Free Republic

The sensors do not need to be carried by the employees to raise potential privacy concerns. In a connected workplace, data about employees can be captured in any number of ways. Sensors connected to equipment -- forklifts, for instance -- could provide detailed information about an employee’s movements. Again, harvesting and using this data could open up a Pandora’s box. Unfortunately, a myth persists that an employee’s privacy rights end the moment he or she walks through an employer’s door. The reality is more nuanced in the United States, where employees can and do bring claims against their employers alleging...

Mort Kondracke is every inch a lowlife

This morning I heard that one of the other candidates commented that the Constitution is a “living, breathing document.” Frankly, I assumed this came from Senator Clinton or Senator Obama. It is identical to what Al Gore said when he was running for President in 2000, when he said he would look for judges “who understand that our Constitution is a living, breathing document, that it was intended by our founders to be interpreted in the light of the constantly evolving experience of the American people.” Imagine my surprise when I learned that this statement actually came from my opponent,...

The comment came during an interview with CNN this morning. I’m not going to rant about this. I will point out that Huckabee’s position doesn’t square up well with the Constitution’s amendment process — a process laid out precisely because it ought to be difficult to change the Constitution, but change is sometimes necessary, and it’s necessary because the Constitution isn’t a living, breathing document. If it were, as the proponents of that understanding tend to believe, you can find meanings in the penumbras of what’s actually written, meanings that might in fact be at odds with the plain understanding...

5th & Final Day of Hearings This morning, the Senate Judiciary Cmte. convenes for a final session in the nomination hearings of Judge Samuel Alito. Outside witnesses who did not testify at yes- terday's hearings are given an opportunity to offer their opinions on the nominee. The Cmte. meets again to vote, either to approve or reject, on Tues., Jan. 17 FRI., 9:00AM ET, C-SPAN Live LinksC-spanJudiciary LIVE LINKFEDNETCapitolHearings.org

Day 4: Hearing Resumes This morning, Senators will question Judge Alito during a third round. They will then go into a closed session, to review the FBI background investigation on the Supreme Court nominee. Outside witnesses may be called to testify this afternoon, as well as the American Bar Association, to discuss its recommendations. THURS., 9:00AM ET, C-SPAN Live LinksC-spanJudiciary LIVE LINKFEDNETCapitolHearings.org

Day 3: Questioning Continues This morning, Round 1 concludes with Senators on the Judiciary Cmte. who did not question nominee Alito yesterday. During Round 2, questioning is limited to 20 minutes for each of the eight- een senators. Chairman Arlen Specter (R-PA) leads off, followed by the others, alternating by party in order of seniority. WEDS., 9:30AM ET, C-SPAN Live LinksC-spanJudiciary LIVE LINKFEDNETCapitolHearings.org

ALITO CONFIRMATION HEARINGS Questioning Begins Today Each of the eighteen senators on the Judiciary Cmte. will have 30 minutes to question Supreme Court nominee Samual Alito today during round one. Sen. Arlen Specter, as chairman, will begin, then they will alternate by party in order of individual seniority. Round two starts on Wednesday.Live LinksC-spanJudiciary LIVE LINKFEDNETCapitolHearings.org

Judges And Solons Sen. John Kerry, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, has said he will not appoint any judges who would overthrow Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court ruling that mandated legal abortions in all 50 states. Well, it doesn't really matter. Even if he did, or if President Bush did, such a judge would not be confirmed in the present Senate. The prevailing opinion in Washington is in favor of Roe v. Wade. It was a flawed decision, not because it legalized abortion, but because it usurped the authority of 50 state legislatures. Far too many judges, both federal...

The ninth amendment to the US Constitution reads, "The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people." While I don't agree with SCOTUS decisions like Roe v. Wade, why does the court base rulings where it cobbles up new rights and entitlements on such flimsy concepts as "penumbras" and "emanations" rather than on the clearly-stated one in the ninth amendment? It seems to me that if you want to assert a right to privacy or something else not specifically mentioned in the Bill of Rights, this is the...