"A National Party No More" written in the run up to 2004 election is part biography and part modern political analysis. Maverick Senator Zell Miller (D) (who wanted to challenge Chris Mathews to a duel) holds the distinction of being the only person to give a keynote speech at both the DNC (1992 for fellow southern governor Bill Clinton and in 2004 for fellow southern governor and incumbant George W. Bush) - I think I am right on that.

While much of the book discusses the problems Zell finds in the modern democrat party, it is equally as critical of the entire national political process. Zell tells of his disillutionment on arriving to Washington and seeing the effects of big money on the national scene and the wasted tax money it brought with it.

Zell explains his brand of "conservative" democratic policies, how he put them to work in his home state (the HOPE scholarship guaranteed free higher education to anyone graduating with a B or higher average), and how he saw George Bush trying to govern in a manner similar to Zell's own beliefs on many issues.

Anyone that approaches this book with an open mind should come away with a respect for Zell and a new disdain for national politics. Zell avoids singling out people to criticize and instead speaks admiringly about many of fellow dems. He is much more socially liberal than I would have expected

The books gets a little folksy in places - especially near the end- but is must read for anyone interested in American politics.