Dems look to replace Byrd with bird brain

Don Surber:

In his re-election bid last year, Robert C. Byrd took up the stupid self-title of “Big Daddy.” I guess Prince of Pork was not good enough.

Now John Bresnahan of Politico said Democrats may take the big hambone out of the pork barrel picture.

A group of Senate Democrats has begun quietly exploring ways to replace the venerable Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) as chairman of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, believing he’s no longer physically up to the job, according to Democratic senators and leadership aides familiar with the discussions.

Under one scenario being circulated in Democratic circles, the 90-year-old Byrd would be named “chairman emeritus,” and Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) would become “acting chairwoman” for the remainder of the 110th Congress.

As the only newspaper columnist in the state willing to criticize him, I am still saddened by his deterioration. At the editorial board meeting last fall, his hands shook like the wings of a bird desperate to escape.

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Byrd is obviously not up to the job at this point, but Patty Murray has never had the mental spark needed for the job. She is proof of the myth about liberals being smart. From her ridiculous claim about Osama bin Laden being popular for providing child care and other liberal amenities to her needless pork (remember the unwanted new ships sitting in her state), she will create a target rich environment for Republicans if she replaces Byrd. Democrats really have a shallow bench with a lot of shallow thinkers. Only GOP ineptitude has brought them to a majority position.