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OMG...did you people not read the article? He's not retiring from the Senate. He's leaving the position as head of the Appropriations Committee within the Senate. No need to send him off like he's retiring from politics.

No comment. It's great to know that free speech is alive and well.

Once Byrd is finally out of the senate, Ted Stevens will officially become the biggest coot

Don't forget Senator Byrd's contribution to animal rights.

Sen Byrd has more patriotism in his little toe nail than 99 % of the dimwits who write on this blog.

Sen Byrd spent a lifetime in the Senate fighting and compromising for directions that he and many others felt would lead this country to a greater place. And he always stood up for his constituency while there. Isn't that why we vote our representatives into Congress?

I am not against term limits per se, but there has been a few people that spent a lot of time in Congress that made a difference. They're on both sides of the aisle and Sen Byrd is definitely one of them.

Sen. Byrd is a hero here in WV. Shame on all of you that have said negative things.

It is about time. He is a prim example why we should have term limits.

Senator Byrd, another voice like that of Barack Obama who was against Bush's disaster of a war in Iraq from the start. He still has much to say to us all, if we're smart enough to listen.

I'm from WV. I am a lot more to the left than Byrd, but I appreciate his hard work. He has done a lot for a state that has remained 49th in just about everything. We wouldn't have a lot of the roads and infrastructure that we actually do have if it wasn't for him. Everyone who thinks he is a racist is probably shouldn't be throwing stones because I'm sure at some point in their life they had been ignorant. I'm not condoning his acts because I think they are horrible, but people change, times change, society changes. I hope we continue to get what bit of funding we do receive but I doubt it. One person's pork barrell is another person's needed bridge, or road, or other worthy projects. Some of the things are ridiculous, but what's 3 million when we're dropping 10 billion in Iraq each month. What's 500 million when how many billions are unaccounted for from the no-bid contracts received due to the Iraq War. Squeeze Haliburton and see if a lot of "missing" money doesn't start falling to the ground. If you want experienced people to craft laws and to guide policies, you need experienced individuals as well as new blood coming into office. If you limit the amount of money that can be spent on campaigns, you'd even the playing field and let only the truly worthy people remain in office for 40 years. But that would be too simple.

Senator Byrd is truly a remarkable gentleman.
He is the living memory of the history of the Senate and of this country.
And he is a man of principle.
Think of the changes he has seen in this country and he forged those changes in himself to adjust to the new world he encountered.
He's a truly ethical person.
When he waxes at length on the history of a bill, and he remembers all the bills which preceded it and why this particular piece of legislation is necessary now, I never fail to learn something about American legislative history.
Thank you, Senator Byrd, for your service to our country.
Judy in Big Thicket of Texas
(And Terry from Ohio: Give President-elect Obama credit for having a sense of humor about the selection of the new First Dog.
I thought it was a clever remark which placed this "news" up against all the thorny problems he is wrestling with.)

God has blessed America with the wise leadership of Senator Bryd, a genuine elder of, for and by We, The People. There are precious few like him anywhere, anytime. He incarnates Wisdom.

Having lived in West Virginia until my retirement 15 years ago, I had the pleasure of dealing with Sen. Byrd on several occasions over the years. He is one of the most dedicated persons that the Senate has ever seen and he always strived mightily to do what he felt was best for the country and for West Virginia. He is a true patriot ans I thank him for his dedicated service.

Hey It begins...you are clueless my friend. BO will have nothing to do with Byrd's replacement. Nice try but you might want to go back and read your high school freshman civics text book.

God bless you Senator Byrd. Thank you for all that you have done for the beautiful sate of West Virginia! I know that people say you are the king of "pork", you just did what the people of West Virginia voted you in to do, and furthermore, why wouldn't you help the people who elect you. Why did you endorse Obama, that's worse than all the "pork" in the world? Democrat or not, I DNO NOT trust him!!! God bless this country, if people keep trying to leave GOD out, HE will not bless us! Get rid of the "America haters!!!

Thanks Senator Byrd!!!

I lived in WV for 3 years in the late '70s and didn't care for Sen Byrd very much. As others have mentioned, he is the King of Pork. However, he did a lot of good for the people of WV and they are the ones who keep electing him. Reading the prior comments, I wonder:
1. How do people who have no sense of how the Constitution is written to separate powers manage to use a computer with their limited intelligence?(Obama will no appoint any one to a leadership role in the legislature. The House and Senate leadership does this)
2. Are we ever going to get past Hillary, McCain, the KKK 50 years ago?
These are serious times with serious problems and we need serious people with real solutions. Remember, if you are not part of the solution, then you are part of the problem. God bless the USA.

Dear senate thank you, for all you have done and yet you look like
the youngest in the house ,keep doing.

Robert C. Byrd has done so much for our state and god bless him. As for all you people out there that hate him for some of the very stupid remarks he has said all I can say is that I understand you are not big fans of him. However, being from WV I can say that we here in the state are very fond of him and are very grateful for everything he as done for us over the years. And even though you don't like him at least try and show some respect for the man and stop your hateful comments. It does no good to insult people via the internet and it is pretty childish

I hope he isn't stepping down b/c Obama was elected. If so I feel sorry that we have people in high places who are so stupid and still have racist hearts.

The word Mutt is used for dogs of mixed breeds not people half white and half white. The President -Elect was referring to himself as being of mixed breeds. HIMSELF!! No one else!!! Why should anyone be "hurt"?The fact is most of us are of mixed breeds. I am Scotch-Irish and German.

This is what is wrong with America. Byrd should have been retired 30 years ago.To hell with what party he belongs to. Every bridge, every park, every street-every monument is named after this man. I believe basically this man is good but he couldn't give up his control. That is why we need term limits!

If this was in fact his decision, it was the only sound, rational one he has made in decades. He is a fossil in mind, body and spirit; he has long since outlived his utility as a Senator aside from delivering millions in tax payer provided pork to his under acheiving state of West Virginia. He is the antithesis of what our founding fathers intended legislators to be. The former Clansman, a Senator since 1959?!? Amazing. (This is just my opinion, no one needs to defend their position or attack mine.)
Bless

Can't wait to have you back at our meetings!

Good move by Byrd. Not that familiar with his views but if he feels that he can no longer be effective than it is time to step down. Maybe some other politicians should follow his lead. Too bad our current President did not have this same "ah hah" moment years ago.

I say 2 cheers for Byrd for using goo common sense and judgement.

Like Strom Thurmond and Jesse Helms before you - it's GREAT to see you go.

Goodbye, God bless, good luck, and don't forget to pick up your fresh white sheets at the cleaners.

So the clansman leaves government service when a black man is elected President? Isn't that interesting.

Brenda-
You disgust me, you pathetic racist. Think of some other reason to dislike Obama other than his race. Ignorant trollop.

Sen. Byrd has served this country in the Senate from the Eisenhower administration through the Bush administration. He is a national treasure. Imagine the history he has seen first hand in the Senate. He warned us not to go to war in Iraq, but was ignored. All he warned could happen, did in Iraq. Age is not a reason to force a representative from office in the Senate. We must learn from the history he provides us, or we are doomed to repeat it as we were in Iraq.

SEN. BYRD HAS SHOWN THROUGH EXAMPLE, AS OPPOSED TO MERE WORDS, THE STOUT HEART OF A PATRIOT, AS IS PRESIDENT-ELECT OBAMA. WE SHOULD ALL RECOGNIZE THAT A STATESMAN, OF THE CALIBER OF SEN. BYRD, NEEDS TO BE VIEWED FOR WHAT HE IS, A TRUE ICON OF FREEDOM, LIBERTY AND JUSTICE…AN AMERICAN!

Yes, Sen. Byrd is the king of pork but WV has needed that support. Our inside joke is "thank God for Mississippi" or we would be last in the nation in just about everything but teen smoking rates. Senator Byrd has served West Virginia and the nation very admirably and bought the people of Appalachia out of scratching out an meager existence toiling in a coal mine or working a rocky field by bringing government offices and knowledge based jobs to West Virginia. Despite his age is he among the most progressive public servants in the senate. I thank him for his years of service.

Thanks for your service. Now please exit the door stage left. Leave congress now. Go home! We're waiting. OK. Just stay already. Oh..wait...we said that 10 years ago! GET OUT!!!!!!

Did he give up his membership in the KKK also? Just wondering.

a 91 year old to be replace by an 84 year old

now that's the changes democrats are talking about LOL

Term limits, please!! These rapidly self-embalming fossils like Byrd are way out of touch with America - and what it's like to work for a living. They're "mini-popes" seemingly with positions for life, thanks to cronyism, pork delivery and the blind followers in their states. There's a reason that the congressional approval rating is no better than Bush's... and it's those who sit there well beyond their usefulness... Stevens, Kennedy, Byrd, etc. Loitering at the public trough knows no partisanship.

Do all of you throwing praise at Senator Byrd know that he was a one time KKK member? If he were a Republican you'd all be saying how the GOP is made up of a bunch of racists.

Byrd's earmark-heavy style of politics, which was all about bringing home the bacon to his state, wouldn't mesh well with Obama's reform agenda anyway. This is probably for the best.

1. it's wv not wva. #2 Did you guys think that maybe he just recognizes that he's older and can't handle all of the extra work. Why must it be about him not being able to handle Obama? Byrd has repeatedly admitted that his racist past was unacceptable and has cried openly about his shame. Can't a person change? If they can't then this nation will never ever change.

God Bless Mr. Byrd from Arkansas Democrats.

I did not know you are called a MUTT if your half black and half white. This hurt me hearing him say this. What a way to start a new administration!

Senator Byrd:

Thank you so much for your tireless service to WV and to our country. May God bless you as you continue to contribute your wisdom to our governmental process.

This Democratic (Mr. Senate Bird) look good at 91 year young. ,One thing I can say Democratic a winner and this one is a pillar of the party for many years. God bless you and your Family.

I just thought of something. He gets to retire now AND enjoy his NATIONALLY PAID FOR HEALTHCARE that we taxpayers all foot the bill for. This really stinks.

I for one am sad to see Senator Byrd step down from any position he holds. Although he is 91 he is by far sharper than most of his fellow senators. He has done wonderful things for our state and I hope and pray he does many more. If the people of WV wanted him to step down he would have lost his last election. I should be so blessed to think as clearly and speak half as elequently as this man when I am in my 50s let alone my 90s.

Wasn't he in the KKK? Does this seem to anyone else that he just wants to get away from an American Black President of the United States?

Suddenly he is "maybe too old", but he wasnt feeling that way until AFTER a black man won the presidency?

He's not fooling anyone.

Byrd is a Democrat. How did he chair any committee for the last 10 years, when the Republicans held control until two years ago?

Retire right away. BYRD The former KKK member. Nobody will miss you !!!

You served well Patriot. Shame there weren't more statesmen
like yourself. Don't worry yourself with some of these statements
by the most ignorant of people that have never served one day
for their country in any capacity whether in the military, or public
service, but of course they are always the ones to criticize.
Pathetic really. (Laugh).

If McCain's too old at 72 to be pres, how can the dems think these two geezers have any idea what they're doing?

Setting Term Limits does not necessarily targeting individual based on age. It simply makes common sense to balance out the advantage that incumbants have and to renew democracy.

Age itself should not be an issue as long as the individual is mentally sound.

Good move on Byrd's part. Also kept this position from becoming a hot potato in the next session.

Not happy with President-elect Mutt?

GOD bless Robert Byrd. For all of you who are concerned with creating term limits let me remind you, we already have term limits. They are called ELECTIONS.

sad day for West Virginia!

will he take his hood with him??

Stand by for the dirt to come out soon on KKK byrd and his democrat goons!

Hey "It Begins"

Why not let your frustration and bitterness rest for a while? I've read you all over these sites, and you say the same thing over and over again. Why not let the new President Elect get his feet under him and actually PICK people before you start the hate-fest? It's not like your precious buddy Bush appointed anyone other than cronies at key positions (including but not limited to stacking the Justice Department). The least you could do is keep quiet until there's actually something to rant about! Unless, that is, you actually have something CONSTRUCTIVE to say....

Senator Byrd is a great American, thank you for your service to our Nation. And all the negative comments, didn't your mothers teach you, if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all?
Come on, you don't have to agree with his politics, and you don't have to agree that everything he did was good. But he truly cared about this Nation. He even apologized for the mistakes of his past and he admits he's never been perfect. But he tried and did his best. Give him the credit he is due.

Another old goat that needs to go. McCain, Stevens, Byrd.....
Time to impose 12 year limits.

Of all who have made negative comments about Senator Byrd above, I wonder how many have participated regularly in the political process of this democracy, let alone performed a minute fraction of the public service Senator Byrd has. He is a person of intellect and vision who has burnished our democracy.

There are so many people out there that have NO idea on how our government works it is sad. Get your facts right so you don't look so stupid know who appoints what and who has to be confirmed it's basic!

It's time to working towards term limits for congress, age limits for Supreme Court and a MAJOR look at their "golden" retirements. After all we don't get retirement and health care for "working" for such a short time. Since they don't collect or pay into social security means nothing to them. This is something that "we the people" are they only ones can address. Let's throw in the fact that they vote themselves a raise it should be up to the vote of the people.

Senator Inouye is a great replacement. He is a true hero , a Medal of Honor winner with great insight into the workings of the Senate.

He sure looks good for 91!

A great senator to be admired and respected.
Thank you for your service.

It begins...
Please, get a life and quit being so cynical. Government is necessary even with it's flaws. We can sit back and complain or we can do our part to make it better – I chose to try to do my part. It sounds as if you could use a little "therapy".

Congressmen don't serve the President . That's the whole point of separate branches of government. What is wrong with you?

Wow. That's interesting.

Thank God!

Like him or not, Byrd is an American institution. Also, he's being replaced by an 84 year old Hawaiian. That's progress?

Senator Byrd was heard saying the following:

"Senator Obama. I worked with Jesus. I walked with him, I broke bread with him. You, Senator Obama, are no Jesus."

In the aftermath of its warm, fuzzy glow, tears of joy are shed and proclamations made by people on their knees, hands clasped, looking gratefully skyward in thanks, sobbing women on the View, cry elation for a supposed landmark election for Civil Rights, an historic campaign for the first Black President.

While Farrankan describes Obama as the “coming new Messiah” David Gerber on CNN likens him the “Jeremiah to Martin Luther King’s Moses” (huh boy…)

As Oprah Winfrey triumphantly proclaims “America did the right thing”,

I seem to be the only one to notice that
• gay people still aren’t allowed their constitutional right to free speech, to call their unions marriage, nor right to Taxation with representation and have legal marriage, that
• the most qualified candidate, a woman, was dismissed in a media blizzard-smear campaign of misogyny, lies and phony polls, had to
• beat her opponents in 21 consecutive debates, still loses to the most unqualified candidate in history simply because he is a man. He voted 131 times "present". We needed a Madam President, not a mr. present.

He got more votes, for and against, than any other candidate in history. Americans remain divided more than ever.

It’s time now for the corrupt Obama to return the favors to his corporate hedge-fund backers for the 90% of his raised 700 million, (oh, you thought it came from small donations on the internet? Ha, ha). They still own America (and Obama).

Rahm Emanuel, the most contentious frontman Obama could hide behind,...tsk tsk...

Now delusional with a new sense of equal rights, America remains a hypocrisy ruled by corrupt corporate bigots.

Well this is reform already

I hope he takes his vast list of ear marks with him...

Pork baby... it's all about the pork

Buh, bye you should have done this ten years ago

Should go to Hillary if she wants it – 18 million votes.

Farwell to the true pork barrel king. With any luck his departure will shorten the list of earmarks President-Elect Obama will be confronted with as he takes office.

Senator Byrd is stepping down as chairman of a committee not stepping aside as U.S. Senator.

He still plans to serve on the committee and others just not as the chairman. That seems logical considering his recent health problems etc.

I wish him well as he continues to serve the people of WV.

yeah, you have to wonder though if some are having just a little bit of trouble serving our new CIC.

No need to worry, because BO will replace him with another Do-Nothing Washington Democratic Elite who he owes a favor to. Same old Washington, same old policies. All at America's expense.

thank you for your service, enjoy your retirement.

Answer: Send earmarks to WV. What was the question?

The longest a senator should serve is 12 years. 40 year too long for one person to be in office. Let him step down.

I agree. Time for new leadership. Like Emanuel who has good financial experience. 16 months on board of freddie mac during 2000 and 2001. He earned that $260,000.

Respect, - Giving up that kind of power is not easy, and that has to be recognized and commended.

i like how he said he would step down after being sure of the democrats pick up of seats. that's funny.

Thank you for your dedication and service to this country Senator Byrd.
Your life and integrity expemplify the core values that our constiution was founded on.

That guy is the poster child for the term limits argument, with Ted Kennedy being a close second.

Byrd should be retired from the Senate. Time for Change. Inouye is no spring chicken. Given how old Inouye is, Reid had better get another Senator warming up. Aren't there any young Democrats in the Senate?

Good bye after 49 years it's time to go. Why didn't you mentor other WV politians with young and fresh ideas. Same ole garbage.. looking after self then state then country.

Sen. Byrd the people of WV have much to thank you for. Thank you for being a wonderful public servant.

BRAVO.. it is time for NEW ideas and new leadership.

A true statesman and loyal Democrat. Senator Bryd can see that CHANGE has come and his best way to support that is by stepping down respectively and allowing a younger, vibrant Dem to step on in. I salute you sir.

Some say we are to move forward however Obama is looking at policies by FDR to get the country out of this mess......hmmm....more like we are going backwards. If McCain was too old to run for President then this guy should have been kicked to the curb a long time ago....funny how descrimination is only allowed by the Dems.

In the words of the Great, Legendary Southern Rock Band: Lynrd Skynrd, and I quote, "Ohhhh Fly....High....Oh Free 'Byrd' yeah...."

Meow...50 years is a long time! He looks good for his age though

Time for a change!!!

Dear Obama,
Please pick Clarke as your Secr of Defense. With his experience as NATO Commander, he will serve this country well and be able to give you great advice.

Thank God..

Well it shows some good judgement...perahps he also needs to consider resgining...he is old and not in good health, and this may the first step in a change for WVA.

Bless your heart, you old rascal. You've been good for WV and the country – rest now.

Thank you for your life of service!
(...but didn't CNN report convicted Senator Stevens of Alaska as the longest serving senator just last week?)

This is a surprise.

He's 91 years old! The mind might be willing but the body is not able. This nation has to move forward to the future or this country will be lost!

Thank You. You are a GREAT example of change. I heard you are a fierce supporter of the Constitution. I am an admirer. You voted against the war

A TRUE HOMER .... KING OF EAR MARKS

thank you for your service GOOD BYE