[Deke40]

This is one of the root problems with our government. Here is an excert from the article:

He's a champion of "earmarks" - pet project spending that critics also call "pork." He's helped bring home to West Virginia $326 million for 2008 alone, according to Citizens Against Government Waste.

I don't care if they are Democrats or Republicans they need to move on after a given length of time.

[Wino]

Read in another thread that Byrd was about to become the longest serving senator with 20,000+ days in office. That's about 15,000 too long IMHO. Term limits work for the prez - should also work for senators and representatives IMHO.

[Drabdr]

Originally Posted by Deke40

This is one of the root problems with our government. Here is an excert from the article:

He's a champion of "earmarks" - pet project spending that critics also call "pork." He's helped bring home to West Virginia $326 million for 2008 alone, according to Citizens Against Government Waste.

I don't care if they are Democrats or Republicans they need to move on after a given length of time.

Originally Posted by Wino

Read in another thread that Byrd was about to become the longest serving senator with 20,000+ days in office. That's about 15,000 too long IMHO. Term limits work for the prez - should also work for senators and representatives IMHO.

Valid concerns... but I am a simpleton.

It's called a VETO, and Presidents don't use it (well...except Reagan).

And again, the hypocrisy of voters. They complain about spending like this, but then vote in the same old dinosaurs to go to Capitol Hill.

[TooBad]

Originally Posted by Deke40

This is one of the root problems with our government. Here is an excert from the article:

He's a champion of "earmarks" - pet project spending that critics also call "pork." He's helped bring home to West Virginia $326 million for 2008 alone, according to Citizens Against Government Waste.

I don't care if they are Democrats or Republicans they need to move on after a given length of time.

I know many from WV, and they love Byrd because if they call his office about a problem (any problem, large or small) he takes action and usually fixes it in favor of the person. Whether or not that was the correct action to take legally has very little to do with it from what I have heard from them. I think that they will vote for Byrd for the next 100+yrs. All you need to do there is change your name to Robert Byrd and run for office. You'll be a sure thing!

[Wino]

Originally Posted by Drabdr

Valid concerns... but I am a simpleton.

It's called a VETO, and Presidents don't use it (well...except Reagan).

And again, the hypocrisy of voters. They complain about spending like this, but then vote in the same old dinosaurs to go to Capitol Hill.

Two out of three ain't too bad. The problem IS the electorate. Thanks for the morning laugh re Reagan and the use of the Veto.

[Knotbored]

So far all the comments are accurate and to the point. I am old enough to recognise that age sometimes gives a person paths to solutions overlooked or rejected by younger folks, and that works in Byrds favor. But I am young enough to recognise that he individually is influenced and directed by groups wanting concessions to pay for their political support. Also even though he is still probably quite brite-the world has been altered so much, and he has been isolated from common folks so long he no longer considers consequences to the nation, only consequences to VW votes.

[katonca]

Originally Posted by Wino

Term limits work for the prez - should also work for senators and representatives IMHO.

I agree. Someone correct me but term limits are a way of political life from city council, through State representatives and then the president. They skip congress for some reason. Maybe they would simply join the masses of the unemployed if they weren't in office.

[poochee]

I'm for term limits. Get some new blood in there! Perhaps they would tend to business better if they knew they had limited time to accomplish objectives.

[Deke40]

Originally Posted by katonca

Maybe they would simply join the masses of the unemployed if they weren't in office.

With 237 millionaires in the House and Senate they could probably loan the other half enough to get by.

[Wino]

Originally Posted by poochee

I'm for term limits. Get some new blood in there! Perhaps they would tend to business better if they knew they had limited time to accomplish objectives.

We need them while they are young, idealistic and eager to please. Once they get set in the ways of greed, graft and eternal suckling on Uncle Sam's largess they need to be shuffled out. As we used to say, "Never Trust Anyone Over 30"!!

[poochee]

Originally Posted by Wino

We need them while they are young, idealistic and eager to please. Once they get set in the ways of greed, graft and eternal suckling on Uncle Sam's largess they need to be shuffled out. As we used to say, "Never Trust Anyone Over 30"!!

I agree!!

[Deke40]

Originally Posted by Wino

As we used to say, "Never Trust Anyone Over 30"!!

Now I say "don't trust anyone over 80".

[LuckyStrike]

There is no question that Senator Byrd brings home the gravy for the folks in WV. He is West Virginia's senator, not Texas's senator, not California's senator, not the Democratic party's senator, not the administration's senator. I respect him for that.

Now in Illinois we have Dick Durban. He is the Democratic party's senator, their lapdog, their hitman. His constituents come last. He can afford this because as long as he has the support of Mayor Daley, his seat is safe.

[TooBad]

Originally Posted by LuckyStrike

There is no question that Senator Byrd brings home the gravy for the folks in WV. He is West Virginia's senator, not Texas's senator, not California's senator, not the Democratic party's senator, not the administration's senator. I respect him for that.

Now in Illinois we have Dick Durban. He is the Democratic partie's senator, their lapdog, their hitman. His constituents come last. He can afford this because as long as he has the support of Mayor Daley, his seat is safe.

And that is why having the Senators elected instead of appointed by the State legislatures was and is a very bad idea!!

[LANMaster]

Originally Posted by poochee

I'm for term limits. Get some new blood in there! Perhaps they would tend to business better if they knew they had limited time to accomplish objectives.

You're going against your own party on that one.

Dems are the ones staunchly opposed to term limits.

House record vote:
To place term limits on members of Congress

Failed, 227-204, view details

Dem: 38-163 opposed,
GOP: 189-40 in favor,
Ind: 1 opposed

Democrats overwhelmingly oppose term limits.

Now I'll bet that you oppose them too.