Robert Byrd Released After Month-Long Hospital Stay

WASHINGTON — Sen. Robert Byrd's office says he's been released from the hospital and is at his Washington-area home recuperating from a more-than monthlong illness.

The 91-year-old West Virginia Democrat, who is the longest-serving senator, is continuing physical therapy as he recovers from a staph infection he contracted while hospitalized for another infection.

Aides released scant details during his hospitalization, declining even to say where he received treatment.

Byrd says he's looking forward to celebrating the nation's birthday with his family.

(This version CORRECTS to reflect Byrd is at his Washington-area home not West Virginia.)

Comments

[grf67]

Come on West Virginia. It is way past time for you to replace Sen Byrd. He is far too old to be effective for you.

[OliverTwist]

He's been doing fine for WV.

[MNTom]

He needs to retire. Way too old.

[obamaluv]

It was announced today in the Wheeling Digger daily that Byrd will move into the K K K retirement home where he will spend the rest of his life uttering incoherent poetry.

[OliverTwist]

Typical Repub kind of humor. Sneers and smears. Too bad.

[OliverTwist]

He is much more eloquent than you. Of course that is not so hard. Even dead he may be more eloquent than you.

[OliverTwist]

He has a young point of view. Younger than many who criticize him.

[frappe]

At this critical time, it might be appropriate for Sen. Byrd to consider retirement, don't you think? (Both the governor and the Lt. governor in WV are Democrats.)

[1dogs2]

Sen. Byrd would have been well in a week had he not gone to a very dangerous place for treatment -- an American hospital -- where he picked up a drug-resistant staph infection. Insurance is the only thing that needs reforming in the health care system.

[1dogs2]

Make that "isn't."

[OliverTwist]

Good point. Insurance isn't the only thing that needs reforming in medical care.

You know it really should be considered critical infrastructure and even a national defence asset (such as it is).

After all - biotech is coming along for better and for worse.

[tcagle]

I can see it now. Byrd makes it to July 4th, collapses, and with his last breath utters the immortal words "Ted Kennedy lives," just as Kennedy expires on the same day. Surely nothing this ironic has ever happened in American politics (lately).

[tcagle]

I love and respect both of them, just having fun here.

[HOPEFOCUSED]

Wow, a month long hospital stay . . . his hospital bills must be extraordinary. He must be worried about how to pay for all . . . . OH WAIT . . . I FORGOT. He has "extraordinary" health care coverage as a US Senator and probably won't have to pay a single dollar out of his own pocket.

Must be nice.

[pam45]

Byrd has served his country and enjoyed a long run in Congress. West Virginians love him and what he has been able to bring to the state from DC but enough is enough. It's time for a change West Virginia. Embrace a younger person who can devote more time to what has to be done in this nation to get us back on track. We need full time members of Congress.

[OliverTwist]

Sen. Robert Byrd is a great man.

He opposed the war.

He opposed the spying.

He supports the constitution.

He has appologized for his past bigotry.

He causes Republicans to spew extra streams of steaming deceit and hatred.

Good man.

[mountclemens]

Two-faced, corporate-loving, pork-loving, secrecy-loving, double-dealing, power-hungry scoundrel.

Of course, it's his pork-loving and corp-loving that gets him re-elected every time. And the fact that he lies with the best of them.

Just because he's a member of the Democratic Party doesn't mean he deserves applause.

[OliverTwist]

His appreciation for the constitution is enough for me.

[Rican1]

He has his faults but he was one of the very few senators who voted against the war in Iraq.

[Wilsonv]

Gee.. I wonder what it would cost me if I had to spend a whole month in the hospital.. i bet they would kick me out after a week even with insurance.

[gditty]

Hurry, get him to Washington and prop his hand up to vote for the National healthcare bill.

[AreWeHavingFunYet]

He is a perfect example of why we need term limits.

[kinnycut]

Term limits for any office are unconstitutional by definition, and should not hold up under any Supreme Court ruling. There is nothing in the constitution that says a person can't run for office even if they have held that office for umpteen years. The founders saw no reason for term limits in the original document because that is what elections are for in the first place.

[bluedog24]

The Congress authorized term limits for the office of the President and that was not overturned on constitutional grounds

[INTUITE]

Lucky he has medical coverage well beyond probably 75% of us. A month in the hospital, what insurance company would allow that?

[tanbo]

the klan wishes you well

[OliverTwist]

Definitely not. He has changed.

[chs1965]

Get well and retire!