Senator Byrd should retire

I cringed watching him today- and last week. He's declined to the point where he really should step down. And sorry, I think 50 years in the Senate is simply too long. West VA has a dem governor; we'd get a dem Senator. I appreciate his service, but really, it's time for him to gracefully leave the Senate.

I have little doubt the Senate is his reason for living... Besides he hasn't lost his mental faculties, despite his difficulties and infirmaties...:Shrug:

Remember she was hospitalized and he spent every night at her bedside. I like him. He's forgotten more about the Constitution than some of our <cough> esteemed members know.

Ever hear him talk about Bobby Byrd - his little dog. He passed on also. :(

At least he's not being carted to the Senate floor for votes.

He'll be great!

and for better or worse he gets to serve the 6 year term.

I know what you mean when you say you "cringed", but you know what? Behind whatever physical ailments he may have, there's still an intelligent, caring, principled man who happens to be a Democrat. I don't advocate forcing anyone who has that much moral character to leave.

Are you sure that the laws in W. Virginia say the governor would appoint a replacement? As far as I know, the laws for replacing a Senator leaving are state laws, not Federal. Could be wrong about that one, though.

the gov in WV would appoint. However, I really don't totally agree with you about Senator Byrd. He's OK, but I don't see him as the stellar figure so many here do.

to speak out about the war. He has more balls than those stellar younger dudes. The gop'ers stuck a pole up his butt and embalmed Strom Thurmond who imho was out of it. Byrdie still have a few good brain cells left. :hi:

He was a member of the KKK and is the last of the old line of Dixiecrats. However, unlike Strom Thurmond or Jesse Helms, he has been right on several issues like the war, and has stayed a Democrat. I don't like having to get into arguments with Repubs about how he was in the Klan, when their party is bought and paid for by former Dixiecrats who migrated over after LBJ signed the Civil Rights Act.

and how many KKK members do you know who have done that? He apologized on National TV and said it was a stupid thing to do. That's more than ANY repuke ever does when they have done something stupid.

but it doesn't erase his history, and it wasn't like he was just some rank and file member either.

Byrd said: "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."

At least he owns up to what he did and doesn't try to lie about it or spin his way out of it. He owns it as "an albatross around my neck."

What does a man have to do to make amends?

but as is oft said that doesn't mean forgetting. His having been a high up in a terrorist organization is too serious a matter to forget, and I'd bet anything that so many of the folks here who dismiss his KKK career, would have a completely different reaction were he a repuke who'd apologized in the exact same way.

:sarcasm:

Never have; never will. Mama raised me better than that.

I for one, have NEVER used that slur. I've never even fucking thought it about anyone.

Fortunately, he evolved earlier than others unlike George Wallace, who saw the light way too late.

He just switched to a new brand of hate.

I agree with the OP.

he is a Dem in the old school segregationist tradition.

I wonder if the OP cringes when they see another member of the human race that is old and/or afflicted?

I have a lot of respect for ye old Senator from WV, he has done and still is doing much good work.

:kick:

;) :toast:

One more time: Firfty years in the Senate is too long.

I believe he was in the Klan about 60 years ago.

He was in the Klan from the age of 24 to about the age of 30. What the fuck does it matter that it was 60 years ago? And he was quite involved in the Klan, head of his local chapter and a recruiter. Not to mention that he filibustered the 1964 Civil Rights Act, and a vile letter he wrote during his Klan days is evidence of how deep and ugly his bigotry was. That's not a commendable history, and forgiving it is one thing, but excusing it because it was 60 years ago? Now that's disgusting.

for what he did 60 years ago.

I hope you have better lucky with the people who will judge you.

that 50 years ago Prescott Bush was funding Nazis? If he were a repuke Senator who had apologized and repudiated a history such as his, I have a very, very hard time believing you'd be so cavalier about it. And furthermore I've made it quite fucking clear I'm not condemning him forever. I accept his apology, but his history of racism and out and out homophopia definitely tarnishes him for me.

rightwing DINO like Joe LIEberman.Let's hurry up and get all the real Dems out so we can have one big GOPenis party. Phuck......I need a drink and I haven't drank in 13 years. I knew I should have kept watching movies tonight. :grr:

Byrd's replacement would be chosen by West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin, who would pick himself. You think you've seen DINOs before? Wait till you get a load of this guy!

Neither people of color nor Democrats in general would find a better friend in Joe Manchin than in Senator Byrd.

... and not be given some kind of leeway.

I understand Cali's point that his past was horrific, but doesn't his present activities somehow mitigate that?

Involvement in the Klan is a bad thing and I can understand if someone can not forgive him for that. Most have.

The point I was trying to make just now is that we would be worse off if Senator Byrd were to resign as Cali wishes he would do. And we would have been worse off than that if he had not run for re-election last year. Byrd was targeted by the Publicans on account of his anti-IWR position, but serious GOP contenders were discouraged by the amount of funds he raised early on, with the help of Barak Obama.

If he had decided not to run for re-election it is likely that Representative Shelly Moore Capito (R) would have been elected in his place. She is not just a Publican, she is the daughter of former WV Governor Arch Moore. Very bad family.

http://www.wvculture.org/history/arcmoore.html

But this is a diversion from the main assertion of the OP, that Byrd should retire because of his physical condition, and that serving 50 years is long enough. I offered a challenge to that assertion downthread.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=236284&mesg_id=258975

Lucky for me I got to help decide if Bobby got re-elected or not. I have voted for him every single time he's run in a primary or general election since 1970. You won't see me apologizing for having done that.

Lasher

How I love to see him whip out the Constitution from his pocket and expound.
And he has been one of the strongest voices about Iraq.
So what if that voice quavers or is interrupted by a cough now and then.
We need him there to remind the Senate of their elected duty to the people and the Constitution.

My mom, for example, organized our family fieldtrip to DC last month. And now, she's organizing to take us back for the march on the Pentagon. 73 and she could kick my butt in a heartbeat. lol

and for raising such a wonderful daughter.

People have so many wonderful gifts for us and those who have been around the block a few times can often alert us to missteps and pitfalls.

I watched it with my dear friend and neighbor who's 79 years old and she felt precisely the same way. And sorry, 50 years is too damn long. I love my Senator and he's 66, but he's been in the Senate for 32 years, and I hope he'll retire when his term expires in 2010. And frankly, I hope Kennedy chooses to retire after this term as well.

He is still very healthy and comes from a lineage of people that live to be over 100 years. And Sen. Kennedy is doing a lot of GREAT work right now FYI. Sen. Kennedy is about all the Democrats have left on the scale of 1-10 that rates a 10!

:kick:

And if the Republicans are in control, he will be President Pro Tempore Emeritus.

Can you imagine how screwed we be if sometime between 1995 (when his final senility took hold) and 2003 (when he retired) some tragedy took place and Strom had become the president? :scared: brrrr

from Alaska.. Might not of been as old, but he was one selfish greedy old guy...

I love Kennedy but I hardly think he's the only Senator who rates high marks, and frankly I think his NCLB is an atrocity. Look, I don't believe in term limits, but I do think that 7 or 8 terms in the Senate is enough.

Personally, I think there should be a "cap" on years of service, as well.

FWIW- I've read this thread twice. It troubles me.

evidence of how deep and ugly his bigotry was.

Seems to me as though his deep and ugly bigotry may have been contageous. The man was 24 f*cking years old. Do you know how many people have made HORRIFIC choices at age 24? Choices resulting in shame and regret? Back when he was 24, there were MANY bigots in this country. Hell...there still are. People can change. People have the capacity to learn from their mistakes. The true tragedy would be if he didn't "repent" and ask forgiveness for what he participated in. He has denounced his past choices and that's good enough for me. It's not my place to judge him any further. It's his burden to carry. Not mine.

YES. What he did was WRONG. There is no denying that. There is no excusing it, either. However, using his past (of which he has apologized profoundly) as a weapon to attack him NOW is pretty shitty, imo. Just my 2 cents...

I am 78 and I know this is true as evidenced in this thread.

Let me repeat that I watched Byrd with a friend- my dearest friend- who is your age and she feels precisely the same way as I do. She's an amazing woman: an artist and poet and herbalist who's traveled the world widely. I judge people as individuals- no matter their age.

You would really like to lose him?

I heard him with great pleasure, but with regret I'd still like to see him depart in 2012.

:shrug:

I adore Pat Leahy. And Bernie, and Ted Kennedy and Feingold and Bernie Frank. I like my new rep, Peter Welch just fine. I admire Nancy Pelosi and John Conyers and dozens more. I am often to be found defending dems on this board. what a baseless accusation.

He'll never get to be a senator because he won't challenge kennedy or Kerry, and yet I think he'd make a very good senator.

I support term limits..

I'd like to see..

Senate- 2 consecutive terms max ( 4 yr terms)
house- 2 consecutive terms max (4 yr terms)

If it's good enough for the presidency, it's good enough for the rest..

SCOTUS should have a 60 yr old minimum age and a 15 year maximum, without a re-coonfirmation hearing.

I don't believe in term limits at all, particularly not the absurdly draconian ones you advocate. Heaven help us if Reps can only serve 2 terms. And sixty is just silly as a retirement age for a SC jucge.

Appointing a "young 'un" with little or no record is how we got some of the ones we have now :grr:

Byrd and Kennedy should retire? Have many friends? I for one will dread the day those two faces are not among the Senate. But hey what the heck maybe we can put in a fresh face repug. You know younger but determined to destroy this country.

And I also suggested that my own beloved Senator retire when his term expires. There may be a chance that a puke could win in WV- though most analysts don't think so, but there's no chance that a puke will win either in MA or VT. I simply don't think that holding a Senate seat for over 40 years is a good thing, no matter how terrific one is.

you out to pasture. Hope you agree then.

50 years is long enough for any one individual to serve in the Senate. Period.

Unless you were running against Plaid Adder for the nomination.

be prouder of 'em.

He has been our choice for many decades, as is our right. Frankly it doesn't much matter what anyone outside of our state thinks, and thank god for that. He is most likely not running again but I sincerely hope Joe Kennedy (currently running citizens oil program, the citgo one) runs for his spot. The Kennedys have been an asset to our state and our country, especially the working class here. There will be many tears here when he steps down.

should he resign or become unable to serve. Most likely, what i see happening is Sen. Byrd waiting for 2008 (after we elect another Democratic President), and then retiring.

At this moment, i don't know who that would be most likely to be. My speculation would be either Rep. Alan Mollohan, or state Sen. Michael Oliverio Jr., both of whom would do well in the US Senate, IMHO.

I guess I could have just goggled the W. Virginia laws, but I was feeling lazy.

How right wing can you get? Are you serious?

I've been acquainted with "Big Mike" for a few years (and the rest of the family through him), and i think we could count on him to do a good job.

West Virginia has been trending Republican. If Byrd had not run in the last election, I think the Senate would now be controlled by Republicans.

Byrd is old, but he has more brains that Sessions and Brownback put together.

The **VERY** popular Democratic Governor of the state.

http://www.theage.com.au/ffximage/2006/01/05/05n_manchin_narrowweb__300x309,0.jpg

Thankfully the GOP never put up a serious challenger, although they did try to scare him into retirement back in 2005 (which failed, thanks to a donation campaign for him on behalf of the netroots.)

If he has to die in office or retire, I hope he does it while WVA has a Democratic Governor. Governor Manchin would appoint his sucessor.

he is one of the reasons the dems are now the majority in both houses. want to take a chance on getting something else?

think mccain should go? what are your criteria?

to mention Strom Thurmond. And as I said upthread, much as I love my own Senior Senator, Pat Leahy, I hope he retires when his term expires in 2010, even though he'll be a relatively young 72. He's been in the Senate for 32 years, and 36 years is long enough.

Voinovich can pack up and go south. Even trade, straight up.

Then we'll have two Democrats in the Senate from Ohio, win/win as far as I can see.

I'll take Senator Byrd over any Republick breathing air.

I'm sorry, I know there are people who revere him, but I think there should be age limits for Senators and Representatives. It's ridiculous to see these people, such as Senator Byrd and Strom Thurmond, staying in the Senate for decades, into their 80's and 90's.

That includes everyone. Even Ted Kennedy.

and the people of WVA don't want him to leave. He's brought more pork home to WVA than you can possibly imagine.

wasn't my point, and in any case I rather doubt he'll survive the length of his term. I don't man to sound callous, but he's 88 years old and in frail health.

I cringe when I listen to him as well. He's not in the best of shape.

But, I have to say that while I'm not approving of pork he has done a hell of a lot for WVA and I guess that's why they keep voting for him. He's a crusty old war horse and for that I admire him.

IMO, the majority of bodies in that chamber do absolutely nothing but BS all the samn time! Byrd doesn't. Yes, I know he's old, but I can only hope some of his knowledge and fervor rumbs off on the others before he decides to leave the Senate!

FUCKED!!!!

Don't even pretend to be concerned about the Senator. You obviously know NOTHING about the man.

and I wasn't pretending to be concerned. I'm not terribly concerned: I think he should retire. And as I said multiple times in this thread, I think my own Senator, who I think is far better than Byrd ever was and is far younger, should retire after his term expires in 2010, because by then Senator Leahy will have served for 36 years. And I love Pat Leahy.

Anymore,it's like reading from the FReeptard site. :puke:

what you mean is you don't like criticism of Dems YOU personally like. Please don't try and tell me you never criticize dems. And if you think my OP is "bashing", you must never read the posts where real bashing is extant.

just because you think you know better than they do.

Only God and Senator Byrd will know when it is time for him to retire.

Give it a rest.

God bless both Senator Byrd and Senator Kennedy.

I'm not making a decision for him; I'm expressing an opinion. You need to learn the difference between the two.

That's the way it works. I LOVE listening to his speeches. No one delivers a speech quite like Robert Byrd.

I DO worry about his health though. I'm afraid he'll drop dead on the Senate floor some day.:scared:

has mandatory retirements for its members will be the day I will think about term limits for Senators. The people who vote for Senators in their home states know best when it comes to retiring an older politician--they will vote in a primary for their party representative, and then in the regular election for their choice against the opposing party. It's a two part process, and fair--if a candidate is needed, wanted and preferred, why should we second-guess that state's choice?

I'd rather have some of the oldest members of Congress to show some of the younger ones what it's all about and define our nation as one loving the wisdom and experience of someone older to a youth-oriented one where there is no reverence of age and a mature outlook. The U.S. has too often been accused of having no respect for the elderly, and if we follow the reasoning of those who actually don't have regard for those who are older, we are giving a message that age is not as inspiring as it can be.

Youth is wonderful for those who are young, but age and experience are the signs of maturity, knowledge and wisdom. I never want to give our elder statesmen a message that they are not wanted or respected simply because they have a few extra decades of life experience and sagacity.

I said I think he should retire, and I further said that 50 years is too long IMO, and to add to that consistency, I said in othear posts in this thread that much as I love my senior Senator, I think he should retire after his term expires, because terrific as he is, I think 36 years is long enough. I do not find it attractive ore a good thing for the Senate for these guys to hang onto power for 40 and 50 years. I think they should have the ghood grace to retire after 7 terms or so. On the other hand I hope my junior Senator who just got elected and is 65 stays healthy for another 2 terms. Go Bernie!

who do you think would be a worthy and electable replacement? Please be specific and support your choice.

I haven't the foggiest. That isn't the point. The point is simple: 40 years or so is way long enough for one person, however talented and wonderful, to hold a Senate seat.

And "the point" is that if Byrd steps down, he must be replaced by someone who can get re-elected. If you don't have "the foggiest" who such a person might be, if he or she exists, perhaps you should inform yourself before advocating a move that may hand control of the senate back to the Repubs. I grew up in West Virginia, and I take exception to what you stated elsewhere in the thread about "most analysts" believing the Democrats have a lock on his senate seat into the future. You underestimate the influence of the gun, tobacco, coal, and conservative religious lobbies and the waning influence of organized labor in the state.

is our last true statesman. The last.

Did you watch him on in the five week lead up to the IWR? This man stood alone on the senate floor w/his plea to his fellow senators not to give El Meno a blank check for a pre-emptive war of choice.

This 84 year old man stood for hours, days and weeks!

He may be 88, but he knows our constitution front to back. He was just re-elected by his WVA constituients.

He will retire when he wants to.

I am terribly ashamed of the OP. You want a repuke senate rule, don't you?

Sick!

but utterly sickening, and frankly he did NOT stand alone prior to the IWR, and his speech wasn't nearly as good or as prescient of Senator Leahy's- who by the way is every bit as much the statemen as Byrd, and was never a grand poohbah in the KKK, which, sorry is a bit more than a fucking youthful indescretion. I'm glad he apologized, but that hardly wipes the slate clean. I'm ashamed of people like YOU, who so blithely ignore such an UGLY history.

And don't be totally; absurd, or at least make a smidge of an effort: Nothing I've expressed could possibly lead you to believe that I want repuke control of the Senate: Fuck, I think I have the best Senate representation in the country with Leahy and Sanders. You should be doubly; ashamed of yourself for that charming bit of calumny.

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

Your op was not about his history in the KKK, it was about you cringing after watching him today because he has "declined" physically.

Sure, he's a registered Dem, but he's more conservative than most Republicans. Not to mention that he openly backed Republican extremist Cecil Underwodd against Democratic populist Charlotte Pritt for governor.

Manchin is a rightwinger and is not to be trusted.

will have that opportunity. It is unlikely that Senator Byrd will live to the end of his term in 2012: That's just the statistical odds.

but what has he done since the cameras left?

Byrd stands head and shoulders above Manchin.

coming out of that church with a big shit-eating grin saying 'belive in miracles'

then when it turns out he jumped the gun for a cheap photo op for on his belief in the 'power of faith'', without verifying the info first-he disappeared for 24 hours

he's a self-serving ass and would probably appoint himself or capito (a fmaily friend) to byrd's seat

Do you know about Joe Manchin's background and experiences with personal mining tragedies??




What a cruel (and inaccurate) thing to say.

We sure eat our own around here, don't we?

and tried to exploit the tragedy shamelessly

More > http://wvgazette.com/section/Today/2007020617

Heck, it was even big news here in Anchorage, Alaska!!

Yeah - sure - the dude just flat out doesn't care....



Democrats eating their own again..

He had the legislature pass a lot of laws after Sago, but they haven't been enacted.

is the BEST, I love him dearly, imagine if your Senator's were Inhofe & Coburn.

I e-mailed him after his speech today "bring them home, home, home!"


FOUR VOTE'S SHORT, I have to admit that I cried.

great nation and wonder what happened here. How was this country taken over by the neocons with the full support of southern religious zealots? Why can't we get rid of them? Why can't we save ourselves?

My Senators are two of the biggest warmongers in the Senate, McCain and Kyl.I'd LOVE to have Byrd represent me. He is 89 years old and his body shows signs of it, but mentally he is sharp and passionate.
Fight on Sen. Byrd!

he did, TO SAVE AMERICAN LIVES!!!

He is a brave man, a true American hero!!!

There's no fool llike an old fool.

At that point you'll probably have a different opinion of what is cringe worthy.

that can be named after him in WV or maybe a few more statues he'd like to see up.

I agree with you, I think he's been there long enough. I don't agree with term limits, but seriously 50 years is waaaaay too long. But then again, I don't live in WV, so it's not particularly up to me.

and stopped cringing when he spoke. He made far more sense than any repuke that spoke, and he knows our Constitution like the back of his hand. I would like him to leave when he's ready to leave, and if he "drops" on the Senate floor, that would perhaps be appropriate, since the Senate has been his passion.

Ted Kennedy and Leahy as well? To each their own I guess - as long as they are fighting for me, I want them to stay until they're ready to retire. Kennedy especially is a fighter, is passionate about our country, makes perfect sense when he speaks, and isn't afraid to buck the administration. If it's not broken, don't fix it.

should realize that 40 years or so in the Senate is plenty long enough, no matter how good you are. No one is irreplacable.

I disagree with you in this case, though. Not irreplacable, but I still say, if it isn't broken, don't fix it.

In Mass we still feel Kennedy is a strong representitive for us in Washington, when the people here feel he isn't then he will be voted out. If you believe in term limits then work within your own state to change it.

It seems like he was one of the few Senators with enough guts to stand up against the war train.

were better speeches.

No one's talking about shoving anyone of the way: I'm suggesting that privileged and powerful people (mostly men as it happens) have the good fucking grace to relinquish power after 40 years or so.

God I hate mindlessness.

Your OP mentioned that you cringe because how much he has "declined", what is this talk all of a sudden about 'privileged people relinquishing power?' :eyes:

how 50 years is enough. And comments indicating that age automatically confers wisdom are mindless.

Adieu.

Byrd couldn't carry Kennedy's jock strap. Man, the crap I see here on a daily basis.

Byrd PRAISING Kennedy as his very good friend as he celebrated the Senator's birthday in a speech on the Senate floor.

too bad he comes up well short.

but, you go ahead and speak for him

he speaks for himself every so often, and shows his true colors.

in the head with his pocket constitution... I love that old guy....

...

Byrd, a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, has introduced legislation that would express the Senate’s insistence that the President seek and receive the Congress’ approval before any offensive military action against Iran is taken.

Byrd’s statement follows:

The world has seen the price to be paid when this White House puts itself on a path for military action and walks away from diplomacy. The staggering cost for the invasion and occupation of Iraq -- in lives, in dollars, and in Middle East stability -- continues to mount.

Instead of hyping intelligence that our nation’s top military leader has called into question, instead of trying to scare the American people and bully the Iranian government, the Bush Administration ought to cool its rhetoric and redouble its diplomatic efforts with Iran. Talks have the potential to yield far greater results than the threat of any further military action in the Middle East.

I renew my call for the Administration to come to the Congress before launching an offensive military action against Iran. The President should not assume he can rely on any existing authority to launch another military operation in Iran. Show the proof. Make the case. Level with the country.


http://www.huntingtonnews.net/state/070215-staff-byrd.html

fighting to the end.

Who would you suggest as a replacement? Beelzebub??

I cringed reading your post.

You'd kick your grandma to the curb. Shame on you.

I kick any grandma looking person to the curb.

Oh for fuck's sake, hyperbole much? hysteria much? blind adulation much?

And do you really think that all the dems in WV outside of Byrd are Beezlebub?

Sometimes I really wonder about DU.

50 years is goddamn enough time for one person to hold a Senate Seat.

My advice: Stop drinking. It's gonna kill ya.

That's when his next term will be up.

I imagine he'll be replaced by either Manchin, Rahall, or Mollohan.

I would prefer Mollohan, since Rahall had the arrogance to vote for FMA.

I think it's great that we have people who were in the Senate two generations ago. They can share their wisdom with other Senators and that can be used to help them make good decisions now.

The IWR was the perfect example of this. Senator Byrd called it the "Gulf of Tonkin resolution all over again." Now don't you think that's a pretty strong statement considering that Senator Byrd was in the Senate and voted for the Gulf of Tonkin resolution? We need people like this in the Senate so that they can warn others not to repeat the mistakes of the past.

Ted Kennedy will also be coming up on 50 years pretty soon and I'm very glad that he's still in the Senate.

I'm not comfortable with his racist past or the fact that he likely still holds racial prejudices. But that doesn't change the fact that Senator Byrd's courage and wisdom are extremely valuable in this critical time in our nation's history.

One doesn't have to have been in the Senate to recognize the parallel. And thete are other and better Senators who have been there long enough to pass on wisdom. Kennedy is terrific, but he too has been there long enough. MA has a fantastic House delegation and I think one of those guys would be great too. Fifty years is too long. Hell, forty years is plenty long enough.

I'm glad that we have the wisdom of people with lengthy congressional careers like Ted Kennedy, Barbara Mikulski, Paul Sarbanes, Pat Leahy, and Robert Byrd. I'm also glad that we have young blood like Russ Feingold, Barack Obama as well. Both of those Senators and many others have stated that they are thankful to have Senator Byrd around as a mentor.

in Congress? I hear you say that over and over again. Why?

Senator Byrd is a true statesman.

A person of deep principle, and the true conscience of the US Senate.

It would be a terrible shame if he were to retire.

to a man who was a Grand Cyclops and Kleagle in the KLan: And his KKK involvement was hardly merely a youthful indescretion. What's more your "conscience of the Senate" filibustered the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

Conscience of the Senate my ass.

Please do not call Senator Byrd your ass.

I do not wish to denegrate your ass in any way, but I think it is a mistake to say, when speaking of Senator Byrd, "Conscience of the Senate my ass".

Senator Byrd has apologized for his involvement in the Klan.

He is a great Senator, and it would be a real shame if he were to leave the US Senate.

I didn't call Senator Byrd "my ass".

And apologizing for it doesn't erase his ugly history, and UGLY is exactly what it was.

He'll be leaving the Senate within the next few years whether you like it or not. I for one, will not terribly miss him.

Well said, demrabble. :thumbsup:

last I saw him, I think he's still competent enough to serve. As long as he's not using the Senate as a nursing home, much like Thurmond and Helms were, he's fine where he is as far as I'm concerned.

Are you a Joe LIEberman supporter by any chance? Khrist... :eyes:

Particularly Kennedy and Leahy-I hope they are around as long as they are able enough honestly. I think they are two of best senators we have.

Why do you say X no. of years is too much/enough? As long as they are capable of serving, how long they have been in the senate should be irelevant.
It would be different if they were no longer able to cope, but I see no sign of that with any of the three I mentioned above. Besides, there are Democrats in both the senate and the house that I would be much happier to see leave than Byrd/Leahy or Kennedy, not to mention all of the Rethugs.

I wouldn't miss Mary Landrieu much for instance-better than a Republican but thats about it. And she has only been in the senate since '96. So I do not really see a correlation between time in the senate and deterioration in performance.

long for anyone to serve in the Senate or any other job as far as that goes.

in a body that can very easily grow rigid and stagnant. Although I don't support term limits, it strikes me that 40 years or so is plenty of time to serve.

It's really up to the voters to decide how much time is "plenty of time to serve".

That's the way things are done in a Democracy.

I'm expressing MY opinion. I'm sure you don't possibly have a problem with the fucking first amendment.

I certainly do not have any problem with the First Amendment -- "fucking" or even not fucking.

I don't really have a problem with someone expressing his or her opinion.

You have certainly made your opinion crystal clear.

Your opinion is that someone other than voters should decide how long is "long enough" for Senators to serve.

While I have no problem with the First Amendment, it would appear that someone here has a problem with letting voters decide how long is "long enough".

My opinion is NOT that someone other than the voters should decide how long a Senator should serve. You're just making that up out of whole cloth. It's called, politely, a fabrication. Did I even so much as advocate term limits? No, I did not. I simply gave my opinion. Period. I think he's served long enough and that gracefully retiring would serve him, and the U.S. Senate, well.

Senator Byrd has continued to evolve. His record is anything but "...rigid and stagnant." You have done nothing to defend your position except generalize.

And you are disingenuous when you attempt to detach the issue of age from your assertion that "...40 years or so is plenty of time to serve." I have found that it is better to judge a representative on their performance, instead of making general assumptions based on characteristics such as their age or physical impairments.

I admire him immensely. I've met him many times, and I'm a long time supporter. I'll miss him when he's gone, but I simply think 40 years is enough of a stint, no matter how great a job one is doing.

If I accept your logic, wouldn't I conclude that you should stop posting on this thread because no matter how much I "love" your posts, you have posted long enough? Wouldn't it be logical to say that it's time to let someone else, even a Repub, take your place because you have posted on this thread way more than anyone else?

very much a logical fallacy. Posting on a thread has jack all to do with holding great power.

tell a Republican to retire.

Sen. Byrd's brain is far superior than Bush's brain ever was.

Sen. Byrd is a Vet, Bush is a deserter!

i posted this in GDP so i won't repeat it here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=3119883&mesg_id=3119914

It was by no accident that this attempted power grab came up with S.1, the very first measure under the new Senate. It was part of Junior's strategy to cirvumvent the new Democratically controlled Congress as much as possible. I was surprised at the relative lack of discussion here at DU about that attempt to give this president the line item veto. And as you pointed out, if not for Byrd it is likely that the Senate would have gone along with it.

Yes, his hands tremble. But when you start talking about results my senior Senator does quite well.

...they're no longer allowed to contribute? They become irrelevant? Sorry, but I totally disagree with that. Our whole youth-worshipping society would like to shuffle its inconvenient elders off into nursing homes, instead of learning from their life experience, and that totally disgusts me. As long as someone is still willing and able to contribute, they should be welcome to do so. They have a perspective (even on their own past mistakes) that younger people simply cannot have, and it's a valuable input. To lock them away would damage not only them, but ourselves too.

With some luck, we'll all be that old someday. Let's hope we're still allowed to have a voice and make a difference.

He represents the people of his state well, regardless of his age.

glad i don't live there.

...but people can change and the change can have substance. I almost appreciate people more, who have seen the Dark, been part of the Dark and ultimately chosen the Light. Byrd's KKK was a long, long time ago and it is not him now and hasn't been him for a long, long time. We don't have a time machine so he cannot erase his history but we do have a sincere apology. I am not a pound-of-flesher and see no point in holding that against him, since it is NOT him now.

The Republicans had to use a giant Barbie stand to keep Strom standing. We need Byrd. He's a good man.
Lee

Do you have a link or the story? I am not doubting you I would just like to know the full story because if that's true and he wasn't quoting someone or something, it is unconscionable and I retract my support for him entirely.
Thanks.
Lee

I am sure that DUers would have heard that story if it were true.

My guess is that Senator Byrd knows more about the Constitution than anyone on this board.

You would be wrong. It's true. From Wiki:

On March 4, 2001, Byrd said race relations:

"Are much, much better than they've ever been in my lifetime.... I think we talk about race too much. I think those problems are largely behind us ... I just think we talk so much about it that we help to create somewhat of an illusion. I think we try to have good will. My old mom told me, 'Robert, you can't go to heaven if you hate anybody.' We practice that. There are white niggers. I've seen a lot of white niggers in my time. I'm going to use that word. We just need to work together to make our country a better country, and I'd just as soon quit talking about it so much."

And I sincerely hope you're not going to try and justify this by saying he said white "n*****". It's a stomach churning statement.

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

and it was so long ago.

Such as, "I will never fight under that banner with a Negro by my side. Rather I should die a thousand times, and see Old Glory trampled in the dirt never to rise again, than to see this beloved land of ours become degraded by race mongrels, a throwback to the blackest specimen from the wilds."

People change. I care about what he says now and Cali claims he still says "nigger". I will bash any candidate of any party, if they are racist.
Lee

:hi:

Okay, you're right. That is disgusting. That makes me not like him any more.

I have a question for you. Do you really care that much about racism or do you just care about not liking the man because you didn't even bring his racism up in your original post. You just brought up his age. So yes, this is enough to turn me against the man but you haven't convinced me that you really care about race relations. You've just convinced me you hate the man and will use whatever to bolster your point. That's not that honorable either.
Lee