Sen. Robert Byrd Hospitalized

90-Year-Old West Virginia Senator Undergoes Overnight Observation

(AP)  Sen. Robert C. Byrd was hospitalized Monday night at his doctor's urging after suffering from lethargy and sluggishness at the Capitol and, later, at his home, a spokesman for the 90-year-old Democrat said.

Press secretary Jesse L. Jacobs said the West Virginia senator would be in the hospital overnight for observation.

Byrd, who is the longest-serving senator in history, voted during a 5:30 p.m. roll call Monday, then went home. Jacobs said the senator began to feel ill less than an hour later.

He was found to have a fever, and at his doctor's request he was taken to a nearby hospital.

Jacobs added that he didn't know which hospital Byrd was taken to.

Byrd was hospitalized March 5 for tests after a reaction to antibiotics. A week earlier he was hospitalized at Walter Reed Army Medical Center after a fall at home.

Last month, Byrd gave an emotional speech on the Senate floor after hearing the news that Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., had a malignant brain tumor. Kennedy, 76, underwent 3½ hours of risky brain surgery at Duke University Medical Center on Monday, an operation his surgeon pronounced a success.

Byrd has become significantly more frail - and sometimes prone to emotional outbursts - since Erma, his wife of almost 69 years, died two years ago. Earlier this year, rumors swirled that fellow Democrats thought Byrd was too feeble to remain at the helm of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Byrd silenced the whispering campaign with a strong performance at a hearing in April.

[taddles2]

"Yeah, I bet you had a lot of respect for Strom Thurman, didn''''t ya joe.

Posted by bretster7 at 10:39 AM : Jun 03, 2008"


Strom was vile, mean and hate filled to the end, the world is a better place without him.

[mudrose-2009]

IS TEDDY CRYING OVER HIM?

[grammawhamma]

And you libs call McCain old. LOL

[downsteamjim]

Byrd in white sheets. Deja vu

[mswolfestock]

Because he once recorded a fiddle album and appeared on Hee Haw.
Because after more than 50 years of service he is the 85 year-old dean of the United States Congress, winning more consecutive six-year terms in the Senate (eight) and casting more roll-call votes (16,000-plus) than any man (or woman) in the history of the Republic.


This is from Senator Byrd''s autobiography; I think he is a giant of a man and I dread the inevitable.

[mswolfestock]

Vanity Fair Nominates Senator Robert C. Byrd to its Hall of Fame:
Because he regretted supporting the notorious Gulf of Tonkin resolution during the Vietnam War and vowed never again to give a president unchecked power to wage war.
Because the senator stuck to his principles, and in February 2003, as war with Iraq approached, he stood virtually alone in condemning the administration for its saber rattling %u2013 and his colleagues for their haunting silence.
Because his anger and reason echoed across the Senate (and then crackled across the Internet): %u201CCalling heads of states pygmies, labeling whole countries as evil, denigrating powerful European allies as irrelevant . . . can do our great nation no good.%u201D
Because he has called for additional funds for homeland security, warning that there are %u201Chundreds of thousands of troops [in] . . . distant lands while the threat of terrorists is growing at home.%u201D
Because he is a student of history, a singular expert on the Senate%u2019s rules and prerogatives, and a renowned orator, apt to quote American presidents, ancient poets, Roman emperors, the Bible, and the Constitution in a single speech.
Because, despite briefly aligning himself with racists a half-century ago, he has changed not just in word but in deed: in the last Congress he scored a 78 percent rating from the NAACP.

[libh8er]

...they''''re dropping like flies.
Posted by ddhinnyc at 09:14 AM : Jun 03, 2008

just not fast enough......

[bretster7]

The man lost his wife of 69 years two years ago. Folks, can we have a little respect here for a great man nearing the end?


Yeah, I bet you had a lot of respect for Strom Thurman, didn''t ya joe.

[jetlizhan]

i think it''s time for this old man to step down and just relax.

[jn122736]

Best wishes for a good diagnosis and/or quick recovery.


Senator Byrd, like most senators, has had some good and some not so good attributes in his life/service history. He has been a credit to the senate for the most part.

He is the longest serving senator in history and is 90 years old.

There is a reason people usually do not survive that long in life, or in congress, and it is called lifespan. Not unlike a stalk of corn that sprouts up young, green, and full of life, reaches full maturity and productivity, then slowly withers and dies, as nature planned.

The human body, including the brain, deteriorates toward the end. That deterioration is much faster and more noticeable in some than in others.

Generally the brain APPEARS to remain more stable than the rest of the body but that is mostly because the brain is not directly visible and physical aging/deterioration cannot be witnessed the same way the outside of the body can.

If Senator Byrd had been running for president in his last election, his age would have been a far more serious factor and he, almost certainly, would not have been elected.

Often there are obvious signs of mental deterioration; forgetfulness and verbal blunders come to mind.

These things are quickly noted and, justifiably, pointed out when the subject is running for president of the United States.

[rational_1]

A 90 year-old hospitalized for sluggishness and lethargy? Isn''t that the default state of being for a 90 year-old? I wonder if something else isn''t up, a la Kennedy.

[sleepyric]

I remember watching a debate on the floor of the Senate featuring Santorum and Byrd. I was hoping Byrd would walk over and smash Santorum in his smarmy ugly face. Instead, Byrd pummeled him with words and finally shut the puke up. Santorum showed his true colors then, and the people of Pennsylvania got rid of him. I have had a lot of respect for Robert Byrd since that day. Best wishes for a speedy recovery. The one last true statesman in the Senate.

[joe1022joe]

The man lost his wife of 69 years two years ago. Folks, can we have a little respect here for a great man nearing the end?

[haoli25]

Tough times for old liberals.

[feelfree4u]

Re: "Senator Byrd is a living legend and one of the first to have the guts to speak up against this illegal war in Iraq. He spoke up when it was unpopular to do so, proving that he is a man of conscience."

Posted by o_nolan1

He did do that. Credit where due.

[o_nolan1]

Byrd and Kennedy sucking dirt together. And they say nothing good ever happens.

Posted by SistaTee

Do you believe in kharma? Do you have health insurance?

[o_nolan1]

Senator Byrd is a living legend and one of the first to have the guts to speak up against this illegal war in Iraq. He spoke up when it was unpopular to do so, proving that he is a man of conscience.

[sistatee-2009]

Byrd and Kennedy sucking dirt together. And they say nothing good ever happens.

[feelfree4u]

Re: "A week earlier he was hospitalized at Walter Reed Army Medical Center"

Is there any wonder why he is not feeling well?