# 93 year old Sen. Byrd is doddering & barely able to function, yet he hangs on. Is power that yummy? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 23, 2010, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/93-year-old-sen-byrd-is-doddering-barely-able-to-function-yet-he-hangs-on-is-power-that-yummy/540497 "2010-05-23T20:40:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/93-year-old-sen-byrd-is-doddering-barely-able-to-function-yet-he-hangs-on-is-power-that-yummy/540497/21 "2010-05-24T03:00:32Z")
> [@Lamar\_Mundane](#): > > George Wallace was an example from the right side. While he wasn’t celebrated by the left, he didn’t receive the constant denigration from the opposition as Byrd constantly gets. George Wallace last held office in 1987—I think the political climate has changed quite a bit since then, and there has been a general decline in civility in the landscape of politics, and maybe in the culture as a whole. I just can’t believe that if it was found out (for example) that some conservative politician was recorded using racist language as a young person, or a photo surfaced showing him dressed in a Nazi uniform at a costume party in college that the liberal pundits and Democratic politicians would just shrug and dismiss it as youthful hijinx. Quite frankly, as a very liberal person myself, I am not 100% sure that they SHOULD be absolved of such beliefs or actions, just because they happened several years in the past. I (as I said upthread) honestly believe that if someone is motivated enough to join an organization such as the KKK as a young man, it is pretty unlikely that they don’t have some residual baggage even decades later. Only Robert Byrd knows the content of his own heart, but just because he is a member of the political party that I most often align with dosen’t mean I can’t think he is a pretty poor excuse for a senator, and maybe for a human being—Simply by virtue of his old age dosen’t give him an automatic pass in my book. Old men can be racist assholes with the best of them… ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/93-year-old-sen-byrd-is-doddering-barely-able-to-function-yet-he-hangs-on-is-power-that-yummy/540497/22 "2010-05-24T03:15:24Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > So explain to this non-American how this senator’s seniority translates into dollars for his State? He is the [king of pork](http://councilfor.cagw.org/site/PageServer?pagename=news_byrddroppings). ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/93-year-old-sen-byrd-is-doddering-barely-able-to-function-yet-he-hangs-on-is-power-that-yummy/540497/23 "2010-05-24T04:26:20Z")
> [@Neptunian\_Slug](#): > > As Chairman, nothing goes to a vote if you don’t bring it for a vote. So guess what, nothing gets to a vote without your appropriations in the bill. As discussed elsewhere, this notion of earmarks is foreign to us non-merkins. So if you can just bear with us, it’s illuminating and appreciated. This Committee Chairman’s veto is granted under standing orders or by convention? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/93-year-old-sen-byrd-is-doddering-barely-able-to-function-yet-he-hangs-on-is-power-that-yummy/540497/24 "2010-05-24T04:35:55Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > By the way, his website doesn’t advertise the fact that he was once a “Grand Kleagle” in the KKK-why is this? He doesn’t want Tea Partiers pestering him for autographs. ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/93-year-old-sen-byrd-is-doddering-barely-able-to-function-yet-he-hangs-on-is-power-that-yummy/540497/25 "2010-05-24T04:53:59Z")
> [@Lamar\_Mundane](#): > > Due to his seniority, he became the chairman (In times of Democratic control of Congress) of the Appropriations Committee, which is where spending bills are generated. So just to be crystal clear on this - this is an actual Congress/Senate rule of some sort that Chairmanships go to the most senior Senator/Congressman out of … all Senators and Congressmen? All from the party in control of the House? All who apply for it? Or is the importance of seniority mainly a matter of custom? ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/93-year-old-sen-byrd-is-doddering-barely-able-to-function-yet-he-hangs-on-is-power-that-yummy/540497/26 "2010-05-24T05:23:32Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > He’s clearly a Sith. Even though I’m a democrat, I’d pay good money to see him force lightning Pelosi. I mean, not really, but it’s a great mental image. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/93-year-old-sen-byrd-is-doddering-barely-able-to-function-yet-he-hangs-on-is-power-that-yummy/540497/27 "2010-05-24T06:12:26Z")
I’d also like the throw in that he is one of the nation’s foremost scholars on the history of the Senate. ---
**Author:** ![Shmendrik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Shmendrik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shmendrik)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/93-year-old-sen-byrd-is-doddering-barely-able-to-function-yet-he-hangs-on-is-power-that-yummy/540497/28 "2010-05-24T06:47:19Z")
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#): > > I’d also like the throw in that he is one of the nation’s foremost scholars on the history of the Senate. That becomes less of an accomplishment when you realize that he has seen most of it. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/93-year-old-sen-byrd-is-doddering-barely-able-to-function-yet-he-hangs-on-is-power-that-yummy/540497/29 "2010-05-24T07:09:24Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > He doesn’t want Tea Partiers pestering him for autographs. They would deny that is why they want the autographs, and claim they want the autograph on “principle”. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/93-year-old-sen-byrd-is-doddering-barely-able-to-function-yet-he-hangs-on-is-power-that-yummy/540497/30 "2010-05-24T11:30:24Z")
Where can I find it? Did it make it into the Congressionsal Record? I recall a bit of it: “…the dog died…he died…and the dog died…” This is what the senior/senile senator from WVA thinks is important! ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/93-year-old-sen-byrd-is-doddering-barely-able-to-function-yet-he-hangs-on-is-power-that-yummy/540497/31 "2010-05-24T15:44:36Z")
Still more on the ball than Palin. All that matters is how he votes anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Neptunian\_Slug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce7236/32.png) [@Neptunian\_Slug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neptunian_Slug)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/93-year-old-sen-byrd-is-doddering-barely-able-to-function-yet-he-hangs-on-is-power-that-yummy/540497/32 "2010-05-24T16:08:47Z")
> [@Aspidistra](#): > > So just to be crystal clear on this - this is an actual Congress/Senate rule of some sort that Chairmanships go to the most senior Senator/Congressman out of … all Senators and Congressmen? All from the party in control of the House? All who apply for it? > > Or is the importance of seniority mainly a matter of custom? No people can and do leapfrog spots to get the Chair even if seniority calls for someone else to get the job. At the beginning of the session both party caucuses go behind closed doors and vote on who will get certain slots on committees. A junior member who has endeared himself to leadership and the caucus certainly could get elected over someone who has stepped on toes over the years. But out of tradition (and possibly some internal rules to which i am not privy) both parties tend to observe the convention of seniority. ---
**Author:** ![Neptunian\_Slug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce7236/32.png) [@Neptunian\_Slug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neptunian_Slug)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/93-year-old-sen-byrd-is-doddering-barely-able-to-function-yet-he-hangs-on-is-power-that-yummy/540497/33 "2010-05-24T16:21:03Z")
> [@penultima\_thule](#): > > As discussed elsewhere, this notion of earmarks is foreign to us non-merkins. > > So if you can just bear with us, it’s illuminating and appreciated. > > This Committee Chairman’s veto is granted under standing orders or by convention? Well the committees are where the legislative business is handled. Pretty much nothing goes to the Senate floor with being reported favorably out of a committee (let’s ignore discharge petitions for right now since they never work) So if the chairman doesn’t bring the matter to a committee vote, there is no committee report and no floor debate and no floor vote. Much of this process is covered by rule. But all that being said, most of the members of the appropriations committees can pretty much slip items into the appropriations. So the senior member of the majority party (the ranking member) can add their own appropriations as well. So its good to be on the committee even if you aren’t in power. But being the chairman just gives you that added level of power to make sure whatever you want gets into the bill. ---
**Author:** ![Neptunian\_Slug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce7236/32.png) [@Neptunian\_Slug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neptunian_Slug)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/93-year-old-sen-byrd-is-doddering-barely-able-to-function-yet-he-hangs-on-is-power-that-yummy/540497/34 "2010-05-24T18:33:09Z")
In my prior post, I should have said that nothing goes to the Senate floor without being reported favorably by committee. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/93-year-old-sen-byrd-is-doddering-barely-able-to-function-yet-he-hangs-on-is-power-that-yummy/540497/35 "2010-05-24T19:36:13Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Still more on the ball than Palin. > > All that matters is how he votes anyway. As the king of pork he is the poster child of national debt. He is everything that is wrong with Congress. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/93-year-old-sen-byrd-is-doddering-barely-able-to-function-yet-he-hangs-on-is-power-that-yummy/540497/36 "2010-05-25T05:18:41Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > As the king of pork he is the poster child of national debt. He is everything that is wrong with Congress. Then when he does retire everything will be perfect and you will stop bitching about Congress? He is the poster child of home district spending, but he is hardly the only guy who does it, he is merely the best at it. Frankly, that is his job, being elected by the people of WV. Until the system is changed, that problem will remain. Unless you get members of Congress who are willing to forgo money being spent in their home districts on invent a system where it does not happen, it will continue. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/93-year-old-sen-byrd-is-doddering-barely-able-to-function-yet-he-hangs-on-is-power-that-yummy/540497/37 "2010-05-25T05:28:37Z")
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#): > > Then when he does retire everything will be perfect and you will stop bitching about Congress? I don’t know how you could have read my post and not understand my displeasure for the institute as a whole. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/93-year-old-sen-byrd-is-doddering-barely-able-to-function-yet-he-hangs-on-is-power-that-yummy/540497/38 "2010-05-25T05:56:05Z")
No, I got that. Your alternative would be what? The California Legislature? It is much worse. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/93-year-old-sen-byrd-is-doddering-barely-able-to-function-yet-he-hangs-on-is-power-that-yummy/540497/39 "2010-05-25T14:30:00Z")
> [@Lamar\_Mundane](#): > > West Virginia is third in the country in pork spending (earmarks) at $146 per capita. By contrast, Wyoming gets only $12.28 per capita. I wonder if those figures include farm subsidies and grazing on public lands. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/93-year-old-sen-byrd-is-doddering-barely-able-to-function-yet-he-hangs-on-is-power-that-yummy/540497/40 "2010-06-28T00:14:47Z")
Bumping this in light of [recent news.](http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/06/27/senate.byrd.hospitalized/index.html?hpt=T2) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/93-year-old-sen-byrd-is-doddering-barely-able-to-function-yet-he-hangs-on-is-power-that-yummy/540497.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/93-year-old-sen-byrd-is-doddering-barely-able-to-function-yet-he-hangs-on-is-power-that-yummy/540497.md?page=3)