Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia dead at 92
June 28th, 2010 . by TexasFredSen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia dead at 92
WASHINGTON (AP) - Robert C. Byrd, the longest serving member of the U.S. Senate, a fiery orator and hard-charging power broker who steered billions of federal dollars to his beloved West Virginia, died Monday. He was 92.
A spokesman for the family, Jesse Jacobs, said that Byrd died peacefully at about 3 a.m. at Inova Hospital in Fairfax, Va. He had been in the hospital since late last week.
At first Byrd was believed to be suffering from heat exhaustion and severe dehydration, but other medical conditions developed. He had been in frail health for several years.
A man of humble, Depression-era upbringing, Byrd held his seat for over 50 years, working tirelessly all that time to make sure his state never missed out on its share - or even more, in some cases - of the federal largesse. He was the Senate’s majority leader for six of those years and was third in the line of succession to the presidency, behind House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Flags at the Capitol and the White House flew at half-staff Monday as Washington mourned Byrd’s passing. Byrd’s desk in Senate chamber was draped in black.
Sen. Jay Rockefeller, a fellow West Virginian in the Senate, said it was his “greatest privilege” to serve with Byrd.
“I looked up to him, I fought next to him, and I am deeply saddened that he is gone,” Rockefeller said.
The Senate Republican leader, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, said Byrd “combined a devotion to the U.S. Constitution with a deep learning of history to defend the interests of his state and the traditions of the Senate.”
“We will remember him for his fighter’s spirit, his abiding faith, and for the many times he recalled the Senate to its purposes,” McConnell said.
Former President Jimmy Carter said Byrd “was my closest and most valuable adviser” during his presidency, when Byrd served as Senate majority leader. Byrd was skilled “in using arcane Senate rules to achieve his goals, and was proud of his ability to count votes and forge prevailing coalitions,” Carter said in a statement.
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Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia dead at 92
I guess *Term Limits* finally caught up to him! 
It might be wrong, but I’m having a real hard time actually giving a tinker’s damn that he’s dead.
Kate, that makes 2 of us…
Anybody here know who will be naming his succssor?
According to the posted article, the Governor of West Virginia…
It’s not like W.VA. is going to appoint a Conservative, nothing in the balance of power changes with this…
He should have been retired LONG ago.
I heard that he was the target of an assasination attempt
last year by a couple of Pittsburgh disc jockeys that sent a pair of strippers to his office on his 91rst birthday…….LMFAO
Byrd, Kennedy, etc…are the poster children for term limits.
A few comments about Mr. Byrd from a W.Va. native:
I did a TV interview with Sen. Byrd in 1974 or 75 when he was Majority Whip and served on the Appropriations Committee. This was prior to his being denoted “King of Pork,” and he was actually criticized by his constituents for not bringing enough funds to W.Va. His fellow senator, Jennings Randolph, brought in far more than did Byrd. I asked him about that, and he replied that it would be inappropriate for him as Majority Whip/Appropriations member to use his position to attract money for West Virginia.
He has been pilloried for his membership in the KKK, and that is somewhat unfair, as he was a member for a year when he was just 24. He said he joined because the KKK was anti-communist. Regardless of why he was a member, it was a long time ago, and for only a year. Give it up, already!
Although I mostly disagreed with his politics, Mr. Byrd had many good qualities. Unfortunately, he stayed in office beyond his productive years, and attracted a lot of criticism in later years that he would have avoided if he had stepped down at an earlier time.
Well, now that he’s dead, OK… But let me ask you this, WHEN was the last time I came to YOUR site and told you what YOU could blog?? Just sayin’…
Sorry, Fred. I wasn’t directing that comment to you, personally.
Well, I been a holding off on commenting til now and I gotta say this in support of Ol’ Fred, and a whole buncha other folks posting pictures of Ol’ Byrdman in a Klan get up.
You know what they say, you can kick your dog, cheat on your taxes, cheat on your wife, get drunk a lot, gamble, cuss and do a lots a stuff and nobody thinks too much of it, and they don’t never talk bad about you neither. But let your buddies find out ya went queer just one time and they’ll call ya a faggot forever. Pretty much sums up Ol’ Byrdman in his Klan costume, once a Klucker, always a Klucker.
Okay this may be one of the most unPC comments I’ve ever made here…But I always strive to raise the bar.
James said “give it up”.. Mr Byrd was how old and in what position of power when he wrote this:
The man was a racist bastard and by his party affiliation continued to be so till death. Democrats count on the “Downtrodden” for votes so their is little incentive to help them move out of the victim mentality. US conservatives see no color we see assets and negatives. IF you are a parasite you should be shot, if you are an asset you are our brother. No matter what color/creed or religion you are.
The worst part about being conservative is the inability to get “Blacks” to understand who the real racists are. They start with a (D) in front of their label. WHO was it in power that fought for civil rights? what party is the party of the KKK? UNFKIN believable and totally bizarre that idiots can’t see who the real racist party is…
As for Byrd… Fk him with a cactus prawn, couldn’t give a shit less. He was useless as tits on a bull when he filled a seat and his votes and bills have caused nothing but pain for the nation. Another dead Demorat BFD.
Damn Bubba… At least you cleaned it up a bit… LMAO…
Rob… Dude, you have got to come out of your shell man, stop holding back, just speak your mind, you’ll feel a lot better if you do…
We almost would have been better off is he lived. If he was alive he wouldn’t be able to vote, but now that he is dead he will be replaced. I know how harsh it sounds to be thinking politically after his death, but this man epitomized racism and I can’t feel sorry that he is gone.
I’m sorry, and as Larry The Cable Guy would say - Lord I Apologize…
Good riddance to him and Ted Kennedy
May I not rest in Hell…