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.

[cookcounty]

So Bush has more endorsements from Senate Democrats than any of the Seven Dwarves!

[wzlboy]

Give 'em HELL ZELL BUMP!!

[Lazamataz]

Even liberal Democrats such as former Mayor Ed Koch, Mario Cuomo, and Leftists such as Tony Blair are ignored if they don't tout the official Democratic Party "fight Bush", "everything is Bush's fault," and "smear Bush" strategies

Correction: Andrew Cuomo. Mario is still a loyal Clintonista.

[Recovering_Democrat]

Tom Daschle IS saddened, deeply saddened.

BWA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!

[since1868]

Give the guy a break, he is doing something no other demorat will. He also told his fellow senators that any Repubs that jumped ship and went to the other side, he would jump as well. He is our best friend.

[Recovering_Democrat]

i THINK Diane Feinstine has endorsed John "Big Hair" Kerry, the French-looking candidate.

[Paleo Conservative]

He is truly a man among rats.

[chimera]

Good on yer, Zell. You've got courage. Tell it like it is, man.

[Lazamataz]

i THINK Diane Feinstine has endorsed John "Big Hair" Kerry, the French-looking candidate.

He's a Viet Nam Veteran, you know.

[Southack]

"Correction: Andrew Cuomo. Mario is still a loyal Clintonista."

Thanks!

[cwb]

I wonder if this story will even make headline news. Hell, Jim Jeffords leaves the Republican Party to become an independent and its a breaking news story for a week. Yet, the Democrats lose 439 elected representatives to the GOP and nobody says a thing...despite it being the largest exodus in American politics. These stats are from 2000:

- GOP seats gained in House since Clinton became president: 60

- GOP seats gained in Senate since Clinton became president: 11

- GOP governorships gained since Clinton became president: 14

- GOP state legislative seats gained since Clinton became president: c. 500
- Democratic officeholders who have become Republicans since Clinton became president: 439

- Republican officeholders who have become Democrats since Clinton became president: 3

Wow. And did you hear...Jim Jeffords defected. Democrats have now lost the largest (electoral) state in the Union to a Republican, as Repubican governors now control some of the largest...and most liberal, states in the country. They lost the majority in many southern state legislatures that were once overwhelmingly controlled by Democrats. And even a recent Gallop poll indicates that 40% of Americans identify themselves as Conservative while only 20% liberal. Now Zell Miller, Ed Koch and Andrew Cuomo? But did you hear...John McCain has issues with some Republicans. Denial...isn't just a river...

[NYC Republican]

And if the Democratic Party elite keeps ignoring their Zell Miller's, Jerry Brown's, and Mayor Koch's, rest assured that they will continue to lose Presidential, House, Senate, and governorship elections...in addition to losing their ability to raise campaign funds

Shhhhhh! Let it be our secret! Let them ignore these issues at their own risk!

[Paleo Conservative]

He is truly a man among rats.

[Gringo1]

We love Zell here in Georgia.

[Lazamataz]

I live to serve.

At $55 an hour.

(Yes my rates have gone up. I'm a trend-bucker. :^D)

[Marcus Alonzo Hanna]

Be like Zell and join President Bush's reelection efforts:

http://www.GeorgeWBush.com/SignUp/

[jpl]

You don't need a Weatherman to know which way the wind blows.

[cwb]

Nice pets.

[mewzilla]

Gee. I'm sure Miller's endorsement will carry a lot of weight with the DUmmies.

No, but there are a lot of other Dems who hold Miller in high regard. His endorsement will mean a lot to them.

[areafiftyone]

Gee. I'm sure Miller's endorsement will carry a lot of weight with the DUmmies

They are already freaking out. They are sooo angry they are already writing e-mails to him and want to get him thrown out of the Democratic party. Emotional aren't they?