Sen. Byrd does not seem well

[burythehatchet]

He seems tired and somewhat dejected. I remember his ardent and passionate speeches against the dept of homeland security and the patriot act.

Its as though he knows where we are headed and he can't do much to stop it.

I think he rehabilitated himself as much as possible and grew out of the confederate mentality. I think he's not long for the senate.

[rainy]

1. I love Robert Byrd. He is so great.

[TwentyFive]

2. Could it be the cameras and MSM are trying to make him look tired?

I have not been watching TV coverage, so I don't know....but it would not surprise me.

[burythehatchet]

4. to me it just seems he

doesn't have the spark he had when he was fighting against the neocon agenda. Its really too bad.

[donheld]

3. Remember the guy is old

and no doubt heart sick about his country.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

5. .

[ElsewheresDaughter]

6. he looks great for 90...i think he is just depressed about .........

the state of the country

[blonndee]

7. Let's send him email thanking him for speaking up today!

I sent emails thanking Boxer, Drayton, and Byrd and asked them to keep speaking up. Who knows if they will actually have time to read them but I'm sure there's at least some record of the general tone of the correspondence they receive.

Every activist Dem could use some encouragement, even (and especially) our Senators!

Here's the link to Byrd's site:

http://byrd.senate.gov/

[burythehatchet]

9. good idea...that never hurts the spirit

welcome to DU

:hi:

[juajen]

10. I sent him an email, but

he did seem dispirited. Should we send him a big bouquet of DU flowers? Could someone else start this, please. I just don't deal well with this kind of thing, but I do think he is in serious need of appreciation and encouragement. Somebody, please? Don't dis me, I'm electronically dysfunctional, or, just stupid.

P. S. At least I can spell!! {Is that the correct way to spell "dis"?)

[blonndee]

11. Okay, I started a new thread. n/t

[Spiffarino]

13. Done

Thanks for the idea! :headbang:

[Wilms]

29. Thanks for the handy link. I emailed the 'ol Whippersnapper. n/t

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

34. Thank you! I just emailed him to let him know I thought he was Magnificent

[w4rma]

8. Probably tired of fighting DLC idjots, like Lieberman, whom he had assumed

in the past would back him, and the Constitution, up. Having to fight idjots who should be fighting with you, rather than against you, kinda tires one out.

That said, he has LOTS of support out here. Keep at it, Sen. Byrd! This is important and you ARE having an effect!

[Yupster]

12. I hope he retires

He's old and unwell. Not the best time to be running for another six year term. Though Strom Thurmond served from his hospital bed. I guess Byrd can too. I'd rather he retire before that.

[LibertyorDeath]

14. I hope he never retires & his last words are spoken on the floor of

the United States Senate about the need for Americans of all political views to Stand Up and Protect their Rights as Citizens of the USA before
these second rate crooks and Fascists dismantle everything previous generations of Americans fought so long and hard to build.

[Pastiche423]

22. I hope the same thing

I believe his service to our country is what keeps him alive and his mind so sharp, probably sharper today at 87 than 50 years ago.

In praise of his book, Losing America...

"Senator Byrd has written a book with the energy of a twenty-five-year-old and the wisdom of an octogenarian. This is a must read for anyone who is worried about what the Bush administration is doing to American democracy. Byrd is a real American patriot."

Howard Dean.

I keep my pocket size copy of our Constitution w/me always and I think of him every time I read it.

[kerstin]

15. Senator Byrd was magnificent.

I could listen to the eloquent Senator Byrd for hours. He symbolizes the Constitution itself. He may be frail in body, but his mind is keener and his rhetoric more powerful and intellectually stimulating than all the other speechmaking combined. Listening to him is akin to listening to one of the founding fathers. I would love to have had this man for a teacher. Bless him.

[anarchy1999]

16. Thank you for your kind words and welcome to DU.

n/t

Yes, I thought he was magnificent today, as always. I called his office and thanked him and his staff, did the rest of you?

[kerstin]

25. Thanks for the welcome. Will give his office a ring tomorrow.

[accipiter]

18. yep he's old school - in the best sense of the words

I love him. He wrote a great book not to long ago. He carries around a copy of the Constitution in his pocket. The man is a true patriot.

[kerstin]

26. Maybe we should all begin carrying around copies

of the Constitution in our pockets/pocketbooks!

[Tinoire]

23. Welcome to DU Kerstin

:toast:

We will lose a great man when we lose Byrd. He's the last constitutionalist there. I adore him too. Welcome

[kerstin]

27. Thanks, Tinoire.

He is a national treasure.

[kentuck]

17. He's dying of a broken heart....

watching what the neocon radicals are doing to our country...

[Rose Siding]

21. I'm reading his book and I think you're right

There is no one with his grasp of the day to day function of govt as it relates to history. Every liberty ever gained by a public directly relates to specific functions of our own govt. He sees the process reversing itself in Washington. It must be an incredible burdon.

[Tinoire]

24. Agree with you both. How is his book?

I've got so much to read but if you recommend it... What is his book like? mostly about?

[anarchy1999]

28. I'm afraid you are more right than you know and or want to be.

When we lose Senator Byrd, it is going to be a very sad day.

Peace and all my prayers are with you, dear sir. I know you've done wrong but I believe you are truly sorry, at least that is what your words tell me. I believe you truly love what the US was supposed to stand for and you certainly have lived the " american dream".

A degree at what, 77? You amaze me and I respect you, I just wish more of your fellows would.

[LeahD]

19. I don't think he's well

because one of the camera shots today showed him using both hands to bring a glass of water to his mouth...and his hands were shaking. I think it took maximum effort and heart for him to stand and speak so long today.

[Yupster]

20. Well he's 85 years old and he has Parkinson's Disease

Isn't that time for a man to retire?

Jeepers people. At some point enough is enough.

[rainy]

30. Jeepers, if it wasn't for him just 2 years ago, who would have

spoken for 10 hours straight to try to stop the Iraq war? He was the lone fighter. I have tapes of him hour after hour fighting the leadup to war. He finally gave up and said the dye was cast, Bush would have his war. He was and is beautiful and a very needed heart in the senate right now.

[burythehatchet]

33. I remember furiously trying to record all of his floor speeches

He made me weep more than once.

[Karenina]

32. Senator Byrd

will be the judge of that, but thanx anyway. :hi:

[CWebster]

31. I thought he was sharp as a tack

On the other hand, I thought Feinstein was getting that charecteristic glaze in the eye.