Uneasy about Byrd uncertainty (FailingHealth)

[pscot]

Source: Washington Post

... Byrd, at 90 the longest-serving senator in history, has been ill for much of the past year. That has sparked behind-the-scenes intrigue over his chairmanship of a committee that controls about $1 trillion in annual federal spending.

Those discussions flared again last week as public debate on the war funding vote neared, according to aides and senators who would discuss them only on the condition of anonymity. At a leadership meeting of about 15 Senate Democrats, they said, the talk of replacing Byrd came up as the senators realized the bill needs to be addressed, most likely in a public hearing next week....

...The Capitol Hill newspaper Roll Call has reported that an effort is underway to oust Byrd, while the Hill has suggested that Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.) has privately thrown himself into the mix to replace the ailing chairman. That would breach senatorial tradition because it would require leapfrogging a more senior colleague on the committee, Sen. Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii).

Byrd has responded with phone calls to colleagues to reassure them that his health is improving...Byrd's office called the talk of his stepping down from the committee chairmanship "petty rumor-mongering" and said he will serve out the year....





Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/15/AR2008041502793.html?sub=AR

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The article speculates that Byrd may step down at the beginning of the new Congress, following the example of the late Strom Thurmond

[OKthatsIT]

1. WOW $1 Trillion budget...why havent I been watching him

He's been a very controversial character for decades.

[Thothmes]

2. The vultures can hardly wait, what a shame

[davidinalameda]

3. he's not in the best of health

he probably should step down but then WV would suffer

he's brought billions to the state and there is no one with his clout that can replace him

[japple]

4. Strom Thurman was dead for 2 years while still serving in the

Senate for the State of South Carolina! IIRC, the GOP kept him around to maintain their majority. Best of luck to Sen. Byrd. I always liked him in spite of his racist past.

[greiner3]

5. Not to make light of the situation;

However, do you remember the scene in, "Holy Grail" where they are ringing, "Bring out your dead, bring...?" I'm terrible on names, so you have to picture the rest; One MP (Monty Python) is pushing the dead cart. Another MP comes up and gives up his father. The father says, "But I'm not dead yet." Then he continues with, "Actually I'm feeling pretty good." At this point the cart guy hits the 'dad' on the head, supposedly killing him. Convoluted yes, close to being accurate, I think.

All that was brought up by the passage, "Byrd has responded with phone calls to colleagues to reassure them that his health is improving." Not if there is a MP close by.