tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6130830332820181818.post3579572230843847309..comments2024-03-29T03:56:08.315-04:00Comments on johnshaplin: We Are Truly Sleepwalking Through Historyjohnshaplinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17618981988062495637noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6130830332820181818.post-31633321711228958862010-07-06T18:17:19.208-04:002010-07-06T18:17:19.208-04:00ON PBS Newhour facebook's final tribute to the...ON PBS Newhour facebook's final tribute to the Senator:<br /><br />Eulogies and obits are a distinct literary form- much degraded now than in the 19th century- the roots Byrd so successfully identified himself with-but they always end up being ironic, if you know anything about the subject. I would say getting that crooked Senator from Alaska to sing his praises was a bit much, but certainly not a bad 'counterpoint' to the usual pablum, soft-soap, dis-direction and fawning that one comes to expect from the press and its handy local "authorities".<br /><br />Every regime, every legislative generation has its sycophants- usually lucratively set up in the State's official historical society or State College history department. I always get a laugh from the B.S. that comes out these guys about historical figures in my state- or about politicians who have retired - always on a pile of ridiculous laurels- so I can take this stuff about Byrd with a grain of salt. And the man was great enough to agree with that -as they say down in West Virginy- "The fiddles the devil's work anyway!"johnshaplinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17618981988062495637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6130830332820181818.post-62842621301911206312010-06-29T20:36:53.617-04:002010-06-29T20:36:53.617-04:00It isn't for nothing that some people are sayi...It isn't for nothing that some people are saying that Senator Byrd was the last great Senator! You point out an excellent piece of evidence for this assertion.Fred Hudsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11530242761767875845noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6130830332820181818.post-49039048973555669672010-06-28T21:10:41.777-04:002010-06-28T21:10:41.777-04:00And getting a federally funded institute for the s...And getting a federally funded institute for the study of the Ocean situated in the hills of West Virginia was an unsurpassed accomplishment in the application of the 'earmark process; for which Republicans will be eternally gnawing at their own hearts.johnshaplinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17618981988062495637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6130830332820181818.post-60808744833215653882010-06-28T20:11:59.908-04:002010-06-28T20:11:59.908-04:00Thanks for the post and comment. I've been de...Thanks for the post and comment. I've been desiring to put my hands on this speech. Senator Byrd should be remembered forever for these chilling comments. I heartily agree with your comment. Superb!Fred Hudsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11530242761767875845noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6130830332820181818.post-23527649300605150612010-06-28T11:34:22.671-04:002010-06-28T11:34:22.671-04:00Many who were born after the tide of history clear...Many who were born after the tide of history clearly turned in favor of racial equality, integration, same-sex marriage- nor were ever called upon to make up their own mind on such matters when the preponderance of popular feeling found them abhorrent- will still honor the man for his speech of 12 February, 2003, in spite of the fact that he seems to support the eternal and insupportable general "war on terror" which, however, will never be put to rest until the Senate ceases to be mute and stops sleepwalking through history.johnshaplinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17618981988062495637noreply@blogger.com