[JohnnyZ]

This is breaking on MagnoliaReport.com; no articles yet. Dr. Barnett endorsed GOP candidate Mike Parker over now-governor Musgrove in 1999 and has been in the Rat doghouse (rathouse?) since. He's conservative, must be pro-tort reform (lawyers own the Mississippi Rats) and is a welcome addition to the GOP.

Since Lt Gov Amy Tuck switched two months ago, there have been several more switchers:

"the first was Terry Burton, a long-time Tuck ally who announced his switch Dec. 30th. Three house members have switched: Larry Baker, Frank Hamilton, and Herb Frierson." quoting myself

Senator Travis Little will also almost certainly switch, and Rep. David Livingstone is the other Democrat hanging out there who hasn't qualified yet; anyone know if he's a possible switcher?

[Bogey78O]

Okay...

[Conspiracy Guy]

If you are from the South you will appreciate how big this is. I'm a Republican but I know a lot of Yellow Dog Democrats. They are Republicans in thought but dad and grandpa and great grandpa were Democrats so it has to be right. A conversion is huge.

[rface]

good for you!

[dixiechick2000]

Great news!

Bump and ping!

[ACAC]

Who do the 3 independents vote with when they organize the House? Are they conservative or liberal?

[NYC Republican]

Awesome news. Every little defection helps!!!

[DeuceTraveler]

What does everyone think of the possibility of Zel Miller going Republican? He seems to espouse Republican ideals sometimes like in this FoxNews article:

Miller lashed out at CBS executives in a Senate speech Tuesday for their plans to air The Real Beverly Hillbillies, which would chronicle a rural, lower-middle-class family that moves into a luxurious Beverly Hills mansion. The program is modeled after the hit 1960s sitcom.

The Georgia Democrat, a former two-term governor, called the proposal a "minstrel show" and "Cracker Comedy" at the expense of hardworking Americans. He said he doubted CBS Television chief executive Leslie Moonves would dare try such a spoof featuring a black or Latino family.

"I plead with you to call off your hillbilly hunt," Miller said. "Make your big bucks some other way. Appeal to the best in America, not the worst. Give bigotry no sanction."

As criticism built in January over the prospect of such a show, Moonves apologized and said the network meant no offense.

On Tuesday, CBS spokesman Chris Ender also stressed the network wasn't trying to offend anyone and said it's not clear when — or even if — the proposed show, which did offend Miller, will air.

"It's bizarre and unfortunate that he's formed a conclusion about a project that doesn't even exist yet," Ender said. "It's a program in development that is being considered but has not yet been given a production commitment. Not a stitch of film has been shot."

This isn't the first time Miller — a self-described hillbilly — has spoken out when he felt others were using the term in a disparaging way.

In July 2001, he fired off a letter to Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld demanding an explanation for news reports that Rumsfeld or his aides had used the term "hillbilly" to describe some members of Congress and their staffs. Rumsfeld denied using the term, and Miller said he took him at his word.

As governor, Miller took on an editorial cartoonist who put these words in the mouth of a mountain couple looking at a Picasso painting: "Mabel, ain't he a dead ringer for your cousin up in Rabun County?" Rabun County is in North Georgia.

Miller also blasted actress Jane Fonda when she told a United Nations group that parts of Georgia resemble a Third World country, with some people in North Georgia living in "tarpaper shacks." Fonda later apologized.

[fieldmarshaldj]

*Bump*