This story is just another fine example of the problems of failed political leadership and the voting public to look out for the better of everyone. This guy should no longer be in the senate just ole Strom should have been wheeled out many years prior to his passing but hey keep voting these people in and this is what we get. A shaky hand on the wheel and a mumbled voice at the mic. Only whose words are they.

KABOOKEY has a valid point. Who is putting the words in Sen. Byrd's mouth. We know that staff was taking care of "ole Strom."

Many of the old timers should retire. I'm sure that they have successors lined up. Time to go Robert C. and enjoy your laurels in retirement.

Thank you Senator.
We hope that you have many more Years in the Senate.
We Love You.

Thank you Senator.
We hope that you have many more Years in the Senate.
We Love You.

Except that Thurman was a lying racist hypocrite and Byrd is an Honorable Gentleman. If only the Senate had listen to his warnings about Bush, we would all be much better off.

The other difference is that Strom Thurmond couldn't even cast his votes toward the end. Senator Byrd is still making speeches and chairing a major committee. The people of West Virginia elected Senator Byrd to a ninth term because he is an honorable man who has acted in the interests of the people, and that is why he can have the seat as long as he wants it.

Senator Byrd, the King of pork procurement should do the honorable thing and step down. How can the Democratic party clean up Congress with so many of the old guard there doing the same old things.

Give'em hell Robert!

thebob.bob,
Robert Byrd has not been an honorable gentleman on the Civil Rights front. He was a Ku Klux Klan member. He helped to filibuster the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Many Democratic Southern politicians were on the wrong side of the race issue.

Byrd is one of the best we have in the Senate. His age or trembling has nothing to do with his ability to do the job for the U.S. I only hope that others will gain his integrity.

I'm glad to hear that Senator Byrd will be continuing his current term. We need strong, experienced Democrats in Congress to deal with the many compelling issues that we are faced with today. Indeed, national boundaries no longer define our world. We face common problems and must work together as a world community to fight them. The United Nation's Millennium Development Goals, which call for cutting world hunger in half by 2015 and eliminating it altogether by 2025, are a good place to start thinking and acting with a global mindset. It is estimated that the expenditure of a mere $19 billion would eliminate starvation and malnutrition worldwide. In a time when the United States' current defense budget is $522 billion, the goal of eradicating world hunger is clearly well within reach if we act together as one world.

this is so bogus. this guy is being propped up and supported in every conceivable manner via the courtesy of OUR tax dollars, while simultaneously showing zero recognition of this fact, humility, or gratitude. such a cranky, hatemongering, entitled, self-righteous, pompous windbag! go straight to you know where, byrd!

this is so bogus. this guy is being propped up and supported in every conceivable manner via the courtesy of OUR tax dollars, while simultaneously showing zero recognition of this fact, humility, or gratitude. such a cranky, hatemongering, entitled, self-righteous, pompous windbag! go straight to you know where, byrd!

this is so bogus. this guy is being propped up and supported in every conceivable manner via the courtesy of OUR tax dollars, while simultaneously showing zero recognition of this fact, humility, or gratitude. such a cranky, hatemongering, entitled, self-righteous, pompous windbag! go straight to you know where, byrd!

I grew up in southern WV and I have actually met Mr. Byrd a few times (though I am sure 90% of southern WV can make that statement. I have lived in AZ for the last 25 years. It always seemed irontic to me that Mr. Conservative, get government out of our way, Goldwater, was smart enough to get military contracts and bases in AZ. It was those government contracts that buildt a thriving econmy.
Mr. Byrd with all his long years of senate experience has done nothing to pull the WV econmy out of its low scoring place. Part of the reason is that Mr. Byrd is tied to the coal lobby, without putting energy into diversifying the ecomy, he has taken care of the coal barrons, and the rest of the people can eat cake. They have been fools for supporting him when he was younger, they are bigger fools for supporting him now.

I grew up in southern WV and I have actually met Mr. Byrd a few times (though I am sure 90% of southern WV can make that statement. I have lived in AZ for the last 25 years. It always seemed irontic to me that Mr. Conservative, get government out of our way, Goldwater, was smart enough to get military contracts and bases in AZ. It was those government contracts that buildt a thriving econmy.
Mr. Byrd with all his long years of senate experience has done nothing to pull the WV econmy out of its low scoring place. Part of the reason is that Mr. Byrd is tied to the coal lobby, without putting energy into diversifying the ecomy, he has taken care of the coal barrons, and the rest of the people can eat cake. They have been fools for supporting him when he was younger, they are bigger fools for supporting him now.

I grew up in southern WV and I have actually met Mr. Byrd a few times (though I am sure 90% of southern WV can make that statement. I have lived in AZ for the last 25 years. It always seemed irontic to me that Mr. Conservative, get government out of our way, Goldwater, was smart enough to get military contracts and bases in AZ. It was those government contracts that buildt a thriving econmy.
Mr. Byrd with all his long years of senate experience has done nothing to pull the WV econmy out of its low scoring place. Part of the reason is that Mr. Byrd is tied to the coal lobby, without putting energy into diversifying the ecomy, he has taken care of the coal barrons, and the rest of the people can eat cake. They have been fools for supporting him when he was younger, they are bigger fools for supporting him now.

I am a first time visitor who has never participated in on line conversations before. My only envolment is as an American citizen asking questions. I am a registered Republican. I am tired of republican and democrate legislators that are "experienced and mature,young or old" who tell us that they are voting for the people. Could someone be using Byrd as a mouth piece. Who is the rest of the congress a mouth piece for? Not us. The US is the best country on earth...And...

It has nothing to do about disrespect or honor. Senator Byrd has had a long and distinguished career, and has served the Nation well. However, it is a sham for him to continue when his age and health are factors. THAT is true disrespect -- it takes away from all the hard work and professional respect he has garnered so far. He should step away, with dignity and honor, and allow those younger to step up to the plate. He can continue to serve as an elder advisor to folks.

Isn't this fun? My oh my, how speculation starts the adrenaline flowing. And the Senate floor was almost empty. And the Charleston Mail is declared to be most influential newspaper in West Virginia; that shows you how much Kane knows about West Virginia. It's all a bunch of baloney; Kane thinks that we all love baloney.

Isn't this fun? My oh my, how speculation starts the adrenaline flowing. And the Senate floor was almost empty. And the Charleston Mail is declared to be most influential newspaper in West Virginia; that shows you how much Kane knows about West Virginia. It's all a bunch of baloney; Kane thinks that we all love baloney.

I think we all need to calm down and remember that age is merely a number. Yes, Senator Byrd has an obvious tremor of the hands, but his mind still seems quite sharp. I think it is inappropriate for people to use age as an excuse for him to leave office when their gripes with him stem from other areas such as how he is beholden to interests besides those of the people, his Klan past, or his adherence to the old ways of politics and the detriment that these have done the people of WV and the U.S. If he is so bad a senator, then the hope would be that his constituency would have gone in another direction. This has not happened in eight re-election campaigns. I would like to hear from someone who has been living in WV for many years and can speak to the overall effect that Byrd's senate career has had on his state. Until then, I will reserve judgment and hope that the democratic leadership in the senate chooses wisely to whom they deligate the responsibilities he chooses to no longer fulfill.

I often watch the senate sessions on C-SPAN, particularly when an issue of paramount importance is being debated. In the days leading up to the war in Iraq, Senator Byrd stood on the Senate floor often, his hands trembling, fumbling through his notes, delivering some of the most elloquent, powerful, prosaic speeches ever voiced against the rush to war. Obviously, few heard or heeded his pleas. Time and circumstance have vindicated his warnings. The country is well served to have so wise an elder statesman who speaks the truth to power.

Would all who want the senator to leave due to age agree that the last Chief justice should have left much earlier due to the terminal nature of his cancer? (notwithstanding his age)

As Michael Donovan stated above, Byrd was a lone voice of reason leading up to the war. Almost everything he had to say has come to pass. I live in West Virginia and never voted for him before. But in the last election I was ever so honored to vote for him this time. He made me proud to be a West Virginian. He was also running against a really wacko republican.

While Byrd is beholden to coal, what politician in WV isn't?, he has helped the state in numerous ways. Most significantly is by getting federal dollars to build highways. Building roads in WV is the most expensive in the country, upwards of $25,000,000 a mile. In flat country that would build 8 to 10 miles. (One section of four-lane was estimated to cost $135,000,000 for 1 1/4 miles) Without adequate transportation facilities WV would be even further behind.

WV's problem has been and will always be the reliance on resource extraction as our economic panacea. This only enriches the corporations at the expense of the workingman. Watch the movie Matewan sometime to see what happened in the 1920s and to extent happens today.

Also look at McDowell County in sourhter WV, they mined 2 Billion tons of coal and today it is one of the poorest if not the poorest counties in the state. If resource extraction was such a good industry you would think that McDowell County would be a little bit better off. It is pitiful what happened to good folks down there.

Yes Byrd is the king of pork when looked through the eyes of others who get their pork from military expenditures. WV has no military bases other than a few National Guard facilities. Take that into consideration and leave out highway construction and WV does very poorly on the pork metric.

Byrd is the most honorable man in Washington and I hope he stays around for ever.

And Paul Kane doesn't know WV, as the Daily Mail only wishes it was the most influential newspaper. The Gazette is the biggest and best. One should also know that the Daily Mail is conservative hence the questioning of Byrd.

You know that jerk who, no matter what the subject of any conversation, always acts as though the subject is himself... he turns any subject on its head and takes any conversation as an invitation to discuss what a great person he is?
Thats what the 'borgen project' is. The jerk who won't allow anyone to discuss anything but what jessica thinks is important.
Dear jessica, please tell us the truth, are you paid to interject your subject into every single Capital Briefing post? Didn't your parents teach you manners? Aren't you intelligent enough to know that by your obnoxious actions you undermine any legitimate consideration your subject may deserve?
Grow up, Jessica. The more you ignore the basic ettiquette of internet discourse, the more ridiculous and juvenile your attempts to hijack this forum appear.

Byrd's critics are such unrepentant, dismal hypocrites - with more than a dose of ignorance.

Doddering old decrepit Strom was a hero to the Repuglickers (if Dumbya can misspeak the Democratic party name, I have license also). Repuglickers have NO justification, moral or rational, to criticize Byrd.

Byrd writes his own material, unlike Strom who couldn't even read what others wrote. Byed's mind is still sharp, his truth in his words still bite and he brings honor to the Senate. I hope he continues for a long time.

Senator Byrd's body is succumbing to the cruel ravages of time; his mind, however, is still sharp. Let us not cast aside or disparage one of the most zealous defenders of our Constitution and the Republic simply because his body is old.

To Tim who hails from southern WV- I just returned from a week in Pendleton County, WV. For those not familiar, Pendleton is a rural mountain region with the main industries being lumber/woodwork, agriculture, and tourism. There aren't any interstates that go to Pendleton, and there are no large bodies of water anywhere near Pendleton County(as in great lakes size). There is, however, a Navy base right in the middle of the mountains. When you ask the locals why there is a Navy base where there are clearly no ships, and they'll tell you why - Sen. Byrd. That is not nothing, Tim from Arizona, who lived in WV 25 years ago.

Elliott and Michael Donovan
RIGHT ON. Byrd is old, hands shake, he has coughing spells, but he gave that most powerful speech on the floor and I watched it.
to Matt key word in what you said is "he was" so what? Do you honestly think there are others there right now today in house and senate who are not or were in KKK - Please.
to f.c OK already we get it, we know how you feel.
Me, I am an african american and I love Byrd, he is the only HONORABLE Senator who speaks for the people.
Let his hands shake, his voice break, his cough continue - it still does not take away his explosive words on the senate floor - and that is what frightens the Senators - not his age but that he "tells it like it is" Look, if we had listened to him we'd still be an American that is feared and respected by the world but with Bush and his administration we are "dirt" to the world.
Senator Byrd - Keep on Keeping on until you drop. MY heart is yours

The best damn KKK member we ever had....

So much for his age,but he is much younger than the US constitution that he so vigorously supports. Some of the younger senators and especially President Bush are doing their best to trash the constitution for political reasons. We need more public officials like Senator Byrd.

Byrd's speech was the most pitiful performance I have seen in many a year.

To Tim in Arizona and other critics of Robert Caryle Byrd. I am 60 years old, born and raised in W.Va. and I also have had the honor of meeting Senator Byrd in the distant past. Mr. Byrd and his beautiful wife Erma, came from the coal fields of Appalachia to the halls of Washington. Senator Byrd has lived the American Dream. He has "climbed every mountain", worked his way from a Butcher Shop in Stotesbury during the depression to one of the most powerful positions in our nation and never once has he been accused of skirting hard work or of not being totally dedicated to his beliefs or to his love of Country, the United States Senate and his Family. He has walked and worked with the most powerful of the powerful and yet has always kept his "common touch" and never wavered from his fervent love for God, the downtrodden, the oppressed and our Blessed Constitution. He became an accomplished musician and history will surely protray Senator Byrd on an equal level with Daniel Webster as one of the greatest Orators in the history of the Senate. We all have a date with our maker, we all have an "end" to our life's highway but no matter the body, it is only one's mind, one's will and one's heart that matter. Senator Byrd is to millions (I am one of these millions) a National Treasure. He steadfastly stands today, as he has always stood, as a bulwark against the bully politics of George Bush and those others, who seek to abuse and "offend" our Constitution and the intents and desires of our Founding Fathers. To me, those who rail against Senator Byrd and demean his age and body maladies are either attention seekers who will say any ignorant thing to get attention or some Brainwashed White House employees burning the midnight oil in their vain attempt to defend what history will surely depict as the worse Administration----period (and that is quite an tragic accomplishment).

I deeply respect senator Byrd and I know he will pass on in the future he is in danger of dying in his sleep I wish him many years to come and I wish he would live forever he is one of my favorite senators when he passes no one can replace him we will all greve and weep when he is gone I don't want to think of him being gone but the fact remains that is medical problems are getting worst in the last 2 years he will be remembered not just in the senate but for his service to this country and he will be remembered across the United States he is a true American god bless him in the days and weeks and months and I hope years to come may god give him more years.

I am 20 years old and I have never seen a man like senator Byrd 89 all sorts of medical problems he is a strong and determined man when it come to serving his ninth term in the United States Senate god bless him and I hope he can continue serving for years into the future.

He should have resigned once the facts of his association with KKK was made known. Part of the problem with America is that we cannonize people regardless of their past horrible deeds.

God Bless you Senator Byrd. It may take you a little longer to get your speech spoken but the substance of it is worth waiting for. It is very evident that you love this country as much as I do.

To Patrick Huss

The Naval Base in Sugar Grove Pendleton County is global communication center for the entire Navy and more. It is one of the USA's most important communication facilities in the world It was placed there years and years ago because of the remoteness AND closeness to DC. Placing it along the coast would not make any sense at all. Byrd may have had something to do with it; but I doubt it, as siting for something this important trumps politics.

They use satellites to comnunicate and electromagnetic static interferes with the transmissions so a quiet location like the mtns of West Virginia works pretty good. Much like the astronomic dishes at Greenbank. Like the VLA in New Mexico. Several communication companies such as ATT have similar facilities located in the state.

Think before you bash. It is too easy when you are not fully informed.

To correct awboat from a different post, it's foolish to proclaim that Byrd was the lone voice against the war in Iraq. My late senator, Paul Wellstone, was also one of only a few politicians who were willing to stand up against the war (along with Sen. Ted Kennedy). I respect Sen. Byrd for standing up against the war. But if you go on an antiwar tirade and how wonderful he was to vote against the war, never forget the other senators who voted no, too.

To correct awboat from a different post, it's foolish to proclaim that Byrd was the lone voice against the war in Iraq. My late senator, Paul Wellstone, was also one of only a few politicians who were willing to stand up against the war (along with Sen. Ted Kennedy). I respect Sen. Byrd for standing up against the war. But if you go on an antiwar tirade and how wonderful he was to vote against the war, never forget the other senators who voted no, too.

Mandatory retirement age [65]for all POLS.
Out with all the stale old FARTS. IN with young new fresh Ideas.

Not age, not gender, not religion, not affiliations but sense is the best determinant of the value of someone's engagements. Senator Byrd makes a lot of great sense, on issues and prudence. I recall his protests against the then proposed Bush tax cuts, which were being justified in part on the basis of projected surpluses. Essentially he said, let's have the actual surpluses before we go into real tax cuts. And yes, the senators and congressmen and women who voted against the Iraq war were few and eloquent, including Robert Byrd.
Many speeches don't bear listening to... his bear repeating.

Not age, not gender, not religion, not affiliations but sense is the best determinant of the value of someone's engagements. Senator Byrd makes a lot of great sense, on issues and prudence. I recall his protests against the then proposed Bush tax cuts, which were being justified in part on the basis of projected surpluses. Essentially he said, let's have the actual surpluses before we go into real tax cuts. And yes, the senators and congressmen and women who voted against the Iraq war were few and eloquent, including Robert Byrd.
Many speeches don't bear listening to... his bear repeating. A man of uncommon common sense.

Our country is in trouble because decisions need to be made. Incumbants want to be reelected. These two things are not compatible. A constitutional ammendment for one longer term for all of Washington except the Judiciary is needed to keep this country great.
What are the chances?

In response to "Tim" and his theory about Mr. Goldwater.

As a resident and registered voter of the 1st Congressional District (represented by Alan B. Mollohan), I know that Mr. Mollohan, Mr. Byrd, and Mr. Rockefeller have allowed a considerable number of military contracts to flow through Lockheed Martin. The delegation has continually supported the region's airports, as well as the state's National Guard. Senator Byrd successfully led the fight to keep Charleston's airbase, which was on the BRAC's recommendations for removal. Also, unlike Arizona, and you should know this, there are not very many flat areas to build huge military bases.

Robert C. Byrd is a PEDOPHILE piece of sh!t.

He is a:
Pedophile,
Murderer,
Rapist,
Dreadful-Disgusting-Hideous-Human Being,

He needs to be punished for the crimes he has committed with what life he has left before he dies and escapes any possible hell he should endure!

*Unsuppressed* ~ Supporter of Cathy O'brien

byrd was smart enough to see through the bush fraud.
he also defends the constitution against those in govt. who try to destroy it.

he's certainly not the most incapacitated Senator. how about Sen. Bunning? they say he is senile and irrational, not to mention the rest of the gang who voted to put us into the Iraq fiasco.

and look at that moron in the White House. not a brain cell working, but he gets the Word from the Almighty Father, sending our troops to die in a hellish civil war without end.

byrd was smart enough to see through the bush fraud.
he also defends the constitution against those in govt. who try to destroy it.

he's certainly not the most incapacitated Senator. how about Sen. Bunning? they say he is senile and irrational, not to mention the rest of the gang who voted to put us into the Iraq fiasco.

and look at that moron in the White House. not a brain cell working, but he gets the Word from the Almighty Father, sending our troops to die in a hellish civil war without end.

byrd was smart enough to see through the bush fraud.
he also defends the constitution against those in govt. who try to destroy it.

he's certainly not the most incapacitated Senator. how about Sen. Bunning? they say he is senile and irrational, not to mention the rest of the gang who voted to put us into the Iraq fiasco.

and look at that moron in the White House. not a brain cell working, but he gets the Word from the Almighty Father, sending our troops to die in a hellish civil war without end.

byrd was smart enough to see through the bush fraud.
he also defends the constitution against those in govt. who try to destroy it.

he's certainly not the most incapacitated Senator. how about Sen. Bunning? they say he is senile and irrational, not to mention the rest of the gang who voted to put us into the Iraq fiasco.

and look at that moron in the White House. not a brain cell working, but he gets the Word from the Almighty Father, sending our troops to die in a hellish civil war without end.

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