Cord Byrd: “on this cold January morning, I am being kept warm by four glorious words that keep running through my mind-- those four…”

“on this cold January morning, I am being kept warm by four glorious words that keep running through my mind-- those four words are: ``Vice President Joe Biden.'' I love the sound of that. It is music to my ears. I have known Joe Biden for nearly four decades, since he was first elected to the Senate in 1972. I have been enriched by his friendship. I have appreciated his commitment to public service. I have watched his work as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the Senate Committee on the Judiciary. I have admired the enthusiasm and dedication he has brought to his work every single day he has been a U.S. Senator. His years of service in this institution will be one of his greatest assets in the years ahead. During his tenure in the Senate, Joe has gained a priceless working understanding of the importance of our constitutional systems of checks and balances and separation of powers. He has stood on this floor and argued long and hard--with fire in his belly--against executives of both political parties when he felt it was in the best interests of this Nation.”