thank you Sen. Byrd 12/08/04

[dweller]

Remarks by U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd
December 08, 2004
Politics Surround Intelligence Reform; Hasty Action Leaves
Too Many Gaps and Problems

When the elected representatives of the people allow themselves to
be coerced into a process that encourages the abdication of our
responsibility to understand and thoroughly review legislation, the
people are robbed of their voice in their government.

Senators take an oath to defend the Constitution, and common sense
suggests that that means reading and studying the legislation before
the Congress. We are duty bound to explore the opinions on all sides
of an issue, and to work toward a process that does not exclude
opponents or silence the opposition.

In its heyday, the Senate was known as the greatest deliberative body
in the world. What we have seen in recent times, however, is a hollow
shell of that noble tradition. Time after time, the Senate forgoes its
responsibility to deliberate and carefully review legislation, and even
defers to others to craft legislation for it.

Legislation is passed by the Senate, and then, too often, hastily
rewritten in a conference committee behind closed doors marked, "no
minority view admitted." All too often during the 108th Congress, the
party leadership has held bills until just before a recess, and then
employed disingenuous rhetoric about last opportunities to get
something done. Senators preoccupied with holiday schedules and
travel plans, for example, timidly roll over and accept whatever is
placed in front of them. They do it time and time again.

I anguish about the eroding character of the Senate, and the message
it sends to the American people, when this body allows itself to be
stampeded into passing legislation without thorough examination.
We congratulate ourselves on a job well done, and vote
overwhelmingly in support of legislation, and yet we cannot even be
bothered to ask questions about the changes made in conference.
Like pygmies on the battlefield of history, we cower like whipped dogs
in the face of political pressure when it comes to issues like
intelligence reform.

full speech here


dp

[BrklynLiberal]

1. He may be the last statesman to ever serve in the Senate..

When he goes....that will be the end of statesmanship in our government.

[Sugarbleus]

3. Yes, Byrd is a dying breed.

Since his conversion away from racist ideals, he's become the last of a truely honorable cadre of American statesmen. I so appreciate this man. I fear for our country if/when we loose all men like these.

Sen. Byrd has been in the senate/washington for decades! He's seen many presidents come and go. He has elder and constitutional wisdom and yet, his collegues and others seem to "dismiss" him. Sad

Thank you for your service, dear Sen. Byrd.

[proudbluestater]

2. We are rather quickly losing

all the checks and balances that our founding fathers had in mind. This regime must go soon.

[dweller]

4. this speech is now

found on Commondreams.org:
http://www.commondreams.org/views04/1208-37.htm


dp

[Wind Dancer]

5. It's a shame our "so called" elected officials

ignore the wisdom of Senator Byrd.

[realFedUp]

6. I'm with the Byrdman on this one...

such huge reform with a huge
price tag and overreach into
people's lives and not enough
time for these representatives
to actually read the final report
out of conference.

It's really a crime.