Will Zel Miller Sucker Punch the GOP?

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Will Zel Miller Sucker Punch the GOP?

Posted: 8/31/2004 12:10:23 PM EDT

I don't think he will go Kerry on the Repubs, but man is that a huge risk the GOP is taking....

My pucker factor is high

Posted: 8/31/2004 12:11:32 PM EDT

[#1]

Not a chance, he has been all over the talk shows. If he did sucker punch Bush it would blow up on Kerry big time... would look like a cheap play by Kerry. Won't happen... unpucker already.

Posted: 8/31/2004 12:12:47 PM EDT

[#2]

[clenched buttocks relaxing] phewwww - thanks for talking me down [/clenched buttocks relaxing]

Posted: 8/31/2004 12:13:01 PM EDT

[#3]

I read his book. My guess is that the theme will be "the Democratic party has been taken over by communist nutbags and Kerry is one of them."

Posted: 8/31/2004 12:20:02 PM EDT

[#4]

Worry about real things.

Posted: 8/31/2004 12:20:47 PM EDT

[#5]

Not a concern whatsoever.

Posted: 8/31/2004 12:22:46 PM EDT

[#6]

Zell Miller is more conservative than many of the "RINOs" speaking at the convention.

Posted: 8/31/2004 12:24:01 PM EDT

[#7]

I trust Zel Miller more than I trust McCain or Guiliani!

Posted: 8/31/2004 12:24:08 PM EDT

[#8]

Put the pipe down.

Posted: 8/31/2004 12:25:11 PM EDT

[#9]

Not a chance.

In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if Zell Miller switched party affiliation during his floor speech!

Read this for more insight into why Zell Miller is more "Republican" than many Republicans:

How Senator Zell Miller (D-Georgia) found himself at a Republican convention for the first time in his life.

08/30/2004 12:00:00 AM

THE ALLIANCE between President Bush and Democratic Senator Zell Miller of Georgia began this way: After Bush was declared winner of the 2000 presidential race, but before he was inaugurated, he invited Miller to confer with him in Austin, Texas. Officially Bush was still Texas governor. But he wanted to talk to Miller about education, a national issue in which they had a mutual interest. Earlier, as Georgia governor, Miller had famously instituted Hope Scholarships that guaranteed every Georgia high school with a B average or better a free college education.

As he was leaving the governor's mansion in Austin, Miller told Bush he'd be willing to sponsor the No Child Left Behind education-reform bill. And almost in passing, Miller told Bush: "I agree with you about a lot of things. I support your tax cuts, too." Several days later, Miller heard from then-Senator Phil Gramm, a Texas Republican, who asked him co-sponsor the tax bill. Miller agreed.

And so a friendship, both political and personal, was born. It's a friendship that led to Miller's endorsement of Bush for reelection months ago and to his appearance to deliver the keynote address at the Republican national convention here. It's the first Republican convention Miller has ever attended. In fact, he's never voted for a Republican for any office at any time--until now.

Miller knew Bush slightly before the Austin meeting. They had been governors at the same time. And he'd heard good things about Bush from Lt. Governor Bob Bullock of Texas, a Democrat.
Bullock, Miller says, said Bush was "a person you could depend on."

Until the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, Miller had never thought about endorsing Bush. But he was impressed by Bush's reaction to the attacks. "He grabbed terrorism by the throat," Miller told host Chris Wallace on Fox News Sunday yesterday. This was in contrast to the "disappointment' Miller had felt over President Clinton's "holding back" after the first attack on the World Trade Center in 1993, the bombing of two American embassies in Africa in 1996, the killing of 19 American servicemen at Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia, and the attack on USS Cole in 2000.

Then came the Senate votes to create a new Homeland Security Department in the fall of 2002. Democrats opposed the Bush proposal for a new department, though it had been initially recommended by Democratic Senator Joe Lieberman of Connecticut. "That was the straw that broke the camel's back," Miller said. He stopped attending meetings of the Senate Democratic caucus.

In 2003, Miller was visited by the top two officials of the Bush reelection campaign, Marc Racicot and Ken Mehlman. Miller knew Racicot because he had been governor of Montana when Miller was Georgia governor. Anyway, Miller said yes when asked if he would campaign for Bush. "I told them I'd do anything I could to help him get reelected," Miller said, including barnstorming with Bush. On Saturday, Miller will join Bush on the campaign trail. Miller is not seeking reelection to the Senate this fall.

There's one other factor in Miller's embrace of Bush: his growing disenchantment with the Democratic party. Miller calls himself a conservative Democrat. He says he was "smitten" in 1992 with Bill Clinton. Miller delivered the keynote address at the Democratic convention that year. He said he expected Clinton, as president, to "lead the [Democratic] party back to the center. But that's not the way he governed."

In agreeing to be the Republican keynoter, Miller says his 1992 speech would be played back "over and over." Indeed, that has already begun. He's also been confronted with his praise of Democratic nominee John Kerry. That, Miller says, occurred before he learned about Kerry's 20-year record in the Senate.

"He's weak on defense," Miller said on Fox News Sunday. "He's not in the mainstream of the country. He's way to the left." So is the Democratic party, Miller insisted. "There's no room in the Democratic party for moderates and conservatives." Asked if there was at least one issue on which he agreed these days with Democrats, Miller couldn't think of one.

One more thing. Miller says he won't remain in Washington even if Bush wins a second term and offers him a top position, even if it's a cushy ambassadorship. "You couldn't hold a gun to my head and get me to be an ambassador," he said. And he seemed to mean it.

Posted: 8/31/2004 12:26:21 PM EDT

[#10]

It's sad that Democrat Zell Miller is the only RNC speaker who seems to be committed to the right to keep and bear arms.

Posted: 8/31/2004 12:26:47 PM EDT

[#11]

Extremely unlikely.

In fact, Zel is going to sew up whatever support HASN'T yet been guaranteed for W...

Posted: 8/31/2004 12:27:04 PM EDT

[#12]

Quoted:
I trust Zel Miller more than I trust McCain or Guiliani!

You hit the nail on the head. Media Pundits have been painting those two as the future of the Republican Party and that makes me nervous. I for one, could never support either of them for Prez.

Posted: 8/31/2004 12:28:30 PM EDT

[#13]

Quoted:
It's sad that Democrat Zell Miller is the only RNC speaker who seems to be committed to the right to keep and bear arms.

Nonsense. VP Cheney is speaking.

Posted: 8/31/2004 4:52:34 PM EDT

[#14]

A good old fashoned southern democrat?

Posted: 8/31/2004 5:24:50 PM EDT

[#15]

Quoted:
A VERY good old fashoned southern democrat?

Posted: 8/31/2004 5:28:23 PM EDT

[#16]

I severelt doubt it.

Posted: 8/31/2004 9:02:01 PM EDT

[#17]

I don't understand why great conservatives like Ronald Reagan and Phil Gramm saw fit to switch parties, but Zel Miller is vowing to retire soon as a Democrat???

Posted: 8/31/2004 9:05:31 PM EDT

[#18]

Zell Miller is retiring from the senate, I expect no one we will elect even a Repbulican will be an equal replacement.

He wont sucker punch the GOP, the Dems already are against him and hes not running again so expect him to speak his true mind.

Posted: 8/31/2004 9:06:04 PM EDT

[#19]

I don't understand why great conservatives like Ronald Reagan and Phil Gramm saw fit to switch parties, but Zel Miller is vowing to retire soon as a Democrat???

Why should he have to switch? His party left him, he didn't leave them.

Posted: 8/31/2004 9:06:33 PM EDT

[#20]

Quoted:
Not a chance.

In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if Zell Miller switched party affiliation during his floor speech!

Read this for more insight into why Zell Miller is more "Republican" than many Republicans:

How Senator Zell Miller (D-Georgia) found himself at a Republican convention for the first time in his life.

08/30/2004 12:00:00 AM

THE ALLIANCE between President Bush and Democratic Senator Zell Miller of Georgia began this way: After Bush was declared winner of the 2000 presidential race, but before he was inaugurated, he invited Miller to confer with him in Austin, Texas. Officially Bush was still Texas governor. But he wanted to talk to Miller about education, a national issue in which they had a mutual interest. Earlier, as Georgia governor, Miller had famously instituted Hope Scholarships that guaranteed every Georgia high school with a B average or better a free college education.

As he was leaving the governor's mansion in Austin, Miller told Bush he'd be willing to sponsor the No Child Left Behind education-reform bill. And almost in passing, Miller told Bush: "I agree with you about a lot of things. I support your tax cuts, too." Several days later, Miller heard from then-Senator Phil Gramm, a Texas Republican, who asked him co-sponsor the tax bill. Miller agreed.

And so a friendship, both political and personal, was born. It's a friendship that led to Miller's endorsement of Bush for reelection months ago and to his appearance to deliver the keynote address at the Republican national convention here. It's the first Republican convention Miller has ever attended. In fact, he's never voted for a Republican for any office at any time--until now.

Miller knew Bush slightly before the Austin meeting. They had been governors at the same time. And he'd heard good things about Bush from Lt. Governor Bob Bullock of Texas, a Democrat.
Bullock, Miller says, said Bush was "a person you could depend on."

Until the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, Miller had never thought about endorsing Bush. But he was impressed by Bush's reaction to the attacks. "He grabbed terrorism by the throat," Miller told host Chris Wallace on Fox News Sunday yesterday. This was in contrast to the "disappointment' Miller had felt over President Clinton's "holding back" after the first attack on the World Trade Center in 1993, the bombing of two American embassies in Africa in 1996, the killing of 19 American servicemen at Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia, and the attack on USS Cole in 2000.

Then came the Senate votes to create a new Homeland Security Department in the fall of 2002. Democrats opposed the Bush proposal for a new department, though it had been initially recommended by Democratic Senator Joe Lieberman of Connecticut. "That was the straw that broke the camel's back," Miller said. He stopped attending meetings of the Senate Democratic caucus.

In 2003, Miller was visited by the top two officials of the Bush reelection campaign, Marc Racicot and Ken Mehlman. Miller knew Racicot because he had been governor of Montana when Miller was Georgia governor. Anyway, Miller said yes when asked if he would campaign for Bush. "I told them I'd do anything I could to help him get reelected," Miller said, including barnstorming with Bush. On Saturday, Miller will join Bush on the campaign trail. Miller is not seeking reelection to the Senate this fall.

There's one other factor in Miller's embrace of Bush: his growing disenchantment with the Democratic party. Miller calls himself a conservative Democrat. He says he was "smitten" in 1992 with Bill Clinton. Miller delivered the keynote address at the Democratic convention that year. He said he expected Clinton, as president, to "lead the [Democratic] party back to the center. But that's not the way he governed."

In agreeing to be the Republican keynoter, Miller says his 1992 speech would be played back "over and over." Indeed, that has already begun. He's also been confronted with his praise of Democratic nominee John Kerry. That, Miller says, occurred before he learned about Kerry's 20-year record in the Senate.

"He's weak on defense," Miller said on Fox News Sunday. "He's not in the mainstream of the country. He's way to the left." So is the Democratic party, Miller insisted. "There's no room in the Democratic party for moderates and conservatives." Asked if there was at least one issue on which he agreed these days with Democrats, Miller couldn't think of one.

One more thing. Miller says he won't remain in Washington even if Bush wins a second term and offers him a top position, even if it's a cushy ambassadorship. "You couldn't hold a gun to my head and get me to be an ambassador," he said. And he seemed to mean it.

Miller said he would die a Democrat...and I think he's more effective as a Democrate, high-lighting how nutter his party has become. Like Ron Silver (and many other Dems have said) "I didn't leave the party, the party left me"

Posted: 8/31/2004 9:07:17 PM EDT

[#21]

The last of the Scoop Jackson Democrats.

Posted: 8/31/2004 9:25:38 PM EDT

[#22]

Quoted:
Quoted:
I trust Zel Miller more than I trust McCain or Guiliani!

You hit the nail on the head. Media Pundits have been painting those two as the future of the Republican Party and that makes me nervous. I for one, could never support either of them for Prez.

In another thread, I mentioned an old line about rats and a sinking ship...

Well, it may well be that it's not just the Kerry campaign that's sinking... The entire Dem party may be in serious trouble if the can't hold their position in Congress...

I have a feeling that some media pundits see this as a possibility, and are picking favorites in case the Dems marginalize themselves...

Fortunately, 'media pundits' don't pick Presidential candidates. WE - the 'core' conservative 'true believers' DO! Well, unless 'we' are too busy to VOTE IN PRIMARIES...

Posted: 8/31/2004 9:36:43 PM EDT

[#23]

Zel Miller is a class act...................More democooks should follow him

Posted: 8/31/2004 10:29:51 PM EDT

[#24]

I've liked what I've heard from him in the recent past....but was just worried about a big hanging curve ball that catches you off guard.

Let's hope for no surprises

Posted: 9/1/2004 12:14:08 AM EDT

[#25]

Quoted:
I've liked what I've heard from him in the recent past....but was just worried about a big hanging curve ball that catches you off guard.

Let's hope for no surprises

Put your mind at ease. He is a man of honor and he is voting for President Bush.

Posted: 9/1/2004 3:11:15 AM EDT

[#26]

Zell Miller is in a position to unite this country far more than Kerry ever could. He is focusing on core issues that are near and dear to the hearts of most Americans, whereas Kerry's campaign is divisive in nature.

Posted: 9/1/2004 6:34:26 AM EDT

[#27]

roger that

Posted: 9/1/2004 6:35:15 AM EDT

[#28]

NO

Posted: 9/1/2004 6:28:37 PM EDT

[#29]

He spanked the Dem party yes he did!

Posted: 9/1/2004 6:32:46 PM EDT

[#30]

Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...no.

Posted: 9/1/2004 6:34:39 PM EDT

[#31]

I would say he crotch kicked them.

Posted: 9/1/2004 6:37:11 PM EDT

[#32]

Just watched him and he did a GREAT job! A true patriot and a GREAT American!

Posted: 9/1/2004 6:37:36 PM EDT

[#33]

Quoted:
I don't think he will go Kerry on the Repubs, but man is that a huge risk the GOP is taking....

My pucker factor is high

you don't watch fox news much do you?

Posted: 9/1/2004 6:43:00 PM EDT

[#34]

He is a damn good speaker! Somebody run over to Du and find out if they are planning to assassinate him

Posted: 9/1/2004 6:43:07 PM EDT

[#35]

He certainly didn't sucker-punch the GOP, but he BITCH-SLAPPED the DNC!

Posted: 9/1/2004 6:46:14 PM EDT

[#36]

Quoted:
He certainly didn't sucker-punch the GOP, but he BITCH-SLAPPED the DNC!

He just castrated and a$$ raped the DNC and left them sucking their thumbs and crying in the corner.

Posted: 9/1/2004 6:51:21 PM EDT

[#37]

Quoted:
I don't understand why great conservatives like Ronald Reagan and Phil Gramm saw fit to switch parties, but Zel Miller is vowing to retire soon as a Democrat???

From "A National Party No More:"

I was born a Democrat. It's not simply a party affiliation: it's more like a birthmark for me and my fellow mountaineers . . . .allegiance to the Democratic party have been handed down in my family from one generation to the next. Time does not erase it. It is part of our DNA.

I would no more think of changing parties than I would think of changing my name. To change would be like walking on my mother's grave.

Miller goes on to explain that his mom was an elected official in their tiny Georgia town. Also he was raised (as was I) in a place and time where to be anything but a Democrat was to disenfranchised. There were almost no general elections, and the ones they had were a joke.

I haven't changed parties, either, so I sort of understand where he's coming from. Once in awhile, the Democrats will do something that makes me decide to drive to the Supervisor's Office at 8 AM and switch, but it passes. As some say around here, "My daddy was a Democrat, my granddaddy was a Democrat, and the bastards who occupied this town in 1865 were Republicans." It's dumb as hell, but there you are. I hate the Democratic party and almost everything it stands for, but there's still a "D" on my voter registration card.

Posted: 9/1/2004 6:54:26 PM EDT

[#38]

Quoted:
Quoted:
I don't understand why great conservatives like Ronald Reagan and Phil Gramm saw fit to switch parties, but Zel Miller is vowing to retire soon as a Democrat???

From "A National Party No More:"

I was born a Democrat. It's not simply a party affiliation: it's more like a birthmark for me and my fellow mountaineers . . . .allegiance to the Democratic party have been handed down in my family from one generation to the next. Time does not erase it. It is part of our DNA.

I would no more think of changing parties than I would think of changing my name. To change would be like walking on my mother's grave.

Miller goes on to explain that his mom was an elected official in their tiny Georgia town. Also he was raised (as was I) in a place and time where to be anything but a Democrat was to disenfranchised. There were almost no general elections, and the ones they had were a joke.

I haven't changed parties, either, so I sort of understand where he's coming from. Once in awhile, the Democrats will do something that makes me decide to drive to the Supervisor's Office at 8 AM and switch, but it passes. As some say around here, "My daddy was a Democrat, my granddaddy was a Democrat, and the bastards who occupied this town in 1865 were Republicans." It's dumb as hell, but there you are. I hate the Democratic party and almost everything it stands for, but there's still a "D" on my voter registration card.

...but you vote Republican in national elections, riiiight? Please tell me that you vote Republican for US congress and for Governor.

Posted: 9/1/2004 6:56:54 PM EDT

[#39]

Quoted:

...but you vote Republican in national elections, riiiight? Please tell me that you vote Republican for US congress and for Governor.

Newt Gingrich may be slightly more reliable as a Republican voter than I am, but that's not absolutely certain.

Posted: 9/1/2004 6:58:35 PM EDT

[#40]

Quoted:
Quoted:

...but you vote Republican in national elections, riiiight? Please tell me that you vote Republican for US congress and for Governor.

Newt Gingrich may be slightly more reliable as a Republican voter than I am, but that's not absolutely certain.

(sigh)
We actually think alot alike except that I am a Republican.

Posted: 9/1/2004 7:01:59 PM EDT

[#41]

I'd say you can put that fear to rest. We'll get to see the Dems tending to that new Asshole Zell just ripped them tomorrow!

SG

Posted: 9/1/2004 7:14:56 PM EDT

[#42]

i was worried about it...

but, damn, he kicked ASS!

Posted: 9/1/2004 7:22:52 PM EDT

[#43]

Quoted:
[Newt Gingrich may be slightly more reliable as a Republican voter than I am, but that's not absolutely certain.

I think we have a very similar political opinion. I was born a Georgia Democrat, as were my parents, and registering to vote as anything but a Democrat seems like some kind of treason to me, but I don't recall ever voting for a single Democrat. I wonder if one can be a yellow dog and a RINO at the same time?

Posted: 9/1/2004 8:00:59 PM EDT

[#44]

what a great pitch by Zel....he has my undying respect

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Will Zel Miller Sucker Punch the GOP?

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