'THIS IS A GOVERNMENT OF LAWS AND NOT MEN'

Much of the clamor over John Ashcroft's nomination as attorney general has died down now that he has been confirmed.

Trent Lott summed up Ashcroft's ability to serve ably. In response to questioning from PBS' "NewsHour" anchor Jim Lehrer, the Senate majority leader put in crystal-clear perspective Ashcroft's position on some of the laws he now is expected to enforce:

"Every day in our lives, Jim, you and I comply with laws that we don't necessarily agree with or may vigorously disagree with, but it is the law. This is a government of laws and not men. And that's what makes America what it is today."

This is something John Ashcroft understands, even though his pre-confirmation opponents pretended otherwise.