# Sen. Robert Byrd dead at 92 **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [June 28, 2010, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-robert-byrd-dead-at-92/544768 "2010-06-28T10:34:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-robert-byrd-dead-at-92/544768/21 "2010-06-28T19:25:21Z")
> [@puddleglum](#): > > Both should be on the poster for term limits along with FRK. Well, I tried to solve it on my own. Who is FRK? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-robert-byrd-dead-at-92/544768/22 "2010-06-28T19:26:11Z")
> [@puddleglum](#): > > Byrd was the master at using taxpayer money to build monuments to his own ego. What monuments? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-robert-byrd-dead-at-92/544768/23 "2010-06-28T19:28:09Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > What monuments? [The New York Times lists some:](http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/29/us/politics/29byrd.html?pagewanted=2&hp) > [@](#): > > Citizens Against Government Waste, a nonpartisan watchdog group, regularly crowned him the “king of pork,” citing projects like the Robert C. Byrd Highway, two Robert C. Byrd federal buildings, the Robert C. Byrd Freeway, the Robert C. Byrd Center for Hospitality and Tourism, the Robert C. Byrd Drive and the Robert C. Byrd Hardwood Technologies Center. I don’t know if he was responsible for any of the names, but there you go. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-robert-byrd-dead-at-92/544768/24 "2010-06-28T19:31:06Z")
Were there long Senate tenures before the passage of the Seventeenth Amendment? I would think political footballing at the state level would have made Senate tenures much less secure back then. ---
**Author:** ![tim314](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim314/32/3468_2.png) [@tim314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim314)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-robert-byrd-dead-at-92/544768/25 "2010-06-28T20:08:03Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > How _racist_ is that? :dubious: > > You must condemn Mark Twain far more strongly for writing _Huckleberry Finn_, don’t you? Are you reading only for the existence of a word, or for content? Was his point that people saying the N-word aren’t being racist, because in his opinion the word can also be applied to whites? If so, I do think that’s kind of racist, or at least it’s a bullshit defense of racists. If not, what exactly was his point? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-robert-byrd-dead-at-92/544768/26 "2010-06-28T20:22:14Z")
His point had _nothing to do_ with people saying the N-word, not as such, not in regard to blacks, and to any extent it did it refer to people using it that way he was deploring them too. Had you read the whole passage, you’d realize he was _deploring_ racism, and deploring the ignorance and hatred of “white trash” using a term that had been common when he was growing up. But all you saw was the N-word itself, right? Again, have you ever read _Huckleberry Finn_? Chock full of it, you know. Thanks for bringing that old GOP talking point back from the Trent Lott defense, though. Good to know it’s still out there. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![tim314](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim314/32/3468_2.png) [@tim314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim314)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-robert-byrd-dead-at-92/544768/27 "2010-06-28T21:36:13Z")
All I read was what **hajario** quoted above. I’ve never heard this quotation before, nor have I any knowledge of the context in which it was given. My “what exactly was his point?” was meant sincerely. ---
**Author:** ![hermann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b487fb/32.png) [@hermann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hermann)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-robert-byrd-dead-at-92/544768/28 "2010-06-28T22:09:33Z")
How is a Byrd ass-kissing thread a “Great Debate”? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-robert-byrd-dead-at-92/544768/29 "2010-06-28T22:33:31Z")
> [@hermann](#): > > How is a Byrd ass-kissing thread a “Great Debate”? I guess the question of who will replace him, and how it will affect the political balance of the Senate, is debatable. ---
**Author:** ![hermann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b487fb/32.png) [@hermann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hermann)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-robert-byrd-dead-at-92/544768/30 "2010-06-28T23:13:06Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > I guess the question of who will replace him, and how it will affect the political balance of the Senate, is debatable. Well, I figure it will be another conservative Dem. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-robert-byrd-dead-at-92/544768/31 "2010-06-28T23:27:40Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > Well, maybe the guy did some good-but the river of pork that Byrd directed to WV is pretty good evidence of why we need term limits on politicians. First, there are term limits in the Constitution, Represenative’s terms are limited to 2 years, Senator’s terms are limited to 6 years, and President’s terms are limited to 4 years. Unfortunately Presidents are also limited to 2 terms, which has created a problem of making any re-elected President a lame duck. Secondly, how about pork limits? I doubt Byrd’s passing will greatly change the amount of pork barrel spending by the congress. ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2010, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-robert-byrd-dead-at-92/544768/32 "2010-06-29T00:02:49Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > [http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100628/ap\_on\_go\_co/us\_obit\_byrd](http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100628/ap_on_go_co/us_obit_byrd) > > This will be an interesting replacement. Gov. Joe Manchin-WV is a Democrat, but is very conservative. There is some speculation that he will appoint himself. He is pro-life, an NRA member, a tax cutter, and doesn’t like spending. If he was in any other state in the country, he would be a Republican. > > Whoever gets appointed won’t be anything close to a liberal icon like Byrd. The other problem is that Manchin is as corrupt as the day is long. You thought Dubya liked Cronyism? You ain’t seen nothin’ yet.. ---
**Author:** ![blinkthrice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ba8739/32.png) [@blinkthrice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blinkthrice)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2010, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-robert-byrd-dead-at-92/544768/33 "2010-06-29T01:59:31Z")
gee, a former klansmen died? pardon me for not caring. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2010, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-robert-byrd-dead-at-92/544768/34 "2010-06-29T05:26:51Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > As long as tenure is a decision maker in Senate seats and positions, you would do well to return your senators and congressmen. After they get to head committees they are very powerful. That is when they can help deliver their promises. I think the idea behind term limits is that senators would be less parochial. I think you can probably have earmark reform without interfering with a voter’s right to elect whoever they want. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2010, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-robert-byrd-dead-at-92/544768/35 "2010-06-29T05:30:54Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Secondly, how about pork limits? I doubt Byrd’s passing will greatly change the amount of pork barrel spending by the congress. As much as I don’t want as little waste in government as possible, how much do you think we spend in earmarks every year and what percentage of those earmarks do you think is suboptimal spending? ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2010, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-robert-byrd-dead-at-92/544768/36 "2010-06-29T12:39:02Z")
[http://www.wvmetronews.com/index.cfm?func=displayfullstory&storyid=37843](http://www.wvmetronews.com/index.cfm?func=displayfullstory&storyid=37843) It seems as if the appointment will serve until 2012 when a special election will be held. The strange part is that Byrd’s term would have been up then, so the special election for the remaining 5 weeks! of his term will be held at the same time as the general election for the full term. I’m not sure if the same person could run in both races. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2010, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-robert-byrd-dead-at-92/544768/37 "2010-06-29T13:27:01Z")
> [@blinkthrice](#): > > gee, a former klansmen died? pardon me for not caring. It’s not possible for anyone ever to learn or reform, is that it? > [@hermann](#): > > How is a Byrd ass-kissing thread a “Great Debate”? Besides the bit about honoring the dead, there seems to be some disagreement about what he did that made the world a better place, and what did not, and why. There’s also the bit about understanding what racism is. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2010, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-robert-byrd-dead-at-92/544768/38 "2010-06-29T13:55:28Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > To live 92 years, doing a job you love, was a great gift… for us and for him. For him, sure, but not so much for the country. I ignore the Klan stuff as a product of his time and place, but his [actions in office](http://reason.com/blog/weekly/2010-06-27#article_142194) were manifestly those of a man primarily in search of power and glory for himself. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2010, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-robert-byrd-dead-at-92/544768/39 "2010-06-29T22:50:52Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > Well, maybe the guy did some good-but the river of pork that Byrd directed to WV is pretty good evidence of why we need term limits on politicians. So interior states can stay poor? :dubious: > [@puddleglum](#): > > Byrd was the master at using taxpayer money to build monuments to his own ego. This I can believe. There’s a lot of stuff with his name on it in W. Va. That said, a poor state like W. Va. is probably better off with that kind of ego than the other kind–the kind that just offers platitudes about pulling oneself up by bootstraps to the people back home & can’t wait to get away & befriend rich outsiders for himself. Term limits support the latter kind; they feather their own nests & go into the private sector. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2010, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-robert-byrd-dead-at-92/544768/40 "2010-06-29T23:00:28Z")
> [@blinkthrice](#): > > gee, a former klansmen died? pardon me for not caring. I was no fan of Byrd until I saw his pleas not to invade Iraq. A poster child for pork & careerism, but he had good points. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-robert-byrd-dead-at-92/544768.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-robert-byrd-dead-at-92/544768.md?page=3)