WASHINGTON (CNN) - West Virginia Sen. Robert Byrd was hospitalized late last week for a temperature spike caused by an infection, according to a statement released by Byrd's office Monday.
Byrd, a 91-year-old Democrat, entered the hospital last Friday afternoon as precautionary measure. He is "being treated with antibiotics, responding well, and is expected to be released from the hospital in a few days," according to the statement.
Byrd was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1958.
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waitingliberalizationbyCNN May 18th, 2009 12:35 pm ET
This senile idiot is the poster boy for term limits. Another typical Democrat, can't let go of power.
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You're kidding right maggot? Sounds like your whining republican @sswipes who can't get over the fact they lost power. Toooo bad fool.
reminds me of the supreme court justices, being appointed for life, well seventy five should be the cutoff age, for all so-call public service, polictical or whatever, most policticans etc, think no one else can do the job, may if the seventy plus club would go home write a book, feed the homeless be advisors, the employment situation would improve
I too am a democrat but if he died tomorrow I would not shed a tear. Once a racist always a racist!
WAAYYY TOO OLD to be still there....his constituents are babbling idiots, just like him.
With all due respect to Senator Byrd, it's way past time for him to step down. Term limits need to be put in place instead of warm bodies.
It is funny how many people are calling for this Statesman to retire. First,of all it is the his and the people of West Virginia to decide when he is done.
Second, where were all of you right wingers when Strom Thurmond was serving until he was a 100????
Why are we just now hearing about this??? Hope he doesn't have swine flu or the whole Congress will be knocked on its collective butt...oh wait, they are already there...doing nothing!
Whether you live in West Virginia or not, this ego-driven over-the-hill relic has been wasting YOUR tax dollars for decades. The voters of West Virginia naturally enjoy being lavished with money from the other 49 states, so they keep this geezer in office.
And, nothing partisan about this ... Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-SC) didn't leave the Senate until after his 100th birthday. Until we have term limits on members of Congress, very little will change in Washington. Get well, Senator Byrd ... and then, get lost.
I wish Sen Byrd a quick recovery.
He does look very frail in person on TV. Being 91 and a senator of this great country, obviously is not a high stress job.
To solve this problem the lawmakers should pass either term limits in Congress or make the job more performance oriented, "put their feet to the fire". Another good example is Ted Kennedy, he should take medical leave. The working people have to do it, why can't the Senator do it. You don't see this kind of stuff in the corporate world.
Obviously when you're sick or frail at 91, you're not productive. They should make room for the younger people.
He needs to retire! When will term limits be put in place?
I think there should be an age limit to be a senator , congressmen or what ever the job in Washington is. Time to move on–go home–enjoy life out of the limelight and give younger people the job. I dont think someone 91 is capable of making decisions that impack millions of people.
Senator Byrd has served his state and the country with dignity and effectiveness.
As an aside, term limits are a complete cop-out for people who do not have the sense to vote for people – rather than slogans or advertisements. California has thrown a number of competent and hard working people out of office because they were too lazy to cast intelligent votes. The successors were inexperienced and, by and large, run by lobbyists. Do you really want unelected people with bags of money running government?
This is truly a waste of human being. This guy is the PORK CZAR to keep his state running. This is the benchmark for term limits, I find it amazing that Congress is smart enough to impose term limits on the Prez but not for them. I believe that is the problem with this country and the old timers not getting with the program of change. I would like to see the Legislative and Judicial Branches have mandatory term limits. Heck, half of the Supreme Court age averages 140 years, my GOD, let them retire and kick in peace!!!!!
If the people of West Virginia had wanted his terms limited they would have given him no choice!
God Bless Senator Byrd and I wish him a quick recovering!
I have to admit, when I see or hear Byrd speak, the theme song to Deliverance begins ringing in my ears.
I, for one, totally agree with scott stodden, thank you Sen. Byrd!
Byrd's older than dirt, Geez, I was 2 years old when the old fossil was elected (unfortunately) to the Senate.
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Lori,
Put up or shut up..... coming from anyone from Florida is funny. Is FL the next poster state for bailout money.
Has your state figured out how to work the voting machines yet?
Please, the man is the king of pork and a posterboy for term limits. And he is no friend to the Constitution. He and the state's other senator, Rockefeller, is enough to make one cringe.
The people of West Virginia have every 6 years to decided if they wanted to imposs term limits. So far they have decided they like Byrd enough to reelect him. Sad for some, but the majority gets their way.
Byrd is a racist pork-barrel loving guy. BUT, he tried to warn congress to NOT go to war with Iraq for no reason. For that reason alone I respect him. If more people had listened to him, we wouldn't be in this mess in Iraq.
Oh, and you republicans who disagree with me, think about this: if congress HAD listened to Byrd, you might not have lost all of those elections...
I firmly expect that the Democrate tree huggers in here that are claiming that Byrd should remain and "that's what the voting booth is for" were the staunchest opponents of Senator Helms remaining in office. You see Dems you can't have your cake and eat it too. Blind liberals.
I sympathize with Sen. Byrd. Obama makes me sick too.