Cord Byrd: “I will differ with President Bush in many things, and in many ways; and I suppose practically every Senator here will at…”

“I will differ with President Bush in many things, and in many ways; and I suppose practically every Senator here will at some point differ with the President in regard to something. On his faith-based initiative, I may differ with him. But I am glad that the President took time in his busy day to make these remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast. I am glad to hear him utter the name of God--the person in our country who is at the apex of the executive branch of Government, pausing in his day to recognize a higher power than that of the Chief Executive of this country. The Chief Magistrate of our Nation spoke of God and spoke of having been on bended knee. Mr. President, remarks such as these have become all too rare, even in this country, when uttered by a high Government official who is elected--not directly, but indirectly, at least --by the people of the United States. So I respect President Bush for his humility, for his willingness to call upon God, to express a faith, to express a strength that can only come from calling upon the Creator of us all. It is unfortunate, but these are times when few men and women, relatively speaking, it seems to me, recognize God in their lives and in the life of the Nation. "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord." I am almost an antique around these precincts in our Capitol. I suppose one might say I am almost a neanderthal, having lived 84 years.…”