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Thanks Bob. I agree with most of this, and some of it I agree with strongly. As far as right-wing bloggers are concerned, I was merely identifying this group as the primary source of contrary opinion on the subject. I'm sorry if I apeared to be villifying this group, and I realize that perspectives on this issue are not confined to political boundaries. I think the statement falls far short of demonization, however. Read it again.

What I take issue with, regardless of who says it, is the notion that these searches advance security in a meaningful way. The only publicly available estimate (from NYCLU, admittedly) found searches at less than 1% of subway entrances. If this is even remotely accurate, the program clearly fails as a deterrent. Millions of New Yorkers who have yet to encounter a checkpoint themselves ought to realize that most terrorists will never encounter one either. Anyone who thinks these checkpoints increase security should go test it out. If you can easily get on the subway without being searched, please stop claiming that the policy works.

On another note, I appreciate your analysis about the failure of the civil liberties movement to take up conservative causes. Ultimately, there are civil liberties projects on both sides of the fence, and they rarely see eye to eye. The ACLU's failure to take up certain issues may be political in some respects, but its also about funding. If they aren't receiving funds from major donors interested in these issues they can't move forward, regardless of the principles involved. The knife cuts both ways.

Fortunately, Flex Your Rights mission is to teach citizens to understand, appreciate, and exercise their constitutional rights during police encounters. Its unlikely that we'll ever be forced to make these types of difficult choices.