Lid flies off of Senator Byrd's anger over Iraq

[DeepModem Mom]

WP: Preaching to the Chorus
By Dana Milbank
Thursday, September 27, 2007; Page A02


The displeased Sen. Byrd: "All of this for a war -- a war! a war!" (Melina Mara/Washington Post)

Democrats' anger has built for weeks over their failure to end the war in Iraq. When Defense Secretary Bob Gates and Joint Chiefs Chairman Peter Pace arrived on Capitol Hill yesterday, the lid came off. Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.), chairman of the Appropriations Committee, didn't just harangue the two men. He did so in triplicate.

"Funding for the war in Iraq will exceed 600 billion -- billion! billion! -- dollars!" the 89-year-old lawmaker bellowed, pointing his finger wildly while Gates picked at his cuticles. "All of this for a war -- a war! a war! -- that General Petraeus, two weeks ago, could not say had made Americans safer!" "A long-term presence could cost well in excess of 2 trillion -- 2 trillion! Yes, you heard me -- 2 trillion!"

Byrd's angry theatrics made for a performance reminiscent of Al Pacino in "Scent of a Woman." And Byrd did Pacino one better: He invited the audience in the room to join him in heckling the witnesses, creating a responsive Greek chorus.

Byrd: "Are we really seeking progress toward a stable, secure Iraq?" Chorus: "No!"

Byrd: "Is our continuing occupation encouraging the Iraqi people to step up?" Chorus: "No!"

Byrd: "Are Iraq's leaders doing the hard work necessary?" Chorus: "No!"

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/26/AR2007092602391.html?nav=hcmodule

[xchrom]

1. there are times when that man makes me weep. n/t

[snappyturtle]

2. Excellent article...thanks for posting it. All I had seen on this

'incident' was Byrd ordering the hearing room cleared....I didn't know there was a planned floor show! I know Sen. Byrd is old. I know people become agitated with his ways but I think this hearing, now that I know what went on, is to be applauded. Too bad it wasn't presented in its entierty on network tv so the nation can hear about the numbers on the war, about Pace's anti-gay beliefs, and about the grandchildren who will continue the occupation. I say, "Here,Here" to Sen. Byrd. If only others had his passion and devotion to the constitution.

[bdamomma]

3. Byrd is tired of all this shit too.

Code Pinkers were there yesterday also.

[CountAllVotes]

4. Byrd is one of the Senate's few treasures IMO

May you live a very long time Senator Byrd! :applause:

:dem:

[JohnnyLib2]

5. He reminds me that there are some good men in D.C.

Not many, but some.