Posted on 06/27/2010 12:57:47 PM PDT by OldDeckHand
Sen. Robert Byrd, the longest serving senator in U.S. history, is in serious condition in a Washington area hospital, according to aides to the West Virginia Democrat.
According to a statement from Byrd’s staff released Sunday afternoon, the senator “was admitted to the hospital late last week suffering from what was believed to be heat exhaustion and severe dehydration as a result of the extreme temperatures. He was expected to remain in the hospital not more than a few days.”
The statement added: “However, upon further examination by his doctors, other conditions have developed which has resulted in his condition being described as ‘serious.’”
Byrd’s office did not say which hospital he was in, although Byrd’s doctors described his condition as “seriously ill.”
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
I thought he fought for the CSA in the Civil War, not the Union.
He’s been ill for years.
Nothing to see here. Move along.
(In all seriousness, prayers for him and the family.)
Now that's damned funny. Well done.
If the vacancy occurs less than two years and six months before the end of the term, the Governor appoints someone to fill the unexpired term and there is no election. Otherwise, the Governor would appoint an interim replacement, and an special election would be held in November
JULY 4 = independence day for Democrats, if Senator Byrd can hold on until then, no election this fall to replace him.
When is Manchin up for re-election?
I don’t think so. See Post #71. If there should be a vacancy, I believe it will be for the full unexpired term.
The Poster Boy for Term Limits if there ever was one
Yes - hoping that Byrd hangs on for several months - but not able to attend the Senate roll call...
This is very important - especially considering the RAT efforts to shove more legislation down our throats like controlling the Internet, and destruction of free political speech (as the House just passed - sending it over to the Senate)...
A Filibuster would be much more achievable without that extra Democrat - even in the hearings on Kagan for SCOTUS... who knows maybe we could stop it?
http://www.legis.state.wv.us/WVCODE/Code.cfm?chap=03&art=10
Section 3-10-3
“...if the unexpired term of any other office named in this section is for a period of less than two years and six months, the appointment to fill the vacancy is for the unexpired term. If the unexpired term of any office is for a longer period than above specified, the appointment is until a successor to the office has timely filed a certificate of candidacy, has been nominated at the primary election next following such timely filing and has thereafter been elected and qualified to fill the unexpired term”
In West Virginia, candidates for the nomination of the Democratic and Republican Party had until January 30th to file (the primary having been in May) (third party and independent candidate have until July 30th to file, and write-in candidates have until a later day to file).
The filing issue therefore does pose a problem for the administration of a special election, upon a vacancy opening up after the filing deadling for the primary although still longer than 2 and 1/2 years until the expiration of the term.
Given West Virginia’s schedulde of election; i.e., only in November of even-numbered years, with early primaries and even earlier filing dates, it looks as though, effectively, the Governor fills vacancies of up to three years in length.
WV is there for the taking. I agree the GOP is a joke, but the conservatives will take it over as the nation becomes more polarized. Get a ground game going. We did it in NJ and now our governor is a rock star. There is no excuse for WV
If you talk to many South Koreans, they'll swear than leaving a fan on all night in a hot bedroom will kill ya.
Mr. Byrd is a great example of what is WRONG with washington. Someone who spends 50 plus years on the hill, a place mever meant for a career. Out of touch and not having to work for a living, he’s been very happy to spend everyone else’s money.
While I will stop short of ill behooves, I will say that I hope whatever has happened is sufficient to end his career in Washington. Time for him to go home and live under the crushing laws he has helped pass.
*snicker*
I agree. See my post #71 — I found the WV Supreme Court case right after I asked the question.
Thank you for your response.
2) As a young man in NYC almost 50 years ago I made a conscious decision to not join any criminal organization. Thus, no political party can ever claim Roccus as a member.
Well, I’ve just reread your post. And now I’m not so sure of my earlier response. The law seems to have been written on the assumption that all the candidates for a vacancy would be elected in a primary election. But that’s obviously discriminatory against write-in candidates.
In the 1994 WV Supreme Court case, it was the Republicans who brought suit. So the issue of a candidate who was a write-in candidate wasn’t present.
I rarely agree with Sen. Byrd, although I applaud his advice that everyone should read and understand our Constitution. But I certainly do not wish him ill. I hope he makes a full recovery.
Having said that, suppose he resigns tomorrow — so that there is more than a 2.5 year period at stake. Then suppose candidates just say, well, I want to run as a write in candidate, the timely filing of a certificate of candidacy for me isn’t until September 21, and there is no primary for me. That would, I suspect, present a new issue to the WV Court.
It would be interesting to see the legislative history on this provision. Did testimony — or debate in the legislature — indicate that if there was a vacancy of more than 2.5 years then there would be a quick election? If it did, I’d guess the WV Supreme Court might have to allow an election this fall. (And you can be sure that will be a good day for Cable News if there’s a case like this.)
Well, obviously, I’m not an attorney, but it is fun to think about these things, isn’t it?
Thanks so much for the info that you provided.
Agreed. It is ripe for the picking.
WV is actually a conservative state. Even with Christie in charge in NJ, it could hardly be considered to be conservative.
Agreed. It is ripe for the picking.
WV is actually a conservative state. Even with Christie in charge in NJ, it could hardly be considered to be conservative.
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