Most sane, reasonable people will be outraged at this. Unfortunately, the same sanity and reason keep us from rising up and doing anything to stop this illegal and absurd abuse or personal liberty and freedom.

Now let's all sit back and wait for the TSA apologists and those who are quick to point out how 'the courts defend the legality' of this.

My plan for my next TSA 'massage' is a few well-timed and loud rebel yells.

Abhorrent.

Maybe we should insist that all TSA agents run for President of the USA on the Republican Ticket. Then maybe the media will start getting it into their thick heads that this is what real sexual assault looks like.

My plan for my next TSA 'massage' is a few well-timed and loud rebel yells.

Maybe you should review the soup scene from Sleepless in Seattle for an alternative.

If a TSA feel-up is inevitable, you might want to lay back and enjoy it. -- Stuff Clayton Williams Might Have Said

At least it is by people of the same gender....so the probabilities of being violated are less unless of course the PC brigade ensures that LGBT's are the vast majority in the TSA.

So, because I'm a straight female, it's not sexual assault if another female puts her hands in my crotch? Good to know.
What about my breasts? I am well endowed, there's plenty of space to hide things, but if some stranger wanted to put their hands in between to check for a bomb, there's a strong possibility they'd get slugged.
The scariest thing about this, is the TSA website specifically said that skirts were an exception to the crotch patting, that the "officers" wouldn't touch bare skin, although I suppose, since she was wearing tights, she totally could have been hiding a bomb between the tights and her bare skin.

Wow this is OUTRAGEOUS! I am so glad that I don't have to fly! I would not put up with this crap. No way. Disgusting!

Ick!

I have flown many times in the past couple years in dresses and skirts with and without tights underneath. And I have NEVER had this experience. They kinda feel for my waistband through the dress (although never putting their fingers under it). In fact, the patdowns I've gotten while wearing skirts have been much less invasive than the ones I've gotten while wearing pants.

Hale's experience is, to me, what is so wrong about these "security" procedures. There is NO uniform protocol across airports or even among officers when it comes to pat-downs. Each officer is clearly being given free-range over what he/she does to passengers -- giving them plenty of wiggle room to dole out punishment to those who are being "difficult."

If a TSA ever does to me what she did to Hale, I think I'm going to dramatically lift my skirt up all the way, over my head to draw the attention of all the other passengers who are calmly "following procedure."

hmmm spam filter ate my comment. Trying this one more time.

************
Ick.

I've traveled tons of times in the past couple years in skirts, with or without tights underneath. And the TSA officers usually just kinda pat at my waistband through my dress (never putting their fingers under it).

The fact that my experience is so different from Hale's is exactly what's wrong about the TSA. There is no uniform protocol when it comes to pat downs. The officers are being given free rein to punish those who are being "difficult" and call it "procedure."

If they ever ask me to hike up my skirt, I'm thinking I'll dramatically pull it all the way up over my head to attract attention of those waiting in line.

Harry Met Sally? Yeah. I'm torn between whether to loudly orgasm in my pants during my next pat-down, or if I'll just strip down to my boxers while waiting in line. Lay my clothes in the tray with my shoes and stroll through. Why the fuck not?

Harry Met Sally? Yeah. I'm torn between whether to loudly orgasm in my pants during my next pat-down, or if I'll just strip down to my boxers while waiting in line. Lay my clothes in the tray with my shoes and stroll through. Why the fuck not?

"Well, which is it young feller? You want me to freeze or git down on th' ground?"

Hello Amy, I predicted this back when the kubuki theater of taking off shoes was taking off (pardon the pun). Quite simply, the only way to ensure safety on the plane would be the right for security to conduct strip searches.

At the time, (Y2K) I was one of the few passengers pre-cleared for a program where I could bypass customers for a biometric hand print. I walked through some of the lines (but not security.)

I don't blame the TSA for this although I think the agency is highly political both in terms of how promotions are meted out and their policy, but rather the flying public's expectation of safety. They demand that EVERYTHING possible be done to make the flight safe. If that means full body searches, many want that. I'm not saying that's right or wrong, just an observation.

In addition, there's the risks to the ground to consider. If they lower security for the sake of privacy and something happens, what about innocent people on the ground whom might be harmed?

Here in Orlando they are test-running a procedure where children under 12 don't have to take off their shoes. If they still have the signs next time I fly I'm gonna ask them what makes children shoes much less of a risk ..... I don't expect the answer to be enlightening.

When the spam filter eats your comment, you need to email me, or your IP will get known as a spam IP by the software I use.

eeek, good to know. Thanks for approving my original comment and sorry for the double-post!

If they still have the signs next time I fly I'm gonna ask them what makes children shoes much less of a risk ..... I don't expect the answer to be enlightening.

lol my boyfriend is always asking TSA agents questions about their procedures, and I swear he is going to get us both cavity-searched someday!

Some TSA stations have signs saying "Ask us about our new interviewing procedures!" So, when we were in San Diego, my boyfriend asked the agent about them.

The agent goes, "Uhhh...I've never heard of any new interviewing procedures."

My boyfriend points out the sign.

Agent: "Ummmm. I don't know anything about that. Sorry."

"what makes children shoes much less of a risk"

Yeah and now-a-days they have LED lights...like a bomb.

Lie back and think of England.

The nail that sticks up shall be patted down.

While I dislike the TSA's overreach - physical and verbal - the TSA is very clear that they call their airport inspectors "officers":
Everyone who travels by air goes through airport security checkpoints. These checkpoints are operated by Transportation Security Officers from the Transportation Security Administration. - http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/screening/index.shtm

"In addition, there's the risks to the ground to consider. If they lower security for the sake of privacy and something happens, what about innocent people on the ground whom might be harmed?"

Forget "might" - you're not asking anywhere near the right question.

The proper one is, "What about this scenario totally halts terrorism, not just on an airplane, but across the USA?"

Because the ammunition for horrible loss of life travels your highways and railways every day. Explosives, poisonous chemicals, you name it. Look up the term, "Emergency Response Guidebook".

In short, fondling you isn't doing anything but fondling you. They're even shipping ammunition by air.

And most air shipments are NOT inspected, not even X-rayed, regardless of what Fatherland Security tells you.

In addition, there's the risks to the ground to consider. If they lower security for the sake of privacy and something happens, what about innocent people on the ground whom might be harmed?

Posted by: PolishKnight

Wait, when did they finally add security

I was listening to the radio last night as I drove to LAX to pick up my daughter and Jesse Ventura was on with the host. He was talking about the TSA abuses and the body scanners and his court fight. He raised a very good point: with all the security lines, it won't be long before a terrorist is blowing up himself and hundreds of others waiting to go through security. He thinks it won't be long before there will be an additional check point to go through before you can even enter the terminal. He also said airports are a great example of the martial law that is sure to come. I think he's right.

By the way, my daughter was flying back from Hartford, CT (she had an interview at Yale for grad school). She forgot to take her shoes off while going through security and nobody even noticed.

In addition, there's the risks to the ground to consider. If they lower security for the sake of privacy and something happens, what about innocent people on the ground whom might be harmed? -- PolishKnight at November 9, 2011 9:16 AM

Not trying to pile on, but....

The TSA was not needed about an One (1) Hour after the Tower II was hit. This was amply proven by United Flight 93 in Shanksville, PA. Yes it could have gone down in a heavily populated area. It didn't. That was because the passengers understood the new model and adapted to it.

This has subsequently been proven by the shoe and panty bomber. They were subdued by the passengers.

Yes, there could be another Lockerbie. But there won't be another not-so-smart-missile attack.

Now that I've had a day to think about this, I know what I'm going to do the next time I absolutely have to fly.

I go to my local renaissance festival every year, in costume. I wear a kilt. I'm thinking I'll wear my kilt and go that way.

If they want to pat me down -- they'll get the whole package. ;-)

I notice that some people in Congress are starting to speak up, and the opposition to the TSA procedures is not breaking along party lines, which I think is a good sign. Democrats are starting to get the message that not everything government does is inherently good. And Republicans are starting to get the message that security does not excuse authoritarianism.

"He raised a very good point: with all the security lines, it won't be long before a terrorist is blowing up himself and hundreds of others waiting to go through security."

sara, that's been covered here -- it's well-known by every security professional I know.

There are only two reasonable explanations:
1) Another agency is intercepting the enemy;
2) There is no enemy.

The TSA is useless.

I can't believe this crap is still going on. I haven't flown in years.

What Herman Cain is alleged to have done — which the MSM can't seem to shut up about already — isn't even close to the TSA abuse of power and public molestation of men, women and children.

If the media would actually get on the case of the TSA with daily coverage, they could make it all go away, but what's more important to them is tearing down GOP candidates with vague allegations made against them.

The TSA is getting away with inappropriate violations of hundreds of thousands of people ever day!