Help keep Salon independent

Michael Tomasky

Michael Tomasky is a political columnist for New York magazine.

Advertisement:

FILE - In this Sept. 9, 2005 file photo, Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., speaks about Hurricane Katrina response efforts at a press conference in Charleston, W.Va. Byrd a fiery orator versed in the classics and a hard-charging power broker who steered billions of federal dollars to the state of his Depression-era upbringing, died Monday, June 28, 2010. (AP Photo/Bob Bird, File) (AP)

Byrd: An astonishing career, missteps and all

Michael Tomasky

Safire’s “Jews for the GOP” spin job

Michael Tomasky

The Republican war critic

Michael Tomasky