Comments on: Senator Robert Byrd’s Record of Service http://www.wvared.com/?p=3498 Fri, 10 Sep 2010 13:09:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Art Boreman http://www.wvared.com/?p=3498&cpage=1#comment-2981 Art Boreman Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:24:37 +0000 http://www.wvared.com/?p=3498#comment-2981 The Tale of the Tape on West Virginia since Cornelius Calvin Sale entered Federal politics: Population of WV 1950: 2,005,552 2008: 1,814,468 Down 11% Population of United States 1950: 151,325,798 2008: 304,059,724 Up 101% Population of Mingo County 1950: 47,409 2008: 26,352 Down 44% Population of McDowell County 1950: 98,887 2008: 22,707 Down 77% Population of Huntington 1950: 86,353 2006: 49,007 Down 43% Population of Wheeling 1950: 58,591 2006: 29,330 Down 50% Population of Charleston 1950: 73,501 2006: 50,846 Down 31% Population of Welch 1950: 6603 2000: 2683 Down 59% Average Age: 38.9 Oldest In America Number of Young Children Under 4: 1950: 11.9% of citizens 238,660 2000: 5.6% of citizens 101,610 This explains why no matter how many schools we consolidate, we are still running out of children. The suggestion of 8-man football is particularly galling. This result as flag-bearer of our cause strikes me as maybe a little disappointing. No other state has literally lost population since the 1950 census. None. The Tale of the Tape on West Virginia since Cornelius Calvin Sale entered Federal politics:

Population of WV
1950: 2,005,552
2008: 1,814,468

Down 11%

Population of United States

1950: 151,325,798
2008: 304,059,724

Up 101%

Population of Mingo County

1950: 47,409
2008: 26,352

Down 44%

Population of McDowell County

1950: 98,887
2008: 22,707

Down 77%

Population of Huntington

1950: 86,353
2006: 49,007

Down 43%

Population of Wheeling

1950: 58,591
2006: 29,330

Down 50%

Population of Charleston

1950: 73,501
2006: 50,846

Down 31%

Population of Welch

1950: 6603
2000: 2683

Down 59%

Average Age: 38.9 Oldest In America

Number of Young Children Under 4:

1950: 11.9% of citizens 238,660
2000: 5.6% of citizens 101,610

This explains why no matter how many schools we consolidate, we are still running out of children. The suggestion of 8-man football is particularly galling.

This result as flag-bearer of our cause strikes me as maybe a little disappointing. No other state has literally lost population since the 1950 census. None.

]]> By: Charles Bolen http://www.wvared.com/?p=3498&cpage=1#comment-2980 Charles Bolen Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:45:41 +0000 http://www.wvared.com/?p=3498#comment-2980 I think the best way to summarize Byrd's legacy is to take a trip down McAlpin-Stotesbury Road (near the old Sophia post office) Thousands of people once lived out here. Now, dozens. A quick trek off a dirt road near the Mark Twain School site and you can find a bottom that has forested over which once had many homes. Byrd measured his success by government expenditures brought to West Virginia. He did nothing to help the richest state in natural resources of the lower 48 develop a vibrant diverse economy. It is telling that Byrd's vast majority of highway dollars was targeted in parts of the state where he was not guaranteed a majority. Almost 100,000 people lived in McDowell County, and today less than 30K. His sad legacy for WV is poverty and dependence on an indifferent national government intent on shutting down our chief industry and taking away our 4-wheel drives. There will be a changing of the guard in this state soon. It is likely that by 2014 our state will have two different US Senators, we will be two years into the post-Manchin era, and we will likely have new leaders in the legislature. There is a considerable mess to clean up. I am hopeful that this growing sentiment of the American people that a powerful distant government should not be ceded more power will be reflected in our next generation of leaders. I think the best way to summarize Byrd’s legacy is to take a trip down McAlpin-Stotesbury Road (near the old Sophia post office)

Thousands of people once lived out here. Now, dozens. A quick trek off a dirt road near the Mark Twain School site and you can find a bottom that has forested over which once had many homes.

Byrd measured his success by government expenditures brought to West Virginia. He did nothing to help the richest state in natural resources of the lower 48 develop a vibrant diverse economy.

It is telling that Byrd’s vast majority of highway dollars was targeted in parts of the state where he was not guaranteed a majority. Almost 100,000 people lived in McDowell County, and today less than 30K.

His sad legacy for WV is poverty and dependence on an indifferent national government intent on shutting down our chief industry and taking away our 4-wheel drives.

There will be a changing of the guard in this state soon. It is likely that by 2014 our state will have two different US Senators, we will be two years into the post-Manchin era, and we will likely have new leaders in the legislature.

There is a considerable mess to clean up. I am hopeful that this growing sentiment of the American people that a powerful distant government should not be ceded more power will be reflected in our next generation of leaders.

]]> By: CRW http://www.wvared.com/?p=3498&cpage=1#comment-2971 CRW Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:50:39 +0000 http://www.wvared.com/?p=3498#comment-2971 Big Daddy, hero, defender of the Constitution... Racist, too old, too partisan... Depending on political leanings, Senator Robert C. Byrd can be a lot of things to a lot of different people. Good or bad, he is a part of who we are in West Virginia and has served more of our people than anyone in history... that in itself is worth our respect and gratitude. Big Daddy, hero, defender of the Constitution… Racist, too old, too partisan…

Depending on political leanings, Senator Robert C. Byrd can be a lot of things to a lot of different people. Good or bad, he is a part of who we are in West Virginia and has served more of our people than anyone in history… that in itself is worth our respect and gratitude.

]]> By: Concerned... http://www.wvared.com/?p=3498&cpage=1#comment-2963 Concerned... Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:40:02 +0000 http://www.wvared.com/?p=3498#comment-2963 I thinks it's worth noting that Byrd will not be visible at any of the public event today honoring his service to West Virginia. As of 11/17/2009 he has missed 39% of votes this year. He has not voted in 137 of the 348 votes in the U.S. Senate this year. Our U.S. Senator has been absent 40% of the time. We have a part-time Senator. I thinks it’s worth noting that Byrd will not be visible at any of the public event today honoring his service to West Virginia.

As of 11/17/2009 he has missed 39% of votes this year. He has not voted in 137 of the 348 votes in the U.S. Senate this year.

Our U.S. Senator has been absent 40% of the time. We have a part-time Senator.

]]> By: Melody Potter http://www.wvared.com/?p=3498&cpage=1#comment-2962 Melody Potter Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:10:15 +0000 http://www.wvared.com/?p=3498#comment-2962 I am in agreement with Larry Swann. There is an article about Byrd in the National Black Republican Association's Civil Rights Newsletter.The article tells about him being a former "Keagle" in the KKK and that he was a fierce opponent of the desegregating of the military. You can read about this online at their website:www.nbra.info You can also read the both Martin Luther King, Sr. and Martin Luther King, Jr. were Republicans. I am in agreement with Larry Swann.

There is an article about Byrd in the National Black Republican Association’s Civil Rights Newsletter.The article tells about him being a former “Keagle” in the KKK and that he was a fierce opponent of the desegregating of the military.

You can read about this online at their website:www.nbra.info
You can also read the both Martin Luther King, Sr. and Martin Luther King, Jr. were Republicans.

]]> By: Larry Swann http://www.wvared.com/?p=3498&cpage=1#comment-2960 Larry Swann Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:08:29 +0000 http://www.wvared.com/?p=3498#comment-2960 Robert C Byrd has many sub plots as part of his legacy. HE was a recuiter for the KKK and used a very perjorative term to describe blacks on a national tv interview. No republican could politically survive such actions. Has Byrd been helpful to WV by being our "Big Daddy" or has he simply created more dependence on the federal government for "handouts", rather than forcing us to do it ourselves? Byrd's tax and spend mentality represents the biggest problem America faces today. He is a good arguement for term limits! Robert C Byrd has many sub plots as part of his legacy. HE was a recuiter for the KKK and used a very perjorative term to describe blacks on a national tv interview. No republican could politically survive such actions.
Has Byrd been helpful to WV by being our “Big Daddy” or has he simply created more dependence on the federal government for “handouts”, rather than forcing us to do it ourselves?
Byrd’s tax and spend mentality represents the biggest problem America faces today. He is a good arguement for term limits!

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