Daniel Inouye

Senator Daniel Inouye died the other day, like Judge Robert Bork, with seemingly little fanfare.  Now, had they been hippy-rock stars or Hollywood-types who had overdosed on this drug or that, well things would have been quite different, I'm sure.

Inouye was a Democrat with whom I often found myself in disagreement. But I never failed to respect the man--his honor, his integrity, his courage. (Again, perhaps it says more about us that we lionize Kennedy--in fact all of them--and turn to Bill Clinton for endorsements rather than good, decent men like Inouye.) Inouye was on the Senate Watergate Committee, serving with dignity and insight. He also took on Irangate. And, if you remember, when nobody else would accept the defense of a Senate colleague accused in the Abscam scandal, Inouye took on the job. As a point of personal courage and integrity, it is mindful of John Adams defending the British soldiers in their Boston Massacre trial. Here is one of the few op-ed pieces I've seen on the death of Inouye; it's a good one.

http://www.jsonline.com/news/opinion/the-inouye-bob-dole-connection-6b834gf-184113311.html

I also like the tribute to Senator Philip Hart, the real "Conscience of the Senate."