[SmithL]

You don't have to be from West-by-God Virginia to really, really dislike Byrd, but Surber does it so well.

[aynrandfreak]

I'd be fine if he doesn't run, but only slightly better would be watching him lose.

[alicewonders]

Byrd's in trouble & he knows it.

[WorkingClassFilth]

A couple hundred protestors that show up at his rallies in Klan garb and signs that support Byrd would be a hoot.

[purpleland]

With thanks to Laura Ingraham's byte parodys of Sen. Byrd, I've become VERY FOND of the WV folksy old bird. Okay, I love the old guy - he is precious. Think about it...Sen. Byrd is precious Americana. Honour him.

(except for that KKK stuff.)

[Republican Wildcat]

The NRSC is now going after Ben Nelson. They seem to be targeting more races than I expected.

I still don't understand why Elizabeth Dole was chosen to chair the committee - not out of disrespect to her - but she just doesn't seem the political strategist type.

[Republican Wildcat]

For what it is worth, here is the NRSC response to the Byrd ad (from http://www.nrsc.org)

Byrd Can't Handle The "Truth”

Claiming ‘Lies’, And “Trickery” Robert Byrd Responds To The NRSC With His Own Ad – “Truth” – But Byrd Cannot Dispute The Facts

SENATOR ROBERT BYRD (D-WV) CLAIMS THE NRSC IS BEING “SLICK” AND USING “TRICKERY” TO “LIE” TO THE PEOPLE OF WEST VIRGINIA

 

Byrd Claims The NRSC Ad ‘Lies’ To West Virginians About Byrd’s Record. “‘These slick, out-of-state ads rely on falsehood and trickery. They do not tell the truth. These ads, coming so far away from the election and playing fast-and-loose with the facts, are some of the worst kind of campaign tricks,’ Byrd said. ‘I will not sit quietly and let these national Republican ads lie to the people of my state. False, misleading, and deceptive ads will not go unanswered.’” (Friends Of Robert C. Byrd Committee, Press Release, “Byrd Fights Back Against False Out-Of-State Ads – Senator Says ‘West Virginians Deserve The Truth,’” August 2, 2005)

 

BUT THE FACTS CANNOT BE DISPUTED: BYRD VOTED AGAINST BODY ARMOR, FOR HIGHER TAXES AND AGAINST PROTECTING THE AMERICAN FLAG

 

The NRSC Ad Says Byrd Voted “Against Body Armor In The War On Terror.” (National Republican Senatorial Committee, Ad, “Change,” July 29, 2005)

• In 2003, Byrd Voted Against Senate Passage Of The $87 Billion Iraq/Afghanistan Reconstruction Package. “Passage of the bill that would appropriate $86.5 billion in fiscal 2004 supplemental spending for military operations and reconstruction in Iraq and Afghanistan. The bill would provide $10.3 billion as a grant to rebuild Iraq, including $5.1 billion for security and $5.2 billion for reconstruction costs. It also would provide $10 billion as a loan that would be converted to a grant if 90 percent of all bilateral debt incurred by the former Iraqi regime of Saddam Hussein has been forgiven by other countries. Separate provisions limit reconstruction aid to $18.4 billion. It also would provide approximately $65.6 billion for military operations and maintenance and $1.3 billion for veterans medical care.” (S. 1689, CQ Vote #400: Passed 87-12: R 50-0; D 37-11; I 0-1, October 17, 2003, Byrd Voted Nay)
  
  
• The $87 Billion Reconstruction Package Included “[E]xtra Money For Body Armor For Soldiers . . . .” (“Highlights Of Iraq, Afghanistan Measures,” The Associated Press, October 17, 2003)

 

The NRSC Ad Says Byrd Votes For “Higher Taxes For The Middle Class.” (National Republican Senatorial Committee, Ad, “Change,” July 29, 2005)

• Byrd Voted Twice Against The 2003 Bush Tax Cuts. (H.R. 2, CQ Vote #179: Passed 51-49: R 48-3; D 3-45; I 0-1, May 15, 2003, Byrd Voted Nay; H.R. 2, CQ Vote #196: Adopted: 50-50: R 48-3; D 2-46; I 0-1, with Vice President Cheney casting a “yea” vote, May 23, 2003, Byrd Voted Nay)
  
  
• Byrd Voted Twice Against The 2001 Bush Tax Cuts. (H.R. 1836, CQ Vote #165: Passed 62-38: R 50-0; D 12-38, May 23, 2001, Byrd Voted Nay; H.R. 1836, CQ Vote #170: Adopted 58-33: R 46-2; D 12-31, May 26, 2001, Byrd Voted Nay)
  
  
• In 1993, Byrd Voted In Favor Of The Largest Tax Increase In U.S. History. (H.R. 2264, CQ Vote #247: Adopted 51-50: R 0-44; D 50-6, with Vice President Al Gore casting a “yea” vote, August 6, 1993, Byrd Voted Yea; H.R. 2264, CQ Vote #190: Passed 50-49: R 0-43; D 49-6, with Vice President Al Gore casting a “yea” vote, June 25, 1993, Byrd Voted Yea)
  
  
• The Late Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D-NY) Called The Bill The “Largest Tax Increase In History.” Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D-NY) described the 1993 tax hike as “the largest tax increase in the history of public finance in the United States or anywhere else in the world.” (Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, Congressional Record, March 18, 1993)
  
  
• In 2000, Senator Bob Kerrey (D-NE) Called The Clinton Plan The “Biggest Tax Increase In The History Of The Country.” (NBC’s “Meet The Press,” January 23, 2000)

 

The NRSC Ad Says Byrd “Votes To Allow Flag Burning.” (National Republican Senatorial Committee, Ad, “Change,” July 29, 2005)

• In 2000, Byrd Voted Against Proposing A Constitutional Amendment To Prohibit Flag Desecration. “Passage of the joint resolution to propose a constitutional amendment to grant Congress the power to prohibit the physical desecration of the U.S. flag.” (S.J. Res. 14, CQ Vote #48: Rejected 63-37: R 51-4; D 12-33; March 29, 2000, Byrd Voted Nay)

[Aussie Dasher]

Byrd doesn't HAVE a problem. He IS a problem!

[Republican Wildcat]

bttt

[de Buillion]

At least he's consistent- It's OK to burn crosses AND USA flags!

[TUX]

Sen. Sheets has been the go-to hatchet man during the Bush administration and now the check is due. Carrying water for San Fran Nan, Little Tommy/Harry Weird, Sen. Manslaughter, the Deaniac, and last but not least Sen. Scarry just to get votes for W.VA pork just doesn't cut it anymore.

[jmaroneps37]

At the end, they all are surprised at the "problem". They have been lying to themselves and others have lied to them so much that seeing the "problem" was impossible.
The keagle is done for. Nobody saw the problem for dash hole or foley except a few Freepers. He just as well better fold up his sheets and go home.

[savedbygrace]

When I worked for the phone company in DC during the 70s, it was common knowledge among the phone company installer/repairmen that Byrd was unquestionably the dumbest senator on the hill.

Several of them told me this, and said there was no doubt about it.

[Katya]

"You want to know the truth? I don't care who wins. I am just glad we will have a choice."

For those of you not used to living in one party states this may not seem that big of a deal...but it is. I think the political process is always helped by vigorous debate...of course I want my side to win, but just having a viable choice is nice. I'm glad Hackett got 48% in the Ohio race...it means the republicans won't sit fat and happy assuming safe seats are safe.