Energized Byrd back in action

by: Carnacki

Tue Oct 20, 2009 at 14:59:07 PM EDT

WASHINGTON - West Virginia Sen. Robert C. Byrd reappeared on the Senate floor Tuesday with some of his old bluster back after a season of frailty, this time to manage a $44.1 billion homeland security spending bill.

"There are some people in this country who have become complacent about the threat of another attack," Byrd, chairman of the homeland security subpanel of the vaunted Appropriations Committee, said in a clear voice. "Don't count me as one of them."

Don't count him out, either.

Byrd, 91, is the longest-serving senator in history and has come back from debilitating illness before. Last year as chairman of the full Appropriations Committee, lobbyists and others spread rumors that he was too frail to continue to serve in that capacity. Byrd, who had weakened physically, stepped down from the chairmanship when he was ready - after the 2008 elections.

He retained his chairmanship of the subcommittee, however, which is what brought him to the floor Tuesday looking more alert and steady than he has at other points in the year. The matter at hand was a House-Senate spending agreement on security measures against naturalo disaster, terrorist attacks and other threats.

Bow Tie Boy, Vic Sprouse, Don Surber and all the other ne'er do wells that made shameful remarks about Byrd's health should all eat crow and bow their heads in shame. Of course sense they have no sense of decency, I don't expect they will.