I’m trying to be delicate. The man is 91 years old, and he has been hospitalized since May 15. According to Roll Call, he has now handed off his primary legislative responsibility:
Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.), hospitalized five weeks ago for an infection, will not be coming back to work this week, according to a statement from his office.
“Senator Byrd continues to improve but remains in the hospital while he undergoes physical therapy and treatment for a staph infection,” the statement said. “He is not expected to be in the office this week.”
Byrd, 91, is the Senate’s longest-serving Member and serves as its President Pro Tem, a leadership position that requires him to sign bills approved by Congress before heading to the White House. The statement released Monday notes the ailing Senator “is resuming some of his official duties while recuperating, including signing several enrolled bills as President pro tempore of the Senate.”
Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), filling in for Byrd, will steer the fiscal 2010 Homeland Security appropriations bill on the floor later this week. Byrd chairs the Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security but missed the committee’s consideration of the bill because of his extended hospital stay.
The thing is, there’s no reason the Homeland Security Appropriations bill has to go through the Senate this week. If Harry Reid expected Byrd to be able to manage the bill anytime soon, he could defer consideration for several weeks. Perhaps Reid does expect him back in the Senate, but wants to protect his pride. Maybe Murray is taking the lead on the bill now to avoid the embarrassment of doing so when he is actually ‘healthy enough’ to return to the Senate.
Byrd has now had several lengthy hospital stays in the last few years. This time his staff won’t even disclose his current location; one wonders why they’re going to such lengths to hide the Senator.
It is now nearly 2 months since the last vote for which both Bob Byrd and Ted Kennedy were present. Assuming Al Franken is someday seated in the Senate, it is going to be extremely difficult for Harry Reid to muster 60 Democrat votes for any initiative - at least as long as Byrd and Kennedy are still alive and serving.
One of those key differences between R's and D's
mbauer Tuesday, June 23rd at 11:18AM EDT (link)Republicans “retire” from the senate to return to the private sector, where they are convinced that more good can be done. Democrats are so convinced that government is the greatest means to better society that they won’t give up their seats until death.
Perhaps overgeneralizing, but I think I’m right.
"Won't guve up their seats until death"
red4ever Tuesday, June 23rd at 11:54AM EDT (link)Not even then. Witness the arguments in the Kennedy clan over who gets to succeed to his seat. Because it is “theirs.” Probably a clause in his Will who gets to inherit the seat. Newsflash: Senate seats are not devisable.
The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who, in times of great moral crisis, maintain their neutrality.
Dante
Remember how long it took Generalisimo Franco to die?
gekster Tuesday, June 23rd at 12:56PM EDT (link)It could go on forever with both Byrd and Kennedy.
A political party cannot be all things to all people.
It must represent certain fundamental beliefs which must not be compromised to political expediency, or simply to swell its numbers.
Ronald Reagan
Every deer hunter in Michigan still likes to take a shot at a squirrel, rabbit, or even a troll every now and then.
This just in....
GCBWI Tuesday, June 23rd at 6:06PM EDT (link)Generalissimo Francisco Franco is….still dead.
You have not read Obama Constitution
itdiehard Tuesday, June 23rd at 12:57PM EDT (link)Constitution is a bunch of negative writes and needs to be fixed via Judaical activist and Obama sanctioned Carz appointments
You'd think that...
drothgery Tuesday, June 23rd at 9:37PM EDT (link)… but given how many congressional seats have been passed to the children, spouses, or other close relatives of the former office holder when they decided to retire from politics or seek another office, I’m not so sure they can’t be inherited.
Don't forget about Strom
jamesdandy Tuesday, June 23rd at 1:02PM EDT (link)He was almost 100 years old before he resigned.
I think it’s possible that Byrd may make a ceremonial return at some point but for all intents and purposes I think he is finished with his legislative activities.