Daniel Inouye: “at this moment in our history, our country faces a spectrum of challenges broader than any we have ever faced before…”

“at this moment in our history, our country faces a spectrum of challenges broader than any we have ever faced before, both at home and abroad. However great the storm we face today, I am confident that our Nation, founded on the architecture of our Constitution, will prevail. The checks and balances established among the Congress, the President, and the courts are the true arsenal of freedom. In the end, these checks and balances in the hands of the American people will prove greater than any assault on the precious freedoms and liberties our forefathers fought to establish. For the officials of our Federal Government, the protection of the institutions of our American democracy is a duty that both transcends and supersedes all others, especially for members of the Supreme Court who must interpret the Constitution of our Nation as a living foundation for the freedom and liberty of our people. From confiding the power of the Federal Government in three co-equal but separate branches of government, to guaranteeing the civil liberties that bless our Nation, the Constitution enshrines principles that are as relevant today as they were when it was first penned centuries ago. These cherished principles are the backbone of our Nation, and they comprise the final yardstick for taking the mettle of any man or woman who would aspire to our Nation's highest Court. I have studied the full record of President Bush's nominee, Samuel A.…”