Rating: 
Summary: A Democrat with Values AND Ideas, Too!
Review: ****
This book was easy to read, quick, and entertaining. It was exciting for me to read about someone in my party (I am a Democrat) with strong ethical values and opinions plus the courage to stand up for them and to speak out. This takes hutzpa in our politically correct culture. If you are a Democrat, but feel discouraged at the overrepresentation of the party by (as you see it) hate-filled liberals, this book will be encouraging to you. Zell Miller is an honorable individual with both character and courage, and knowing that he remains a Democrat makes me proud of my party for a change. The book is filled with specific things he did to improve the lives of the people of Georgia---ideas that worked! He contemplates ways of improving our country now and laments many of the failures of others' past efforts to effect change. Zell Miller discusses the importance of the arts (not a traditional conservative view). He also discusses the controversy surrounding the current environmental policy of the Bush administration and presents a view that supports some of their decisions---all based on facts. When he criticizes the Bush administration, he does so with respect, and not like a two-year old who badly needs a diaper change---so refreshing! This book makes you think. Some of Zell Miller's idea are surprising, but all are provocative and ethical. If only our current Democratic candidates could take a hint from Zell Miller and present concrete, do-able ideas that are value-based, I think that our country would have a viable challenge to Bush. Unfortunately, this looks like it won't happen. If you agree with my opinions, are turned off by Democratic demagogues, and wish there were more conservative Democrats, you'll like this book. If you are liberal or progressive and tolerant, I think you'll enjoy it too. If you are part of the so-called radical left you will probably find Zell Miller old-fashioned or unenlightened and be quite intolerant of him, his book, those who read his book, and those who think about reading his book. Still, you might want to buy it anyway and have fellow rad-libs over for a book-burning party while chanting "Anybody But Bush"!
Rating: 
Summary: Zell offers Democrats a lifesaver. Will they accept it?
Review: This is basically a book written by a Conservative Democrat, Zell Miller, who has been a Georgia Senator for decades. He has seen his party devolve from one that (arguably) cared for the working class and down-trodden, to one that cares about no one but themselves. As Zell says, the Democratic Party of old looked at the South and said, "I see one-third of the nation, under-nourished, and down-trodden, and I am going to help them out." The modern Democratic Party says, "I see one-third of the nation, the fastest-growing third, and...TO HELL WITH THEM!"
I believe that Sen. Miller is absolutely right about how the Democrats have no idea how they lost the "solid South" or how in the world they can get it back. Howard Dean famously branded the South as "guys with Confederate flags in their pick-up trucks." John Kerry thinks he can win the South by putting John Edwards on the ticket. But, Democrats, remember this: Al Gore, a Southerner, was the PRESIDENTIAL nominee, and he failed to carry ONE SINGLE SOUTHERN STATE, including his home state of Tennessee! Wake up, Democrats! With your current platform, you will continue to lose in the South, whether or not you attempt to hide your liberal cultural values behind a shrowd of vaguely-defined "pro jobs" positions.
Rating: 
Summary: Guts? Ambition?
Review: Writing this book took a lot of guts, I won't deny that. But I can see right through all the propaganda in Miller's book. Zell was too conservative to ever become powerful or popular in the democratic party, therefore in hopes of getting in good with the republicans and president Bush he became their Democrat hitman of sorts. He's basically lobbying for a cabinet position in the 2nd Bush term, and he'll sell out anyone to get ahead. This book is an interesting read, but it makes not sense why he didn't get out of the party year ago if he feels so passionate, therefore his diguise is thinnly vailed. Miller is a cold man with no sense of loyalty or obligation to his country or friends, all he seems to care about his his own popularity. The democratic Judas. Tsk tsk
Rating:
Summary: Zell "Dennis" Miller
Review: What a piece of work this creep is. Zell's book is all about his pathetic sycophancy towards our MisLeader Bush. Zell just cares about zelling a few books. More conservative than Hannity. Coming to the dollar bins at used book stores everywhere in November, 2004.
Rating: 
Summary: Don't Judge This Book By Its Title
Review: As a Californian with no ties to the East, I didn't know much about Georgia and had only one thought about Senator Zell Miller: how on earth he got a first name like Zell. (I was curious and went to a Web site that had etymologies of thousands of names, including Dagda, Xanthippe, and Jaromir, but no Zell.) Sen. Miller's book is easy reading and he seems friendly enough, but the book is really a subtle bait and switch. I am a political independent who enjoys a healthy distance to both the Democratic and Republican party, so I didn't approach this book with pre-formed opinions. The book is really a lightweight autobiography. We read how Sen. Miller grew up in Georgia, how he got involved in politics, and what he saw during recent Presidential campaigns. We also get an earful of his personal opinions on everything from gun control to abortion to music for infants, and many of the topics are followed by endless details of how he brought good things to Georgia as governor. Interesting? Sure. But I was really interested in hearing his views about the Democratic Party, and after I finished the book I could only remember two (and they were rather bland): that Deep South states are abandoning the Democratic party, and that the Democrats really blundered during the creation of the Department of Homeland Security when they supposedly advanced the causes of their special interest labor unions. Most of the book was readable, and I felt enriched after I finished the last page. A few parts, such the chapters on education, were more boring than IRS tax regulations, but Sen. Miller's book is so compartmentalized that efficient readers can hopscotch about and read whatever they want, and pretty much in any order. In fairness to Sen. Miller, he says that a similar book could be written about Republicans, but that he's not the one to write it. Summary: If you're expecting a William F. Buckley or George F. Will (or even Sean Hannity) analysis of how the Democratic Party has changed over the past three decades, skip this book. But if you're into political autobiographies, this is a very charming little book. It's the kind of book you can keep next to your bed and nibble at for a week or two, and when you finish you find yourself wishing that more U.S. senators were like Zell Miller. If the book were titled to sound like an autobiography, I'd rate it higher than just three stars.
Rating:
Summary: Good Reading For Democrats
Review: As a lifelong Democrat who frankly, has felt betrayed by Zell Miller these past few years, I reluctantly bought this book figuring it would be nothing more than endless drivel being ranted from a opportunistic turncoat. But then, I began to read Zell's calm, itemized explanation for why he has been so harsh with the Democratic Party since becoming a senator. The Democratic Party exists to help make society fairer--helping people who were less fortunate, controlling corporate excess, protecting the environment, and being committed to affordable health care and higher education for all Americans. Zell Miller himself has been a champion of these things throughout his career, and I must say, was probably one of Georgia's best governors. So why all the "Hell from Zell?" Because special-interest groups have taken over the Democratic Party and are holding it hostage. Not that Republicans aren't beholden to special interests (notably the NRA), but the Democrats have got a far worse problem. Many of these far-left interest groups are not concerned with the overall good of America, only getting everything they want and more. Many of their members don't care about helping Democrats wget elected, but hang around us to get free publicity, milk us for everything they can, and when we don't give them 110% of their demands, don't bother to vote or support some third-party fringe candidates like Ralph Nader. Zell also stresses the importance for Democrats to show that they are fiscally responsible. Many Democrats are, but many are not. Miller writes that it's okay for tax dollars to be invested in important grants and services to make society better, such as tuition scholarships, health care, and job training, only make certain the money is being used for that, and is being spent efficiently. Paying taxes is always a pain, but it's excruciating when the money is not sent to useless projects or what it was NOT committed for. On the environment, Zell talks about the importance of creating a balance between creating jobs and protecting the environment. He talks about how 2/3 of his home county in northern Georgia is federally-owned, which keeps the beautiful mountainous area safe from development, but "2/3 is enough, thank you." It is important that some land be open for development to create jobs and services. In one chapter, Zell explains how drilling for oil in a three square-mile area of Alaska will not harm the Arctic Wildlife Refuge which is about the size of South Carolina. In another part of the book, Zell explains why he personally opposes gun control and why he switched his position on abortion to pro-life after being pro-choice for many years. These two stances probably won't gain much support from the Democrats, especially outside the south. I certainly did not agree with everything Zell Miller wrote in his book, nor do I agree with everything he has done in Washington. However, this book does offer some real insight into why so many Americans don't trust the Democrats, even though they agree with them on many issues. Zell's strong recommendations of reducing the influence of special interests, managing public money wisely, having a balanced-approach to the environmental problem, and getting back to "kitchen table issues" will help revitalize the Democratic Party and make it a voice of hope for America.
Rating:
Summary: Way to go Zell
Review: Dem. of the South will no longer listen to North and their leftist views. Go classic Dem. Go!
Rating:
Summary: Zell Miller is a disgrace to himself and his party.
Review: Zell Miller has given up the Democratic Party he once belonged to. I am not surprised he doesn't feel at home with today's Democrats. He should have left it when others such as he did after the Republicans established their Southern strategy.
Rating:
Summary: Old School Democrat
Review: It's easy to pick out the democrat reviews of this book. They're the one's that claim Senator Miller isn't a dem. anymore, or never was.
The fact of matter is, he's the kind of democrat they should strive to be. I was a democrat, but I was cured by Jimmy Carter and subsequent dems of that.
Sen. Miller is a man of conscience and knows his party has left him behind.
Both parties have problems, but the dems are the one's who have tried to turn our counrty in a feel good place where no one says anything negative to anyone at anytime, and where the government runs everything. And oh by the way shut up and send us your taxes because we know better then you how to spend it.
After reading this book I realize my own defection was the right thingk to do. Sen Miller won't though for his own personal reasons.
This book is for the democrats who still think for themselves, and don't have a knee jerk reaction to critiicism.
Democrats!!!-----Get rid of Michael Moore and embrace Sen Zell Miller.
Rating:
Summary: Oh Democratic Party Where Goest Thou?
Review: I can identify with Zel Miller. My background as the daughter of Irish and Russian Jewish immigrants made me a Democrat by default. The great Democratic Party of the nineteenth and early twentieth centures gave hope to the poor. I use the past tense because I vote Republican now. Senator Miller is a loyal Democrat in spite of some of the reviews on Amazon. He believes in government helping the people in the best sense of Jeffersonian democracy. His family have been loyal Democrats since the middle of the nineteenth century. He doesn't recognize present day Democrats as the party of his forbears, and neither do I. The Democratic Party at the federal level is the slave of special interest groups especially the abortion lobby. In spite of rhetoric to the contrary, all the judicial nominees who are well qualified in every sense have been voted down by unconstitutional filibuster because of their perceived opposition to Roe vs. Wade. Two other high powered lobby groups are the education lobby and the enviromental lobby. The NEA opposes vouchers. As a result, millions of inner city blacks and hispanics are trapped in decaying schools with inferior teachers and curriculum. The Democratic Party used to boast it defended the defenseless and the oppressed. Tell that to the kids who are being denied a quality education by their elected Democratic representatives. One little area in Alaska, ANWAR, cannot be drilled for oil because the Sierra Club and others oppose us. Gas prices go up for Joe Sixpack because of the Democrats and leave our country dependent upon foreign oil. Zel Miller is not so much a conservative as a traditionalist. His experience in Washington has filled him with disgust at his own party which has abandoned the Red States--states that include the South and most of the Midwest. It would be nice if the Democrats would listen to one of their own before it is too late. I don't see that happening soon. Tom
Daschle, Ted Kennedy, Chuck Schumer et al. are living in their dream world where Republicans play golf and are rich and evil. They play the class warfare game, the racial game, the abortion card, and we are all the losers. Zel Miller points out that John F. Kennedy was strong on defense and lowered taxes. John F. Kennedy also carred the South. No Democrat is going to carry one Southern state in 2004. A National Party No More!
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