[pogo101]

I vote no. I will not get into critiques of Byrd while his body's still cooling, but just consider: Not even every PRESIDENT gets this honor. Byrd was an important Congresscritter, but was he in the "top 27" American statesmen ever? (Not that Garfield was either, but hey, the guy got assassinated, so we cut him some slack.)

Pretty soon every Senator to serve more that 2-3 terms is going to expect the Big Funeral.

[xsmommy]

while his body's still cooling

i think we can take judicial notice of the fact that he has long since assumed room temp, considering he passed at 3 am ; )