Re-elected to 9th 6-year term. He really hates The Baby Jesus. He is currently the longest serving Democrat in the Senate and, because of this, is the president pro tempore. In the event of death to both President Bush and Vice President Cheney, as well as Speaker Pelosi, Senator Byrd would assume the presidency, doling out taxes and quoting from his hip-pocket copy of the Constitution like an errant vending machine. This is not a comforting image.