[Cicero]

The "right to privacy" was first used in the Roe v. Wade decision. The decision said that this right is to be found in the "penumbra" of the constitution--whatever that may mean.

Justice Brennan probably thought this ploy up, although he used his sock puppet on the court to write the actual decision.

[auboy]

penumbra: a term of astrology

1. the partial or imperfect shadow outside the complete shadow (umbra) of an opaque body, as a planet, where the light from the source of illumination is only partly cut off.

2. the grayish marginal portion of a sunspot.

Sounds like Roe v. Wade and Schiavo v. Bush are based on the "right to privacy" ploy - not found in the Constitution - but found in the imperfect shadow outside the complete shadow of the Constitution where the light from the Constitution is only partly cut off - as defined by the imperfect shadow outside the complete shadow of some judge's mind - where the light from the judge's mind is only partly cut off.

IOW, they just made it up.