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Senator Rand Paul Detained By the TSA
cervesaebraciator writes "Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) has been detained by the TSA in Tennessee for refusing a pat-down. Apparently an anomaly appeared when he received the full body scan. While he offered to undergo the body scan once more, he was informed that only a pat-down would be sufficient to clear him. He has since been detained and the story is developing."
"A senator would make a great mule," Simmons tells me.
SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
Patdown soon, fellow STALKER!
"we detained you during campaign season. whoops."
yeah, this should be fun.
According to another news site. Maybe the Paul's want to be confrontational.
... they've pissed off a Southern Man and a Republican, in a position of political power.
Yeah. I can't see this ending well whichever way you slice it.
I know we all hate the TSA, but under the existing rule structure, his detention should not be surprising or treated with contempt. The alternative is that the TSA screener decides on his/her own who gets to walk through without a pat down if the scan shows up something suspicious. I'm not commenting on the overall efficacy or "correctness" of the procedure; if we're going to have rules, they should be enforced fairly and consistently. That said, I am in favor of some types of profiling, but I don't think being an elected official gives you any sort of waiver. They've already proved that they can't be trusted.
Ceci n'est pas un sig.
Before the Department of Homeland Security took over the United States it was unconstitutional to arrest a member of Congress while Congress is in session.
So, will some TSA "agent" lose their job or is Rand Paul not big enough fish to throw that kind of weight around?
Even if he isn't, his dad probably is.
Any insufficiently advanced magic is indistinguishable from technology.
At first i thought this was about RON Paul. Now that would be fun to watch
I can see this ending in a very popular political move against the TSA by Rand Paul.
Bow before me, for I am root.
I'm proud to have voted for him. I will continue to vote for him in the future. We need more senators like him who care about civil liberties, who listen to their constituents, and who understand that he is there working for me, and not for corporations.
More power to him.
Apache guy, Open Source enthusiast, runner
(The Senators and Representatives shall receive a Compensation for their Services, to be ascertained by Law, and paid out of the Treasury of the United States.) (The preceding words in parentheses were modified by the 27th Amendment.) They shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felony and Breach of the Peace, be privileged from Arrest during their Attendance at the Session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same; and for any Speech or Debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other Place.
I love Jesus, except for his foreign policy.
Don't be critical of the TSA or you might miss your flight, you damned terrorist!
"None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license." --John Milton
US Constitution Article I section 6
They shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felony and Breach of the Peace, be privileged from Arrest during their Attendance at the Session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same; and for any Speech or Debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other Place.
Senator Paul was apparently on his way to Washington, where the Senate has votes scheduled for this afternoon. It appears that the Executive Branch (TSA) just violated Article I section 6 of the Constitution.
Rand is Ron's son.
I used to get high on life, but I developed a tolerance. Now I need something stronger.
Ron Paul wanted to give his kids all the advantages.
I LOVE IT! Not only is a nutjob getting harassed, but they finally decided to harass someone that can do something to shut their asses down.
Both Ron Paul and his son Rand Paul have been very vocal opponents of the TSA (I'm pretty sure Ron Paul is running on a platform to completely dissolve the TSA as well as a number of other agencies and departments of the federal government -- although that depends on where he's speaking and to whom). Even if you don't believe he would go that far, Ron Paul has introduced the American Traveler's Dignity Act which specifically addresses being treated like cattle. I would wager most of this was coolly calculated by his son as beneficial to Ron Paul's campaign efforts -- bringing attention to such policies and putting them on the debate table.
My work here is dung.
When the TSA or police use lots of racial or religious profiling everyone is up in arms about them being bigoted or prejudicial. "Oh they are picking on people who look Middle Eastern" "they are picking on the blacks" and whatnot. So then the TSA checks everyone without discriminating at all to show that anyone, even a senator, has to be groped and scanned before boarding because that senator might be a terrorist. Now the TSA has to be an equal opportunity offender and overly check people that are clearly not terrorists for the sake of equality.
Let the TSA and police do their jobs without having to equally check everyone so we can pretend like terrorists don't all come from the same background. Racial profiling might not be politically correct but it works. If we are wasting time harassing senators who are obviously not going to hijack the plane then something is obviously wrong.
Is a senator a terrorist? Probably not. This isn't Homeland. Are the five guys with brown skin with box cutters and mace terrorists? Yes probably but let's let them get on the plane. Is the family with grandparents smuggling cocaine in their luggage? Probably not. Are the two nervous looking Columbian men clinging to their luggage hiding something? Probably. But the TSA for political correctness has to check randomly and not profile which wastes time and resources and allows guys like Richard Reid the shoebomber into planes while Rand Paul is denied a flight.
According to the article: “Passengers, as in this case, who refuse to comply with security procedures are denied access to the secure gate area. He was escorted out of the screening area by local law enforcement,” the official said.
keyboard not found! press any key to continue...
So, will some TSA "agent" lose their job or is Rand Paul not big enough fish to throw that kind of weight around?
TSA is under the executive branch while Paul is a member of the legislative branch. Guess which party is in charge of the executive and which party Paul is a member of and ask yourself this question again.
You can call him a right-wing nut-job all you want, but Rand Paul is a strong opponent of the TSA, the Patriot Act, NDAA, SOPA, and all sorts of other government abuses against civil liberties. I'm sure he is doing this to help prove his point.
Taking guns away from the 99% gives the 1% 100% of the power.
Hopefully this will open more eyes in congress and generate some more pushback against the overgrown agency that the TSA has become.
Based on TFA...this probably won't affect much since it sounds like Rand Paul is already a "fierce critic" of the TSA.
After years of not using a signature, I am going to make one to say the following: Fuck Beta
Guess which branch funds the TSA and ask that question again.
He just refused a pat-down, so they turned him back from the checkpoint. The TSA has explicitly said that at no point was Paul detained. According to CNN he rebooked on another flight and went back through security without a problem. That makes the story a lot less interesting...
The best way to predict the future is to invent it.
I think both Rand and his father are nut jobs. No, let me rephrase that - I think they have a very simplistic, but consistent, core values from which they derive a series of logical positions which vary from downright practical to socially unworkable. It's that latter part that makes them nutty. I like their logical approach; I am disappointed in their finesse and (in)ability to understand practical application of social policy.
Still, this is how things get changed, and if anyone is going to give the middle finger to our new establishment - and get away with it - it's likely to be someone like the Pauls. I'm surprised he was even required to go through the screening process; I was under the impression that members of congress - those that don't skip it entirely by flying private - would essentially be waved through or would have been provided an alternate entry point.
I presume he was flying business or first class, and was not subjected to the long queue.
Is it just my observation, or are there way too many stupid people in the world?
http://dailycaller.com/2012/01/23/report-tsa-detains-sen-rand-paul-in-nashville/
It's a he said/They said. Rand's people are saying it was a detention; the TSA is saying it wasn't. The TSA would deny it was a detention, however.
According the TSA, Paul was not detained at the checkpoint by the TSA, but was not allowed to proceed into the secure area because he refused the pat-down required by TSA procedure, and was escorted out of the checkpoint by police. He subsequently rebooked on a different flight and was rescreened without incident. This seems to be covered in most of the news stories on the incident (
CNN, MSNBC, Reuters.)
Actually that's the best possible security. If statistics prove repeatedly that terrorists are exponentially more likely to be males of age X, from nation of Z, and there's a nervous looking X year old guy with a Z passport wearing an oddly lumpy coat in July you'd be pretty irresponsible not to ask some questions.
"But we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it,..." - Nancy Pelosi
The kind that understands and defends the Constitution. Rare, but not an impossibility.
"But we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it,..." - Nancy Pelosi
The last remnants of the Old Republic have been swept away...
-Grand Moff Tarkin
When Fascism comes to America, it will call itself Anti-Fascism, and tell you to give up your guns.
They refer to themselves as "officers", not "agents". The STRIP Act seeks to smack those petty tyrants down a few pegs. Tell your Congresscritter to support it.
I wish I had a kryptonite cross, because then you could keep Dracula and Superman away.
These words will likely haunt you when it is your turn to be harassed and strip searched. Don't think it cannot happen to you.
I believe in de-evolution. God made the world perfect, man fell, and its been going downhill ever since!
http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/23/politics/rand-paul-tsa/index.html
He refused a pat-down, so they turned him away. He was apparently screened again later for a different flight without incident.
What do you get when you take an industrious TSA agent and add in a fanatically libertarian US Senator? I don't know, but I can't wait to find out.
Maybe. In politics, it's sometimes easier to sh*t on your friends vs. your enemies. The Democrats will often vote against the Unions, because, it's not like the Union members are going to vote for the other side, is it? (During the campaign, you do have to play to your base, but after that, it's up in the air)
All ideas^H^H^H^H^Hprocesses in this post are Patent Pending. (as well as the process of patenting all postings)
Ron Paul has been groped, due to a metal brace from an old war injury. He says, "I HATE it, but what choice do I have?" - Other Congressmen have also bitched about it as well. One of them even called a hearing last fall to determine if the TSA is really necessary.
An ignorant person over on Facebook wrote:
"If you don't like TSA then don't fly. You can drive, take a train, or walk." Problem: The TSA has expanded their operations to trains and pulling-over cars along interstates. Also post offices and unemployment/social security buildings.
You. Can't. Escape. the police state.
My AC stalker: " I personally agree with your posts most of the time, but that won't keep me from modding you troll"
Learn your government structure a little better. Congress is in charge of authorizing all monetary appropriations. Otherwise, do you think the President would have to submit every budget proposal to Congress? There are a few senators who have already submitted plans to strip the authority from TSA agents; and the airlines have said a few times they would be more than willing to fund private security firms, who would be more responsible to customer feedback. That's the problem with the TSA. They've been given carte blanc to do as they please, without any repercussions. For all that, how many terrorists have been found by the TSA? Zero!
This was clearly intentional on Rand's part to get a photo-op. This doesn't prevent him from still being right, however.
TSA = Union. Regardless of your performance, no you can not get fired.
The Union branch.
Its news because the Constitution EXPRESSLY forbids detaining a senator except under very specific circumstances, none of which applies here. Lets try to keep in mind the Constitution is supposed to be the supreme law of the land.
Good-bye
... in a lot of ways, but I still have to wonder if this is what happens when you vocally and frequently criticize the TSA from a position of some authority.
Check your premises.
The difference being that other members of Congress get a bit upset when one of their number is harrassed. They tend to see how such a thing has gotten out of hand when agents of organizations have the temerity to think they have the authority to boss around a member of Congress. The impact would be less if this were Ron Paul rather than his son, as Rand has demonstrated himself to be less doctrinaire (he recognizes that some things he views as wrong are politically impossible to touch at this point, so he spends no time discussing whether they should or should not be done away with).
The truth is that all men having power ought to be mistrusted. James Madison
Kaczynski.
McVeigh
By your "logic", the TSA was doing it correctly. They were checking white males because white males had previously engaged in terrorism.
No it does not.
And two people mod'ed up that post. Why?
Not to mention which branch authorized the TSA in the first place. (Aviation and Transportation Security Act , Pub.L. 107-71 November 19, 2001)
Rand Paul is a Senator. Ron Paul is a Representative.
Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
And just TRY to take the train to/from Hawaii.
I think the point of GP is that Ron Paul is running for president, and may (may) become head of the executive branch, the branch that the TSA operates under.
All the world's a CPU, and all the men and women merely AI agents
What about that $400k they scammed from loose change? All they gotta do is kick it up a notch or 6, actively start soliciting bribes, etc, and they're funded again.
Understanding the scope of the problem is the first step on the path to true panic.
True but good luck getting the congress to pass the next budget with a clause that approves 'all the salaries except that agent who wanted to screen Rep. Paul'.
I remember in previous incidents the TSA has fined people people who fail to complete screening and decide to go the other way and leave the airport instead. Will they do the same to Rand Paul? If not why?
There's a few places where they've done train station security, but saying that they're pulling over cars sounds a little FUD-y
CATS/Diebold '08- All your vote are belong to us!
Your citation, as requested: http://news.slashdot.org/story/11/10/28/1921254/tsas-vipr-bites-rail-bus-and-ferry-passengers
how's this?
http://articles.latimes.com/2011/dec/20/nation/la-na-terror-checkpoints-20111220
"TSA screenings aren't just for airports anymore
Roving security teams increasingly visit train stations, subways and other mass transit sites to deter terrorism. Critics say it's largely political theater."
Anyone who rambles on about civil liberties, and then says its un-American to criticize a company like BP, is a poser of the highest order. The country has fallen in large part because people take guys like Paul at their word, ignoring their actual actions.
Guess who is on the Committee for Homeland Security.
Citations provided:
TSA expands to trains. Union Station in DC is popular, along with several of the larger subway stations. However, there were also high-profile incidents in Savannah, GA as well.: http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2011/12/27/from-planes-to-trains-tsa-expands-spot-searches-to-union-station/
TSA expands to bus stops in Maryland and D.C. Additional incidents have been noted in Indianapolis.: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/dec/17/tsa-comes-to-your-bus-stop/
TSA partners with Tennessee for portable scanners at Interstate weigh stations: http://www.newschannel5.com/story/15725035/officials-claim-tennessee-becomes-first-state-to-deploy-vipr-statewide
VIPR is versatile.
Learning HOW to think is more important than learning WHAT to think.
I know a senior pilot who regularly had to travel to the US for training purposes on US build aircraft.
Every single time he was stopped and harrassed long enough to miss his connecting flight because he was a political refugee originally from the middle east.
He got so fed up that he's now only flying EU build aircraft so he can train outside of the US.
His son, also a pilot, who was born in The Netherlands had the same problem and adopted the same solution.
"The likes of Facebook and WhatsApp are free to those whose privacy is of zero value."
TSA: Rail Security
TSA: Highways
TSA: Maritime
TSA-style security coming to major sporting events...
But by all means, keep convincing yourself that the TSA isn't spreading throughout society. If we allow it to get to the point where we're getting patted down to get on the fucking bus to work in the morning, or pulled over in our own car just because we're on a fucking public highway, we've already lost everything worth fighting for and it's time to start flying our flags upside-down.
What is a strong defender of civil liberties doing trying to catch a plane to a "pro-life" event? I guess he is really only for the civil liberties of white men.
I see this phrase over and over: "Strong defender of civil liberties"
What was he catching a plane for? A "pro-life" rally. So much for civil liberties. I guess they're only important if you're a white man.
Petition government to change the law
In other words, beg your rulers to change their announced policy to so as to respect the contract defining their powers.
stay out of the airport until you manage (if you manage) to restrict TSA power.
In other words, submit to their invalid usurpation of authority.
Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.
Trains
Bus Stops and Weigh Stations
Can't say I've heard anything about post offices or unemployment or social security buildings.
William of Ockham had no beard. The most likely explanation is that it was chewed off by squirrels every morning.
TSA's previous actions are relevant here...
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2010/12/24/rape-victim-arrested-refusing-tsa-pat/
http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2010/11/it-begins-us-passenger-arrested-for-refusing-tsa-screening-process-then-paraded-through-airport-in-his-underwear/
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2014331/Mother-attitude-arrested-refusing-TSA-pat-daughter.html
http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2010-11-20/business/sfl-airport-scans-pat-downs-refual-20101121_1_tsa-airport-checkpoint-sari-koshetz
etc..
-- "Oh. This guy again."
It's a false premise to suggest that the TSA makes us safe. How many terrorists have been prevented by the TSA? And how many times have we heard about knives, guns, fake bombs moved as tests agains the system by DHL getting through TSA screening?
They safety of the skies is a product of inept terrorists and pure dumb luck, not because the TSA adds value.
"But we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it,..." - Nancy Pelosi
I don't know about the TSA, but the Border Patrol regularly harasses people at the Rochester, NY bus/train station. If you don't believe me, just go over there, you can't miss them. Apparently those guys can stop and question people anywhere at or near the border. Which sounds innocuous, except they use an incredibly liberal definition of "near the border": anywhere within a 100 miles of a land border, or a sea coast, or the coast of the Great Lakes.
Yes, and when Rand grows up he can be a Representative too.
You can't handle the truth.
Probably what they're thinking of: http://news.slashdot.org/story/11/10/20/2212225/tsa-doing-random-truck-searches-on-tennessee-highway
Here's a citation, though I see nothing about highways.
Yet. Highways are mass transit, especially certain times of day and locations. Wouldn't be hard to put some TSA guys at toll booths, cars are stopping anyway...
I vote based on politicians' actions, unless contrary to my preconceptions. Often wrong, never uncertain. #iamthe99%
Because there's never been a white terrorist, right?
Jesus loves me, he loves me a bunch, because he always puts Jiffy in my lunch.
Even if he isn't big enough. However the fact the TSA is blocking an opponent his travel will probably take some political rambling from the opposition to get past this.
TSA blocks person due to political stance.
If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
Ron Paul has been groped, due to a metal brace from an old war injury. He says, "I HATE it, but what choice do I have?"
Am I the only person who doesn't care about getting a pat down? It takes like 10 seconds, and then you are waved through security. As opposed to a wand, where it takes longer, and if it beeps and there is a problem touching you, you get taken to a private room. When I've had the choice between wand or pat down, I've always chosen pat down. And when I've experienced it or seen it, it's always been same-sex, so it's about the most unsexual experience you can imagine.
I can understand getting pissed if you're a black guy living in an inner city who gets a pat down every other day in a police "stop and search" procedure, but most people fly very infrequently, certainly not enough to get worked up over. I really don't get it. I guess I just don't freak out very much when people touch me.
"don't fly. You can drive, take a train, or walk."
Actually, I would've thought this would be the libertarian answer. Or fly privately (TSA doesn't screen at private airports, right?).
Citations needed? Here you go (these are all entries on my blog , but I have several links in these articles, and I'm too lazy to copy each individual link...which is fine, since apparently, you were too lazy to Google it yourself ;) :
Train station "VIPR" search.
Again at train stations.
And finally, bus stations and highways.
MCSE? No, sir...I don't do Windows. Yes, I am an idealist. What's your point?
"[Members of Congress] shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felony, and Breach of the Peace, be privileged from Arrest during their attendance at the Session of their Respective Houses, and in going to and from the same..."
well, it's a moot point if they're not going to/from a congressional session (or other official business?). (Paul was on his way to a political rally)
could be breach of the peace if Paul threw a fit about it (which he didn't)
I don't see where a felony charge could come up
I listen to both RIAA and non-RIAA stuff if I like the music, tangential business/politics nonwithstanding.
Perhaps if you removed your head from your anus, you'd already be aware of some of the stories I linked to above, instead of (erroneously) arguing that there is no evidence that such things are happening?
MCSE? No, sir...I don't do Windows. Yes, I am an idealist. What's your point?
This is wrong. The senator was attempting to return to Washington. The Senate is in session today at 2 PM. The Constitution is quite clear here.
Attention deficit disorder is a complicated issue, spanning several major... HEY LET'S GO RIDE BIKES!
They are not, to my knowledge, running vehicle checkpoints though. http://blog.tsa.gov/2011/10/myth-buster-tsa-not-setting-up.html
Not the TSA itself, but the methods they employ are spreading into interstate weigh stations, and sporting events. I would bet schools and national parks might be the next round of stupid to use TSA scanners and enhanced pat downs, once people get used to it in other venues.
Has an 80 year old woman with a colostomy bag ever killed anyone? Nope. But the TSA makes it a point to harrass that type of person to give the illusion that they are unbiased. What makes more sense? Hassling people of a profile who have never been any form of threat so that you can, under the guise of political correctness, question those that have historically been a threat? Or being honest about where the statistically likely threat will come from?
If there's a 25 year old white male from the US in line wearing a lumpy coat in July, by all means, ask some questions. You'd be irresponsible not to. But strip searching a 25 year old white male from the US because he accidently left a quarter in his pocket just so that everyone feels warm and fuzzy about asking a 25 year old middle-easterner from Yemen to remove his lumpy coat is a bit ridiculous, dontcha think? Especially when the latter will be a headline story on CNN as a civil rights violation, and the former will go entirely unnoticed as another "if you have nothing to hide..." condemnation of a xenophobe.
"But we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it,..." - Nancy Pelosi
Ron Paul is a Representative.
AND a presidential candidate.
MCSE? No, sir...I don't do Windows. Yes, I am an idealist. What's your point?
And just TRY to take the train to/from Hawaii.
To be fair, it would be about as on schedule as one from say, Chicago to LA.
Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
Comment removed based on user account deletion
And this is why I don't understand why people are so opposed to profiling people.
Statistically some people are more predisposed to act a certain way, yet we cry foul when we take that into consideration. (I.E. Young males are more likely to be involved in an accident then middle aged women)
I was thinking about spending vacation in US, like sunny beach in California or Florida... Or visiting Kennedy Space Center. Or God knows what else - US is an interesting country for tourism. I even was offered a job in the US, but that just was wrong timing... And now I'm regularly readying these scary stories about TSA on /. Would I spend my vacation in US? No! Vacation is not the right time to be harassed at the airport. Would I move to US because of work? Well... nothing is certain here but I'll think more than twice for sure!
What I do not understand is where is that tourism industry lobby when US needs them so desperately?
It's called Google. Intelligent people don't cite facts to what is basically common knowledge and dozens of articles in mainstream media talking about it.
I'll feed a troll. But I won't feed a moron too stupid to Google.
Moderated -1 flamebait? Must of stepped on the toes of someone's god. Either that or be fair and mark all political chatter as flamebait, which wouldn't be wrong =D
Can we get something clear about this?
Paul wasn't detained. He set off a body scanner, and asked to be rescanned. The TSA said that a rescan wasn't going to do it, and that they would require a pat-down. He refused, and then left.
At no point did the TSA inform him that he wasn't allowed to leave. They prevented him from getting onto the flight for not complying with their security procedures.
I'm no fan of the TSA. But Paul is grandstanding here because the TSA is one of his favorite bete noirs.
The constitution is pretty much irrelevant.
Deleted
Congratulations, you fail Civics 101.
Congress does not have the right to pass a law that violates the Constitution, unless they first pass an amendment nullifying the part of the Constitution that they don't like. However, in the event that Congress does pass such a law, then citizens must force the issue in court, which generally requires civil disobedience, getting arrested for breaking the law, and then finally arguing the point before a judge. Alternatively, if you feel that your rights have been violated by an illegal law, you may file a civil suit rather taking the civil disobedience route. As I understand, there are various advantages to each choice, but since IANAL, I am not going to go there.
All of this begs one question: Is the law establishing TSA and allowing the grope-n-scope a violation of the Constitution? Well...technically, to get an accurate, authoritative answer to that question, someone must first challenge that law in court. However, there are those, including EPIC, ACLU and others, who think so. You might consider reading the 4th Amendment yourself to form your own opinion. In my opinion, for however much or however little, that's worth, yes, TSA is blatantly violating the 4th Amendment, and the fact that the entire nation isn't marching to D.C. with pitchforks and torches quite honestly boggles my mind. But then again, I'm a bit of an idealist.
MCSE? No, sir...I don't do Windows. Yes, I am an idealist. What's your point?
Unfortunately, TSA has expanded out of airports and into train stations and highways. How long will it be before apologists are saying, "Well, if you don't like TSA, you don't have to leave your house. Going out in public is voluntary." Think it won't ever happen here? That's what I thought about body scanners and "enhanced pat-downs" two years ago.
MCSE? No, sir...I don't do Windows. Yes, I am an idealist. What's your point?
Make sure the windows are shut.
Slow down, cowboy! It has been 4 hours since you last posted. You must wait another few hours.
Senator Paul, how was your visit to the security theater?
"National Security is the chief cause of national insecurity." - Celine's First Law
Just wait until his dad becomes President.
Slow down, cowboy! It has been 4 hours since you last posted. You must wait another few hours.
Since the morons with the TSA can't work the scanners right. Those scanners require someone to look at and interpret results. That requires some training, some logical reasoning skills. Metal detectors are simple: Beep = bad.
Last time I went through the airport I was scanned (they were choosing people by the highly through method of "people who are in the line near the scanner") and the moron working the thing couldn't get an image on anyone apparently. Had to wave me through because they were out of patdown people.
It would have been far more secure to just send me through a metal detector.
Maybe that baby mutant guy from "Total Recall".
I'm trying to teach myself to set people on fire with my mind... Is it hot in here?
The terrorists aboard the planes on 9/11 didn't use guns or bombs, but only knives. As George Carlin said: "There are no bombs. The whole thing is fucking pointless!" Yeah, a guy did try to sneak some C4 aboard in his shoe, but lighting it with a match only makes a smoke bomb.
Chewbacon
The Bible is like Wikipedia: written by a bunch of people and verifiable by questionable sources.
There are thousands of valid arguments against the TSA and you pick travelers forgetting to collect their loose change? And as a source of funding? The TSA employs nearly 60,000 people. $400k covers about three (their budget allots on average $139k/employee; source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transportation_Security_Administration).
Bribes go a long way, but not $8.1b long.
I'd be as happy as anyone here to see the TSA disappear forever (and, ideally, subject to criminal trials for impersonating police officers, sexual assault, and many other things) and replaced with a reasonable and actually effective set of security measures, but let's use reasonable arguments.
How are sites slashdotted when nobody reads TFAs?
"White male adults, and US citizens"
Perhaps you're right. Maybe we should profile white U.S. males who've converted to Islam in the past decade.
You would prefer instead the "good hearted" politicians who are for indefinite detention and the assassination of American citizens?
Send him to a jail cell where he'll be raped by ethnic minority gangs and then call him a neo-Nazi.
Seastead this.
Problem: The TSA has expanded their operations to trains and pulling-over cars along interstates. Also post offices and unemployment/social security buildings.
Citation Needed. I've never encountered the TSA in any of these situations. Any security I have encountered has been nowhere near TSA levels, and has been at a level appropriate to the location.
Did you miss all the stories on VIPR? Seriously? Here's a cite from the TSA's website from 2007!?
I am not a crackpot.
Wouldn't that be unconstitutional anyway due to the provision against bills of attainder as it's generally interpreted?
If statistics prove repeatedly that terrorists are exponentially more likely to be males of age X, from nation of Z
Then chances are that the people most able to provide information about potential terrorist attacks will also be males of age X, from nation Z, and you're much better off if they are willing to co-operate with the state and don't have an entirely justified belief that it'll screw them over at every opportunity.
So we, um... we profile people of age X and nation Z to allow them easier passage through security screening, in order to gain their trust to give us information about people in the terrorist organizations.... that almost assuredly match the profile of age X and nation Z?
I'll admit they'd never see that coming but...
"But we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it,..." - Nancy Pelosi
I wouldn't call it "along interstates", but I can certainly see how it'd be confused for that: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visible_Intermodal_Prevention_and_Response_team
Contrary to what you may have heard, the "Federal" Reserve is not one of the Branches of Government.
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Friends don't let friends enable ecmascript.
Tell your Congresscritter to support it.
Hate to tell you but they are not your Congresscritters.
Where did you get the moronic idea that you cannot waive a right?
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If that were so, I could write up a contract that says that by signing this, Obfuscant, is now my indentured servant. Upon you signing it, would you be my personal slave? Clearly this isn't remotely legal.
I suspect (not an legal expert on the topic), that there is some confusion over 'rights'. You can waive being read your Miranda rights when being arrested, but I doubt you could ever waive the right to have Miranda rights or any of the other rights that are enumerated in the bill of rights. Clearly this can be a murky subject.
Btw, the offer to buy you as a slave for $50 is a valid one, if you are willing and we can get around that whole, 'completely illegal' thing. I need an indentured servant to make snarky posts for me on
HA! I just wasted some of your bandwidth with a frivolous sig!
The American system assumes that all branches are co-equal, each with their own powers. There are checks/balances in place to prevent one branch from stepping all over the other 2.
One of these checks is the above clause. Imagine, if you will, that the President has a law before Congress and the vote is close. By instructing the TSA/FBI/CIA/etc (which are agencies of the Executive branch and under the President's direct control) to detain a few specific legislators, he could ensure the vote goes the way he wants.
Or, by detaining legislators, any President could extract promises of support....the possible abuses are obvious and many.
This is why so very many sources are going out of their way to say that Senator Paul was NOT detained. And, I would guess, the use of the word, "detained", was not an accident by Senator Paul. I would further guess that the TSA did indeed detain him, and that the whole thing is getting a massive CYA treatment from smarter folks higher up on the Washington DC food chain.
Also, this is why Congresscritters can perform acts of insider trading...oversight in that area comes from the Executive branch, which has a hard time getting someone in the Legislative on anything other than Treason or big-time felonies. So they don't bother, and the Legislative branch has chosen not to police itself in this area.
If you conside the aborted to be a human being, I'm pretty sure not being killed by your mother/doctor is a civil liberty.
Oh no, they discovered his fresh-water bulge.
Table-ized A.I.
Don't forget anywhere within 100 miles of an International airport!
Why bring Korea into it when it's a chance to beat around the Bush?
That playboy prince was President George III and wanted to run the place like King George III.
So they're billing the government 139K/per & paying the lot minimum wage? When'd minimum wage start paying 139K???
Understanding the scope of the problem is the first step on the path to true panic.
You just reminded me of a scene from Airplane II, as background people pass through security.
The first guy is obviously armed with something, but doesn't trip any alarms and no action is taken. Then an old granny passes through, and sets off the alarm for some reason. The guards throw her against the wall and start patting her down, as two more heavily armed guys with ammo belts walk through unmolested.
It's been 20 years since I last saw that movie. It was funny at the time, it's sad to see how close it resembles real life today.
I thought we stopped worrying about bills of attainder during that whole Terry Schiavo thing?
Jesus was all right but his disciples were thick and ordinary. -John Lennon
"TSA screenings aren't just for airports anymore Roving security teams increasingly visit train stations, subways and other mass transit sites to deter terrorism."
I understand they also do a great job at deterring tigers as well.
So you too are also for discrimination?
Actually [profiling's] the best possible security.
Wrong.
Thank you, Edward Snowden.
"Arguments from authority are worthless." —Carl Sagan
The unfortunate part of this is that the TSA guy is just doing his job. But I agree with Rand Paul, this is just out of control. I've always been treated fairly but the system is ripe for abuse and doesn't really do much to guard against terrorism, IMHO.
It takes either ignorance or purposeful deciet to present a false choice like that. It's like saying that a person must either support Barrack Obama, or hate African Americans. There are additional choices.
I am not for discrimination. I'm also not for window dressing just so people like you have a false sense of civility at the cost of billions of dollars that we dont have and a slow erosion of our civil liberties.
"But we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it,..." - Nancy Pelosi
Ah yes, of course it's that easy to avoid the Tairline Security Administration altogether.
Nope, just don't give them special treatment either way. Allowing them easier passage through security on the assumption that they might know terrorists is still kind of insulting if you think about it.
To Paul, he only know the story behind him, but whatever ever he committed he give an account to that, especially the time of judgement whose the judge is the God.