Posted on 10/28/2008 5:39:43 AM PDT by rightwingintelligentsia
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is quietly preparing to ease 90-year-old Sen. Robert C. Byrd from his perch as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Democratic insiders tell Politico.
Reid has not yet discussed his plans with Byrd. But in a recent closed-door meeting with his advisers in Las Vegas and a private conversation with Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), Reid has laid out a scenario that would have Inouye — the committee’s second-ranking Democrat — taking over Byrd’s chairmanship by the time the 111th Congress convenes in January.
Byrd — the longest-serving senator in U.S. history — would become chairman emeritus, likely retaining coveted office space in the Capitol near the Senate floor. He would also remain Senate president pro tempore, which leaves him third in line to the presidency even though his health now makes even routine public appearances both arduous and awkward.
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
Like a typical Democrat boss, give then a new title, less responsibility and tell them its a promotion...and they’ll buy it.
While I have absolutely no affinity for either of these men, this move is about 25 years overdue.
It is hard to fathom that a 90-year-old is one of the most powerful people in Congress. It is hard to stomach that he is a senile liberal.
that’s good. inouye is very pro israel and byrd...not so.
Interesting. I used to live in Kona. All the major companies that could moved headquarters to the mainland. Most employers except the government would only hire part time to avoid tax and regulation. The giant sucking sound will become a stampede of business out of this country if Obama gets in.
Don't be redundant...........
An excellent example of the need for term limits on ALL elected officials, at ALL levels of government.
The Senate leadership can simply create Senate posts out of whole cloth? Ridiculous. If the man can’t handle the position, his constituents should vote him out of office, or he should be recalled by process prescribed in law and statute.
By yanking Byrd from the chairmanship, the “pork” will cease to flow to West Virginia. The citizens of WV that live off of the govt handouts provided by Byrd are not gonna be happy.
I realize Byrd is ready for the rocking chair, but Inouye isn’t too far behind him.
Name the position the ‘Robert C. Byrd chairman emeritus’, and he’ll take it.
Well Byrd IS in line for the Presidency behind Nancy Pelosi.
We never get to discuss how unfit they are for that office.
Not any more unfit that Obama and Biden.
I agree, it is time to bring up term limits again. Such things may be the only way to get back some control if all is lost. Term limits could be equated with the CEOs who get golden parachutes in that these politicians amass tons of power over time...they have more “power” than they “need” and it is time that we “redistribute” the power. It is only “fair”.
To defeat bad ideas we need to use their own favorite words and paradigms against them and make analogies wherever we possibly can.
Does old ‘Sheets’ even know what’s going on anymore? Shouldn’t be too hard to pull the ‘hood’ over his eyes!
And Obama has no experience ...
But “they” complain about Palin having no experience.
While Palin has more executive-level elected and business experience than Hillary, Byrd, Kerry, Reid, Pelosi, Dean, Gore (before 1992) and Lieberman. Combined.
Senator Robert Byrd’s mind is shot. He unfit for public service. Same with Ted Kennedy.
Put them out to pasture.
What about Harry Reid’s chances of reelection? When is he up for reelection and what are his popularity ratings with the voters of Nevada? I would really love to see him hit the road. Who would be a good Republican to challenge Reid?
Inouye is only 84 - it’s time to give the poor young guy a chance. ;)
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