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John Tyner, the young man who resisted the TSA's groin-grope, will now be probed.

"Michael J. Aguilar, chief of the TSA office in San Diego, called a news conference at the airport Monday afternoon to announce the probe. He said the investigation could lead to prosecution and civil penalties of up to $11,000."

Love the use of the word "probe."

There's some really deep feeling brewing out there about the TSA's newly intensified searches of airline passengers. I'm wondering what potential this very particular issue has for skewing politics more generally.

Think about why this issue has such a strong emotional impact: The government wants to see you naked or grope your genitals. It is conditioning an important aspect of personal freedom ? flying in airplanes ? on your resigning yourself ? and your children ? to sexual assault. I was chatting with someone the other day who seemed more angry about this than any other political issue.

Now, I think this TSA issue has the potential to affect the political orientation of many individuals. How might the political parties and other political participants seize this opportunity?

Full post as published by Althouse on November 16, 2010 (boomark / email).