How much support would a Robert Byrd candidacy get on DU?

[IndianaJones]

I think it would get a lot.

[shain from kane]

1. For President? Hell, he's 90 years old. Are you kidding me?

[NYCGirl]

3. He does have LOTS of experience, though.

:evilgrin:

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[oasis]

23. Sen. Byrd is one of DU's favorite senators. We have showered him with letters and gifts.

:loveya:

[LynneSin]

38. Don't lump me and the other pro-choice DUers into that group

Sure - he's a hell raiser when it comes to the constitution and the war, but he's a jerk when it comes to women's issue

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

4. I give no grount to no person...

In my respect and admiration for Sen. Byrd. That said, the man is in his twilight years and suffers from the evident infirmities that come with his age. I don't think even considering the possibility of him running is rational.

Now, if they magically come up with a treatment that reverses his physical and mental condition back to, say 55 or 60, then I'll talk.

[demnan]

5. They are trying now to get him to step down as chair

on Appropriations because of his health.

[IndianaJones]

7. leadership is claiming that is a rumor. nt.

[Virginia Dare]

8. Rumors on the Hill are actually LEAKS...n/t

[Virginia Dare]

6. Who's his running mate, Methuselah?

:rofl:

[MonkeyFunk]

9. None

he's 174 years old.

[Buzz Clik]

10. You might think about someday pulling that stick out of your ass.

You spend all your time alienating people who might agree with you.

Robert Byrd is a piece of work. He's an old-school Southern politician and has all the associated baggage. At the moment, he represents West Virginia. It will never go any farther than that.

[IndianaJones]

13. Byrd supporters? lol. And WV is the south now? ha. nt.

[Buzz Clik]

14. Ever been there, Ace?

It's the whitest, most red-neck state in the Union. And not red-neck in the Wyoming sense of bored, violent cowboy. We're talking n*****-hating, old-South bullshit.

If you're from Indiana (and not simply a fan of the movie), then you should know: southern Indiana is southern redneck with more in common with Kentucky than Illinois, and West Virginia even moreso.

[IndianaJones]

16. I'm from VA, Hoop. And theres a preponderance of racist white people all over.

Moreso than not. So thats not a qualifier for being "the South".

[Buzz Clik]

18. If you're from Virginia, then you are intentionally missing my point.

Forget it. Just keep up the angry rhetoric. It's been real productive so far.

[LynneSin]

39. As a gal born and raised in neighboring Pennsylvania

You summed it up best.

And yes - West Virginia is a southern state - it's below Pennsylvania.


I dare anyone to go to West Virginia and tell West Virginians that they are Yankees

:rofl:

Make sure your insurance premiums are paid up first

[bowens43]

11. He's way too old.

[robcon]

12. Zero support, I hope

He's mentally unable to run the Appropriations Committee. And some people might want him to be president????

"...A group of Senate Democrats has begun quietly exploring ways to replace the venerable Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) as chairman of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, believing he’s no longer physically up to the job, according to Democratic senators and leadership aides familiar with the discussions...

...But there is broad discontent among committee members over the way Byrd has run the panel this year and the resulting problems in completing work on the fiscal 2008 spending bills, leading some members to privately push for Byrd’s replacement as chairman.

His physical condition has been slowly deteriorating for years, and he cannot walk now without the assistance of aides.

Byrd has difficultly running committee hearings, and he relies heavily on staffers for guidance...
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1207/7446.html

[LeftishBrit]

15. Isn't he over 90?

[Renew Deal]

17. In what year?

I doubt much now. Maybe in the 70's before there was a DU.

[robcon]

19. I know it's long time ago, but Byrd wrote, regarding the integration of the U.S. Armed Forces

"Rather I should die a thousand times, and see Old Glory trampled in the dirt never to rise again, than to see this beloved land of ours become degraded by race mongrels, a throwback to the blackest specimen from the wilds."
http://www.gmu.edu/departments/economics/wew/articles/02/standards.html

I don't think this man should be president of anything. I don't believe he still thinks that way, but his past disqualifies him from the position.

[IndianaJones]

20. he still believes it. nt.

[robcon]

27. I don't know of any evidence he still believes it.

But I think his leadership of the filibuster of the 1964 Civil Rights Act shows that he still believed it then.

[IndianaJones]

28. he still uses racist language and opposes civil rights for other minorities. nt.

[terrya]

21. Zero from me.

I'd never vote for that old homophobe. Besides, he's too fucking old.

[IndianaJones]

22. but he gets much love here. gotta admit. nt.

[terrya]

25. He is a staunch defender of the Constitution.

But he's still an old homophobe.

[IndianaJones]

26. he carries it in his pocket. nt.

[robcon]

29. But I think he has the 13th and 14th amendments redacted in his copy.

n/t

:)

[karynnj]

24. No

He is very old and it shows. You also won't like a substantial part of his voting record, once you look beyond Iraq. Also, he has baggage.

[RethugAssKicker]

30. That old KKK member?....you've got to be kidding me !

[AlCzervik]

31. is he running for something?

[xxqqqzme]

32. candidacy for what?

president? not much - he'd die in office.


Oldest old fart senator - he's a winner!

in '76 when he was considering a run for the WH - briefly - he would regularly call the lawyer I worked for...who was FAT in WV Democtaic politics...to get his opinion on a run for the WH. The attorney talked him down.

Byrd was always pleasant and polite, even when the attorney was out. Now Jay Rockefeller(was gov of WV then) is a different story...not the sharpest knife in the drawer. He is kind-of thick, not very quick on picking up on things.

[Forkboy]

33. Why do you think it would be a lot?

I'm sure he'd get some, but I doubt his numbers would even match Dodd's. Is there a plethora of threads and posts supporting him that I've missed, or did you read a couple and run with it?

[truebrit71]

34. None from me.

.

[democrat2thecore]

35. He is an incredible historian and chronicler of the senate & a powerful senator in his day

But president? He makes McCain look like a school kid.

[dionysus]

36. bored of mcclurkin, need more flame bait material?

[Forkboy]

40. Note the lack of any answers as to why he believes this to be so.

[LynneSin]

37. Hell FUCKING No

I love Byrd but 2 things:

First, he's older than God and second he's very anti-choice.

http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/choice-action-center/in-congress/congressional-record-on-choice/state.html?state=WV

[DemocratSinceBirth]

41. He's Good On Some Issues

But his ideas on race and sexuality belong to antiquity...