The New Republic

Governor Manchin is a Democrat. Why doesn't Sen. Byrd resign and let the post be filled, rather than risking disenfranchising his fellow West Virginians?

- sdcrippen

August 6, 2009 at 2:40pm

Byrd should resign if he can't make it to work.  He has a pension.

- acria multa

August 6, 2009 at 3:09pm

It is way past time for Robert Byrd to go. Someone close to him should try to talk him into retiring, just as a drooling William O. Douglas was finally implored to retire from the Supreme Court.

- liberal reformer

August 6, 2009 at 3:41pm

Well Jason, it's obvious you know FA about the practical underpinnings for our system of governance, something you would have picked up through even a modest familiarity with the works of Montesquieu, Locke, or Jefferson. Nor does it appear that you have had the slightest experience in any group undertaking requiring collective decision making. Since the editorial offices of the TNR appear immune to the influence of any political works by writers whose names are not Karl, I will share with you what his illiterate German tribal ancestors discovered many years ago and bequeathed to us, their political progeny. Specifically that formalized face to face deliberation and voting promoted civility, a clearer understanding of the issues, and most importantly a group dynamic which not only encouraged but demanded a willingness to compromise in order to achieve results which were in the best interest of the community. Had this not been the case, there would have been no need for Jefferson to promulgate the Senate Rules or draft our Constitution..... since a pure democracy would have been adequate for the job. Jefferson, having unlike you fortunately done his homework, and being a foe of both anarchy and despotism architected instead a system of democratically elected representative government (if you are not sure what this is you can check the title of your publication for a hint) which among other things required senators to be present for a vote. Having to ride a horse hundreds of miles to attend meetings himself, he was well aware of the practical difficulties this requirement might present, but sagaciously judged the advantages to far outweigh the occasional inconveniences.

- dtohmatsu

August 6, 2009 at 4:26pm