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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.
"we detained you during campaign season. whoops."
yeah, this should be fun.
... 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.
(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.
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.
In this case, being 'confrontational' when standing up for your rights is certainly not a bad thing.
Quo usque tandem abutere, Nimbus, patientia nostra?
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.
Guess which branch funds the TSA and ask that question again.
Yeah, I bet he deliberately had knee surgery and asked for extra metal so he could set the TSA up fo a fall.
Hanlon's razor : Never attribute to malice (Paul) that which is adequately explained by stupidity (TSA).
"But we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it,..." - Nancy Pelosi
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?
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
He was carrying a Crystal for -30% radiation damage and a Spring for +30% impact resistance, good combination for today's air travel experience.
"When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
I could have sworn that, in previous cases (not involving a US Senator), people were told that, if the scan found something odd, you could either accept the pat-down or be arrested.
In fact, here's an article that makes it clear what the TSA plans on doing to you if you refuse the pat down: http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2010/11/23/those-who-refuse-tsa-patdown-will-be-denied-airport-entry/
Granted, that's over a year old so the policy may have changed. However, under that policy, Rand Paul should have been escorted out of the airport by police officers. Then, if he tried to get back through security (via rebooking on another flight), the entire checkpoint would be shutdown and the terminal possibly evacuated.
I wonder what would happen if a non-Congressfolk tried doing exactly what Rand Paul did. Would they be arrested for refusing the pat down? Would they be kicked out of the airport with a police escort? Would their rebooking and attempting to go through security again require a shutdown of the security checkpoint?
My sci-fi novel, Ghost Thief, is now available from Amazon.com.
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"
The Union branch.
Technically, he said it was "un-American" for Obama to be so virulent to blame BP before all the facts got out. But, spin it as you will...
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.
Except, you know, when it doesn't. Like the shoe bomber, Richard Reid whose father was Jamaican and mother was white British. Or the underwear bomber who was Nigerian. And there is Colleen LaRosa, aka Jihad Jane and her friend Jamie Paulin-Ramirez.
Yeah, that racial profiling really works great. Great for the terrorists that it would let sail right on through.
When information is power, privacy is freedom.
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?
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."
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.
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.
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.
How about we let the TSA fuck right off and we leave the issue to previous security measures augmented with secured pilot cabins and increased air marshal activity?
-- "Oh. This guy again."
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?
Senator Paul, how was your visit to the security theater?
"National Security is the chief cause of national insecurity." - Celine's First Law
But don't you feel so much more secure now that these morons are watching over you?
If it takes a thief to catch a thief, does it take a moron to catch a moron? Clearly people who blow themselves. up are morons.
I don't know, but it works for me.