They think he is insane. But, he outranks them. His option: command!

This pleases me. I am not sure why.

I never root for the government, or apparently almost never, at least in a criminal case. I just don't believe that much earthly good is served by putting people in prison, at least in most cases. I can't imagine that any earthly good will be served by putting Stewart in jail, and that whatever justice is in this has already been served by hanging the label of "felon" upon her. Due to inane federal sentencing guidelines, it is unlikely that the judge has discretion to allow her to evade prison time entirely.

What I've read about the case made it seem rather obscure and contrived --- then again, most of the coverage I read about it was in the Wall Street Journal.

But mostly I suppose I hoped she was guilty because she was Martha Stewart, and her notions of "elegant living" struck me as almost as confining as a stint in the penitentiary. She inculcated expectations that other people who suddenly found themselves subjected to them would find annoying at minimum. Her "lifestyle" involved spending good money on gewgaws that did little to make life more comfortable or efficient. She was Late Capitalism incarnate.

I'm so glad I don't even have a lifestyle. . . . .