Will Zell Miller switch to the GOP during the convention?

[BurtWorm]

That might provide the only moment of "excitement" for the constipated Republican masses during the whole week--besides, of course, Jim Lehrer's favorite moment, when the balloons rain down. :eyes: I'll bet that's what they've got up their sleeves.

[RobertSeattle]

1. If I hear Zig Zag Zell say one more time

"I didn't leave the Democratic Party - it left me" - I'll barf.

Zell, for you it should be:

"I didn't lose my mind - it left me".

[Ghetto_Boy]

2. No... He already said so in his book.

[BurtWorm]

3. He also says he's a Democrat.

Who do you believe? Zell's words or your lying eyes?

[Walt Starr]

4. Yes

He must in order to comply with RNC rules regarding nomination. See my prediction here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x636936

[Frodo]

11. Excellent point! A couple questions though

1) It would be just as simple for them to change the nominating rules.

2) He doesn't have to be a "Super Delegate" to be a Delegate. Couldn't the Georgia Republican commitee pick him as one of their convention delegates? Is there a rule that ALL delegates MUST be registered Republicans?

[WI_DEM]

5. No, strategically it is better for him to stay a Democrat for Bush

than to switch to the republican party even though that is where he clearly belongs.

[Walt Starr]

6. He's going to nominate Bush. It's been announced.

Only delegates to the RNC may nominate. He must first switch parties, which makes him an automatic super-delegate, in order to nominate.

[WI_DEM]

19. Since when do the rules count with this crowd?

I still think Zell will stay in the democratic party because it has more value for Zell to be labeled a democrat who supports Bush.

[Cuban_Liberal]

7. I hope to hell he does!

It can't happen a moment too soon, for my liking!

:puke:

[CarolynEC]

8. No, at a crucial moment, he'll peel off his latex mask...

... revealing himself to be...

THE SOY BOMB GUY!!! He's back, in his biggest stunt ever... crashing the RNC!

[Walt Starr]

9. If the DNC follows its own by-laws, he won't be able to

He'll become a Republican, but he won't have been a Democrat for three days.

[Frodo]

12. Which by-law?

[Walt Starr]

13. Article I., Section 5.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x636631

[Frodo]

14. Thanks! Please disregard similar request on the other thread

[BurtWorm]

16. Walt, I'm not sure that by-law refers to anyone not on the DNC

Not on the actual Committee, in other words. I've never heard of a person being expelled from either party.

[Walt Starr]

17. Any Democratic Senator is automatically a membner of the DNC

ergo, if Zell doesn't endorse John Kerry by August 28, one of two things must happen for him to be ejected from the DNC:

1) He must stop being a Senator
2) He must stop being a Democrat.

Which one do you suppose can actually happen?

[BurtWorm]

20. Stop being a Democrat or a member of the committee?

This doesn't seem clear to me. It seems that they can throw him off the committee, but they certainly can't strip him of being a Senator. I don't see how they can throw him out of the party, either, considering party affiliation in the US is determined by the individual, not the party. Know what I mean? Also, I think Miller is keynoting, not nominating, isn't he? Is there a rule that the keynoter has to be a Republican?

[Walt Starr]

27. Hmmmm, they could strip him of membership in the DNC AND

do what they did to traficant, remove him from ALL committees.

All of it done before the RNC.

[Frodo]

28. The RNC would retaliate

By removing one Democrat from every other committee.

And Daschle would have to pick WHICH Democrat (causing some internal problems right before the election).

[Frodo]

23. OK, I read through it. I don't think there's enough time?

Three days before the convention, that clause would become effective... but then to kick him out they have to send out "notice" and have a public "hearing"?

I don't think they can do that in three days.

[genius]

10. Are we going to let him dump the party or are we going to dump him?

[Cuban_Liberal]

15. There is no mechanism for doing so. n/t

[NervousRex]

18. You keep saying this

despite multiple references to the DNC rules in all of these threads...why?:shrug:

[BurtWorm]

21. Because the DNC is not the same thing as the Party.

I'm a member of the party but not a member of the DNC.

[NervousRex]

22. So that would leave Zell with

what?...His membership in the Georgia Dem Party?...Can they kick his sorry ass out too?

[BurtWorm]

24. I really don't know.

I thought party affiliation was determined by individual choice at voter registration time. How can the state change your registration without your consent? I don't think it's possible--or legal anyway. Can you imagine going to vote in a primary and being told, sorry, the state Democratic Party told us you aren't a Democrat anymore?

[NervousRex]

25. The point then becomes

the removal of all official party recognition concerning his democratic affiliation short of his voter registration.

[BurtWorm]

26. I think the best thing--maybe the only thing--they can do

is to continue to make statements criticizing Miller's actions in terms of his allegedly being a "Democrat," but to not overdo it. Just present the message that losing Miller is like losing a canker sore--bon voyage and bon riddance!