Senator Relic

investmenttool.com Opinion

Senator Byrd of West Virginia a Democrat got into a public pissing match with Treasury Secretary O'Neill last week and its instructive of what happens when someone stays in office too long.

Mr. Byrd decided as he often does to try and trim back the sails of the executive branch. Apparently due to other policy concerns, both men thought it necessary to compare backgrounds. Both apparently grew up in homes without electricity and water, though Byrd topped that with marrying a coal miners daughter.

What is really at stake here is legacy. The news articles portray Byrd as a constitutional scholar that valiantly defends the rights of the legislative branch. That will not however be Senator Byrd's legacy.

Senator Byrd was once a proud member of the Ku Klux Klan. His later repudiation of their views and the sands of time will not erase that dirty stain on his history. Mr. Byrd is best known in Washington for his attempt to hijack the entire government and move it to West Virginia. He has been one of the most effective pork barrel politicians in the history of the US Congress.

Perhaps there is some merit in Mr. Byrd's strategy. Certainly the economy of West Virginia could use a boost. Had the Pentagon moved there it would have been much harder for the September 11 hijackers to find it. So many roads have been built in the state of questionable economic need that a road based terrorist would be hard pressed to find the place either. Might not be a bad idea putting the CIA there too.

Senator Byrd has served a long time and has done well for a state that deserved a better shake. He has not however served the national interests. His court case against the line item veto robbed the President of a needed tool to limit spending. His attempts to block economic stimulus and blame the deficit on Mr. Bush have harmed his party.

There comes a time, once in a while when the interests of the nation call for a Senator to rise above local politics and make a vote in the national interest. Where was Senator Byrd for the 1991 Gulf War vote? Trying to enforce the war powers act.

Mr. Byrd will be remembered as an effective Senator that did well for his state. He will not however be known as one who contributed to the nation in a significant way. The interests of West Virginia can be stewarded by others who take the nations needs into account as well. I will not shed a tear when Mr. Byrd retires or gets retired by the voters of West Virginia.

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Shmuel Protter
investmenttool.com

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