I have not engaged the very silly Ben Wittes (and yes I know he is supposed to be some "Serious" Person, but, he isn't) on FISA, though others have. But this TNR defense of Wittes, via Sam Boyd, made me laugh:

I'm not entirely convinced by Wittes's claim that the bill Congress passed was a sound one, but I also can't help but feel that Yglesias and Lemieux are being a bit cavalier in their dismissal of the need for expanded surveillance powers in the first place. There's probably no good way out of this dilemma (so perhaps a law with a strict sunset provision isn't such a terrible place to start), but it would be comforting to at least see a bit more hand-wringing and equivocation from Yglesias and Lemieux before condemning Wittes's piece.

A little handwringing and equivocation BEFORE handing over this unprecedented power to Alberto Gonzales would have been in order. Funny, I did not see Wittes do much handwringing about that.

These "Serious People" are sooo, well, stupid. Sorry, I have no better word for it. And it is my word, not Jeralyn's or Chris'. I am the jerk here ok.