There is in all of these cases a balance and deference that is needed to be given to the executive and to Congress in certain situations.

I do want to express my very deep concern about where the Supreme Court may be heading.

Are there any elements of the government's response to September 11th that you think, maybe 50 or 60 years from now, we as a nation will look back on with some regret?

I have long believed that the Second Amendment grants citizens an individual right to own firearms.

While it's hard to imagine that something positive could ever result from such a tragedy, there was a sense in those early days of coming together as one community that we would all help each other get through this.

But what would be the general test for incorporation?

And frankly, Judge, I probably would say the same thing if I were in your shoes, given----

So after Heller, doesn't it seem almost inevitable that when the Supreme Court again considers whether the Second Amendment applies to the states, it will find the individual right to bear arms to be fundamental?

Yes. That is what they decided in Kelo.

I believe rather than pulling lines out of speeches, oftentimes out of context, there are better ways to examine your record as a judge.

I agree with what you are saying. And I would like to suggest that this constant criticism of you in terms of your inability to be an impartial judge is totally refuted by the record that you have compiled as a Federal judge up to this…

Your nomination is a reflection of who we are as a country, and it represents an American success story that we all can be proud of.

Our democracy, our rights, and everything we hold dear about America are built on the foundation of our Constitution.

Secretary Vilsack, what more do you anticipate doing to be sure, beyond statements and urgings that our foreign markets don't get closed to us?

Well, we thank you for being here today, it has been informative and instructive.

Thank you Dr. Sharfstein, if it takes 4 to 6 months as we understand it to develop an effective vaccine, we will be into fall before we know it.

The immediate sense of crisis, fortunately, seems to be passing.

We need to work to spread accurate information about this flu and that it is not 'swine flu'.