Is Cass Sunstein Sane?

IIRC, a local blogger/eminento opined that Sunstein was 'a reasonable guy.'

Maybe. And maybe he's nuts.

Glenn Greenwald on his blog today makes a troubling observation about the academic writings of Cass Sunstein, Obama's head of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. In 2008, Sunstein published a paper that, if it is reflective of his regulatory style now that he's in office, should give you pause.

Greenwald calls that paper:

"a truly pernicious paper proposing that the U.S. Government employ teams of covert agents and pseudo-"independent" advocates to "cognitively infiltrate" online groups and websites -- as well as other activist groups -- which advocate views that Sunstein deems "false conspiracy theories" about the Government. This would be designed to increase citizens' faith in government officials and undermine the credibility of conspiracists."

Sure. The best way to counter conspiracy theories is to infiltrate groups which hold such theories. Clandestinely, of course.

We all know that the FBI has often planted 'moles'. However, those are generally put in place when the infiltrated group is suspected of criminal activity (i.e., The Mob) or of being a clear and present danger to domestic order.

Can Sunstein claim that the 'conspiracy theory' bunch(es) are a clear and present danger?