Supporters concerned about health of ailing W. Va. senator

PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW ^ | Sunday, June 21, 2009 | Salena Zito

[Salena Zito]

Democrats in West Virginia are gravely concerned about the health of their senior U.S. senator, 91-year-old Robert Byrd, who has been hospitalized since May with a series of infections.

"We are just praying for him to get back to the Senate real soon," said Nick Casey, West Virginia Democratic Party chairman.

Byrd's absence has caused distress among supporters and speculation about who would fill his seat if he is unable to return to work.

As the Senate president pro tempore, Byrd is third in the presidential succession line, behind Vice President Joe Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. He is the longest-serving senator in history, in office since 1959. Communities around the state bear evidence of his work, from federally funded projects to buildings bearing his name.

[mgc1122]

“As the Senate president pro tempore, Byrd is third in the presidential succession line, behind Vice President Joe Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.”

A troika of scary as hell scenarios ...

[taxtruth]

No comment.

[al baby]

Is that Robert KKK Bird ?

[Morgana]

He’s gone, girl.....

[Nevadan]

mgc1122 writes: “A troika of scary as hell scenarios.”

Nevadan writes: Amen. You got that right.

[jessduntno]

My only concern about his health is the same I have about Ted Kennedy’s...that it may improve...I’m not a big fan of Klansmen and murderers...

[NCBraveheart]

There are plenty more bldgs without his name on them, he has work to do

[Morgana]

[Morgana]

[Old Retired Army Guy]

The last time I saw him, which was just before he went in the hospital, he was in a wheel chair and looked like hell. Frankly, I don’t know what they are doing to keep him alive.

[Oldexpat]

Strangely enough, he may be the only Rat who is questioning Zero’s appointments of Czars and by passing his cabinet.
So his passing could be a mixed blessing.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

[“...Byrd is third in the presidential succession line, behind Vice President Joe Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.”]

[Dan Nunn]

Strangely enough, he may be the only Rat who is questioning Zero’s appointments of Czars and by passing his cabinet.

Exactly. If the choice was between him and another Obama yes-man being appointed, give me Byrd any day.

[Hardastarboard]

91-year-old Robert Byrd, who has been hospitalized since May with a series of infections.

He had a staph infection, as I recall. He's probably been getting massive amounts of intravenous Keflex (antibiotic). That, and they're not giving us the whole story. He's old, and probably senile, or at least on the glide path. He's not coming back. Make book on that.

[martin_fierro]

Yep, there's an album.

Nope, I'm not kidding.

[norge]

His kid is just biding his time before he ascends to the Senate.

Its a hereditary thing, you know.

[Flycatcher]

"West Virginians don't mind corruption," said Robert Maranto, political scientist at the University of Arkansas...

So in this idiot's mind, are West Virginians stupid, or are they ethically retarded?

[Old Retired Army Guy]

The Governor of WV is a Democrat. I presume, he would appoint someone to fill out Byrd’s term if he doesn’t make it.

[avenir]

“A troika of scary as hell scenarios ...”

LOL! No kidding. Are we doomed yet?

[Yorlik803]

Geez, are we living in a country that promotes hereditary. Are we becoming a nation of serfs and peons as a circle of families control who is in power and what the agenda will be.
Clinton, Kennedy, Bush, Byrd. The list goes on like a bad record.
Didnt we fight a war to remove royality?

[Gay State Conservative]

How does WV replace Senators...Governor's appointment? If so,is WV’s Governor a RAT?

[mendedheart]

With Byrd gone - who will carry the bacon home to WV...

I grew up in WV- lived there twenty three years & cousin way back to Byrd. But he is not a good person on the inside from stories I have heard passed down in our family.
We need new blood to lead our country there should be term limits on every congressional member & not getting reelected over & over.
Our country is going to hell so fast - I hope American people wake up before we become a Third World country.

[mendedheart]

He sure is & appeared with KKK in my home town many years ago in WV.

[RichInOC]

Robert Carlyle Byrd...proof positive that the good die young.

[Gay State Conservative]

Ooops...a previous post answered my questions.

[Joe Boucher]

biden pelosi and byrd,
You dems should be so proud of garbage like them.

[tubebender]

Yep, the three of them combined have a IQ of -32...

[Quix]

Dear Lord,

Please retire him from public life.

May his closing years be comfortable and full of relatives fluffing his pillows and thoughtful efforts to discern what he wants and needs.

Please keep him far away from any influence on the US OF A.

And please replace him with a fierce conservative in the Senate.

[johnthebaptistmoore]

He kind of reminds me of the original Star Trek’s Captain Pike in his wheelchair.

[andy58-in-nh]

Fiddlin’ while D.C. burns. How’s about a little “Foggy Bottom Breakdown”, Senator?

[kenmcg]

“Byrd is third in the presidential succession line, behind Vice President Joe Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi”

Wow!! The country’s in great shape........not!

[JBR34]

Do the Republicans really want Kennedy or Byrd to retire?

As cold as it may seem it keeps two votes from the Democrats in the Senate. The longer the two of them hang on the better it is for the Republicans.

Since the Dems want to keep both of them clinging on to their seats let them face the moral issue of having their people without representation in the Sentate.

The Republicans should just “respect” their decision and be thankful the next time there is a close vote.

[JBR34]

Do the Republicans really want Kennedy or Byrd to retire?

As cold as it may seem it keeps two votes from the Democrats in the Senate. The longer the two of them hang on the better it is for the Republicans.

Since the Dems want to keep both of them clinging on to their seats let them face the moral issue of having their people without representation in the Sentate.

The Republicans should just “respect” their decision and be thankful the next time there is a close vote.

[FastCoyote]

“He’s dead Jim”

[AnnGora]

Byrd has been senile since 1979.

[troy McClure]

Is Sen. Johnson back in DC?

I hope for a prolonged stay in the hospital for Senator Byrd.

That way the is one less rat to vote for Illegal Alien in Chief’s destruction of the USA.

[CAluvdubya]

His kid is just biding his time before he ascends to the Senate.
Its a hereditary thing, you know.

Are they fighting like the Kennedy's are for the seat?

[norge]

Yah, sure. But that hereditary thing must be ingrained in our DNA.

[norge]

Haven’t heard of any skirmishes in the hills.

[70th Division]

Soo West Verginia, is that the best you can do? A 91 year old racist, who is infirm and senile. Please people wake up.

[csvset]

91? You’d think that he’d have retired 20 years ago. Guess they’ll have to wheel him out on a gurney

[buckalfa]

The old coot has had a conservative, pro-constitution outlook during his Senate career. His passing would make the Senate tilt more to the left unless WV Gov. Manchin would decide to appoint himself to the Senate seat. God help us if the choice would be the pro-muslim Nick Joe Rahall.

[CGTRWK]

A troika of scary as hell scenarios ...

I don't see how any of them could conceivably be worse than Hussein. At least they're American.

[buckalfa]

Parts of WV are run as a feudal system. The politicians are the lords and the general population are the serfs. The lords supply political patronage jobs and benefits in exchange for the vote. Sort of a carry over from the old “company town” coal mining days. The system is illegal and corrupt, but does provide jobs in areas where other productive employment does not exist. The citizens are not stupid or ethically retarded in the context that the system works and is the only economic choice many have besides leaving.

[SW6906]

Get back?!!? He hasn't been "serving" in years.

[My Favorite Headache]

Kind of like keeping grandpa alive in Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

[GinaLolaB]

I really like Sen. Byrd because he is pro life and voted against amnesty. The thing I like the best was when he condemned that filthy michael vick for torturing poor dogs. I pray that Jesus will bless and heal Sen. Byrd.

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

“West Byrginians don’t mind corruption,”

[mathluv]

My concern about his health is that I heard that he was the main dim calling many of the o’s policies unConstitutional