West Virginia Senator Robert Byrd was hospitalized this evening. He reported feeling lythargic and had a fever. His home caretaker called him an ambulance.
This was reported on Olbermann mere moments ago. Keith added that West Virginia's governor was a Democrat in case a successor were to be appointed.
I have no more information but I will update this diary when anything else comes out.
Levity from the comments:
When it comes to the president pro tempore of the Senate, one fact is clear: you don't mess with West Virginia.
So it came as no surprise that Sen. Robert C. Byrd (D-W.Va.) was none too pleased Monday when Vice President Dick Cheney took a swipe at Byrd's beloved home state.
Speaking at the National Press Club on Monday, Cheney joked about his complicated family tree, saying; "I had Cheneys on both sides of the family -- and we don't even live in West Virginia."
Although the 90-year-old Byrd has had some health problems of late, he still has plenty of fire left.
"That a man who has ascended to the seat of Vice President of the United States would openly display such contempt and astounding ignorance toward his own countrymen is an insult to all Americans," Byrd said in a statement.
"Now that he or the Administration he represents no longer needs their vote, Mr. Cheney apparently feels that he is now free to mock and belittle the people of West Virginia. With his trademark arrogance, the Vice President even added ‘You can say those things when you’re not running for re-election.’"
http://www.cbsnews.com/...
This could be yet another thing to blame on Dick Cheney. The novelty value would be that this could be the first thing unfairly blamed on his Vaderness.
Update from the comments:
Robert Byrd's email page is here. You can send him a "get well soon" from this page if you feel so moved.