]

ping

[dixierose]

I know several people here (GA) who claim up and down that they are Democrats, but their beliefs and opinions lean to the right. It's just "tradition" down here.

[nothingnew]

I would add "war" to that tagline.

Yeah, OK,...Not sure where you're coming from, but the libs/left hate war...unless it's their own.

FRegards,

FMCDH

[Valin]

I'm gonna go waaay out on a limb and call this a good thing...NO wait a very good thing.

[jwalsh07]

Miller is on Hannity now and that good ole boy ain't pulling any punches. He's naming names and speaking his mind.

He's a conservative alright, just not a conservative with an (R) after his name.

[Valin]

I'd like to thank you for actually going over there.
Are you ok now?

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

I was devestated when Paul Coverdell died. I did not vote for Zell Miller. But he kept his promise to represent ALL Georgians and he has done it well. I would vote for him if we ran for re-election.

He is a good man.

[Valin]

The modern democrat party is finally starting to reap the friuts of 68-72. So many of these center-left to center-right dems are leaveing as they realize they really have no future.

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

We love Zell here in Georgia.

No doubt about it..he is beloved. I have always said if he ran for Gov. against Jesus Christ, Zell would win by a landslide.

Haven't always agreed with his politics, but I will say again.....he is a good man.

[jwalsh07]

Evidently, one need only look at the Governors races in Ky, La and Mississippi to see just how far the mighty have fallen.

[stands2reason]

Try reading it again. Here.

A DUmmie: This is his last term in the Senate. He is retiring. So he wont run as a republican. And we get the added bonus of having a real chance of getting a real democrat in that seat.

How clueless can you be?

[stands2reason]

I corrected you before I read this post---sorry!

[DefCon]

"...We love Zell here in Georgia..."
- - -
Please do not imply that you speak for me with that "we" crap.
I campaigned and voted against him at every chance.
I happen to hate the man's guts.
Always have. Always will.

[areafiftyone]

Thats okay. :-)
I love to see DUers squirm. It was all worth it.

[rastus macgill]

Well Zellis more of a conservative than our curent Governor RINO Sonny Perdue.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

[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.]

WoooooooHooooo! This about says all that needs to be said!

[nmh]

I like him. I may even buy his book. That would be a first for me - buying a book written by a Democrat. I also understand his analogy of why he won't change his party to Republican.