I heard a tiny portion of it earlier today and wanted to hear the whole thing.. so went looking for it this evening. Pres.Bill Clinton gave quite a good memorial service speach.
On November 18 Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV) became the longest serving Member of Congress having served in the House since 1953 and the Senate since 1958. He spoke briefly in the Senate about this milestone.
Very moving. That man really missed his wife.
If you go to Youtube to see the clip (by doubleclicking on the video), you will see many other clips right along with it... including this one.
Sen. Robert Byrd on the 1964 Civil Rights laws
-- Edited by Sanders on Friday 2nd of July 2010 11:32:59 PM
__________________
Democracy needs defending - SOS Hillary Clinton, Sept 8, 2010 Democracy is more than just elections - SOS Hillary Clinton, Oct 28, 2010
I heard a tiny portion of it earlier today and wanted to hear the whole thing.. so went looking for it this evening. Pres.Bill Clinton gave quite a good memorial service speach.
I respected Sen. Byrd for the extreme importance he placed on the constitution, holding it as almost sacred. He served this country for many years, and is to be admired for that. My respect for the senator diminished greatly in 2008, when he endorsed Obama - after Hillary Clinton, who had been a loyal Byrd supporter, won his state by a landslide. It was said that Nancy P. was responsible for Byrd's Obama endorsement, having made a generous contribution to Byrd from her PAC. Whatever the reason, it was not his finest hour, IMO.
Condolences to his family, friends, and constituents. He was an institution.
__________________
It was we, the people; not we, the white male citizens; nor yet we, the male citizens; but we, the whole people, who formed the Union.... Men, their rights and nothing more; women, their rights and nothing less. ~Susan B. Anthony
I respected Sen. Byrd for the extreme importance he placed on the constitution, holding it as almost sacred. He served this country for many years, and is to be admired for that. My respect for the senator diminished greatly in 2008, when he endorsed Obama - after Hillary Clinton, who had been a loyal Byrd supporter, won his state by a landslide. It was said that Nancy P. was responsible for Byrd's Obama endorsement, having made a generous contribution to Byrd from her PAC. Whatever the reason, it was not his finest hour, IMO.
Condolences to his family, friends, and constituents. He was an institution.
i never knew that. maybe that is why in Bill's eulogy he said everybody so far today has canonized Byrd but I will humanize him. then went on to recall minor run ins with Byrd in his southern aw shucks way
freespirit, It is very clear from the videos above just how much of a constitutionalist Sen.Byrd really was. There were things he did and did not do (voting for the Civil Rights Act) that always cast a bad light on him, and still does. As we see above, that man had come a very long way in internalizing the true meaning of equality - empathy with fellow human beings is quite apparent in the video clip of Sen.Byrd from last year. The other thing frankly that I do fault him for is the unfair share of federal income tax that flowed into WV through him. WV is quite possibly the highest beneficiary of federal income tax. But of course, he viewed it as his job to do so and that is understandable. However, it clearly "stole" money from other states.
The first time I heard of Senator Byrd, i was in a library named after him and checking out books. I read about the man before I ever saw his face or saw him in action. I have to say that even in wheelchair, he was spirited. You clearly knew what he was passionate about whenever he spoke in the well of the Senate.
All in all, he was a very good man, and really loved serving his people.. He touched many with his devotion to the USA, to his State, to the Constitution, and to his beloved Irma.
Here is Associated Press clip of the event which is quite good:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZS6rKW4-SjA
Here are a couple of other clips, from audience viewpoint, with the body in state, in front of the WV Senate house - which I might add is quite a majestic building.
RIP Sen.Byrd.
-- Edited by Sanders on Saturday 3rd of July 2010 12:49:35 PM
__________________
Democracy needs defending - SOS Hillary Clinton, Sept 8, 2010 Democracy is more than just elections - SOS Hillary Clinton, Oct 28, 2010