Longest serving senators of all time: Your favorite?

[Vosem]

Well, both Inouye and Thurmond, while I have stark political differences with both of them, were absolutely literal Freedom Fighters, one of whom fought bravely notwithstanding overt government discrimination against his ethnicity, the other of whom voluntarily gave up a cushy judgeship to risk his life in combat. (Both of them received multiple medals, including the Purple Heart, btw). I voted Inouye since I personally found his story to be more impressive, though Thurmond is also a defensible choice.

The other three are terrible, rank HPs.

[Vosem]

one of whom fought bravely notwithstanding overt government discrimination against his ethnicity

you can't possibly be serious

Um, that was very clearly a reference to Inouye, since I mentioned "the other" had a judgeship, which Thurmond indeed had before WW2 and which Inouye never had in his life.

[Vosem]

All HPs, Hayden least bad. Inouye lived long enough to see himself become an HP.

Curious as to what you mean by this -- I don't really understand how Inouye changed ideologically much at all during his time in Congress, especially if you compare him to some of the people on this very list (Byrd or Thurmond) who changed almost beyond recognition.

[Vosem]

All HPs, Hayden least bad. Inouye lived long enough to see himself become an HP.

Curious as to what you mean by this -- I don't really understand how Inouye changed ideologically much at all during his time in Congress, especially if you compare him to some of the people on this very list (Byrd or Thurmond) who changed almost beyond recognition.

He very probably raped someone in the seventies.

Shame. He was a guy I had a lot of respect for.