BYRD WP OP-ED: Factually inaccurate, inconsistent with his voting record (Dirty Sheets)

Via Rush Limbaugh ^ | 3/01/05 | John Cornyn

[CT CONSERVATIVE]

Sen. Byrd said that restoring Senate tradition “could rob a senator of the right to speak out against an overreaching executive branch or a wrongheaded policy. It could destroy the Senate's very essence -- the constitutional privilege of free speech and debate.” But history—and Sen. Byrd’s own actions—prove otherwise.

In fact, Sen. Byrd is often credited with pioneering the Senate procedure he now derides as a denial of free speech and a threat to our liberties. Recall that it was Sen. Byrd who led the charge to establish new Senate precedents in 1977, 1979, 1980, and 1987 - including a number of precedents that were designed specifically to stop filibusters and other delay tactics that were previously authorized under Senate rules or prior precedents:

[CT CONSERVATIVE]

come you photo shop guys and gals , lets have some creativity here

[BigSkyFreeper]

I'll donate money to defeat that old buzzard.

I'll donate as much as I financially can in my limited income capacity.

[general_re]

A West Virginia Senator must be older than death and very white.

Hmmm. Bob Denver is in WV, IIRC, and he's probably one of the whitest guys in the history of mankind. Granted, he's had problems with the cheeba in the past, but I'll take an aging whitebread stoner over Byrd any day. What say we - Gilligan for Senate?

[CT CONSERVATIVE]

I'll donate money to have his name removed from all the building, bridges, highways etc he bribed with with OUR tax dollars

[TexasNative2000]

A tip of my hat to John Cornyn, my US Senator.

Indeed. I thought John was just a stuffed shirt when he was AG, but he has found a strong voice in the Senate. Never thought I would be this pleased with Phil Gramm's replacement.

[philman_36]

Major hat tip to Rush who mentioned this today
Do I get a hat tip too?
In 1975 the senators changed the filibuster requirement from 67 votes to 60, after concluding that it only takes a simple majority to change the rules governing their proceedings. As Senate Majority Leader Mike Mansfield (D-Mont.) said at the time: ''We cannot allow a minority'' of the senators ''to grab the Senate by the throat and hold it there.'' Senators Leahy, Kennedy, Byrd and Biden all agreed.

[EternalVigilance]

Yeah. I don't like driving down the Robert KKK Byrd highway, crossing the Robert KKK Byrd overpass and parking in front of the Robert KKK Byrd medical clinic in the Robert KKK Byrd parking lot, either...

[rdf2]

The issue underlying all this is how to protect the rights of the minority.

During the period of the Dixiecrats lots of people were tearing their hair out at the tactics they used during the civil rights era.

Now the shoe is sort of on the other foot, but the question remains the same.

If one side has a majority in government should it be able to push any agenda it wishes? What about the 49% that didn't vote for them?

I don't have answers, I just raise the question.

[CT CONSERVATIVE]

as they say in Chicago.."wait till next year". Elections happen often enough..if a party develops too much of a tin ear the tides changes.

[EternalVigilance]

Need I remind you that when the Democrats controlled the Congress for decades, they paid absolutely no mind to what the minority Republicans thought or wanted.

And if some Republican got out of line, they would take away their parking spot, change the locks on their office doors and move their office furniture out.

The Republicans treat the Dems like kings compared to what existed pre-1994.

[John Lenin]

This is the so-called "nuclear option" that creates fear and loathing among Democrats and weak knees for some Republicans, including conservative opinion leaders. Ever since Frist publicly embraced the nuclear option, he has been accused of abusing the Senate's cherished tradition of extended debate. In truth, during six years as majority leader, Democrat Robert C. Byrd (four times) detonated the nuclear option to rewrite Senate rules.

Thus, Frist would set no precedent, would not contradict past Republican behavior and would not strip the GOP of protection as a future Senate minority. The question is whether Republican senators will flinch from the only maneuver open to confirm Bush's judges.

The unprecedented Democratic plan to filibuster judicial nominations that do not meet liberal specifications has exceeded all expectations. None of 10 filibustered Bush appellate court nominees has been confirmed, and another six are all designated filibuster victims. This is intended to have a chilling effect on Bush in filling Supreme Court vacancies.

[Polyxene]

I thought the reason ol' Sheets hasn't retired or hasn't died is because he still has a few more roads, bridges, buildings, etc. that haven't been named after him!

[rdf2]

Last I checked two wrongs don't make a right.

[John Lenin]

All Your Judges Are Belong To US

[EternalVigilance]

Last I checked two wrongs don't make a right.

I don't concede that the Republicans are doing anything wrong, which makes your 'point' rather moot.

Quite the contrary, I think the Republicans, especially in the Senate, have been WAY too nice.

The tyranny of the minority should have no place in any of this. The American people elected the Republican majority to LEAD, not the Democrats. The Dems failed ideology has been rejected, and rightly so...

[CT CONSERVATIVE]

I for one think a little retibution makes folks think about mistreating others in the future..Don't spare the rod my pappy always said..welcome to FR

[CT CONSERVATIVE]

I for one think a little retribution makes folks think twice about mistreating others in the future..Don't spare the rod my pappy always said..welcome to FR!

[rdf2]

Unfortunately the ones that you punish today are usually not those that are in power in the future.

So it's not an educational exercise, just retribution.

[finnman69]

See this:

Video: Scarborough Rails Sen. Byrd

[kevinm13]

I heard Dr. Mark Levin (unfortunately only on locally on the 50 thousand powerful watts of WABC 770 from 6-8PM) spend much of last night's program going after Sen. Byrd. Byrd should be at least censured and at best impeached.

Levine had a guest on last night who wrote a report about KKK Byrd. The truth needs to come to light about this racist bigot and his record.