by INFORUM
Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia dead at 92
June 28, 2010 at 12:01 am in INFORUM
WASHINGTON Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia, a fiery orator versed in the classics and a hard-charging power broker who steered billions of federal dollars to the state of his Depression-era upbringing, died Monday. He was 92. Continue Reading
Senator Robert Byrd was the longest-serving member of Congress ever. While I didn’t particularly care for his politcs, there was no finer scholar of the Senate. He kept a dog-eared copy of the U.S. Constitution in his coat pocket. During Senate floor debates, he would often quote passages of scripture from the Bible.
He was also notable for keeping the traditions of the Senate in-tact. He was one of the most vocalest of opponents of allowing television cameras into the Senate chamber to broadcast the live sessions of the legislative body. He was also notable for keeping laptop computers off of Senators’ desks. He also objected to a Senate aide bringing in her seeing-eye dog into the chamber.
I suppose most pundits are going to remember his prior involvement with the Ku Klux Klan, thus the unjustly deserved nickname “Sheets” Byrd would come up from time to time.
But shall we have some respect for the dead? Whether you liked him or not, Robert Byrd was one of the giants. West Virginia has lost a great man. The country has lost an icon. Last year, Ted Kennedy passed and now Byrd has passed.
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He was a prime example of “BRING HOME THE BACON”. I hope we can put away this type of policy in the future. We need a line item veto bill passed for the good of the whole country.
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Mr. Byrd was a great man and a great politician. I also did not like several positions he’s taken over the years but of course I generally do not support many individuals in his party. Still he was an honest and moral man with integrity. Like him or not he was one of ourgreeatest voices of the people in our country’s history. He was far less prone to appearing shallow or consumed in his own career. Now-a-days that is a measure of a good congressman as few seem to stack up with our expectations.
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Sen Byrd was a great politician, husband, mentor and a great senator. However, one has to ask, how old is it for one to run for a political office. I have watched Sen. Byrd on C-Span over the last several years and have watched his health deteriorate. I know he brought lots of money to West Virginia over the decades, however, electing a man in his late 80′s, who would be in his 90′s before the next election is questionable. At some point in time they just have to step down when their health limits their congressional duties and legislating; the voters have to consider this also.
Rest in peace Sen. Byrd, you served your state and country well.
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Don’t forget, Robert Byrd was also a Grand Wizard for the Ku Klux Klan too. I guess some racists can get away with it.
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I will give him this. he saw the error of his ways and become a vocal proponent of civil rights. People can change.
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By the way he wasn’t a grand wizard. He title was exhalted cyclops.
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Sounds like he had quite a career. I do feel though that there should be a cut off age where enough is enough and lets get some more in touch and younger folks in there, silly working to the end. Why not enjoy your elderly years. Really working past the age of 67 and you have got to be nuts, can you give up a seat to men and women that need jobs.
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How can you discount the accumulated wisdom of older people? That’s a huge problem in our country, IMO, the way we throw away our elders instead of respecting them.
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Of course a half-wit of any age can be dangerous.
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People always support term limits when the butt of their argument is someone else’s representative or from the opposite party. If it is their guy, then keep him. There are term limits for both the house and senate. Every two years a representative has to run for re-election. Every six years for senators. If the people who elect these folks don’t like them, their term ends. If they want them to continue representing them, they re-elect them. That’s the way it is.
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Big Red. I am a member of the same party as Byrd and I still think he should have stepped down, or the voters should have realized his health concerns and not elected this man. So you statement of if it is only of the other party does not hols water in this case.
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How much of the national debt can be attributed directly to Mr. Byrd? Would some of you be so forgiving if he was a Republican? This was the Grand Kleagle, not wizard, of the KKK. His job at the time was to recruit new members to his hate organixation, furthermore he voted against and filibustered the Civil Rights act and even to his dying day made off the cuff racial remarks. If he had an “R” after his name would you come on here and talk of what a great guy he was, doubtful. I didn’t mourn the passing of Jesse Helms or Ted Kennedy and I’m not going to give a tax and spend Klansman a pass either.
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If he had been an R, would you be so pleased to write about Byrd’s sordid past?
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He must be one of the oldest KKK members left. Not fair you say? Tell that to Trent Lott. How can we honor a man who filibustered the Civil Rights Act? Btw, he was a DEMOCRAT.
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RIP Mr. Byrd. No one should serve for 50+ years. We have term limits for our President. We should have term limits for Congress too.
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His sordid history regarding segregation aside, I think we’ve seen the last of the true congressmen. Congress was set up on the idea of compromise and all we get with new politicians is partisan, party-line corporate hacks in both parties.
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Craig, you are absolutely right. I watched C-Span yesterday and this is what I heard. The house passed a law giving the investigating panel to receive subpoenas to BP, to find out what went wrong and how much oil has actually leaked out of this well. It passed the house with only one no vote.
The senate was a different story. Senator Conrad introduced the bill and a republican senator objected to even debating the bill, and there it ended. Not much compromising there. Goes to show you who the republicans are supporting BP or the citizens. Looks like BP won out.
If the republicans are just going to say NO to every bill introduced, just to make the democrats look bad for the upcoming election. Nothing will get done in the senate. Is this what the senate is about, or do we actually want them to do some good for the people?
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Bruce, the Dems control the Senate, House and the Presidency and you still want to complain about the Republicans? Really? And what power do they hold exactly? Oh yeah, nothing. You want to blame someone for not getting anything done look to your boys who seem to be in charge right now, but don’t worry, in a couple months you’ll be able to blame Republicans again. Oh, BP gave Obama a million in campaign contributions so yes, we do know who won out.
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Respect for the dead? I didn’t see much when Ronald Reagan died. I don’t see much respect for Dick Cheney despite his illness. When I see liberals showing respect then talk to me about it.
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There should be a point when people must retire. Senator Byrd spent many years serving the people of W.V. and that is honorable. However, there is a time that the old need to step aside and let the younger generation with new ideas come forward. If we don’t the country will become stagnant. RIP Senator Byrd.
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The people of WV could have voted him out. They liked what he was doing so he was reelected.
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The problem I see the power of incumbancy. It’s difficult to unseat an incumbant and if you are from the same party it becomes even more difficult.
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You won’t SEE them showing respect because A. I pass up many chances at Cheney cheap shots by NOT posting them. and B. You really don’t seem to be LOOKING for the respectful comments. There were plenty.
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Look where we were 50 years ago and look where we are now. Senator Byrd and helped in a large way to put us where we are now. Then we’re supposed to be all teary eyed over him.
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How about a national holiday to commemorate the death of Robert Byrd?
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