Senator Byrd Honored - [ Might Byrd be the NEXT Senate Majority Leader?? ]

NY Times ^ | Nov 2009 | JANIE LORBER

[rface]

He was once a member of the Klu(sic) Klux Klan and famously waged a 15 hour 13 minute filibuster of 1964 against the Voting Rights Act, but has remained a loyal, even celebrated Democrat.

“Senator Byrd and Senator Kennedy shared a love of the U.S. Senate and shared a loved of poetry,” said Senator Paul Kirk, who was an aide to the late Edward M. Kennedy and now holds his seat. “Throughout his career Senator Byrd has made so many footprints on the sands of time.”

“It is an extraordinary record of service, dedication and patriotism to the country,” Senator Jack Reed, Democrat of Rhode Island, said.

Byrd is President pro tempore of the United States Senate, a position that puts him third in the line of presidential succession....He has also held many leadership positions: Senate Conference Secretary, Majority Whip, Minority Leader and twice Majority Leader.

.

[rface]

In a March 4, 2001 interview with Tony Snow, Byrd said of race relations:

YOUTUBE RECORD =>"...My old mom told me, 'Robert, you can't go to heaven if you hate anybody. We practice that. There are white niggers. I've seen a lot of white niggers in my time, if you want to use that word. We just need to work together to make our country a better country, and I'd just as soon quit talking about it so much."

. Byrd is the only Senator to have voted against the nominations of both Thurgood Marshall and Clarence Thomas to the United States Supreme Court, the only two African-Americans to have been nominated to the court......Byrd also opposed some of George W. Bush's judicial and cabinet nominees who were black, notably Janice Rogers Brown for judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and Condoleezza Rice for Secretary of State.

[kempster]

Are they sure they want to follow those “footprints on the sands of time”?

[Huskrrrr]

“Sheets” Byrd needs to retire, but probably will only leave the Senate feet first.

[glennaro]

Well, you have to hold the majority in the Senate to be leader ... November’s coming fast!

[edpc]

He’s already been Majority Leader twice. I doubt he’ll be selected again.

[shove_it]

Why do the lyrics of “prop me up beside the jukebox” come to mind? I can just see the old coot stuffed and propped up in prominent display in the Senate.

[rightwingintelligentsia]

He has also held many leadership positions: Senate Conference Secretary, Majority Whip, Minority Leader and twice Majority Leader.

They left out Grand Kleegle of the Klan.

[reagan_fanatic]

I hope they follow him around with a shovel and a pine box.

[Dr. Ursus]

I hope he didn’t get any sand in his bed sheets!

[Marty62]

I wonder if any of Sheets recruitees to the KKK ever committed crimes against Blacks?
Now THAT would be an interesting fact to add to his resume.

[alloysteel]

You have to be able to make it to the podium, to serve as Majority Leader. Otherwise, the post would be purely honorary, and not even ceremonial.

Unlike a vote on the floor, this one cannot be phoned in.

[ClearCase_guy]

Trent Lott should stand up and praise Byrd for the politics he had in 1948 or thereabouts. I mean, the guy is old, we're trying to say nice things about him, so give him some praise for old accomplishments.

What could be the harm?

[MissMagnolia]

Might Byrd be the NEXT Senate Majority Leader??

I believe that having a pulse is a requirement of the job./s

[parthian shot]

I believe that having a pulse is a requirement of the job./s

_________________________________

Uhm...I'm not sure about that. I remember at one time I thought a pulse was a requirement to vote.

[ridesthemiles]

Are not those ‘footprints’ now the tracks of a wheelchair?

Did not the Senate have to bring Byrd into the health care vote in a wheelchair to get enough votes?

[MissMagnolia]

Ya ‘got’ me! Touche!

[kempster]

Let’s hope those wheels get caught in that sand for the next vote, or so to speak.

[La Lydia]

Next Senate Majority Leader? You have no clue. The man is ga-ga. His staff is running the show as it is, and everyone knows it. If there is to be a new Dem majority leader, Durbin and Schumer would be duking it out, there would be blood on the floor, and how much fun that would be. Byrd is President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and that is as far as he is likely to go.

[rface]

Trent Lott should stand up and praise Byrd ...

[Retired COB]

I hope they follow him around with a shovel and a pine box.

I'd be satisfied if he just had to go back into the hospital long enough to deny the Dems the vote on healthcare until Senator Brown (R - MASS) gets seated.