Throwing Another Log On The Fire

Folks contemplating the latest TSA security procedures don't seem to care for the latest Big Government idea of subjecting their mother, wife or daughters to a sexual assault.

But if your ire flags, remember this - no one will be groping Michelle, Sasha or Malia.  These new procedures only apply to the little people.  Just one more disconnect between our President and the people he "serves".

NOT QUTE A MAN OF THE PEOPLE:  Incoming Speaker John Boehner will fly commericial but his security arrangements do not include the standard lines and pat downs.

FILE THIS UNDER "DON'T ASK, DON'T ASK...":  It has been widely reported that the TSA patdowns are done on a same-sex basis (and we can only imagine Al Gore's disappointment), so presumably they acknowledge that there are some sexual issues in play.

However, I assume the TSA does not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation.  So put this on our list of Frequently Unasked Questions - does the flying public really not care whether they are being groped by a gay person?  Do they not mind if their child is being groped by a person who might be gay?  I applaud America's broad-mindedness.

As to possible comparisons to doctors and nurses who keep intimate contact very professional, please - I don't think the TSA people have quite that background or level of training.

My Bold Prediction as to where this non-debate is headed - yesterday, you were a homophobe if you didn't support gay marriage.  Today, you are a homophobe if you don't support the right of gay TSA workers to grope same-sex passengers.

 

Comments

[Danube of Thought]

And then of course there is this:

The US government may require cars to include scrambling tech that would disable mobile-phone use by drivers, and perhaps passengers.

"I think it will be done," US Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood said on Wednesday morning, according to The Daily Caller. "I think the technology is there and I think you're going to see the technology become adaptable in automobiles to disable these cell phones."

LaHood is on a self-described "rampage" against distracted driving, and if making it impossible to use a mobile phone while in a car can save lives, he's all for it — although, according to TDC, LaHood also emphasized the role of "personal responsibility."

I think perhaps it is a law of nature that when a government has too much power it goes stark raving insane.

[Rob Crawford]

Meanwhile, remember the National Guard troops sent to the border this September? They've been ordered to withdraw by the end of February.

LUN

[PD]

I liked a lot of what I read in "Young Guns," but one thing I found disappointing was the mention of Ray LaHood as a "moderate Republican."

[Old Lurker]

yep

[Rob Crawford]

I guess the primary lesson of the Obama maladministration is that Democrats consider the primary purpose of government to protect criminals, aliens, and terrorists while harassing and terrorizing American citizens.

[Old Lurker]

LaHood could probably mandate single station car radios tuned to NPR as a life saving mechanism too.

[Clarice]

Here's a utube on TSA overreach
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhkQoiaf7Uc&feature=player_embedded>Govt thuggery>/a>

[anduril]

Remember the photo at Drudge of the nun being assaulted? I have to believe that she showed them valid ID with a photo, that would verify that she was who she purported to be. So why was it necessary to subject her to that indignity? I understand that all cases may not be that clear, but plenty are. This is PC gone mad.

[Jim Ryan]

Just enforce the laws against involuntary vehicular manslaughter. Distracted driving causing death should be punished. Personal responsibility, retributive justice, and liberty are preferable to totalitarianism.

[MarkO]

Distracted driving? This is the solution? It won't happen because it actually would affect Michelle, Sasha, Malia and Barry.

Shut down all those news outlets that disagree with me. Get to it. Rid me of that meddlesome network. Be quick about it. Now let it be written, now let it be done.

[Rob Crawford]

Just enforce the laws against involuntary vehicular manslaughter.

Ah, but that requires more will than passing a new law. And new laws have the advantage of giving the state more power.

As far as the totalitarians are concerned, ignoring an existing law and passing a new one is pure win. New powers, no effort.

[BR]

Presidential line of succession timetable:

Obama arrested before Christmas.
Biden declines.
New Speaker of the House, Boehner, in.

[Rob Crawford]

BR -- Boehner's not Speaker until January. If the timeline you posit is followed, we'll have President Pelosi.

[flodigarry]

James Carville was in front of me in the security line at DCA this morning, heading out to "Nawlins". I was hoping he might be subjected to a monty squeeze, but no such luck.

[sbw]

Help me on this, 'cause I don't spend time at Hillbuzz. They were just described on Entertainment tonight as a "conservative" blog. Didn't they get started as Hillary supporters that gave up on crazy libs?

[Rob Crawford]

Didn't they get started as Hillary supporters that gave up on crazy libs?

Failure to toe the line makes them "conservative" because "conservative" is media-speak for "frothing mad breakers intent on turning back the Revolution".

[Jim Ryan]

sbw, yes.

[Marko]

First they disable your cell phone.

Then they disable your car.

Then maybe you get nekked for public transporation.

Hey, don't these guys own OnStar?

[narciso]

Yes they did, they lean more toward Sarah then most, just like when the New Republic
briefly endorsed some Reagan initiatives, it
made them a right publication, in that short interregnum, in some people's eye

[PD]

List of ObamaCare waivers

Note how many of them are unions.

There's even an SEIU local on the list. You know, the organization that organized, sometimes violently, in favor of ObamaCare.

[Ann]

Good News:

Gadsden Flag License Plates A Nationwide Movement

Here is another great license plate:

[Ann]

Picture of the Day:

[BR]

Ha, ha, ha, Rob. We can always call on Haig to step in for a week or two :)

[BR]

Drudge has many links up on the TSA fiasco. The high-volume Thanksgiving air travelling will exacerbate the outrage by personal experience and word of mouth.
Who needs the MSM.

Newsweek's cover of Obama as a Hindu God is an insult to Hindus. They didn't even get the right God. It's not Shiva, it's Kali, Goddess of the Thugs.

[Pagar]

Someone on one of the threads was asking about Hillbuzz being conservative. I hadn't
been to the site for a while, but their lead article right now looks like the truth and nothing but the truth.

Don't touch my junk as a cultural turning point.

The TSA mess is not going to get any better until they follow the Hillbuzz advice.

[BR]

Very good 5-minute Youtube speech by Congressman Paul: Enough is Enough to TSA. He's proposing a one-line bill that would prevent the govt from doing anything the people are not allowed to do. Like Jane's "You Too" concept. He talks about Americans having become too submissive.

[BR]

Tku, Pagar! Yes, both the Krauthammer WaPo article link there and Hillbuzz are spot on. Profiling based on what we already know about terrorists on planes is the simple and correct answer to prevent this outrage.

[BR]

"Profiling" has become so PC-laden that law enforcement either has to push it back in use with a vengeance as that word, or choose a new one like common sense or standard investigatory procedure.

[Worse than search.]

A little ironic that the privacy aspect that we get upset about is 'physical' privacy, and while our attention is distracted with this one, we give up mindlessly to the mercantile enabled danger.
===============

[Extraneus]

Airports Consider Congressman's Call to Ditch TSA

For Republican Rep. John Mica of Florida, the way to make travelers feel more comfortable would be to kick TSA employees out of their posts at the ends of the snaking security lines. This month, he wrote letters to nation's 100 busiest airports asking that they request private security guards instead.

"I think we could use half the personnel and streamline the system," Mica said Wednesday, calling the TSA a bloated bureaucracy.

Mica is the ranking Republican on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Once the new Congress convenes in January, the lawmaker is expected to lead the committee.

[Pagar]

Kim, What we need to do is stop all of them.
I believe the Tea Party is helping to do that but it is going to take a lot of work by all of us. IMO, what we post on line helps. Supporting groups that Sen Rockefeller and the olther leftist want banned helps. Supporting Palin, Demint and others that seem to drive the leftists up the wall helps.

[jimmyk]

"Profiling" has become so PC-laden that law enforcement either has to push it back in use with a vengeance as that word, or choose a new one like common sense or standard investigatory procedure.

How about "intelligence"? With the intentional double meaning.

[BR]

Smile :) The first picture I get when I see the word "mercantile" is bazaars of Arabian Nights and magical Persian carpets.

I guess you mean the airport scanners? Or the ever-increasing govt cameras in public places, or the way people expose their private lives on Facebook, or on their cell phones, or how people's lives are tracked through their credit cards and grocery shopping discount cards, etc.

Anyway, it's my bedtime, so I'll have sweet dreams.

[BR]

I like it, JimmyK :)
It's a sip, either way :)

[Extraneus]

Someone mentioned the other day how the terrorists can defeat this whole system, and that's by waiting in a long, crowded, snaking line at one of the big airports, getting all the way up to the security checkpoint, and detonating. What do we do after that? Only allow one person at a time into the airport? Who'd want to be a sitting duck, stuck in a cattle corral after that?

[BR]

Yah, was it Stephanie? How far back can the checkpoint be? All the way back to the madrassas and the Koran?

[Janet]

Have we tried censuring Muslim extremists? Maybe we're saving that powerful tool until things get really bad.....

[Pofarmer]

The high-volume Thanksgiving air travelling will exacerbate the outrage by personal experience and word of mouth.

Personally thinking holiday air travel is going to take a hit, numbers wise.

"I think we could use half the personnel and streamline the system," Mica said Wednesday, calling the TSA a bloated bureaucracy.

How long has the TSA been in existence again?

[The Imp]

The Koran incites to violence with promise of sex.
The TSA incites to violence with threat of sex.

[Extraneus]

Perhaps a gamut of pig blood and naked women might help.

[BR]

Or have a mullah as hostage on every plane. Or paint the face of Osama bin Laden or Mohammed on every plane. Would they still crash it?

[Pagar]

Janet, Of course not, that would be wrong acoording to the leftists.

Here is why absolutely nothing the American leftists do makes sense unless you are seeking the destruction of the US

LA Sheriffs dept/FBI invite radical muslim leaders to teach them about stopping islamic terrorism.

Did they invite the ones that are actually stopping the Islamic terrorism in Israel? NO.
They invited the ones that are causing the terrorism. This is insane.

[BR]

How about for every plane you crash, we'll crash one into that black rock at Mecca, that used to be a Hindu Shiva shrine.

[Extraneus]

I would think a radical Muslim's advice would be pretty simple: convert, surrender or die. That's what the Prophet laid out, so anything else would just be lying (Taqiyya).

[PD]

Profiling based on what we already know about terrorists on planes is the simple and correct answer to prevent this outrage.

Muslims attacked us on 9/11. So the TSA goes out of its way to search everyone but Muslims, who object to being searched.

No problem there.

[DebinNC]

ABC News describes the airport security prodecure in Israel. It also mentions TSA going to G-rated "stick man" scanners, which for some reason will be first in place at the infamous Logan Airport.

[Janet]

Exactly Extraneus. Convert, surrender, or die. Under the guise of "religious freedom", Islam has our PC brainwashed leaders in submission already.
Islam is evil, evil, evil.

[sbw]

I believe in reciprocity:

Anyone who believes in "Convert, surrender, or die" should have the same option.

Convert away from violence, surrender, or die.

[pagar]

Speaking of surrender or die, does anyone know why we had Republicans voting for S510?

May be the most dangerous bill in the history of the US. It is to our food what the bailout was to our economy, only we can live without money.

“If accepted [S 510] would preclude the public’s right to grow, own, trade, transport, share, feed and eat each and every food that nature makes. It will become the most offensive authority against the cultivation, trade and consumption of food and agricultural products of one’s choice. It will be unconstitutional and contrary to natural law or, if you like, the will of God.” ~Dr. Shiv Chopra, Canada Health whistleblower

It is similar to what India faced with imposition of the salt tax during British rule, only S 510 extends control over all food in the US, violating the fundamental human right to food."

[Jack is Back!]

The fact that the MSM, especially local TV outlets are now matching cable news in this coverage, will only increase the outrage and I believe cause the TSA/DHS to back down. It has gone viral on the internet and forwareded email. It is finally showing what a bafoon Incompetano and The Won really are here. Coming on the heels of Ghailani verdict - this administration has finally sank to the depths of The Gong Show - and is getting full page and local TV coverage of it for the first time. The unions won't be able to save this FUBAR exercise - only a full retreat will be able to bring back some modicum of any sanity.

Oh, and before that happens, watch the Dems/Libs/WH attack Mica for accepting donations from those private firms he wants to replace TSA. That will be their window to figure out how to back track.

[NK]

Hope you're right Jack.

[Danube of Thought]

Minus 17 at Raz today.

[Rob Crawford]

we give up mindlessly to the mercantile enabled danger

The what?

[Janet]

I've got 2 Sturbridge Tea Party t-shirts left that I'd like to give away to JOMers. One L & One XL. (The L has been washed & dried but never worn.)
Anyway...just email me at theshagams at gmail dot com & I'll mail ya one.
My treat...I'm encouraging Rabble-Rousing.

[DebinNC]

The Dems slammed Bush's "color" terror alert system, but at least it told the public what the threat level was at a given time. Europe, especially Germany, is on high alert at the moment, but the only indication we're facing similar credible threats is the escalating intrusiveness of Obama's TSA. Unlike Merkel, Obama's voting present on our safety while letting Incompetano and probably very reluctant TSA workers take the blame and face the reaction while he floats above it. Carville was spot on about Obama's missing junk.

[sbw]

1L+1XL = 1XXL? That would just about fit.

[Danube of Thought]

What are they gonna do after the first "rectum bomb" goes off?

[MarkO]

If we decided to "win" the war, we could all just walk on planes like we once did.

[Rob Crawford]

What are they gonna do after the first "rectum bomb" goes off?

Nominate it for the presidency.

(Or did they already do that?)

[Chubby]

((Carville was spot on about Obama's missing junk))

problem is, Deb, if he had more junk in the way Carville meant it, he'd be doubling down with every protest, making things doubly onerous.

[narciso]

Maybe the subject of another thread, a member of the Soufan Group speaks out, 'removing all doubt' in the LUN

[Janet]

1L+1XL = 1XXL? That would just about fit.

LOL sbw! But the XL is gone now...so one L left. Any takers???

[narciso]

How about the Large Janet, I think it would fit

[Janet]

It is yours narciso...contact me through that gmail above, or through FB & I'll mail it to you today.

[Thomas Collins]

See LUN for an article on why El Al's procedures (which focus on profiling and highly trained security officials) wouldn't work in America. I hope that as more and more folks understand the lunacy of the TSA approach, the supposed reasons why El Al's approach wouldn't work here (the primary ones being cost and aversion to profiling) will be undercut.

[Thomas Collins]

I'm glad the pilots described in the LUN made it through security, and I suspect the passengers on the flight were, too. See LUN(good article to keep in mind for anyone complaining about a hard day at work).

[Extraneus]

If we decided to "win" the war, we could all just walk on planes like we once did.

True. That would involve beating fundamentalist Muslims into such a state of submission that they renounce several commands of their Prophet, and institute enforcement of the new tenets so as to avoid any further beating. I'm all for it.

[DebinNC]

The opposite of "Hey, kids, don't try this to home."

[Jane]

So, do you guys miss me yet\/

[Clarice]

You bet we do, Jane.

[Jack is Back!]

DebinNC,

Its missing a guy in a khaffiyeh and suicide vest, for one. And it needs to update to feature a backscatter full body scan machine. But knowing LEGO, they will probably be out with that set in the next month. I can't wait for Mattel to come out with the pat-down Barbie and Ken dolls. Now I know what happened to all the old, used CPR mannequins - the TSA has them as stimulators:)

[Jack is Back!]

::stimulators = simulators::

Or in the case of the TSA, does it?

[PD]

Jane! You're irreplaceable!

[Captain Hate]

How could we not miss you, Jane?

[sbw]

What are they gonna do after the first "rectum bomb" goes off?

Admit the sh*t has hit the fan.

[matt]

how about we screen for terrorists in Pakistan? Is this the Madrassa from which the terrorists come? Screen it with a Predator.

Is this the ISI facility that controls the madrassa and the Al Quaeda? Screen it with high explosives.

Most of the problem solved. Have them send the check to [email protected]

[DebinNC]

Iowahawk: Comply With Me, the Video

[Extraneus]

♫ Proctology is such a lovely trade... ♫

lol

[narciso]

I think we're due another Airplane update, reality has gotten that strange. Robert Hayes
could play the Peter Graves role

[matt]

I'm not joking, and don't call me Shirley.

[MayBee]

Admit the sh*t has hit the fan.

ha ha ha ha hah!

[Terrye]

I flew home in the middle of October to see my family. I had to go through a scanner and they used the wand on me and I went through the metal detector and all that...and I honestly did not think it was that big a deal. I am a woman in my 50s so maybe I am beyond the point of being that modest...but honestly it seems to me that some people are over reacting to this. I did not see or hear anyone getting upset or raising hell about the process, everyone just wanted to get on with it and catch their flights.

A lot of people seem to think that we should do what the Israelis do, but I am not sure that would work here. The US is so much larger, there are so many more people flying and besides, I don't think Americans would like that process anymore than this one. They do background checks on people, they interview them and ask them questions about their travel plans, and if necessary they will search them..they don't just get some vibe off of people so that they just know who can and can not be trusted. I just don't know if Americans want some TSA agents asking them the purpose of their trip anymore than they want to go through the scanner.

And I also don't think profiling is enough. There will be people that won't fit the profile, and there is always the possibility of identity theft.

I do think the TSA could use more common sense and common courtesy when they deal with the public, but really I just do not think this is some big constitutional issue. After all, you don't have to fly. People voluntarily place themselves in this situation. I think that makes it hard to make it a 4th amendment issue.

[jimmyk]

I don't think Americans would like that process anymore than this one.

Dunno about that. I've been through the Israeli process a few times, and it's not at all unpleasant if you have nothing to hide. Like having a chat with someone at the bar. "Have you been to Israel before? Do you speak Hebrew? Do you have any relatives in Israel?" And the like, all in a matter of fact, pleasant tone. And it's kind of reassuring, because you can tell they are trained to spot liars. And I'm not sure it takes that much more manpower than the TSA system.

[hit and run]

Terrye:
After all, you don't have to fly. People voluntarily place themselves in this situation.

Who's you,pale face?

Sure. I don't have to fly. I should probably go in the office on Monday and tell my boss that. Because I don't have to have a job,either. That certainly would be a voluntary decision.