Pretty uncalled for IMO. Yeah, he had that history, but by all accounts had changed his ways.
So if he dies will they bury him in his Klan suit?
Pretty uncalled for IMO. Yeah, he had that history, but by all accounts had changed his ways.
I agree. Much like Strom Thurmond really. Although, Strom was never in the Klan.
I may have disagreed with many/most of his veiwpoints and votes, but I HAVE to hand the man this: He was the BEST representitive the state of West Virginia EVER could have had. Not too good for the rest of the country, but when it comes down to it, he wasn't elected to represent us. He was elected to represent his state... and he did so with everything he had and more.
To that, I will toast the man.
Love Byrd or hate him, we still cannot deny he led a remarkable life and may end up being the longest serving Senator in US history. Maybe someone will come along later to break his record, but its probably only possible in the latter part of this century if anyone can do it this century.
I see many, MANY fights over his seat.
This is gonna be a huge fustercluck.
Quote:
Originally Posted by shortylickens
I see many, MANY fights over his seat.
This is gonna be a huge fustercluck.
Joe Manchin is very popular in WV.
Human perspective: rip. Political perspective: good riddance. He's been an example of everything the senate should not be for almost 60 years. He didn't care about the country as much as he cared about bringing more money to WV and securing his own political career.
Not that I was ever a great fan, but I had to respect the man. Byrd showed that people can change, and can atone for wrongs of the past. He also had the nuts to stand up to GWB's rush to invade Iraq, and told it like it was and like it turned out to be. Love him or loathe him, he was dead right on that one.
RIP, sir.
Oh really? When was that?
Was it when he filibustered the Civil Rights of 1964?
Was it when he opposed the nomination of Thurgood Marshall, the first black nominated to the Supreme Court in 1967?
Was it when he opposed the nomination of Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court in 1991?
Was it in 1993 & 1996 when opposed any forms of gay marriage?
Was it when he used the "N" word in 2001?
He has already publicly announced he will not appoint himself. However, that doesn't rule out him stepping down and then being appointed by the new Governor.
Oh really? When was that?
Was it when he filibustered the Civil Rights of 1964?
Was it when he opposed the nomination of Thurgood Marshall, the first black nominated to the Supreme Court in 1967?
Was it when he opposed the nomination of Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court in 1991?
Was it in 1993 & 1996 when opposed any forms of gay marriage?
Was it when he used the "N" word in 2001?
In the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People's (NAACP)[63] Congressional Report Card for the 108th Congress (spanning the 2003–2004 congressional session), Byrd was awarded with an approval rating of 100 percent for favoring the NAACP's position in all 33 bills presented to the United States Senate regarding issues of their concern. Only 16 other senators received that approval rating in the session. In June 2005, Byrd proposed an additional $10 million in federal funding for the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial in Washington, D.C., remarking that "With the passage of time, we have come to learn that his Dream was the American Dream, and few ever expressed it more eloquently."
Deliberately obtuse, I see. Byrd was dead right when he said this-
http://www.counterpunch.org/byrd1004.html
And history has revealed the truth in what he said. Yeh, sure, he's been wrong a lot, too, but in that particular and very important instance, he wasn't, at all.
Voted against the civil rights act and Thurgood Marshall? admitted mistakes. And, hey, Marshall was one of those hated liberals, anyway, much derided by people of your political persuasion, so it seems strange you'd condemn Byrd for what you believe yourself.
Thomas? please- utter tokenism. The man never had an original thought in his life, and deserves to be on the Scotus as much as Daffy Duck. Byrd certainly wasn't alone in opposing him.
Anti gay marriage? Not alone in that, as many of your heroes are today.
Used the archaic term "white ni@@ers" in 2001? Very archaic, to be true, and he used it to describe people who were against integration, as the N word was often used decades ago to describe anybody completely and stubbornly ignorant, obtuse, and contrary, which could be said wrt many so called conservatives today. And, hey, I thought righties eschewed the whole PC concept, anyway...
Byrd also apologized for that, anyway.
He had the capacity to learn, and to change, even in old age, which is unusual. Like this-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Byrd
Lots of other , uhh, you know, factual information in that, with(the horror!) context supplied....
Honest questions: Did he really honestly change his racist ways? Did he just change them because it was politically wise to do so? Perhaps his racist positions started out as politically expedient and he didn't believe in them to begin with. God only knows.
Human perspective: rip. Political perspective: good riddance. He's been an example of everything the senate should not be for almost 60 years. He didn't care about the country as much as he cared about bringing more money to WV and securing his own political career.
Okay, I officially give up waiting for you to say something beyond bitter left wing prattle.Don't worry bigots, you still have a senator to represent you, Jefferson Beauregard Sessions III. Thomas Figures, a black Assistant U.S. Attorney, testified that Sessions said he thought the Klan was "OK until I found out they smoked pot."[8]
Or it could be Senator John McCain.
Sen. John McCain (Republican of Arizona) voted against the creation of the holiday to honor King, and later defended Arizona Republican Governor Evan Mecham's rescission of the state holiday in honor of King created by his Democratic predecessor.
Okay, I officially give up waiting for you to say something beyond bitter left wing prattle.