[mvpel]

I'm tempted to go down and ride the T just so I can politely and steadfastly refuse any requests to search my person, papers, and effects.

[Conservative Infidel]

They are NOT searching "persons, papers, and effects." They are rubbing swabs on the OUTSIDE of bags and testing the swabs for the evidence (fumes) of explosives. They aren't even requiring that bags be x-rayed or anything else.
I understand that you feel strongly that this is some sort of illegal search. How would you feel if you were riding a bus with a homicide bomber??