'Respected' Former Klansman Dies

One wonders whether the New York Times would call a Republican a "respected voice of the Senate" if he were a former Klansman.

I doubt it.

Robert C. Byrd, who used his record tenure as a United States senator to fight for the primacy of the legislative branch of government and to build a modern West Virginia with vast amounts of federal money, died early on Monday. He was 92.

He had been in failing health for several years.

To be fair, they at least mentioned his membership in the KKK.

Mr. Byrd’s political life could be traced to his early involvement with the Ku Klux Klan, an association that almost thwarted his career and clouded it intermittently for years afterward.

In the early 1940s, he organized a 150-member klavern, or chapter, of the Klan in Sophia, W.Va., and was chosen its leader at a meeting. After the meeting, Joel L. Baskin, the Klan’s grand dragon for the region, suggested that Mr. Byrd use his “talents for leadership” by going into politics.

“Suddenly, lights flashed in my mind!” Mr. Byrd later wrote. “Someone important had recognized my abilities.”

Mr. Byrd insisted that his klavern had never conducted white-supremacist marches or engaged in racial violence. He said in his autobiography that he had joined the Klan because he shared its anti-Communist creed and wanted to be associated with the leading people in his part of West Virginia. He conceded, however, that he also “reflected the fears and prejudices” of the time.

When Strom Thurmond passed away in 2003, he wasn't noted as a "respected" member of the Senate, rather a foe of integration.

Ex-Klansman is "respected" while a man who never was one was a "foe of integration."

Byrd's death could scuttle the current financial "reform" legislation.

Silver linings, folks.

Worth noting is the current West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin is a Democrat, so forget about a Republican assuming Byrd's seat for now, although a special election would be held in November to fill out the final two years of Byrd's term.

Durbin Suffering Memory Loss

This is precious. Dick "The Turban" Durbin is criticizing Republican lawmakers for the coarsening language in the debate. Durbin of course is a victim of some sort of memory loss. Let's jut refresh the senators memory by replaying the speech he made on the floor of the Senate in 2007 comparing our troops to Nazi storm troopers and enforcers from the Pol Pot regime.



Maybe Mr Durbin's real issue is with somebody praying.

One last question for Mr Durbin. Under the Democrat healthcare bill, IF senators had to abide by the same rules it contains for the rest of America, would Mr Byrd be allowed access to the current level of medical care he is receiving now, or would his doctor be giving him end of life counseling and appraising of him of his options?

Ted Kennedy Collapses at Inaugural Luncheon

This can't be good news on a day like this.

Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., who is battling a brain tumor, was taken away from the congressional luncheon in convulsions.

Kennedy was at a table with Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., Vice President Mondale and Mrs. Mondale, and others. While at the table, Kennedy began having seizures that lasted for several minutes. As they were carrying Kennedy out of the room, he was still seizing. President Barack Obama went out of the room with him, but he is back in the luncheon room now.

We are also told that Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., the oldest member of the Senate, was so upset and distraught from what he had witnessed, that he needed to be taken out. Byrd was conscious when he was taken from the room. The two have been friends for a very, very long time.

It's times like this to put politics aside and wish these two well.

ABC would be wise to turn their comments off when you have idiotic comments like this:

...and I thought nothing good could come from this day!


Posted by: Bubba | Jan 20, 2009 2:55:27 PM

Via the Politico: Remarks from Obama:



The folks at the Politico might want to also start monitoring comments. No time for jokes when the man is having seizures.

Update: Please, no stupid comments here either.

Democrat Youth Movement: 90-Year-Old Sheets Byrd Hands Over Appropriations Chaimanship to Spry 84-Year-Old Daniel Inouye

Nothing like invigorating the party with some young blood.

Sen. Robert Byrd on Friday announced that he will step down from his chairmanship of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee to be replaced by Sen. Daniel Inouye of Hawaii.

"I believe that it is time for a new day at the top of the Senate Appropriations Committee. I will step away from the chairmanship ... effective January 6, 2009," said Byrd, a 90-year-old Democrat from West Virginia.

Over the past year, Byrd has had health problems and some Senate Democrats worried he would not be able to withstand the rigors of chairing the committee that helps decide the country's spending priorities.

Democrats had hoped the decrepit former Klansman would step aside.

World's Oldest Klansman Stuns Colleagues, Returns to Active Duty

The conscience of the Senate has returned.

Sen. Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia, the longest-serving senator in history, returned to the chamber Thursday for an all-day series of votes on the federal budget.

His appearance surprised many of his colleagues given his series of hospital stays after a fall at his Virginia home last month.

Senators lined up to shake hands or share hugs with the 90-year-old chairman of the Appropriations Committee. Sitting in a wheelchair, the white-maned Democrat appeared happy to chat with his well-wishers and cast votes — loudly enough to be heard in the gallery overhead — on a series of amendments to the federal budget.

As Senate president pro tempore, Byrd is third in line for the presidency behind Vice President Dick Cheney and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California, should President Bush ever become unable to serve.

Teens Clueless on Constitution Day

Well, I have to admit I had no idea it was Constitution Day either.

WASHINGTON - Constitution Day is here and many teenagers know little about commemorating the document's signing.

A study being released Monday by a foundation that focuses on journalism and the First Amendment found that 51 percent of high school students questioned had not heard of the day when they are required by law to learn about the Constitution.

Of course, such a day didn't exist back when I was in high school, and it's just a recent creation.

Constitution Day was created by Congress in 2004. It was the brainchild of Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., who carries a copy of the Constitution in his pocket. The law requires any school and college receiving federal money to teach about the Constitution on or about Sept. 17.

Schools can determine the kind of educational program, but they must hold one each year.

Boston University this year will distribute Constitution Day bookmarks and host Anthony Romero, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union, for a lecture. Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio, will hand out pocket copies of the Constitution and serve patriotic meals colored in red, white and blue in the school cafeteria.

Thank goodness we have a presidential candidate who takes his marching orders from The Constitution.

Byrd Declares Himself Senator for Life

Spry and fleet of foot at a deceptively young 89, West Virginia Senator and former Klansman Robert C. Byrd plans on sticking it out until his corpse is dragged off the Senate floor.

His hands shaking and voice muffled by a cough, Sen. Robert C. Byrd (D-W.Va.), 89, defiantly declared today that he would continue to serve in the chamber indefinitely, possibly until his death, despite suffering from a tremor common to the elderly.

"I will continue to do this work until this old body just gives out and drops," he declared in a prepared floor speech. "Don't expect that to be any time soon."

There used to be something known as a dignfied retirement.

Sheets and The Pantsuit Join Forces

Deteriorating former Klansman Robert "Sheets" Byrd and The Pantsuit have joined forces in yet another attempt to defund the Iraq War. The duplicity of these people never ceases to amaze.

"The American people have called for change, the facts on the ground demand change, the Congress has passed legislation to require change. It is time to sunset the authorization for the war in Iraq. If the president will not bring himself to accept reality, it is time for Congress to bring reality to him," said Senator Clinton on the Senate floor.

Maybe people have called for change, but they have not called for surrender and defeat.

Nothing like dredging up her husband's mantra of "change" from back in 1992. Looks like she's on the run now that Obama has caught up to her in recent polls.

More from Weasel Zippers, Michelle Malkin, Riehl World View, Right Voices.

Bush Shows His Compassion

Sometimes it's the little things that show what a man is made of. This photo should be shown in newspapers and on websites across the world, but of course the biased media cannot bear to show people the kind, compassionate side of George W. Bush (via Don Surber and the Associated Press).