Anus A Shame
Is that the next place the TSA's going to search before you board a plane? Johnny-come-libertarian Bob Barr blogs at the AJC, "Power to strip search passengers claimed by Feds":
In a breathtaking statement delivered in an official court proceeding, the federal Department of Homeland Security (DHS) claims authority to strip search every airline passenger; and to begin such a practice without even soliciting comment from the public.This outrageous statement recently was delivered to the American people by a DHS lawyer in arguments before the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, which is considering a challenge to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) nude body scanner devices. The suit was brought by the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC).
Currently TSA, which is a component of DHS, claims authority to subject passengers to either an intrusive hand searches or to x-ray scans that reveal a nude image of the passengers' bodies. Many, including this author and EPIC, consider such searches unconstitutional as violative of the the Fourth Amendment to our Constitution, which prohibits "unreasonable" searches, because they are being conducted without any suspicion at all that such passengers are attempting to bring weapons or explosives on board commercial aircraft.
Via @AdamKissel at free speech defender theFIRE.org.
I'm going to have to quit reading articles about the TSA. They make my blood pressure go up.
TX CHL Instructor at March 23, 2011 6:37 AM
It has become too easy to get peoples clothes off. Sorry TSA - a remicrowaved two day chicken dinner and watching "The Other Guys" while listening to the my "two" dates either snore on one side or try to explain to me the wonders of poodles and lapradoodles on the other - This does not constitute good foreplay or date. I want more if you are going to see me naked.
Actually all that is after the strip search. It is worse you have some bad sex first and then you have to go on a bad date for a couple of hours.
God each month I am getting more and more frightened and more put off of visit family is the US.
John Paulson at March 23, 2011 7:40 AM
This is a really serious thing and it's really disgusting. So this isn't meant to diminish any of that...but I just told two friends about this and both of their responses were along the lines of, "well at least I know I'm guaranteed to get some at the airport?"
I love my friends' dirty minds.
On a serious note: WHAT DO WE DO?! This would have to be the most violating thing to have happen. As a person who doesn't break laws aside from the occasional drinking out of a soda bottle in public (damn public drinking laws!) and is generally a good citizen it is really, really scary that this can happen to me. You think you're safe from this kind of shit unless you're a Bad Guy.
The conspiracy nut in me is really not processing this well.
Gretchen at March 23, 2011 9:02 AM
No one should be surprised that the TSA claims this power. It's only logical after the enhanced patdown / crotch fondle /nudie scan procedures were implemented. Everyone who argued that passengers should acquiesce to those procedures shouldn't be unhappy about a finger or two in their anus because "it's for safety" and "no one has to fly." Right?
Christopher at March 23, 2011 9:05 AM
I say we start a movement to make them sorry they asked. DEMAND they stripsearch you. DEMAND they check EVERY orifice - repeatedly. Channel your inner pornstar (or create it). Act like this is the most exciting thing you've ever done. In other words, turn the tables and mortify the CRAP out of them, and everyone who devised this latest installment of "Security Theater."
mcQuaidLA at March 23, 2011 9:05 AM
I linked this to Facebook with the comment, "Next thing we know jihadists chanting 'Allāhu Akbar' will stroll through security while TSA agents are busy ensuring that all the nubile young women aren't hiding uzis in their Wonderbras."
Beth Cartwright at March 23, 2011 9:08 AM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2011/03/23/anus_a_shame.html#comment-1954099">comment from Beth CartwrightThanks so much for linking this. It is extremely, extremely important that we not get complacent about this and that we fight it.
Amy Alkon at March 23, 2011 9:11 AM
The TSA also claim they have the right to force you remove your shoes, but they actually don't, and it says so right on their website. They don't seem to appreciate it when people call them on their BS, and usually "punish" me by making some poor lady hand wand me after my refusal to remove my shoes, even though I've already walked thru their metal detector, and her wand is drum-roll please... a metal detector, which obviously never finds anything since I'd already been cleared.
Now this article says that the "strip search" was in regard to the electronic scanner which has been in place at many of the major airports for over 3 years... but if for some reason the TSA gets power hungry and starts demanding physical strip searches of random people without cause, feel free to quote your nation's 4th amendment and ask that they identify their probable cause, the exact item they expect to find, and the location they expect to find it in, and if they do so, and you're comfortable with their answer (in my case I'm fat, and they expect to find a big bag of cocaine taped to my stomach), why not step into the machine (or because I'm to fat to step into the machine, lift my shirt and flash my belly), otherwise feel free to refuse, but expect to be "punished" (thrown in a room and delayed from your travel for an hour or two) for calling them on their false power. Here's the other thing... I've been to a load of airports, none of them have more than one body scanning machine, and that machine is EASILY visible at all of the airports from the security line, and therefore easily avoidable as you select the lane you choose to go through.
U.S. 4th Amendment:
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Hillary at March 23, 2011 10:45 AM
If TSA workers can raise the finger, and thus scare the misfits into walking quickly through scanners, then I am all for it.
Every once in a while, they should shove the latex into a snivler's rear, just to frighten the rest into compliance.
BOTU at March 23, 2011 12:06 PM
BOTU, not everyone is into public anal play with strangers like you.
Sio at March 23, 2011 1:31 PM
Sio-
That's the point!
The little whiners will whimper, but docilely walk though the scanners, rather than holding up the line with their putative Constitutional rights, while braying at TSA employeees who did not write the law or regs, but are merely foot soldiers.
There are ways to "stand up" rather than bend over for your rights.
The include:
1 Voting.
2. Writing letters to your elected reps.
3. Peaceful demonstration, within the law, such as at the TSA HQ etc.
4. Letters to Editor and blogging etc.
But holding up lines at airports, trash-talking and dragging lots of TSA personnel into your muck-world--no, that's the time for the "Anal Intruder" to be brought out by TSA agents.
TSA baiters beware--your sphincters should be quivering now, you little pussy assholes!
BOTU at March 23, 2011 2:39 PM
If TSA announces at some airport that they're going to strip-search passengers the announcement should be followed by a riot that produces Touching Special Areas clowns converted to mulch.
I n case you hadn't noticed, BOTU, the clowns running TSA and DHS don't give a rats ass what the law says or what the politicians say; they figure they've got enough idiot politicians willing to cover their ass that they can get away with this crap.
Firehand at March 23, 2011 6:12 PM
Obviously TSA doesn't like their agents, or they figure there are too many and need to thin the herd.
Which is exactly what will happen. I will guarantee you that if some dipwad TSA agent strip searches someone's teen daughter, especially in front of a bunch of lecherous TSA stool and a leering public audience, there will be a few TSA agents who probably won't make it out the parking lot, let alone home, after their shift.
Or, in a similar vein, they'll be followed home and even worse will befall them there.
And you know what- I won't have one bit of pity for them and sure won't shed a tear no matter how badly they get treated. Not even now. They want to play with the big kids, they can play by the big kids' rules.
Shy III
JimShyWolf at March 23, 2011 7:57 PM
It strikes me that that one of the most simple, yet effective way of dealing with the TSA goons is being overlooked.
When you see the TSA and those who sport the badge of such vermin, shun them.
Give the goons the old stink eye when you see them in the market or on the street. Make your attention plain for all to see.
Have no commerce with those who wear the sack cloth of the TSA, or with them that would commerce with the agents of the TSA. Make you choice known to the vendors you are leaving, along with the reason why.
Make the TSA and the fools who take the coin of the TSA pariah among decent people.
NordicOnTheEdge at March 24, 2011 12:13 AM
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