On September 15, after classes had resumed in the city, I babbled on in front of the class for at least a half an hour worrying about a degeneration of civil liberties. One little smarty pants came up to me after class and said that I shouldn’t such a bummer and that I should be making the students feel better instead. Me. Red face angry. Told the kid to grow up and not to expect any handholding from me. Mr. Smarty-Pants promptly dropped the class.

Even though I knew that we would end up here, I didn’t expect that there would be debate about it. There are actually people talking about the benefits of torture and the legality of wire taps. Their arguments are so insane that I don’t have a ready response other than a mouth gaped open. I guess I have to collect myself and get in attack position. This debate has gone on for too long. No handholding from me.

Scott Lemieux knows his stuff on con. law. Read him on the illegality of the wiretaps.