Senator Byrd dies today, ending his 12th 6 year term as Senator

Editor's notes: West Virginia's 12 term Senator, Robert "Pork Barrel" Byrd died this morning, shortly after 4 am pst. In 1944, he wrote a letter in which he declared that he would never fight next to a black man and 20 years later, he voted against the 1964 Civil Rights bill. Byrd was a big dog in the KKK for years, despite claims to the contrary but in his old age, "repented" of his bias and worked to help correct some of his wrong-headed decisions.

He was a buffoon on camera and of little consequence as a leader in the Democrat party. His claim to fame was his ability to bring money to his state. In fact, he and the other dead guy, John "the crook" Murtha were the kings of pork in Congress.

The single most notable expressed concern of Senator Byrd was his stated opposition to Obama's misuse of the "czar" staffing strategy -- an effort on the part of Obama to circumvent Congress -- a practice Byrd angrily spoke out against . . . . . . so he wasn't all bad. We do not rejoice in his passing but we, also, do not pretend that he distinguished himself in Congress. --- jds.