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Sen. Robert Byrd: 'Today I Weep for My Country'
Reuters via Yahoo News ^ | 3/19/03 | By Thomas Ferraro

Posted on 03/19/2003 4:42:00 PM PST by pubmom

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The oldest voice in the U.S. Congress rose on Wednesday to denounce as misguided President Bush (news - web sites)'s march to war with Iraq (news - web sites).

"Today I weep for my country," said West Virginia Democrat Sen. Robert Byrd. "No more is the image of America one of strong, yet benevolent peacekeeper. ... Around the globe, our friends mistrust us, our word is disputed, our intentions are questioned.

"We flaunt our superpower status with arrogance," Byrd said, adding: "After war has ended the United States will have to rebuild much more than the country of Iraq. We will have to rebuild America's image around the globe."

Byrd, who has been a leading foe on Capitol Hill of war with Iraq, spoke in a nearly empty Senate chamber about four hours before Bush's 8 p.m. EST deadline for Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) to leave Iraq or face a U.S.-led invasion.

"May God continue to bless the United States of America in the troubled days ahead, and may we somehow recapture the vision which for the present eludes us," Byrd said.

As the white-haired senator concluded his remarks, a number of people in the visitor's gallery rose and applauded before they were admonished to be quiet.

At 85, Byrd is now the oldest member of Congress as well as the longest serving. He was first elected to the Senate in 1958, after six years in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Byrd was among those who voted last year against the congressional resolution that authorized Bush to use force in his showdown with Saddam, and the senator has given frequent floor speeches since then warning against war.

Polls on Wednesday showed strong American support for a war but widespread opposition to it overseas.

"The case this administration tries to make to justify its fixation with war is tainted by charges of falsified documents and circumstantial evidence," Byrd said.

Despite administration suggestions to the contrary, Byrd said, "There is no credible information to connect Saddam Hussein to 9/11."

The senator said, "We cannot convince the world of the necessity of this war for one simple reason. This is a war of choice."

Byrd said that instead of negotiating, Washington demanded obedience or threatened recrimination. "Instead of isolating Saddam Hussein, we seem to have isolated ourselves."

He said many questions about the looming war were unanswered -- including how long it would last, what it would cost, what its ultimate mission was.

"A pall has fallen over the Senate chamber," Byrd said. "We avoid our solemn duty to debate the one topic on the minds of all Americans, even while scores of thousands of our sons and daughters faithfully do their duty in Iraq."


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: antibushrant; appallingdems; byrdbrain; hallofshame; mohammadfatemi; senile; senilityinthesenate; sheets; soninlawfatemi; swimtocubarobert; timetoretire; treason; weepingforiraq; windbag
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To: pubmom
This guy's views are unbelievably out of step with his constituents. Too bad the citizens of WV keep prostituting themselves for the pork he brings home.
41 posted on 03/19/2003 4:56:02 PM PST by comebacknewt
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To: pubmom
This guy is such an Ahole!

Who is it exactly that votes for pukes like this?
42 posted on 03/19/2003 4:56:04 PM PST by Radix (I should talk, my Senator is Fat Teddy!)
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To: pubmom
Senator Bird should be sad indeed that the US is not the country it used to be....we have all but neutralized the KKK.

Poor Boobie Bird!

43 posted on 03/19/2003 4:56:07 PM PST by rundy
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To: pubmom
Robert Byrd is still part of a Cabal the Klu Klux Klan, and than continues in politics still promoting someone agenda?

I would say the same Cabal who brought us the League of Nations, and donated the land for the United Nations!

44 posted on 03/19/2003 4:56:09 PM PST by restornu
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To: Impeach the Boy
W. Virginia :-)
45 posted on 03/19/2003 4:56:43 PM PST by MJY1288 (We're About to Roll)
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To: pubmom
Just wondering, did he start talking about his ol' dog Billie, like he does whenever he's filibustering.
46 posted on 03/19/2003 4:56:55 PM PST by Marathoner
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To: pubmom
Around the globe, our friends mistrust us, our word is disputed, our intentions are questioned.

He must be very proud of himself for having helping cause it.

The gall.

Grrrrrr

47 posted on 03/19/2003 4:57:00 PM PST by Harmless Teddy Bear (Faith Manages)
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To: pubmom
The Senator is a jerk.
48 posted on 03/19/2003 4:57:06 PM PST by ex-Texan (primates capitulards toujours en quete de fromage!)
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To: pubmom

49 posted on 03/19/2003 4:57:31 PM PST by mhking (Let's get ready to rumble!!!!!)
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To: pubmom
That senile old bastard should be run out of town on his....bald head.
50 posted on 03/19/2003 4:57:43 PM PST by caisson71
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To: pubmom
Byrd, who has been a leading foe on Capitol Hill of war with Iraq, spoke in a nearly empty Senate chamber

That sounds about right. The other senators must have gotten advance notice that Sheets was going to give another of his blathering diatribes.

I swear this old goat is senile; dementia notwithstanding, he's a monumental embarrassment to those of us in W.Va. who have a few active brain cells (in other words, those who don't vote for him and his pork barrel politics).

51 posted on 03/19/2003 4:58:09 PM PST by mountaineer
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To: pubmom
"Today I weep for my country....."

Not too senile to be a drama queen.

Leni

52 posted on 03/19/2003 4:59:14 PM PST by MinuteGal (THIS JUST IN ! Astonishing fare reduction for FReeps Ahoy Cruise! Check it out, pronto!)
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To: pubmom
The die is cast. In their lowest bid to split the country for partisan political gain, the f'ing DemocRATs are going to make the Iraq war their benchmark issue in the 2004 campaign if they can.

The limits to which they will slime is beyond comprehension and only decorum keeps me from using the epithets I would like to use as adjectives for them.

DemcoRAT politicians are lower than the French.

53 posted on 03/19/2003 4:59:31 PM PST by ImpBill ("You are either with US or against US!")
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To: pubmom
He could have been referring to his "country" (as in country music) and the Dixie Chiks.
54 posted on 03/19/2003 4:59:58 PM PST by Consort
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To: pubmom
That's not weeping, that's his prostate acting up again!
55 posted on 03/19/2003 5:00:09 PM PST by Natural Law
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To: mountaineer
"Byrd, who has been a leading foe on Capitol Hill of war with Iraq, spoke in a nearly empty Senate chamber"

Ohhhhhhhhh.. I thought this was being said at a Klan rally...
56 posted on 03/19/2003 5:00:24 PM PST by Sofa King (-I am Sofa King- tired of liberal BS!)
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To: pushforbush
Byrd is up for re-election in 2006.
57 posted on 03/19/2003 5:00:30 PM PST by Verginius Rufus
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To: pubmom
"Today I weep for my country..."

Me too, but only because this pile of excrement is occupying a seat in the United States Senate. A Constitutional amendment to require term limits for senators and House members looks better to me all the time. Two 6-year terms for senators and six 2-year terms for House members seems about right to me.

58 posted on 03/19/2003 5:00:53 PM PST by Wolfstar (Why war in Iraq? Answer: ANTHRAX.)
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To: pubmom
I weep for a STATE that would elect a KKK Grand KLEAGLE!!

He keps asking.... WWCD? What would Cicero do??

59 posted on 03/19/2003 5:00:54 PM PST by Ann Archy
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To: pubmom
Around the globe, our friends mistrust us, our word is disputed, our intentions are questioned.

Was he talking about the Democrat party or the United States?

60 posted on 03/19/2003 5:01:22 PM PST by operation clinton cleanup
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