91-Year-Old Sen. Byrd Hospitalized

[sabra]

Source: AP


91-year-old Sen. Byrd hospitalized with high temperature

Sen. Robert C. Byrd, 91 and the longest-serving senator in history, was hospitalized last Friday with a temperature spike evidently caused by a minor infection, his office announced Monday.

Byrd, a West Virginia Democrat, "is being treated with antibiotics, responding well and is expected to be released from the hospital in a few days," the office said in a statement.

Byrd has been in Congress since 1952 and was first elected to the Senate six years later.

He has been plagued by health problems in recent years, uses a wheelchair and sometimes appears frail. He has been hospitalized several times.

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=7614249

[cali]

1. best wishes for a speedy recovery

but I still think he should retire.

[able1]

2. He's also one of the most honorable

Sen. Byrd has served his country well and I hope he recovers quickly.

[rocktivity]

3. Is there a good dem we can replace him with

if necessary?

:headbang:
rocktivity

[onehandle]

4. In West Virginia?

Democrats are done there for a while. It's an extension of the "racist belt."

[blueclown]

6. Doubt it.

This state is going to a Republican senator when Senator Byrd retires or dies, IMO. We may get ultra radical wingnut Jay Wolfe.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

14. his longtime aide, Anne Barth, would be a good pick

she ran a respectable bid for congress last year
more on her here:
www.marshall.edu/cd

The new secretary of state, Natalie Tennett, is very progressive and very popular

Congressman Nick Joe Rahall is a solid Dem, but he has so much seniority in the House, it would be a step down for him to move to the Senate.

Unfortunately, the choice will be made by rightwing faux-democrat, Joe Manchin - who may well appoint himself, if Byrd were to step down

[kestrel91316]

5. Oops. I thought he died a couple of years ago. He really should retire,

Democrat or not. I don't know much "work" he can do for the people of WV these days.

[Zen Democrat]

7. The governor of WV is a Democrat. n/t

[Zen Democrat]

8. And both WV Senators are Democrat .... I don't see Republicans winning much there.

They may not be liberal Democrats -- but they aren't Republicans.

[cloudythescribbler]

10. What KIND of Democrat is the WV Gov?

[Zen Democrat]

11. Well, at least the kind to appoint someone to the Senate Democratic Caucus!

For heaven's sake, Bob Byrd is no liberal. I recall when he was Majority Leader of the Senate when Jimmy Carter was POTUS. Byrd was a thorn in Carter's side.

But for now, keeping our numbers up in the caucus is extremely important. I think Democrats have to start counting Ben Nelson as a de facto Republican. Thankfully, there's always a potential to pick up Republicans such as Snowe, Collins, and Lugar.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

13. in name only

Joe Manchin is a guy who, in 1996, openly campaigned for the Republican nominee for governor (a former coal executive), because he felt the populist Democrat and former school teacher was "too liberal"

Manchin screws our party so often that he makes Lieberman look like Ted Kennedy

[onenote]

15. and Byrd votes with the Democrats less often than Bill Nelson

Its West Virginia.

And, yes, having a Democrat in office there -- even if its a clone of Byrd or Manchin -- is important.

[peace13]

9. Energy and good thought to you Senator Byrd. n/t

[Wednesdays]

12. K&R

:kick:

[defendandprotect]

16. Gov. Joe Manchin is a Democrat . . . hope that works for us . ..