Can we demote Robert Byrd from hero status?

He makes one bad vote after another. The no vote on the energy bill is just one more. Sure he voted against the war and carries around a pocket edition of the Constitution, but his damaging no votes are of at least equal importance. I'm not saying he's a "bad" guy, just that he doesn't deserve the hero status many here bestow upon him.

Byrd to make.

Another call for purity. This time focused on one of the party's heroes.

Thanks, cali. You're doing a great job to make the dems more pure.

If not, the blue dogs will ruin us all.

Cali is our hero of the day, because she's on the attack once again.

Pure as filtered water, we'll be.

Some people don't get that "purifying" a party can cause election loses.

We shouldn't demote Byrd?

How far should we go, and what has allowing the dems to be polluted gotten us?

it's in keeping. I didn't say he should step down. I didn't demonize him. I simply find the Byrd hero worship, in light of his voting record, a bit simple.

keep up that unbroken record of dissembling.

You're my hero, cupcake! Doesn't that make you happy?

I like the way you get all over the leaders of the party and demand they toe the line.... they need disciplining, don't you think?

it's so cute to see you aping me, my little petunia.

:rofl:

Break out that whip.

Still, do you want to discuss this matter, ie, do the party leaders need to be diciplined, or what? I take it you do.

Why else would you be harping on them? Kinda reminds me of how three years ago so many here whipped up on our boy, Kerry. Ahhhh, the memories.

n/t

He is simply looking out for WV.

Isn't that why they sent him to DC?

Massive road projects and more.

A have suspicion that with the meager corporate income taxes companies pay and the ever increasing levels of mechanization, coal's positive economic benefits are greatly overstated.

Certainly destroying the beautiful scenery runs contrary to promoting tourism which also employs people.

i believe sen bayh and landrieu also voted 'nay' and they are not from coal states

so that makes some sense.

party loyalist. A good man.

Just another example to consider the possibility of "term limits".

He's done well representing one of our poorest states. He's faced with a corporatist system and does about as well as one could do for his constituents, I think. That said, I almost never focus on the "hero v. villain" pissing contests - and focus on the ISSUES. Clearly, however, the track record of any elected representative should be an indication of character and future performance. With Byrd, I can disagree without regarding him as corrupt. I wish I could say the same about others (e.g. Nelson of Nebraska).

I hardly think he's been elevated to hero status, he just gets a lot credit for the good votes that he has cast.

2 consecutive 6 yr terms, and "yer out"..one term on the "out" before you could re-run..If you managed to serve 2 now..and 2 later..'yer done ! ... 24 year max:)

and no pensions.. This is PUBLIC SERVICE, after all..

for the house, I would offer 4 year terms with the same rules..

we desperately need new blood..and the ability to attract new voices..

Of course I also espouse totally public financing of elections with free TV time and I'd like to see lobbying made ILLEGAL..

Run for office, serve your country and get the hell back HOME where you came from :)_

House & Senate both have a lot of very strange rules...some rarely if ever used but still available. It takes quite a few years for someone to become familiar enough with the way things work to actually be a decent representative of their constituents. When an obscure rule is invoked in the House or Senate it's almost NEVER done by a newbie, and may I remind you that we are usually all pleased when the Dems come up with these ideas. I think there should be an age limit, not only in the Congress, but in the SCOTUS as well. I'm not trying to put down anyone who is over 80, but the mind & the body DOES lose it's edge.

it's all about the coal--
if we begin using alternative energy wouldn't every state be in that business? just because a coal miner is out of a job coal mining doesn't mean they will be out of a job!

and because of the nature of the work--i would think the best way to protect these miners is to find an alternative industry for them to work.

your own age. Darn you. Order the Hatton v Mayweather fight, and channel your aggression in a socially acceptable way.

Former KKK member. Proud member of the Gang of 14 that refused to filibuster Bush's horrible Supreme Court nominations.

Voted against the civil rights act...

Fuck him...

If the south wasn't still so racist he would have been gone decades ago.

GO TO WV become a fucking resident and vote him out. I do not know how the Senator has disparaged you but your one person battle against the Senator has got me in the mood for a little Don Quixote reading. Keep tipping windmills.

Very simple solution.

of fucking bigoted conclusions about a state you know nothing about. So here's back at you. Indiana? lol. BTW

Your Senator Voted for the Iraq war. At least My Senator doesn't want people to die for silly ass reasons.


* Voted YES on redeploying US troops out of Iraq by March 2008. (Mar 2007)
* Voted NO on redeploying troops out of Iraq by July 2007. (Jun 2006)
* Voted YES on investigating contract awards in Iraq & Afghanistan. (Nov 2005)
* Voted YES on requiring on-budget funding for Iraq, not emergency funding. (Apr 2005)
* Voted YES on $86 billion for military operations in Iraq & Afghanistan. (Oct 2003)
* Voted YES on authorizing use of military force against Iraq. (Oct 2002)
* Voted NO on allowing all necessary force in Kosovo. (May 1999)
* Voted YES on authorizing air strikes in Kosovo. (Mar 1999)
* Condemns anti-Muslim bigotry in name of anti-terrorism. (Oct 2001)
* CIA mischaracterized Iraq WMD & abused intelligence position. (Jul 2004)
* Iraq-al-Qaida contacts, but no complicity or assistance. (Jul 2004)
* CIA knew State of the Union Iraq-Niger connection was false. (Jul 2004)
* Iraq was not reconstituting its nuclear program. (Jul 2004)
* Iraq was not developing its biological weapons program. (Jul 2004)
* Iraq was not developing its chemical weapons program. (Jul 2004)
* Iraq was developing missiles, but not to reach the US. (Jul 2004)

And Mine
* Voted YES on redeploying US troops out of Iraq by March 2008. (Mar 2007)
* Voted NO on redeploying troops out of Iraq by July 2007. (Jun 2006)
* Voted YES on investigating contract awards in Iraq & Afghanistan. (Nov 2005)
* Voted YES on requiring on-budget funding for Iraq, not emergency funding. (Apr 2005)
* Voted NO on $86 billion for military operations in Iraq & Afghanistan. (Oct 2003)
* Voted NO on authorizing use of military force against Iraq. (Oct 2002)
* Voted YES on allowing all necessary force in Kosovo. (May 1999)
* Voted YES on authorizing air strikes in Kosovo. (Mar 1999)
* Voted NO on ending the Bosnian arms embargo. (Jul 1995)

horned toad.

Sorry, but anyone who's bigoted towards GLBT people like Byrd isn't a hero.