Senator Byrd gives up Chairmanship of Appropriations Committee

This is a major development in the Senate. The Appropriations Committee is arguably the most important committee. There had been a lot of speculation about what would happen to Robert Byrd, who chairs that committee. But, today, he did the right thing and voluntarily left that post:

Senate legend Robert Byrd, approaching 91 this month and hailing a “new day in Washington,” said he would voluntarily give up the chairmanship of the Senate Appropriations Committee with the new Congress.

“To everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven,” said Byrd, who had fended off earlier challenges this past spring and summer.“Those Biblical words from Ecclesiastes 3:1 express my feelings about this particular time in my life.”

“I have been privileged to be a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee for 50 years and to have chaired the committee for ten years, during a time of enormous change in our great country, both culturally and politically. I have learned that nothing is quite so permanent as change. It is simply a part of living and should not be feared.“

Byrd shows class while Lieberman begs to keep his chairmanship. But, then again, Lieberman has no class or dignity left.