Byrd, 87, may try for record (and run again!)

[kskiska]

Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) is making preparations to run for reelection for what would be his ninth term.

Byrd, 87, has been negotiating with Paul DeNino, one of the Democratic Party’s top fundraisers, to assist his reelection efforts, according to Democratic sources. Byrd’s office confirmed that the senator had been talking with DeNino and other fundraisers but said no contract had been finalized.

Byrd, who maintains a tight circle of political advisers, told The Hill he does not want to talk about his political future now. “Not ready yet,” he said on the way to a Democratic Caucus meeting Tuesday.

“He has every intention to seek reelection,” said his spokesman, Tom Gavin, “but he has not made a final decision.” Gavin said Byrd would make a decision before West Virginia’s filing deadline next year.

more…
http://www.thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/020305/byrd.html

[liberalnurse]

1. Has there been a Byrdie in waiting?

Who has the credentials to fill his shoes?

[genius]

16. He better run again. I'll donate to his campaign.

[Walt Starr]

2. OUTSTANDING NEWS!

Nobody, but NOBODY could be Robert Byrd in West Virginia!!!

[LiberalVoice]

3. great news!

Truly one of the classiest men let alone politicians! I love that man and i'm straight!

[MuseRider]

4. This is great news.

It would be interesting to know if he really wants to or if he is doing this because he knows the risks of his seat being available or that he is doing it for the country. Seems like he would want to retire. Whatever the reason it makes me very happy. When he makes the announcement I will call his office with praise and encouragement and thanks.

[DeaconBlues]

5. Please run Senator Byrd!

West Virginia has been trending red for a number of years now, and I'm afraid that without Byrd running the seat will go to a republican. Even at his advanced age, Byrd would be a shoo-in if he ran again.

[theHandpuppet]

6. I surely hope he does run again, but...

I've heard rumors the Repugs are so eager to replace Byrd they may mount a massive campaign against him, if only to put as much strain on him as possible. Watch out for Shelley Moore Capito -- she's a total Bush idolater and has much greater ambitions!

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

14. Byrd will NOT be a shoo-in-we need to stop saying that

I'm on the ground here in WV and believe mem the state GOP is planning a challenge like never before. They already have guys like James Dobson and Hannity pledging to come here.

Byrd is popular, but they're going to work the age issue in 3rd party attack ads. They're going to try to make him out as having went communist.

The Daily Mail can't mention his name without using the terms 'radical liberal' somewhere further down the article

[theHandpuppet]

15. I agree

Byrd's seat cannot be taken for granted. The Repukes would like nothing better than mount a massive campaign against him and you can believe they will throw every dirty trick in the book in an effort to unseat him.

[abandon_ship]

25. or at least power up that rascal scooter again

[happynewyear]

7. don't leave us now Sen. Byrd!

Please, please, please run again! We NEED you now more than ever!!

:kick:

[liberalnurse]

8. I love Sen. Byrd too.....

but we all have a clock ticking........Who will be his heir?

[Yupster]

9. I vote for retire

Eighty-seven year old people with Parkinson's disease do not need to be signing up for six year jobs.

They wheeled Strom Thurmond in from the hospital so he could drool his votes out of his mouth. I'd rather the same thing not happen to Byrd.

Senator Bill Roth lost his reelection when he fell out of his chair during a televised debate. I'd rather if the same thing did not happen to Byrd.

Retire Senator. There are other good people in your state who can do your job. You are 22 years past normal retirement date. It's time.

[Pastiche423]

11. I am extremely confident

that The Senator will let eveyone know when it is time for him to retire.

He has only gotten better w/age.

I will support and donate to his re-election campaign.

[brainshrub]

10. I hate to throw cold water on this party.

But do you think he can handle 6 more years?

I'm saying this as a BIG fan of the Senator. I wish the other congressional Dems had half the intelligence, dignity, and integrity Senator Byrd has.
I'm not doubting his wisdom, but I don't know if he'll have the endurance.

[ps1074]

30. Let him run if that's he want to do

Some Senate observers said Byrd, elected to the Senate in 1958, intends to remain in office for the remainder of his life.

If he loves what he is doing and remains one of the strongest voices Democrats have these days, I say kudos to Sen. Byrd.

Nipping at his heels are Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), with 42 years and two months of service, and Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), with 42 years of service.

Byrd’s advanced age has done little to blunt his intellect or his fierce ability to defend his views on the Senate floor. Byrd and Kennedy led the fight against Bush’s resolution authorizing the war in Iraq.

I wish the younger Democratic senators have the guts of Kennedy and Byrd - two of my favorite senators :)

Anyway - this is great news. If he runs the seat is 100% safe.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

12. it will be the toughest election of his career

the local GOP is already raising money for third party "outside group" attack ads, much like they used to take down a popular progressive supreme court judge (by smearing him as being being pro-sex offender)

Warren Mcgraw's supporters didn't realize the power of these ads til it was too late and only in the final months did they try to counter them-but it was too late. They couldn't match the rightwing out-of-state war chest.

People, if you are grateful to Senator Byrd for his tireless efforts in fighting Bush, then please, as soon as it's possible to donate, do so. We need to make Byrd a priority. His seat can no longer be taken for granted by us locals or by the national parrty. We need to do for Senator Byrd what progressives were doing for Wellstone in 2002-making his campaign a priority for national fundraising. I hate fundraising and political money as much as they next guy, but when you're stuck with this system and are in dire straits, you have to match them to saty alive. Reform can come when we get a progressive majority that will enact real campaign overhauls.

The White House and the rightwing are gunning for him and are salivating at the symbolic victory they would achieve in silencing Bush's biggest critic in the congress.

dr dobson is already committing FOF to Wv in '08 as well.
All the rightwing media is ganging up on Byrd as we speak, especially the charleston daily mail and 800WVHU AM

[ckramer]

13. I hope he can support someone younger to continue his fight!

But if he feels he is still energetic and healthy, go for it by all means!

[realFedUp]

17. He should retire...

I know the Strom Thurmond's of the
Congress got wheeled around and could
barely stand, and the Byrdman certainly
still has all his facilities, but it's
time to groom someone else...

[abandon_ship]

26. besides, what happens if he were to die in office?

[MasonJar]

18. He is the smartest, most saavy Senator. He says what he likes

whan he likes. Go, Byrd.

[dsc]

19. Now here is a scary thought

Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.) referred to Mississippi’s reputation for giving virtual “lifetime appointments” to its senators — Sen. John C. Stennis served for 41 years, while Sen. James Eastland served for 36. “I always promised myself that I would leave before my health left me because of what I saw,” he said, although he raised the possibility that he, too, could take a shot at the Senate’s longevity record.

[420inTN]

20. Stennis was a good man, and a good Senator

I grew up in Mississippi, and remember him well.

here's a tribute page to him: Stennis Memorial Page

Among his accomplishments:

* Wrote the first Code Of Ethics for the US Senate.
* Was the first chairman of the Senate Ethics Committee.
* Was the first Senator to speak out against Sen. Jos. McCarthy.
* Know as "The Father of America's Modern Navy".
* Has an aircraft carrier named after
* Has a space center named after him.

here's his Wikipedia entry

deit: fixed link

[dsc]

21. I was referring to the idea that Lott might break Thurmond's record

[420inTN]

23. I'm aware of that...

I just didn't want everyone else to think that Mississippi's Senators are all like Lott.

[Chomskyite]

28. No agreement from me

*kept the pressure on Johnson from the Right to increase the numbers of troops in Vietnam.
*consistently voted against extending civil rights to blacks.

[420inTN]

29. I didn't say that he was perfect. n/t

[David Zephyr]

22. Everyone here needs to encourage him to do so!!!!

I'm e-mailing him immediately.

[abandon_ship]

24. apparently found a road or bridge not yet named for him

[Matilda]

27. I believe Ted Kennedy's term is up next year ?

I hope he will also run again.