"Whoah, hold on now, boy. I aint' even thinkin' of retirement!"
"Shame! Shame! Shame!"
Posted on 04/10/2008 3:35:42 PM PDT by Jean S
Sen. Patrick Leahy is privately indicating interest in taking over the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee from an ailing Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) if necessary, four Democratic sources said Thursday.
The Vermont Democrat, third-in-line on the panel, strongly denied those claims. But all four sources said Leahy has sent several signals to Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) about the move.
“It’s been going on. There have been lots of whispers in Reid’s ear,” said one Democratic source.
Leahy “has tried to meet with Reid several times” about Byrd’s chairmanship, according to another source.
The 90-year-old Byrd has been ailing for months, after having been hospitalized in February after a fall in his home and again in March for adverse reactions to medication. Both hospital stays were short, but senators this week raised the issue of his fitness as chairman during a Democratic leadership meeting.
Although speculation intensified this week, informal chatter has been circulating for months about Byrd’s abilities and workload, several sources noted. Other candidates mentioned for the chairmanship include Democrats Patty Murray of Washington, who has already helped handle some of Byrd’s workload. Murray strongly denied any interest in Byrd’s position when asked Thursday.
Traditional succession on the Appropriations Committee favors Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), who already chairs the Senate’s Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, before Leahy.
Last month, Inouye noted that he was "next in line" but said he didn’t even “want to think about” succeeding Byrd.
Yet, there is little evidence to suggest Inouye is actively pursuing the post. An Inouye spokesperson did not return an immediate call for comment.
Leahy, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, said he is not pushing for the position publicly or privately and that his real interest remains in the Judiciary Committee.
“Oh hell no. Good God, no. I don’t know where that rumor started,” Leahy said. “I will support the seniority system. I will support Senator Byrd as long as he wants to be chairman. I will vote for whoever is next in line.”
Leahy said he has not met with Reid on the issue, "other than general discussion that has been going on on other things."
Following a meeting at the White House on Wednesday, Reid told The Hill that he talked to Byrd Tuesday night and that the senator’s chairmanship would “continue until something else comes up.”
One Democratic senator who spoke on condition of anonymity said Thursday that Leahy has been pushing for the appropriations gavel “a little.”
Byrd’s spokesman, Jesse Jacobs, on Thursday dismissed the speculation and said the senator remains engaged and in charge.
“There are 100 rumors a day around here,” Jacobs said.
The jockeying comes at a key time in the appropriations process. Appropriations subcommittees are providing recommendations to committee leaders on the $100 billion-plus wartime supplemental spending bill that will hit the Senate floor later this spring.
Democrats are questioning whether Byrd's health might prevent him from taking the lead on what will likely be a bitter fight over the measure.
Most Democrats are publicly hesitant to discuss the possibility of replacing Byrd, who has long been viewed as the Senate’s premier statesman.
"I'm proud to serve with Robert Byrd and I support Robert Byrd," said Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.).
Manu Raju contributed to this article.
What an outrage. Why the Grand Kleagle’s corpse isn’t even cold yet and Leahy wants to take his job.
leahy, reid, and byrd. hard to pick which one is the most unlikable.
I actually hope Byrd stays around. He’s been more conservative in the last few years. If—especially on the big issues. If memory serves me right he voted to confirm Alito and Roberts as well as against amnesty. Its unlikely his successor (more than likely a liberal democrat) in the Senate will be any better
leahy, reid, and byrd. hard to pick which one is the most unlikable
Don’t worry. Hitlery might take the spot and take that prize.
Byrd ought to have been voted out half a century ago. But he wasn't.
There is something very unclassy about kicking your senior senator when he's down. Someone can sub for him if he can't make the meetings, I'm sure the republic will survive. But let the man keep his title and his spot on the org chart.
Just couldn’t resist:
Out of the sheets into the depends.
“Byrd’s spokesman, Roger McQuinn, on Thursday dismissed the speculation and said the senator remains engaged and in charge.”
The Byrd’s! I loved that band! Opened for them playin’ with Howie Epstein at UWM. I wanna Byrd for President. Go Robert!
Byrd has a residual patriotism. He ranks above the other two. Leahy being near traitorous with the various stunts he's pulled through the years. Byrd's downside is being a real pork master. Showering West Virginia with your tax dollars
Probably would be worse.... why they can't wait for Byrd to die.
Byrd did some major damage to this country but this action by a fellow dem is despicable.
What about the senator who has not been there in a year plus???
It’s kind of like a choice between a t*rd sandwich and a giant douc*e.
"Whoah, hold on now, boy. I aint' even thinkin' of retirement!"
"Shame! Shame! Shame!"
hillary can’t be beat in a ‘most unlikable’ contest
We've been talking about it for years around here, and it has nothing to do with age.
Headline in the near future: 50 Percent of Federal Highway Building Funds Suddenly Shifted To Vermont.
ROTFLMAO!
Can Leahy fit into the Grand Kleagle’s robes or will a new pink tu-tu do?
It's a West Virginia thing ya know.
Unfortunately most of the shower money goes down the drain. This State is starving for industry which just is not going to come until taxes are reduced and tort reform inacted.
Oh, geez. Inherit the wind. Bag of wind, that is.
LOL!!!
ROTFLOL!!! So THAT’S where he’s been lately.
My Dad used to order steel from Weirton. That was in W. Va
How can he take the job? He doesn’t even have a decent dog, much less one named “Billy”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weirton_Steel
This unfortunately, is the way industry has been going here in WV.
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