The American people have every reason to expect Congress to achieve the right balance in defending their rights while advancing their security, but the Republican-backed conference report fails to do that.

Freedom and security are always at tension in our society. We tried our best to strike the right balance. Now it's time to return to discussion of what aspects we got right and what modifications need to be made.

It would be a mistake to be decided by Congress. It should be decided by the voters.

I would hope they would look at the record that was made during the last Congress going over his background, the number of times he was reversed on cases, the number of times he did not follow the law as laid down in his own circuit, and that they would say they could probably do a better choice than that.

intent on reversing decades of policies on civil rights, voting rights, women's rights, privacy and access to justice.

The attorney general plays a role in bringing people together, ... But Senator Ashcroft has often taken aggressively activist positions on a number of issues that deeply divide the American people. He had a right to take these positions, but we also have a right and duty to evaluate how these position will affect his conduct as attorney general.