November 8, 2002
HEADED FOR HIGHER GROUND:
Ga. Senate tilting to GOP: Dan Lee of LaGrange jumps from Democratic Party (JAMES SALZER, 11/08/02, Atlanta Journal-Constitution)State Sen. Dan Lee became the first Democratic legislator this morning to announce his switch to the GOP.Lee made the expected announcement as Gov.-elect Sonny Perdue's seven-city victory tour stopped in his hometown. "From this day forward, they can count me in the Republican aisle in the Senate," Lee said.
Perdue announced that Lee would be an assistant floor leader in the Senate when the Legislature convenes in January. Sen. Bill Stephens (R-Canton) will be the governor's floor leader, Perdue said. The floor leader carries the governor's legislation on the Senate floor, while the assistant floor leaders line up votes for the governor's initiatives.
Perdue, who himself switched from the Democratic to the Republican party in 1998, welcomed Lee to the fold. "We are here to work for the people of Georgia, not against anybody," Perdue said.
Lee, who was elected to the Senate in 1998, said that other Democratic senators who do not intend the switch had pledged to work with the Republican administration.
Here's more cover for Zell Miller: "It is with great regret that I today announce that I, like many of my fellow Democrats in Georgia, no longer feel that once great party best represents the interests of our state and nation..."
Posted by Orrin Judd at November 8, 2002 12:17 PM
Still not gonna happen. He's not as stupid as Jeffords. (Of whom it can rightly be said, that the collective I.Q.s of both parties improved immensely when he jumped sides.) And like I've said before
, I'm as sure of that as I've ever been.
There is a cogent reason for these Senators to do this aisle jumping now. In GA, unlike in most states or in DC, the Lt Gov presides over the Senate and determines committee assignments regardless of party affiliation.
In a one party state like GA used to be, this is a "so what" idea. But with a split Senate, get on the bad side of the Lt Gov and you'll end up like Jim Jeffords, but without the national exposure. And Georgians can be cruel to the party out of power, as the GOP learned for 130 years.
Miller should wait until Pelosi becomes the Democratic House leader. That should be plenty of cover.
Posted by: Annoying Old Guy at November 8, 2002 3:50 PMI actually have to confess to some surprise that the Clinton's are letting this happen. Pelosi is Hillary without the baggage.
Posted by: oj at November 8, 2002 4:50 PMI'm not surprised -- they're too busy fundraising to notice.
Posted by: Christopher Badeaux at November 8, 2002 11:30 PM> Here's more cover for Zell Miller...
> wait until Pelosi becomes the
>Democratic House leader
Nah, why would we even want that? Miller can votes as he pleases (i.e. with the R's) from day one. Let him wait till his term runs out and then switch parties and run as a Republican. Why should we want honorable people to emulate the slithery qualities of a Jeffords???
KP:
He's up now and there's nothing inherently sleazy about switching parties. What was sleazy about Jeffords was that he'd just run as a Republican in a very good year for Republicans in VT.