Byrd Makes History
By JOSELYN KING Political WriterArticle Photos
WHEELING - U.S. Sen. Robert C. Byrd again makes history this week.
On Wednesday Byrd, D-W.Va, becomes the longest-serving member ever in the U.S. Congress. He will have served 20,775 days at the U.S. Capitol, which comes to 56 years and 320 days
The milestone comes just two days short of Byrd's 92nd birthday on Friday.
Gov. Joe Manchin has announced the state will commemorate Byrd's tenure in Washington with a celebration in Charleston on Wednesday.
Manchin will join members of the Legislature, congressional staff members and fellow West Virginians "to pay tribute, celebrate and recognize the many accomplishments of the state's senior senator," according to a released statement.
"On Nov. 18, a West Virginian breaks all records and makes history," Manchin said. "Sen. Byrd sets the gold standard for what it means to be an outstanding public official, and next week he will reach a historic national milestone for length of service.
"Sen. Byrd is a man of the people who fights tirelessly for us every single day in Washington. West Virginians are so thankful for Sen. Byrd's service to our state and this ceremony gives us an opportunity to applaud his efforts. Gayle and I invite all West Virginians to participate in this very special day."
The celebration starts at 3 p.m. on the second floor of the rotunda at the State Capitol in Charleston, just in front of the oversized statue of Byrd on display there. An exhibit highlighting the senator's accomplishments will follow the ceremony. He is not expected to attend.
Byrd on Wednesday surpasses in tenure former U.S. Sen. Carl Haden, D-Ariz., who served 20,774 days in Congress between Feb. 19, 1912 and Jan. 3, 1969.
First sworn in as a member of the U.S. House in January 1953, Byrd has been a member of the U.S. Senate since Jan. 3, 1959.
He became the longest-serving member ever in that chamber on June 12, 2006.
Byrd was elected to his ninth term in Congress in 2006, and the seat is next up for election in 2012.
Byrd was born Cornelius Calvin Sale Jr. on Nov. 20, 1917 in Wilkesburo, N.C. His mother died during the influenza epidemic of 1918, and he was brought to live in West Virginia by his aunt and uncle, Vlurma and Titus Byrd. The couple renamed him Robert C. Byrd.
Byrd began his political career when first elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates in 1946. Since that time, he has never lost an election.
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someonesmom
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11-19-09 4:44 PM
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"Reactionary - Re: "someonesmom" is the typical lefty with the "outsiders need to remain quiet". They fear different thinking will undermine their influence with the locals and maybe upset their "big fish/small pond" position. It's pretty funny to watch, though. " LOLOLOLOL - my voting affiliation has nothing to do with my comments. I vote the issues regardless of whether they are democrat or republican. And again, no Reactionary, I am not wonderwhy as I believe wonderwhy has already stated.
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someonesmom
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11-19-09 4:35 PM
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formerohvalleyresident - I am not wonderwhy and I have no idea who that person is. I only post when I feel it is warranted. I don't like Rush Limbaugh, I never watch Fox News and as for the other people you mentioned, they mean nothing to me - I will admit to not even knowing who they are nor do I care. And Graysongs, every politican deserves some criticism but the lambasting that is created by yourself and a few others is undeserved and nasty. Maybe you all should run for public office and see how well you do.
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Graysongs
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11-17-09 6:34 PM
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Reactionary - Man, you should have just told the dumb broad that you spelled it wrong on purpose because you knew she wouldn't have understood it if you'd spelled it correctly!
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Reactionary
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11-17-09 4:30 PM
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wonder---the splng isnt as important as the fact that you knew what I meant.
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Graysongs
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11-17-09 2:44 PM
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wonderwhy - Nothing hypocritical. I openly and cheerfully admit that I will underscore and point out your stupidity at every opportunity. If I'd ever said I'd do it to everybody and then failed to do so, that would be different.
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wonderwhy
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11-17-09 10:07 AM
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wonderwhy graysongs doesn't call reactionary on misspellings? prob the same reason trollslayer doesn't. just being the typical hypocrites that they continually prove to be.
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Graysongs
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11-16-09 10:17 PM
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Reactionary - It always good to know we've helped a fellow traveller on this road laugh! Thanks for letting me know.
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linebacker
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11-16-09 10:13 PM
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Didn't know he was still alive. His office assistants prop him up like weekend at "Byrdies". They have been speaking for him for years. Lou Gehrig would be proud of that streak he set..since he probably knew him.
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Reactionary
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11-16-09 10:08 PM
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Not bad, for an old man,...Grays L M F A O !
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Graysongs
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11-16-09 10:04 PM
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Wonderwhy - No, I'm not even a Pisces and I've never even worked for scale, but I did once have an affair with a Finnish lady.
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wonderwhy
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11-16-09 9:58 PM
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React- incensed?
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wonderwhy
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11-16-09 9:56 PM
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React- Actually , no politics. just fun.
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wonderwhy
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11-16-09 9:54 PM
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React- then try not to presume that I am multiple posters. but thanks for the comment on the vaca. all good:)
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Reactionary
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11-16-09 9:54 PM
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and wonder, why are you so insensed by "out of towners"? They have 1st amendment rights too! Can I assume that you said NOTHING political to anyone while you were away on vacation? Or does that only apply to poster here that irk you? Personally, I enjoy the diversity of the arguement, wether I aggree or not.
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Reactionary
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11-16-09 9:35 PM
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wondermom---Nothing paranoid here!! I just like to jerk your chain and you always oblige with a whine!!!!!!*****:) BTW hope you had a nice vacation!...
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wvhoopie
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11-16-09 8:46 PM
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What a bunch of idiots. LOLOL.
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EllisWyatt
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11-16-09 8:23 PM
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Byrd Brain has been in the Senate since Ike was President! The only thing this disgrace knows how to do is bloviate and steal money from more productive states. From 1981-2005, West Virginians paid $131.25 billion in federal taxes. Impressive, right? Well, in that same period, West Virginia received $191.06 billion in federal spending, for a net theft of about $61 billion. And that was for just 24 of Byrd's 55 years! Where has the money gone? West Virginians aren't smarter, richer or healthier than they were 40 years ago. Where did the money go?
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wonderwhy
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11-16-09 8:23 PM
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graysongs- it appears that you are unable to stay in your pond, while you post in wheeling while living in tn. what's wrong? you think you are a big fish here? ha. so sad to be you.
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wonderwhy
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11-16-09 8:21 PM
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Hey reactionary- sorry to burst your conspiracy theory. I was on vacation. I do wonderwhy you can't realize that i am one poster. Hmmmm, maybe you are a couple of posters and trying to do the 'look over there thing;? you guys are weird. But I will say , my vacation allowed me to realize that being part of this choatic board isn't an important thing. I do wonderwhy you insist on the stupid conspiraciy that other posters are me. Paranoia is obviously one of your many 'issues' funny
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Graysongs
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11-16-09 7:36 PM
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Reactionary - Re: "someonesmom" is the typical lefty with the "outsiders need to remain quiet". They fear different thinking will undermine their influence with the locals and maybe upset their "big fish/small pond" position. It's pretty funny to watch, though.
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Reactionary
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11-16-09 7:17 PM
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atoddh---Thanks for the reply.
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atoddh
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11-16-09 6:55 PM
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Byrd sponsored extensive loan guarantee programs for US steel.WP took advantage of these.Byrd has always been pro-union/pro industry. Unfortunately,the locals in Wheeling have not requested money for new,diverse industrial projects: Rather foolish Downtown projects(Victorian Mall/Artisan Center) that have failed.Other areas of the State have prospered with industrial projects due to Byrd's help
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Reactionary
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11-16-09 6:37 PM
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atoddh--Just curious, but hows about elaborating on all the things B.Byrd did for Ohio Valley Steel. I don't remember seeing him up here at any time, wether it be STRIKES, CLOSURES, SALES,or STEEL DUMPING BY FOREIGN MANUFACTURERS. Like I said, just curious.
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Reactionary
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11-16-09 6:33 PM
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James T, 12:10 post---That stuff has been going on for over 100 years! And it's a d a m n shame too. But like bassman said, they keep doing the same thing over and over; expecting different results each time!
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atoddh
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11-16-09 6:32 PM
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"Do not look a gift horse in the mouth."
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