What party is Zell Miller ideologically closer to?

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

And I'm talking about the Zell Miller NOW, with his current voting record, and the parties NOW, not in the 1960's.

For those who vote Democrats: Please explain how is when his voting record is to the right of several Republicans.

[A18]

On the national level, definitely Republicans. But he's a southern Democrat.

I voted Republican because I know you're talking about his endorsement of Bush. Well, no duh. But he's still a Democrat. You can certainly call him a conservative--he HIMSELF has said that much. But a Democrat. I'm sure there are loads more in the south, though those states are pretty solidly Bush.

[A18]

BTW, I would be a Democrat if not for the socialist and angry minority pandering. If you honestly think JFK wouldn't have endorsed Bush, you might want to look up his stances on the issues.

For one, his tax cut is from the same mold as Bush's. It would be a tax cut for the rich by your standards.

[Lunar]

Zell Miller said himself that there was NO issue that he agreed with the Democrats on.

I don't see why this is even a debate.

[A18]

The Democrats in Congress. Federal Congress.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

On the national level, definitely Republicans. But he's a southern Democrat.

I voted Republican because I know you're talking about his endorsement of Bush. Well, no duh. But he's still a Democrat. You can certainly call him a conservative--he HIMSELF has said that much. But a Democrat. I'm sure there are loads more in the south, though those states are pretty solidly Bush.

I'm simply talking about his voting record, not his endorsement.

[A18]

On national politics, in the Senate, he votes with Republicans. I already said that--he's no liberal.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

BTW, I would be a Democrat if not for the socialist and angry minority pandering.

https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=8331

https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?board=16;action=display;threadid=8388

right, you're such a social liberal, which is basically all the Democrats would be without the socialism and "angry minority pandering".

[A18]

Killing babies under 2 years old is very liberal.

Angry minority pandering is what drives the "social liberal" movement. "Poor" people, they're only giving the rich taxes. Blacks, they want to take reparations away. Women, they want to take away your right to kill your children. Hispanics, we don't want you to be judges in court but we'll pretend we're with you. Sound familiar?

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

so you're saying you'd be a Democrat if they were exactly like the Republicans.

[A18]

Nope

[Nym90]

BTW, I would be a Democrat if not for the socialist and angry minority pandering. If you honestly think JFK wouldn't have endorsed Bush, you might want to look up his stances on the issues.

For one, his tax cut is from the same mold as Bush's. It would be a tax cut for the rich by your standards.

Yes, JFK did support cutting taxes on the rich, from a 91% rate to a 70% rate. He supported a 70% tax rate on the wealthy.

I too would have supported this cut in all liklihood, as a 91% rate is too high and will stifle growth. But the economy did quite well with a 70% rate, so my guess is the cutoff on the Laffer curve where tax cuts start bringing in more revenue than they cost (the basis of supply-side economics) is somewhere between 70 and 90%.

[A18]

No, Reagan brought in far more money, and the same thing is happening under Bush. Russia has already proven a flat tax of 13% can work.

By the way, the rich actually got a smaller tax cut under Bush than the other income brackets.

[dazzleman]

Overall, Zell Miller is closer to the Republicans than the Democrats ideologically.

But we need to remember  a couple of things.  One is that there are major regional differences among the parties.  A Connecticut Republican is probably more liberal in a lot of ways than a Georgia Democrat.  Miller is a southern Demcrat, upset that the southern wing of the part has no real influence at a national level.

The other thing to remember is that Zell Miller is an old man, and came of age in an era when the party split was not ideological, but regional.  The Democratic coalition at that time consisted of southern segregationists and northern liberals.  Such a coalition could never happen today, but the southerners of Miller's generation, it was a reality.

I have to admit I'm a little cynical about Miller's recent transformation.  I agree with his criticisms of the Democratic party, but none of them are anything new.  Democratic weakness on defense and national security has been well known since the 1970s to anybody who cares about those issues, and Miller had no problem supporting Democratic candidates for president during these years.

Ultimately, he'll stay a Democrat because he can get a lot more publicity that way.  If he were a Republican Senator from Georgia, nobody would be talking about him.  All the attention he's getting comes from the fact that he has remained a Democrat while attacking the party.

[Democratic Hawk]

Republican.

Dave

[7,052,770]

Zell's a Republican.  Many Southern Democrats are similar to him, though most who actually claim to be Democrats really are.  Like me, for instance.

[CO-OWL]

Theoretically: Could the Democrats throw Zell Miller out of the party? Are there any means to prohibit people from entering a party? (Assuming they have the right to vote, of course.)

Is there any difference between being a registered Republican/Democrat and being a party member?
(membership fees, choosing delegates etc.?)

Compared with Germany the parties in the USA seem to be pretty weak and the individual candidates quite important.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Theoretically: Could the Democrats throw Zell Miller out of the party? Are there any means to prohibit people from entering a party? (Assuming they have the right to vote, of course.)

Is there any difference between being a registered Republican/Democrat and being a party member?
(membership fees, choosing delegates etc.?)

Compared with Germany the parties in the USA seem to be pretty weak and the individual candidates quite important.

Basically, no. A person can register as or file to run in any party they want to, and the parties have virtually no control over this.

However, the Chatham County, Georgia Democratic party has issued a formal declaration basically disowning Zell Miller and renouncing any ties to him.

[A18]

In that case, I'm running for Virginia Delegate as a Democrat when I'm 21. Go me!

[Angel of Death]

States Rights Democratic or American Independent. Take your pick.

[struct310]

Zell Miller is ideologically soul mates with FDR.  Socially conservative, economically liberal, strong on defense.  Thats why Bush is also very similar to FDR.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Zell Miller is ideologically soul mates with FDR.  Socially conservative, economically liberal, strong on defense.  Thats why Bush is also very similar to FDR.

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

FDR was a socialist. Bush is quite far from that.

and Zell Miller is no economic liberal, much less socialist:

2003  According to the National Journal - Conservative on Economic Policy's calculations, in 2003, Senator Miller voted more conservative on economic policy issues than 76 percent of the Senators.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

In that case, I'm running for Virginia Delegate as a Democrat when I'm 21. Go me!

good lucky winning the primary.

I could run as a Republican for leg, but I certainly wouldn't win any primary.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Zell of 2004: Republican
Zell of 2000: Democrat (albeit a rather conservative one)
Zell of 1992: Democrat

He's changed

[Democratic Hawk]

Zell's a Republican.  Many Southern Democrats are similar to him, though most who actually claim to be Democrats really are.  Like me, for instance.

Could Zell be characterised as being a 'Dixiecrat'?

Dave