Senator Robert Byrd (D, West Virginia), known for remarkably long-winded, bloviating, rambling, melodramatic speeches has now surprised and shocked most everyone by not only coming out with open support for Judge Samuel Alito’s confirmation, but mightily slapping the Senate, the Democrats and Ted Kennedy in the process.
During yesterday’s speech in the senate, Byrd said in part:
I feel compelled to address this issue, not to point fingers to scold, or to assign blame, but to address specific, sincere,and heartfelt concerns that have been brought to my attention by the people of West Virginia. Many people, including foremost the people of West Virginia in no uncertain terms were, frankly, appalled by the Alito hearings. I don’t want to say it; but I must. They were appalled.
It is especially telling that many who objected to the way in which the Alito hearings were conducted do not support Judge Alito. In fact, it is sorely apparent that even many who oppose Judge Alito’s nomination also oppose the seemingly “made for TV” antics that accompanied the hearings.
A solemn, constitutional responsibility is not helped when it takes on such a tone.
And then there was the media and its contribution to the deterioration of this very important Constitutional process. Was it really necessary to subject Mrs. Alito to the harsh glare of television klieg lights as she fled the hearing room in tears, fighting to maintain her dignity in response to others with precious little of their own?
Have we finally come to the point where our nation’s assessment of a Supreme Court nominee turns more on a simple-minded sound bite or an exploitive snapshot than on the answers provided or withheld by the nominee?
Obviously, something is wrong with our judicial nominations process, and we in the Senate have the power to fix it.
I refuse to simply tow the Party line when it comes to Supreme Court Justices. Of course, I am a registered Democrat. But when it comes to judges, I hail from a conservative state. And, like a majority of my constituents, I prefer conservative judges – – that is judges who do not try to make the law.
Byrd makes an exceptional summation:
In the end, the heavy duty bourne by members of the Senate to evaluate and reject or approve the President’s nominees for the high court should come down to each Senator’s personal judgment of the man or woman before us, augmented, of course by such judicial records and writings as may exist. I know not exactly what kind of Justice Samuel Alito may actually be – – no one does. But my considered judgment from his record, from his answers to my questions, and from his obvious intelligence and sincerity, leads me to believe him to be an honorable man, who loves his country, loves his Constitution, and will give of his best. Can we really ask for more?
Senator Byrd, who has provided me with much verbal entertainment over the years (and once a member of the Ku Klux Klan), took a brave turn from the normal lockstep Demo boundaries and voted with his feet and, oddly enough, his brain. This decision and public statement came at the same time that John Kerry called openly for a Democratic filibuster against Alito.
Today, two days after Kerry’s war-cry, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid admits the Democrats simply lack the votes necessary to block Alito’s confirmation.
“Everyone knows there are not enough votes to support a filibuster,” Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada said Friday. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., said the same thing on Thursday. “A bipartisan majority will vote to confirm Judge Alito as Justice Alito,” Frist said.
Robert Byrd stepped up and did the right thing; for that reason, he is Today’s Hero.
And it’s likely the last time he’ll make this award. . .
I love that the Dems just give up because they don’t have enough votes to change something. Instead of having a legitimate argument or reason that Alito should not be appointed they reply we will only make a change when we have enough backing. I do consider myself to the right but I do have respect for the “independent” party. They will never win and know it but they still throw up a lamb for slaughter because they feel a need for change.
I am tired of people being denied or bills being defeated ONLY on the basis that it was presented with a (D) or (R) in front of the authors name.
I think it is really cool that he started with the fact that he is responding to his people.
“This was the first time ever that a Senator has called for a filibuster from the slopes of Davos, Switzerland. I think even for a Senator, it takes some pretty serious yodeling to call for a filibuster from a five-star ski resort in the Swiss Alps. (Laughter.)” – Press Briefing by Scott McClellan
All Fed Up: Unfortunately you are quite correct. I can recall the days when the parties kinda, sorta worked things out between the aisles.
The Dems have gone off the end for one sole reason: in the past 10 years the Right has finally found a Voice; first through radio via Rush (then a whole host of spin-off right wing radio hosts), then from the Internet, then targeted magazines, then blogging. Never minimize blogging; it was the Blogosphere that was responsible for marketing politics, and Right Wing politics, first.
This translates to a loss of power. The Right actually has had the temerity to “fight back” and the MSM, traditionally a backer of the Left, is losing its power as well.
NS: YES! That’s the thing I found amazing as well, that he was responding to clarion calls from the people he represented!
Texas Fred: Kerry is such a wonk. He set himself up perfectly for McClellan’s comment. And Kerry STILL hasn’t given up on attempting a last ditch filibuster.
Can you say LAH-HOO-ZER?
In spite of the appearance they’ve put up for years, there may actually be some Democratic congressmen and women that on occasion will put America ahead of politics. That’s encouraging and I can only cheer when one of our representatives comes across as American rather than a party lockstep.
To be fair too many Republicans have also shown too much of the negative side of that.
Blo,
excellent! You have just proved a point about republicans.. We give credit where credit is due.. Unlike most liberals.. It doesn’t matter what Bush does.. even if he agrees with them, and spends, spends spends… They turn around and slam him for the spending…
Conservatives aren’t like that. If a dem does the right thing and puts what is best for the people above himself, it deserves a standing ovation.
You won’t see it done in return by most libs.
Fish: that was the thing that SO surprised me about Byrd. He’s a rambling nutjob but, I suspect, sufficiently old to do a couple things: 1. See the writing on the wall and 2. Actually give a crap about constituent backlash.
Rebecca: also a good point I hadn’t thought of, because I hadn’t thought of how it may have applied to myself or others.
But I still think Byrd did the right thing and I can’t, bottom line, fault him for that.