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Of Senators and Framers

By John R. MacArthur

The cramped gift shop on the Senate side of the U.S. Capitol sells only one book by a serving senator—a slim, red volume misleadingly titled The Senate of the Roman Republic. Misleading because its author, U.S. Sen. Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia, composed it not as straightforward history but as a cautionary tale about the death of the Roman… return to article

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    Thank you for posting this article. As an American devoted to the preservation of the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights and the values associated with them I am very grateful for the courageous contributions of Senator Byrd is making at this crucial juncture of our history.

    From all appearances he stands among the few in Congress to possess such penetrating insight and broad perspective. But he does not stand alone and never will, because in the heartlands of America his words have resonance. I am confident that history will regard him in the highest favor. 

    I have followed his speeches and read commentaries in a number of sources. I admire his logic and talented expression.
    Senator Byrd has earned a place on my (short) list of contemporary political heroes.
    I look forward to reading this book. 

    United States Posted by Dr. Charles Albano on Dec 5, 2003 at 6:22 PM

    Robert Byrd is one of your heroes???

    You know he was in the KKK, right?

    United States Posted by brad on Dec 5, 2003 at 6:45 PM

    No.  I didn’t know he was in the KKK. Please provide proof, documentation, substantiation of that charge.

    United States Posted by John O'Neil on Dec 5, 2003 at 7:22 PM

    You ass holes are crazy as loons.  Try to get a life.

    United States Posted by jim bob on Dec 6, 2003 at 5:55 PM

    I am surprised that you guys didn’t know this.

    This is the first site I found, there are more

    http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAbyrd.htm

    United States Posted by brad on Dec 6, 2003 at 7:23 PM

    Byrd was in the KKK. George W. was an alcoholic. Call it even.

    United States Posted by nightwatchman on Dec 6, 2003 at 9:07 PM

    Robert Byrd is my political hero.he was right about the war.He is right about Bush.God bless him.He will never be killed by silence.

    United States Posted by Rita Lowe on Dec 7, 2003 at 11:21 AM

    Great story.  I’ll share it.

    United States Posted by Charles on Dec 8, 2003 at 2:51 PM

    Byrd is almost the only senator who has spoken out for the truth over the last year.  I admire him for this and wish that his Democratic Party colleagues were able to muster even a portion of his courage and independent thinking. 

    United States Posted by Tod Sloan, PhD on Dec 8, 2003 at 3:19 PM

    It’s funny that every detraction to Sen. Byrd bears only one fact: he used to be in the KKK. Putting aside for a moment that it would have been extraordinay for a 1946 politician from the South to NOT have been in the KKK - one can only wonder that these are the same detractors who ralllied to the likes of Trent Lott as Senate Leader and who wanted to crucify President Bill Clinton for the unforgivable act of being a man that actually enjoyed getting blowjobs from women. Where are the common standards from conservatives?

    It is becoming tragically obvious that this country is becoming extremely polarized along near 50-50 lines. For true patriots, this is much more alarming than any one President’s spending bill or one Senator’s speeches.

    In an age where computerized voting machines can easily be tampered with (they provide no reciept and are as tamper-proof as Las Vegas slot machines) the “American People” have much more to worry about that Sen. Byrd’s history.

    This nation is threatened from some serious rotting within. I don’t think even republicans [unless they earn more than $10 million per year from a trust fund] can refute that our great nation is in trouble.

    It’s time to listen to the message instead of shooting the messenger.

    United States Posted by Ed Mellon on Dec 8, 2003 at 7:34 PM

    I am very impressed with the article.  I would subscribe to your magazine, but I don’t seem to have time to read the ones I already subscribe to.

    United States Posted by Suzanne Jonson on Dec 8, 2003 at 9:02 PM

    Ed-

    You make a good point on how politicians will attack each other not based on what they did but what party they were in.

    But you’re still wrong. Do I think that Trent Lott should still be a senator? Sure, if people vote for him. I wouldn’t. But I wouldn’t vote for Byrd eitherl.

    United States Posted by brad on Dec 10, 2003 at 5:15 PM

    Brad,
    Good point - tough to say if I would vote for Byrd either. Unortunately sometimes we have to take what we can get, which is really the sorriest statement of all on the workings of our capital. . .
    It’s kind of sad that a former Klansman is the only person in Congress standing up against a doctrine of pre-emptive violence. Strange days indeed!

    United States Posted by Ed Mellon on Dec 12, 2003 at 3:24 PM

    Brad,
    Good point - tough to say if I would vote for Byrd either. Unortunately sometimes we have to take what we can get, which is really the sorriest statement of all on the workings of our capital. . .
    It’s kind of sad that a former Klansman is the only person in Congress standing up against a doctrine of pre-emptive violence. Strange days indeed!

    United States Posted by Ed Mellon on Dec 12, 2003 at 3:25 PM

    Sen. Byrd has on many occasions described his remarks associating himself with the KKK as “a serious mistake born out of youthful indescretion.” His record since that time( 50 years ago) stands on it’s own merits.  What contribution to the public good have any of his detractors made, or are they so occupied with “the politics of personal slander” that they just don’t have time for constructive activity?

    United States Posted by Sir Scud on Dec 17, 2003 at 10:49 PM
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