Senator Byrd won't give up top committee spot

[DeepModem Mom]

Source: CNN

April 9, 2008

WASHINGTON (CNN) — Senior Democratic senators privately considered Tuesday Sen. Robert Byrd's capacity to handle his spot at the top of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, but the 90-year-old lawmaker won't be stepping down from the demanding job, his office told CNN.

Roll Call first reported the discussions by several Democratic senators, and a Democratic aide, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed to CNN the thrust of the newspaper report. "There are some who have concerns," the aide said. "Ahead of the appropriations season, some people have concerns which leaked out of a meeting."

But the West Virginia senator's spokesman, Jesse Jacobs, rejected talk of replacing Byrd as chairman of the committee. "Once again, it appears that Washington insiders are practicing what they do best — petty rumor mongering," Jacobs said in a statement.

Asked about the report, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said he supports Byrd keeping the job through the end of the current Congress in January 2009.

The Democratic aide said discussions have included having other senators on the appropriations committee play broader roles as the Senate begins to tackle the many spending bills on its calendar. The first such measure is likely to be a contentious supplemental Iraq war funding bill expect on the floor in the next few weeks....

Read more: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/04/09/byrd-wont-give-up-top-committee-spot/

[Demeter]

1. Well, That's Stupid of Him

Although, one must wonder who they'd put in charge, instead. Perhaps Byrd would be the lesser of two weevils.

[L0oniX]

2. Byrd was one who spoke out against the Iraq war vote. I have the deepest respect for him.

He is a true and honest statesman for the people and is the last of a dying breed in our government.

Robert C. Byrd "may come closer to the kind of senator the
Founding Fathers had in mind than any other."
-- Almanac of American Politics



http://byrd.senate.gov/index.html

[frogcycle]

3. and if you've never heard him when he is pumped about something

you have missed an amazing experience

man, can he orate!

[jwirr]

4. Agreed.

[Parche]

5. I Agree

But He is getting up there in years, and his capacity to function is getting strained.
I think he is awesome, but he should relinquish that position.

:hi:

[mopinko]

7. i love him, too, but

i hate to see people hanging on past the time they ought to retire. i love him, but i really do think he is getting too feeble to be the lion he once was.

[bean fidhleir]

8. I believe that he voted for it after speaking against it

That seems to be something he does often.

[Freddie Stubbs]

9. Senator Byrd voted against it:

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=107&session=2&vote=00237

[Pastiche423]

16. I believe you don't know WTF you are talking about

THE Senator Robert C. Byrd voted AGAINST the IWR!

I believe you owe this entire board an apology!

[bean fidhleir]

23. He voted for funding. Now, you can consider that completely different

if you want to play that kind of game, but to me voting for the crime against peace and voting to fund its continuation are not dissimilar enough to make me feel that my mistake is more than a lapse of memory.

As to my apologizing for making the mistake, I suggest you get back to me when such mea culpas become the norm at DU.

[Pastiche423]

24. You are the one playing a "game"

You said: "I believe that he voted for it after speaking against it."

A mistake? No, that is a lie.

I listened to our great statesman speak, alone, on the senate floor for weeks leading up to the vote. He spoke for hours, w/no breaks day after day. Moreover, I was, by far, not alone. Many Duers, led by our beloved friend, kephra watched and listened to The Senator.

Admit you lied, otherwise, your word means nothing.

[bean fidhleir]

25. Even if you don't own a dictionary, there are several available online

Look up the word "believe".

[Pastiche423]

27. I "believe" you lied

[depakid]

15. He's no "honest statesman"

He's an corrupt old segregationist from a corrupt dynasty that's been in power in that region far too long.

This man had no problem whatsoever with Alito- or in enabling or supporting the far right on a host of other issues.

[cyr330]

20. I have no respect for him

He was in the KKK and he used the "n" word in a televised interview in the last couple of years. Uggh. What a waste of space he is.

[mikelgb]

6. ditch Byrd and Keep Lieberman? wha!?

maybe you can get Lindsey fucking Graham to replace Byrd...

:wtf:

[L0oniX]

17. I despise that SOB Deputy Dog Lindsey Graham. What a POS he is.

I hate war mongers.

[Mudoria]

10. He should retire and go home to WV..

he can spend the newfound free time ironing those white sheets he has hidden away and think fondly about the millions and millions of pork he wasted on his home state.

[Lyric]

13. "Wasted"?

First of all, Byrd renounced his ties with the KKK decades ago.

In 1997, he told an interviewer he would encourage young people to become involved in politics, but to "Be sure you avoid the Ku Klux Klan. Don't get that albatross around your neck. Once you've made that mistake, you inhibit your operations in the political arena."<9> In his latest autobiography, Byrd explained that he was a member because he "was sorely afflicted with tunnel vision—a jejune and immature outlook—seeing only what I wanted to see because I thought the Klan could provide an outlet for my talents and ambitions."<10> Byrd also said, in 2005, "I know now I was wrong. Intolerance had no place in America. I apologized a thousand times ... and I don't mind apologizing over and over again. I can't erase what happened."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Byrd#Participation_in_the_Ku_Klux_Klan

Secondly, West Virginia is one of the poorest, most needy states in the nation. Would you rather that your tax dollars get shipped off to pay for Bible indoctrination in Texas, rather than to help create jobs for poor people who desperately need them? It's stupid to criticize a Senator for looking out for the interests of those in his home state, *especially* when his home state is so desperately in need. Democrats are committed to *helping* the poor--not leaving them to fend for themselves just because they happen to live in a state that isn't wealthy. In the end, we are all *Americans* first.

Robert C. Byrd is a brilliant, amazing man--and the last true statesman that we have. When he's gone, we'll have nothing left but a pack of pandering, whiny wimps who can't seem to tie their own shoes, much less get anything progressive accomplished.

Hang on as long as you can, Senator Byrd. I was proud as hell to cast a vote for you in 2006. You are truly the First Gentleman of the Senate, and West Virginia will never forget you.

[Love Bug]

11. What exactly are their concerns? That he's 90?

I read the article and nowhere does it state any specific concerns or examples of any lapses in judgement or anything else that would indicate Byrd is not up to the job. Funny, I don't recall reading such articles when Strom Thurmond was being dragged around on the floor of the Senate like the road show for "Weekend at Bernie's."

This is agest crap looking for a story.

[Mz Pip]

12. Compared to the

intellect of some of the Republican senators, Byrd is a rocket scientist. Remember when the Repugs would roll out Strom Thurmond and wake him up to vote Yay or Nay on something. Poor guy probably didn't know what he was voting for.

I'd take Robert Byrd over Saxby Chambliss or Jim Bunning any day.

[depakid]

14. Yet another prime example of why there need to be term limits

[last_texas_dem]

18. Yeah, who wants the people that they elect to actually gain expertise

and knowledge and be able to successfully deliver for their states or districts?

Bring on those term limits!

:sarcasm:

[depakid]

21. Three terms in the Senate is PLENTY

More than that and all you do is invite corruption.

Byrd, Thurmond, Stevens- pick 'em, they're all classic examples of people who once they've been in and put together their machine are nearly impossible to get rid of.

[last_texas_dem]

22. There are plenty of examples of long-serving Senators

who, with the experience and the clout that they bring to their state, illustrate the fallacy of arbitrarily limiting the length of time that elected officials can serve. Biden, Kennedy, and Kerry come to mind but there are no doubt plenty of other examples.

Certainly incumbency has definite advantages, but arbitrarily capping someone's service to a certain period of time makes no sense. With an effective opposition campaign or the right political climate, incumbents can be and are defeated. Republicans incessantly talked up Byrd's alleged vulnerability due to his Iraq War opposition and managed to keep him to his lowest victory margin ever. But 64-percent of West Virginia voters still chose him to be their Senator; I don't see the value in forcing a long-serving and popular Representative or Senator to step down as long as the people of the state or district are choosing to see their return to Washington.

[cali]

26. I'll see your Byrd, Thurmond and Stevens and raise you

a Kennedy, Dodd, Biden and Leahy. All have served ovewr 5 terms.

[SunDrop23]

19. At 90 he is just as relevant as the guy who wants to be Pres and is pushing 80. (n/t)

[Infinite Hope]

28. Who cares. His staff takes care of things. It's fine for now. n/t