Secret Agent Franklin. Ben Franklin

I'm thinking the founding father would have love the NSA intercept program. He was already good at it, and it uses electricity.

It seems to me that the left doesn't really mean what it thinks it means when it talks about the independence of the judiciary.

Maryland Democrats concerned about the political fallout from last week's court ruling on same-sex marriage are considering a plan to block any final court ruling from taking effect until after the November elections.

The proposal would be offered in legislation by Del. Luiz R.S. Simmons (D-Montgomery) that would freeze any decision from the state's highest court until the General Assembly has time to evaluate it.
[snip]
Although many Democrats, including Simmons, said they support the rights of gays and lesbians to marry, they also said they recognize that the ruling could hurt the party during key elections this year -- the governor's office and a U.S. Senate seat are at stake.

They said the ruling could galvanize Republican Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.'s conservative base, increasing Election Day turnout for him and for Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele (R), who is running for U.S. Senate.

"I don't want to see the gubernatorial election, or any other election, tangled up in this issue," said Sen. Brian E. Frosh (D-Montgomery).

This is a very interesting conflict, I think. Should the MD dems get behind the ruling because it favors their constituents, or delay the possible benefits to their gay constituents out of calculations regarding their own power? Should the MD legislature try to directly effect the timing of a court procedure out of the same political calculations?

Will dems say that legislative attempts to influence judicial proceedings were nation-shatteringly horrific in the Schiavo case, but a good idea in this case?

Audio of Judge Alito's opening remarks

Judge Alito delivered his opening remarks in his confirmation hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee today. I thought they were very good remarks, and further my support for him. Audio of what I think is the best part, the last six minutes, is here.

My introduction to _____________ (vicariously)

ed. note: I'm removing a post that was once here. I would have simply left it here and added some comments, but in light of the fact that the subject of the post is unhappy with my comments, I will remove them. It is not my intention to hurt the feelings of anyone on this silly and unread blog. The post in question involved someone who a sometimes client of mine was having trouble with, and I gave into the temptation to have some snarky fun with it. I should not have, especially since I later ended up involved in the situation as attorney for that client. I did not know at the time of my posting that I would become involved, but I regret not having thought ahead and instead doing something that I admit is not very professional.

I apologize to the subject of the post that was previously at this spot.