Reid Takes Center Stage, but He's Hardly the Star of the Show (Senator Byrd Joins Moonbats)

Washington Post ^ | 5 January 2006 | Dana Milbank

[shrinkermd]

...The attention quickly shifted -- to Robert Byrd. The 89-year-old West Virginia Democrat, beginning his ninth term, wore a red-white-and-blue tie and punctuated the opening prayer with shouts of "Yes!" and "Mmmhmmm!" and "Yes, Lord!" and "Yes, in Jesus's name!" When he was sworn in, he twice cried out "Hallelujah!" and then "Amen!" Minutes later, he was installed as Senate president pro tempore, the majority party's most senior member. "Yeah, man! Yeah, man!" he shouted. "Hallelujah!" "I do, so help me God!" he shouted when the oath was administered. "Yeah, man!"

His colleagues were amused. Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) at one point pretended to tilt a bottle into his mouth, though it was unclear whether Byrd was the target of that gesture.

Then there was Reid. He bowed over his desk for the prayer. He silently escorted senators for their swearing-in. Then, in his first utterance as majority leader, he spoke the immortal words "Mr. President, I note the absence of a quorum."

When he started his speech, Reid spoke in a barely audible voice, and his colleagues' chatter drowned out his oration. "Please," the presiding officer said with a bang of the gavel, "the majority leader is speaking."

...Evidently not. Just a few minutes into Reid's speech, only 20 senators remained on the floor. Reid's deputy, Dick Durbin (Ill.), typed on his Treo. When Reid started talking about the framers of the Constitution, Clinton left the room -- and most of the remaining spectators followed him.

Outside the chamber, Clinton greeted Sen. Joe Lieberman (Conn.) and a parade of well-wishers. Spying Byrd, the former president wrapped his arms around the voluble senator. "We love you!" he told Byrd, and then he turned to his mother-in-law. "Meet Hillary's mom."

[shrinkermd]

All those "conservatives" who stayed home can now enjoy the pranks and pratfalls of the US Senate. Webb wasn't even mentioned. That will be a column or two in itself.

[Uncle Ike]

Can you imagine how much MORE dangerous they'd be if they had adult leadership????

[evad]

Robert Byrd. The 89-year-old West Virginia Democrat, beginning his ninth term, wore a red-white-and-blue tie and punctuated the opening prayer with shouts of "Yes!" and "Mmmhmmm!" and "Yes, Lord!" and "Yes, in Jesus's name!

Delusional old coot...
thought he was a a cross burning.

[samtheman]

Reid is the quintessential faceless politburo functionary. But don't be fooled by his deadpan demeanor. He intends to take away as much liberty from the people as he can, operating in the full range of his political power.

[Recon Dad]

Here's my question......if they had a swearing in ceremony who swore in Sen. Tim Johnson? What is the rule on a Senator who can't be sworn in?

[AZRepublican]

On the Senate floor, Reid was still laying out, in detail, his 10-point legislative agenda. When he yielded the floor after 30 minutes, only three senators remained, and the half-dozen spectators lingering in the public gallery included Reid's wife.

PRICELESS.

[Russ]

I don't believe he had to be sworn in because he wasn't up for reelection in November. It was only those senators who were elected in Nov. that had to be sworn in.

[shrinkermd]

What really bothers me are the Senate Rules. They have no provision for senility, mental disability or anything no in the Constitution.

Essentially, once elected they stay elected regardless of any infirmity or disability. Case in point that is coming up is Senator Tim Johnson of SD. Hopefully, he is going to recover. His son gave an interview and said dad was sitting up and receiving "physical therapy."

We need term limits, rules that provide for suspending or firing the mentally incompetent and so on and so forth.

[synbad600]

Rush covered this on his show a little while ago.

[Aetius]

At least he voted the right way on Roberts and Alito, which will probably be more than we can say for Webb, Tester, McCaskill, Casey Jr, and Brown.

[Piquaboy]

I hear that Fairy Reid and the BEB has given president Bush is marching orders such as no more troops in Iraq.

[agincourt1415]

Take heart the Democrats are leading the DEADLOCK, nothing can happen, unless the President signs on the dotted line.

It will be a two year VACATION for Congress.

But then again we have RINO's that might try and cooperate.

[HarleyLady27]

Bryd 'joins' moonbats????? I thought he invented them....

[Sherman Logan]

Sounds like a great choice for fourth in line of succession to the presidency.