Exclusive: Byrd would voluntarily give up chairmanship

[brooklynite]

Source: Politico.com

Senate legend Robert Byrd, approaching 91 this month and hailing a “new day in Washington” , said he would voluntarily give up the chairmanship of the Senate Appropriations Committee with the new Congress.

“To everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven” said Byrd, who had fended off earlier challenges this past spring and summer.“Those Biblical words from Ecclesiastes 3:1 express my feelings about this particular time in my life.”

“I have been privileged to be a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee for 50 years and to have chaired the Committee for ten years, during a time of enormous change in our great country, both culturally and politically. I have learned that nothing is quite so permanent as change. It is simply a part of living and should not be feared. “

“To be serving in the Senate at such a momentous time in our history fills me with enormous pride. I endorsed President-elect Obama because I believed that we had taken the wrong course both at home and abroad. I am delighted with his victory. I was an early critic of the war in Iraq, as was the President-elect, who decried this war even before he was running for a United States Senate seat. I wish our new President every success with his commitment to unite us as one people.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1108/15409.html

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A great Senator with a great record of achievement.

[Ian David]

1. Oh, thank god. n/t

[IndianaJones]

27. ditto...now, if he would only leave Congress altogether. nt.

[maddezmom]

2. good on him

:kick:

[eowyn_of_rohan]

3. I really like and respect Robert Byrd

depite his errant ways in the past. I am very glad he was given the dignity of being able to resign on his own, rather than having Reid kick him out.

[Kalifornia.Kid]

4. He's a seasoned & respected team player.

[kevinds13]

5. I suggest you all track down his 4 volume work on the Senate.

Its fucking incredible. You think all these Newsweek stories about what went on in the background of the campaign's are cool...the backroom stuff of the Senate is mindblowing. Each volume costs around 80 bucks though...

[LostinVA]

6. Good -- I don't like having such a socially conservative Dem in such a position

I'm glad he's stepping down.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

7. Here in VA, I am sad,

but yes, it's time for him to step down. How elegant that he was able to last until Obama reached the White House.

Byrd was a courageous and lonely voice when we invaded Iraq. Just for that, I'll always keep him in my heart. West Virginia is losing a whole lot of clout with his resignation from the Chairmanship.

[LostinVA]

8. I can see the good, but I have huge problems with his anti gay and anti choice stances and votes

[Tangerine LaBamba]

13. No one's perfect...........

That man has come so far in a long lifetime, he was bound to make some errors, as they might be perceived by others.

He's a giant, an absolute inspiration to anyone who aspires to the Senate. He'll never be replaced.

[LostinVA]

18. If he was still a racist, it would be a problem and he wouldn't have a leadership position

This is no different.

If he renounced his time in the Klan, then he could have done teh same for his anti gay and anti choice stances and VOTES.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

19. He's representing his constituency, don't forget

He has that obligation. He's from West Virginia, and I'm sure you know what West Virginia is like.

He has nothing to renounce. He's doing his job. I may not agree with some of his stances, but beyond that, he has been the soul and conscience of the Senate, and his writings on government will be read by generations to come.

I think he's a hero.

[Chulanowa]

15. He's nearly a century-old guy from Virginia

I don't agree with his "conservative" stances myself, but considering who he is, his age, and his background, I'm willing to say he's done really damn well. Better than any of my grandparents, in most regards in fact.

[LostinVA]

17. Not an excuse -- and, he's not from VA

[Chulanowa]

24. No, not an excuse. But a reason I can give him some forgiveness

All I'm saying is that, for a guy of that age, from west virginia (my bad!) he's better than one could usually expect. By no means at all perfect, but better than he could be otherwise, right? :shrug:

[Tangerine LaBamba]

20. He's been educable

He's reversed himself when he realized he was wrong. He's from WEST Virginia, which is a whole different world from Virginia - especially now that we're rather Blue.

As I posted elsewhere, he's represented the positions of his constituents, and that's a damn sight better than a lot of elected representatives do.

[IndianaJones]

26. his constituents are bigots? nt.

[TexasLawyer]

9. I will always respect Sen. Byrd for his opposition to the Iraq war

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxWfawiufK0

I wish people had listened to him.

[defendandprotect]

10. Good or him--!! gracious ...

[EconomicLiberal]

11. Thank you, Senator Byrd.

Your speech opposing the Iraq War will never be forgotten. You have been a very good representative of the Democratic Party and your constituents over the years. You have learned from your mistakes and became a legend in West Virginia.

[carnie_sf]

12. Very classy move

[1776Forever]

14. Blessings to this great man - No one is perfect and his changes were monumental!

You will never be forgotten for your opposition to the Iraq War! Your support from the start for President-Elect Obama is also astoundingly amazing just from whence you come from! You, Sen. Byrd, are a legend in your own time!

[NMDemDist2]

16. Bless his heart, he needs to slow down a bit

and I fear losing his wife has really taken the wind out of his sails

:patriot:

[Myrina]

21. 91 year-old Byrd gives power to 84 year-old Inouye?

How 'bout ceding the chair to some young upstart whippersnapper in their 50's? Jeeeez. :eyes:


And isn't Inouye all up to his elbows in some scandal over a mis-statement or some affiliation thingie? :shrug:

[The Wizard]

23. Was that up to his elbows comment deliberate?

He lost his right arm in WW II.

[Myrina]

28. No, it was not. I was not aware of that.

:blush:

[eilen]

22. What grace and class

Lieberman would do well to follow Sen. Byrd's lead.

[IndianaJones]

25. yes...now leave the Senate. nt.