The Senate President Pro Tempore
With the passing of former Ku Klux Klan Kleagle, Senator Robert C. Byrd (Democrat, West Virginia) this past June 28, 2010, Sen. Daniel K. Inouye (Democrat, Hawaii) became Senate President Pro Tempore in a Senate action that as far as I could tell received very little to no publicity in any media.
Sen. Inouye was sworn in the afternoon of June 28, Sen. Byrd passing very early the same day.
Per Presidential Succession Act, the Senate President Pro Tempore is third in line of succession after the Vice President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Traditionally, the Senate President Pro Tempore is the senior member of the majority party.
I was always fascinated that when President Obama served in the United States Senate that he never challenged Sen. Byrd’s status as Pro Tempore. I was fascinated that a black Senator would not challenge “tradition” and protest a racist holding the position. I was fascinated no other Democrats now sharing a caucus with a black man, would not challenge “tradition”. But as I’ve seen unprincipled liberal extremists tolerate sexual predators, child molesters, and anti-Semites all because the offenders were Democrats, it should not have surprised me that Obama’s abhorrence for racism and that claimed by his caucus stopped at “tradition’s” door.
And just to complete the racist life story of Sen. Byrd, he not only was a Kleagle in the Ku Klux Klan, he filibustered the 1964 Civil Rights Act, he’s the only Senator to vote against Thurgood Marshall and Clarence Thomas for the U.S. Supreme Court, he voted against African-American Janice Rodgers Brown for the Federal bench, he voted against Dr. Condoleezza Rice for Secretary of State and he was using the “N”-word in television interviews beyond 2000.
Sen. Daniel K. Inouye and I probably would not agree on much domestic policy. However, Sen. Daniel Inouye is a Medal of Honor winner and I’d say he is a tremendous example of what the Senate President Pro Tempore should be, especially when compared to his predecessor. If a Democrat has to be Pro Tempore, I could not be more pleased that it be Sen. Inouye.
I produce the citation of Sen. Inouye’s Medal of Honor:
Inouye, Daniel K.
Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Company E, 442nd Infantry. Place and date: San Terenzo, Italy, 21 April 1945. Birth: 7 September 1924, Honolulu, Hawaii. Entered service at: Honolulu, Hawaii.
Citation:
Second Lieutenant Daniel K. Inouye distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action on 21 April 1945, in the vicinity of San Terenzo, Italy. While attacking a defended ridge guarding an important road junction, Second Lieutenant Inouye skillfully directed his platoon through a hail of automatic weapon and small arms fire, in a swift enveloping movement that resulted in the capture of an artillery and mortar post and brought his men to within 40 yards of the hostile force. Emplaced in bunkers and rock formations, the enemy halted the advance with crossfire from three machine guns. With complete disregard for his personal safety, Second Lieutenant Inouye crawled up the treacherous slope to within five yards of the nearest machine gun and hurled two grenades, destroying the emplacement. Before the enemy could retaliate, he stood up and neutralized a second machine gun nest. Although wounded by a sniper’s bullet, he continued to engage other hostile positions at close range until an exploding grenade shattered his right arm. Despite the intense pain, he refused evacuation and continued to direct his platoon until enemy resistance was broken and his men were again deployed in defensive positions. In the attack, 25 enemy soldiers were killed and eight others captured. By his gallant, aggressive tactics and by his indomitable leadership, Second Lieutenant Inouye enabled his platoon to advance through formidable resistance, and was instrumental in the capture of the ridge. Second Lieutenant Inouye’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the United States Army.
With the passing of former Ku Klux Klan Kleagle, Senator Robert C. Byrd (Democrat, West Virginia) this past June 28, 2010, Sen. Daniel K. Inouye (Democrat, Hawaii) became Senate President Pro Tempore in a Senate action that as far as I could tell received very little to no publicity in any media.
Sen. Inouye was sworn in the afternoon of June 28, Sen. Byrd passing very early the same day.
Per Presidential Succession Act, the Senate President Pro Tempore is third in line of succession after the Vice President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Traditionally, the Senate President Pro Tempore is the senior member of the majority party.
I was always fascinated that when President Obama served in the United States Senate that he never challenged Sen. Byrd’s status as Pro Tempore. I was fascinated that a black Senator would not challenge “tradition” and protest a racist holding the position. I was fascinated no other Democrats now sharing a caucus with a black man, would not challenge “tradition”. But as I’ve seen unprincipled liberal extremists tolerate sexual predators, child molesters, and anti-Semites all because the offenders were Democrats, it should not have surprised me that Obama’s abhorrence for racism and that claimed by his caucus stopped at “tradition’s” door.
And just to complete the racist life story of Sen. Byrd, he not only was a Kleagle in the Ku Klux Klan, he filibustered the 1964 Civil Rights Act, he’s the only Senator to vote against Thurgood Marshall and Clarence Thomas for the U.S. Supreme Court, he voted against African-American Janice Rodgers Brown for the Federal bench, he voted against Dr. Condoleezza Rice for Secretary of State and he was using the “N”-word in television interviews beyond 2000.
Sen. Daniel K. Inouye and I probably would not agree on much domestic policy. However, Sen. Daniel Inouye is a Medal of Honor winner and I’d say he is a tremendous example of what the Senate President Pro Tempore should be, especially when compared to his predecessor. If a Democrat has to be Pro Tempore, I could not be more pleased that it be Sen. Inouye.
I produce the citation of Sen. Inouye’s Medal of Honor:
Inouye, Daniel K.
Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Company E, 442nd Infantry. Place and date: San Terenzo, Italy, 21 April 1945. Birth: 7 September 1924, Honolulu, Hawaii. Entered service at: Honolulu, Hawaii.
Citation:
Second Lieutenant Daniel K. Inouye distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action on 21 April 1945, in the vicinity of San Terenzo, Italy. While attacking a defended ridge guarding an important road junction, Second Lieutenant Inouye skillfully directed his platoon through a hail of automatic weapon and small arms fire, in a swift enveloping movement that resulted in the capture of an artillery and mortar post and brought his men to within 40 yards of the hostile force. Emplaced in bunkers and rock formations, the enemy halted the advance with crossfire from three machine guns. With complete disregard for his personal safety, Second Lieutenant Inouye crawled up the treacherous slope to within five yards of the nearest machine gun and hurled two grenades, destroying the emplacement. Before the enemy could retaliate, he stood up and neutralized a second machine gun nest. Although wounded by a sniper’s bullet, he continued to engage other hostile positions at close range until an exploding grenade shattered his right arm. Despite the intense pain, he refused evacuation and continued to direct his platoon until enemy resistance was broken and his men were again deployed in defensive positions. In the attack, 25 enemy soldiers were killed and eight others captured. By his gallant, aggressive tactics and by his indomitable leadership, Second Lieutenant Inouye enabled his platoon to advance through formidable resistance, and was instrumental in the capture of the ridge. Second Lieutenant Inouye’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the United States Army.
posted by Zack at 3:17 PM
4 Comments:
Phew, I was worried about you. It had been over a month since Sen. Byrd's passing and I hadn't seen any post about it (maybe I missed it), so I was concerned that maybe you had become ill or something. Am happy to see that my fears were misplaced.
Conscience,
Roughly 65 years ago in each instance one man was recruiting for the Ku Klux Klan while the other was acting as bravely and gallantly as possible. We've swapped one for the other. Can you join me in celebrating the improvement?
August 10, 5:24 pm
Yes, I certainly share your appreciation for Sen. Inouye's service and abhorrence of Sen. Byrd's racism.
No intent to slight Sen. Inouye, I was just shocked it took so long for you to include a reference to Sen. Byrd's passing and his racism in one of your posts.
Conscience,
As you can see by the dearth of posts, I've been quite busy this summer and have been pulled away from this passion of mine.
August 11, 1:26 pm
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