Senator Robert Byrd Dead at 92

Story.

Wow. First Teddy, now Byrd. Two of the longest-serving, most powerful democrats are both gone.

92 is a good run for anyone.

RIP

Funny, I had the idea that he was older than that.

My condolences to his family, and may he rest in peace.

I have to say I started humming a bit of Lynyrd Skynyrd when reading this - "free as a Byrd now" anyone?

About time that old bastard died. Another entrenched, self-serving, lifetime politician from the old guard bites the dust. Good riddance.

And the thread got "classy", at lucky number 7.

I knew you could do it, WF.

92? Seems like so much longer.

RIP

Some mistakes are pretty hard to forgive. Robert Byrd in a letter to a Mississippi congressman:

"I shall never fight in the armed forces with a Negro by my side... Rather I should die a thousand times, and see Old Glory trampled in the dirt never to rise again, than to see this beloved land of ours become degraded by race mongrels, a throwback to the blackest specimen from the wilds. ”

— Robert C. Byrd, in a letter to Sen. Theodore Bilbo (D-MS), 1944

And he personally filibustered the Civil Rights Act in 1964 for 14 hours.

Add that to 58 years in Congress in one form or another, and the fact that despite obviously fading faculties he wouldn't relinquish his seat...

Yeah, not a big fan.

To be fair, he also recanted his racist past and has time and time again defended equal rights. It is not up to me on how he is ultimately judged, but I will give credit to reformed racist. How many politicians (let alone people) acknowledge their past mistakes with such openess?

'bout time!

Think he'll get buried in his Klan uniform?

And how many politicians change their viewpoint because its the politically smart thing to do?

Good riddance to bad rubbish.

All the best to his family though.

Too bad he was an asshat of a politician.

Whenever it suits them politically? All of them and frequently.

My sympathies to the family.

Honestly, I don't give a shit if he reformed or not. There's somethings that should disqualify you for leadership positions in civil governance. Having Klu Klux Klan on your resume should be one of those things.

bye bye byrdie.

He's from West Virginia; he could have switched parties and kept his racism on the DL if he wanted to continue to hold those views.

"I know now I was wrong. Intolerance had no place in America. I apologized a thousand times... and I don't mind apologizing over and over again. I can't erase what happened.”

— Robert C. Byrd

So, looks like Daniel Inouye is the new president pro tem.

Obviously no fan of the Klan or Byrd, but if the people of his jurisdiction want to elect someone, barring that person having been involved in a crime or breach of the public trust, I don't see why they shouldn't be allowed to do so.

I don't think mere membership in a group should disqualify someone if we're to have freedom of association.

I heard he was a 33rd degree Freemason

Did he had a black daughter like strom thurmond?

Well, now Skin wonders... what "happened"? What is this horrible event he perpetrated and then couldn't erase? Did he set a nursery full of little black babies on fire? Did he replace Rosa Parks' regular coffee with Folger's Instant to see if she noticed? Did he use a Jewish nose somewhere as a golf tee?

Oh - he had an unpopular opinion?! May he burn in hell, the villain!

I think the story that's going around what the he and strom had a black daughter together, Baba...

As a man and a father, grandfather et al - my condolences to all who cared for him.

as a Senator - should have been gone 20,30 years ago - no great loss at all on that score.

Just because you're responding to Baba is no reason to write incomprehensibly.

But then, maybe he understands...

Actually he's been dead a few years now, the democrats have just been doing a Weekend with Bernie with him!!

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Byrd was continually reelected for the simple reason that he was absolutely relentless in getting federal dollars spent in West Virginia.

Same reason votes in one of the most conservative districts in East Texas kept reelecting Charlie Wilson even though they all knew he was a drunk and a pussy hound.

Very few Americans will actually vote against what they see as their financial interests.

Most Americans can't be trusted in regards to money.

I've always said it.

There are a number of people I would trust to take care of my wife and daughter.

But virtually none who I would trust to keep my wallet safe.