Senator Robert Byrd is dead.

[Ameriplan]

I wonder why no statement from the White House yet.......at least not on their website, I just looked.

Everyone hungover and sleeping in from the G20?

They were quick with a statement concerning Kennedy's death, but that had been expected for a long time and likely had been written well in advance.  Doubtful they had a prepared statement ready for Byrd's death.

Yeah, the charismatic and beautiful orator can't do anything without his staff.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Robert Carlyle Byrd was truly one of the greatest men to ever serve in the United States Senate.  He made some mistakes, but few men did more to rectify themselves during a long career than Byrd.  He was a staunch supporter of health care for all, saw that the Iraq War was the wrong war at the time, and continued to have a reverence and love for the Constitution that all men should have.  In the pantheon of Senate greats, Robert Carlyle Byrd has finally taken his rightful place.

[Holmes]

I wonder why no statement from the White House yet.......at least not on their website, I just looked.

Everyone hungover and sleeping in from the G20?

They were quick with a statement concerning Kennedy's death, but that had been expected for a long time and likely had been written well in advance.  Doubtful they had a prepared statement ready for Byrd's death.

Yeah, the charismatic and beautiful orator can't do anything without his staff.

Jesus, you're a cockroach. In a thread about the death of the longest serving Senator, too. Then again, all death threads here eventually get ugly, but they're usually about the recently deceased. gtfo

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Jesus, you're a cockroach. In a thread about the death of the longest serving Senator, too. Then again, all death threads here eventually get ugly, but they're usually about the recently deceased. gtfo

I don't think the thread should be derailed by this issue, but it strikes me as odd, considering the White House is staffed 24/7/365.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Jesus, you're a cockroach. In a thread about the death of the longest serving Senator, too. Then again, all death threads here eventually get ugly, but they're usually about the recently deceased. gtfo

I don't think the thread should be derailed by this issue, but it strikes me as odd, considering the White House is staffed 24/7/365.

...and that Byrd was very old and had obviously been ill for quite some time. But his career is a tricky one to summarise, I guess, and maybe they weren't expecting something so sudden (though not actually sudden).

[WMS]

I was hoping he would outlast Strom Thurmond and be the oldest-serving Senator in addition to the longest-serving one.  RIP to a good one.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Well, I guess that regardless of political positions we may all agree he was one of the most significant U.S. Senators in history and surely one of the most interesting.

[Phony Moderate]

He had his faults, but i think he was basically a good man.

RIP Robert Byrd.

[The Mikado]

  (That really says how I'm feeling.)

[angus]

saw that the Iraq War was the wrong war at the time,

I agree with that.  I guess his death was expected.  For years, now.  And I never much cared for his politics or his rhetorical style, but he was one of only 13 US Senators who refused to give the Bush Doctrinaires a blank check to go out and start an unnecessary and costly war. 


"Today I weep for my country.  I have watched the events of recent months with a heavy, heavy heart. No more is the image of America one of strong yet benevolent peacekeeper. The image of America has changed."
                --Robert Byrd, March 19, 2003


Damn straight.

[ilikeverin]

Oh noes

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

The number of Senators who have been in office my whole life is down to 11. And will be down to 9 after the election. RIP.

[SvenssonRS]

I was never a fan of his politics, but I think he was fundamentally a good man in the end. He was dedicated to his state, and that's one of the most important things to me. RIP.

[Хahar 🤔]

Well, at least he died doing what he wanted to do.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

The number of Senators who have been in office my whole life is down to 11. And will be down to 9 after the election. RIP.

21 for me

[King]

98% career attendance record on votes.  Knew the Constitution and all Senate rules by memory.  Stood firm on his views, but was still open to changing his mind.  And, of course, he brought home the bacon to West Virginia.

If every Senator were like Robert Byrd, our country would be a lot more efficient (and every bill would be an economic stimulus ).

Personally, I can see why Byrd was such a hamhawk and I sympathize.  He was born into poverty, given up by his parents, and grew up in the Depression in freakin' West Virginia.  With that kind of upbringing, you don't hesitate to use newfound Congressional power to provide economic benefits for the people you left behind.  Though, the naming scheme on all his projects seemed a little ego trippy.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

The number of Senators who have been in office my whole life is down to 11. And will be down to 9 after the election. RIP.

Just 1 Senator and 2 Representatives for me.

[Barnes]

Very, very, sad.  But, he lived a very full and eventful life and is hopefully happy wherever he is now.

[SvenssonRS]

A video I feel could serve as a tribute for today...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTL4lec5H50

[Free Palestine]

[Kaine for Senate '18]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmifC7weWnY&feature=related

[Mechaman]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmifC7weWnY&feature=related

Amazing.

"I WAS AGAINST IT BEFORE YOU WERE BORN!  I WAS AGAINST IT BEFORE YOU WERE BORN!"

[Bo]

May he RIP. I don't always agree with what he did, but he did provide a good service to our country.

[Psychic Octopus]

[Ameriplan]

The number of Senators who have been in office my whole life is down to 11. And will be down to 9 after the election. RIP.

Just 1 Senator and 2 Representatives for me.

Just found out a very disturbing fact, that there are none for me.