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I have mixed feelings about Byrd. He was one of those few Dixiecrats who chose to stay with the Democrats, after LBJ got the Civil Rights bill passed, but he was still racist. However, he was an ardent supporter of the military, and cared about our troops. Byrd was against wasteful spending, but was the king of pork, which was quite an enigma.
Yes, Senator Byrd, like most politicians, is a mixed bag, with both good and bad aspects. But I am quite surprised that nobody is talking about the BIG story here. While people are either trashing him or defending him, they are missing the big picture - The next Senator from West Virginia is surely going to be a Republican, thus shoring up the GOP's ability to wage war on Obama's agenda, via the filibuster. How could people miss this? This is huge.
You're correct. Coal is not the ONLY industry left, but it dwarfs all other WV industry.
hehe Yup, I've driven those roads a ton. Currently driving 250 quite a bit, over the mountains between Charlottesville and back home in WV. And I've driven 92 a ****ing ****load. BEAUTIFUL drive! It was my straightaway between my parent's place and getting back to the river.
It takes a 'conservative' to remind us all that Byrd was once in the KKK. I am surprised that you didn't call him 'sheets' as many 'conservatives' do.If Byrd was a Republican all headlines would read something like "Former KKK member, Robert Byrd (R) dead at 92."
Oh well, my condolences to his family.
No... the next Senator from West Virginia will definitely be a Democrat. Not sure why you think a Democratic governor would appoint a Republican to Byrd's seat.
Actually, I love Charlottesville. It's big enough to do whatever I want, awesome bands come and play right down the street from where I work, but it's small town enough to be ... well... small town-ish.Didn't realize you were West Virginian Riv. How you liking Charlottesville?
And yeah, god bless WVA tourism. Snowshoe is by far the best snowboarding in the immediete Virginia area (though sadly been a few years since I've been). And with Charlestown opening up the Hollywood Casino we get a nice place to go for a weekend of gambling without having to deal with the obnoxious Jersey Turnpike.
Heading there for my bachelor party in August actually
That would only be temporary, and the election that counts will be this fall.
Yes, it is big, but chemical production is pretty huge. See Charleston.
And, btw... it IS considered a southern state since it's south of the Mason Dixon line.
No... the next Senator from West Virginia will definitely be a Democrat. Not sure why you think a Democratic governor would appoint a Republican to Byrd's seat.
Byrd's current term expires on January 3, 2013. Under West Virginia state law on handling Senate vacancies, "if the vacancy occurs less than two years and six months before the end of the term, the Governor appoints someone to fill the unexpired term and there is no election". Otherwise, Manchin would appoint an interim replacement, and an special election would be held in November to determine who held the seat in 2011 and 2012.
If Byrd had lived another week, the Democratic governor would get to appoint his successor, otherwise there will be a special election.
FiveThirtyEight: Politics Done Right: Senator Byrd is Ill; A Note on West Virginia's Vacancy Laws
It takes a 'conservative' to remind us all that Byrd was once in the KKK. I am surprised that you didn't call him 'sheets' as many 'conservatives' do.
'Conservatives' continue to whine they don't get a fair shake in the media, no surprise there.
And publicly admits to being wrong. How often do you see politicians do that?
Byrd's term was through 2012, so the appointment should be for the next two years.
You are wrong, O Ballot Box Breath. :mrgreen:
The wording of the law of succession in West Virginia is vauge and ambiguous, which means the GOP is going to challenge. My prediction is that the Republican party's challenge will be successful, and there will be a special election this November.
Whenever it is politically expedient.
I grew up in the south. There were a LOT of people that are exposed to racist attitudes. A lot of people from ALL races (Cubans were the forgotten minority in Florida of the 60s and 70s) were adversely impacted by the race situation. But VERY FEW people full on embraced racial hatreds so much so that they joined the Klan. Not only did he join, he excelled. That wasnt a youhtful indiscretion...that was a way of LIFE. His behaviors have ALWAYS been calculated. On the plus side...its good to know folks are so forgiving to people like Strom Thurmond.
Yeah, it was a way of life for like... a year. And how does one "excell" in the KKK? LOL
Seriously, he grew up in very racially divided times, raised by a member of the KKK, you don't think his early views would be tainted by that? He changed his views, and policies, he grew with the times. That's what's important, and that's a mark of an intelligent person, IMO. As opposed to so many who latch onto one thing and never ever let any information change their views on it.
So if he was a reformed nambla dood, would you let him babysit your chitlens? :ssst:
That's really not the same thing. That's like comparing a rapist to a man who just used to have sexist views. Or, comparing a man who touts raping women as a great thing to do vs a man who used to have some sexist views.
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