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Home Front: Politix
Dems throwing the old Klansman (Byrd) over the side?
2007-12-18
John Bresnahan, Politico

A group of Senate Democrats has begun quietly exploring ways to replace the venerable Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) as chairman of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, believing heÂ’s no longer physically up to the job, according to Democratic senators and leadership aides familiar with the discussions.
Two reactions:
1. It's about damned time!
2. But, but, I thought he was the "conscience of the Senate"? That's what you said during the Clinton impeachment!

. . . there is broad discontent among committee members over the way Byrd has run the panel this year and the resulting problems in completing work on the fiscal 2008 spending bills, leading some members to privately push for ByrdÂ’s replacement as chairman.

His physical condition has been slowly deteriorating for years, and he cannot walk now without the assistance of aides. Byrd has difficultly running committee hearings, and he relies heavily on staffers for guidance.
Him and about 80 or 90 other Senators.
Still, he can deliver one of his legendary floor speeches on the sanctity of the Constitution and the importance of Congress in the operation of the U.S. government, even if he often repeats himself over and again.

No Democratic senators or leadership aides would speak publicly about the situation, preferring to comment only anonymously. “Sen. Byrd’s experience and respect for the Senate speak for themselves. He has no peer,” said [Majority Leader Harry] Reid’s spokesman, Jim Manley.
They smile in your face
All the time they wanna take your place
The back-stabbers (back-stabbers!)
Posted by:Mike

#11  tu, I think the Senate Democrats will compromise to placate the Exalted Cyclops. He'll give up the chairmanship, they'll agree to rename West Virginia Robert Byrd...

Emily, Don't sully a great nightclub and a great song (Birdland) by linking them to ol' Kleagle Byrd.

LOL!

Klabee: treasurers
Klanbake: Convention
Kleagle: recruiter
Klecktoken: initiation fee
Kligrapp: secretary
Klonvocation: gathering
Kloran: ritual book
Kloreroe: delegate
Kludd: chaplain

AYAK: Are You A Klansman
AKIA: A Klansman I am

ol Byrd Tyrd, Chappaquiddick Ted, Hellary, Shumer, Babs Boxer, ETC. all members of the the Senate, what a group eh, we're all Doomed LOL! gawd wot a group..
Posted by: RD   2007-12-18 21:11  

#10  Tell you what, I'm going to the Casin0,(Damned robot nannyism) if I win I get to keep it, if I lose you pay it, Deal?
Posted by: Redneck Jim   2007-12-18 15:06  

#9  Don't sully a great nightclub and a great song (Birdland) by linking them to ol' Kleagle Byrd.
Posted by: Seafarious   2007-12-18 13:19  

#8  Term limits please. And make it retroactive to 50 years ago. Frigging senators and congressmen each think they are the pope, entitled to die in office.
Posted by: ed   2007-12-18 13:19  

#7  tu: I think the Senate Democrats will compromise to placate the Exalted Cyclops. He'll give up the chairmanship, they'll agree to rename West Virginia Robert Byrd...

How about Byrdland? Byrdinia? Byrdsylvania? Byrdanny?
Posted by: Zhang Fei   2007-12-18 13:13  

#6  "No Democratic senators or leadership aides would speak publicly about the situation, preferring to comment only anonymously..."

Reminiscent of Brutus and Casius.
Posted by: DepotGuy   2007-12-18 11:58  

#5  Byrd's dog speech was a higlight of the Congressional Year. They should break it out when they want to increase the funding for Alzheimers research.
Posted by: tu3031   2007-12-18 11:19  

#4  For one of his legendary speeches (on the scourge of dog fighting in the United States):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sy5UanXCrxM
Posted by: DoDo   2007-12-18 11:07  

#3  I think the Senate Democrats will compromise to placate the Exalted Cyclops. He'll give up the chairmanship, they'll agree to rename West Virginia Robert Byrd...
Posted by: tu3031   2007-12-18 10:57  

#2  http://byrd.senate.gov/speeches/2003_april/2003_april_list/2003_april_list_6.html
Posted by: Seafarious   2007-12-18 10:39  

#1  Still, he can deliver one of his legendary floor speeches on the sanctity of the Constitution and the importance of Congress in the operation of the U.S. government, even if he often repeats himself over and again.

A friend of mine who works on the Hill sez that he despises Byrd but would miss his annual stemwinder welcoming Spring.
Posted by: Seafarious   2007-12-18 10:36  

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