How To Remake America As The Soviet Union
A tweet from David Burge:
@iowahawkblog
Patriot Act: the law that mandated cavity searches and spying on every American to solve the problem of Saudis students overstaying visas.
On the way to the ev psych conference in Missouri, at LAX, Jacqueline Tirre is the TSA thug who groped me (per her nametag) -- after intimidatingly just leaving my computer and possessions to sit there on the metal detector off-ramp, claiming they didn't have personnel to get it.
Tirre had just come up to man the gate to the metal detector (which, by the way, the morons didn't send me through), and was the one to search me -- after standing there and ignoring my calls for a supervisor.
Other TSA thugs similarly ignored me and my calls for a supervisor and for someone to watch my possessions.
So my stuff was just out there a long time, with no one to watch it or see that, say, my computer didn't get knocked off the belt by all the travelers coming through while I stood to the side waiting for Queen thug to decide she'd take a grope break and feel me up.
This absolutely seems like an intimidation move for anyone who opts out of the scanner.
I bent over, jailhouse search-style, and Tirre, a squat little middle-aged white woman with oddly applied lipstick (beyond the parameters of her lips), ordered me to not bend over like that.
Let's be clear on this: This little turd of a woman earns money for violating the bodies and rights of American citizens who have given no reason for anyone to believe they are doing anything criminal.
And as I've posted here before, anyone who is smart enough to make it in this blog's comments section is smart enough to figure out how to get something onto a plane without going through the TSA gropefest.
Back to what went down (heh) at LAX, Tirre -- disgustingly -- touched my hair (as if I could hide C4 in hair pulled tight to my head), felt in my waistband, and grazed my labia -- this fellow stood guard.
What did he think I was going to do, make a break for it; run for my gate? Or is it that he just likes to watch women be forcibly felt up?
Yes, this scumbag earns money, as does Jacqueline Tirre for violating my body and my Fourth Amendment rights in a meaningless pretense of security -- one that really is obedience training for the American public, so we will be docile as our rights are yanked from us.
Again, the way you stop terrorism is through probable cause-based policing, using highly trained intelligence officers, long before anyone gets to the airport. It is not hiring a bunch of people who would otherwise be working in the mall and giving them faux cop costumes.
And they steal your stuff....
And Janet Napolitano wanted them unionized...
CatherineM at June 1, 2015 5:53 AM
I don't know, it's hard to fathom, it's almost like you're on, oh, I don't know, some kind of LIST or something . . . . ?
If I were a terrorist dumb enough to waste my time trying to carry Something Bad onto an airplane by the passenger route, I would plan my trip through security about 4 places in line behind you (not you, personally, you understand, but some person who has carefully made enough of a fuss in past journeys to get the same sort of treatment you do). You've probably noticed how jacked up these folks get during these joyful displays of authority - they are so busy Barking Orders, and Following Procedures, and telling you all of the myriad and specious reasons why We Can't Do That, and You Have To Do This, and Now We Have To Do This Other Thing, that a skillful person could use the fog of distraction to get just-about anything past them, up to and including a live armadillo. Passive-aggressive nonsense like posting a person to Glare At You In An Authoritarian Way, and increasing your anxiety by a studied display of indifference about the fate of your possessions, is all part of the theatre of gaining compliance by fear and intimidation. As the Israeli observed, this isn't a system for catching terrorists, it's a system for bothering and annoying people. Except now it has the added feature of singling out those who question what they do for even more of the same. Yeah, that's helping.
Anyone with even a modicum of street knowledge can figure out that a person who makes a fuss about this sort of thing is absolutely zero threat. Stop looking at them! The threat is (anywhere but where they are)! Don't look in at that person - look out, where the threat is trying to get past you! The terrorist will be well-dressed, unremarkable, compliant, and his papers will be in perfect order. He already knows how to get past you, and it's not by suddenly figuring out as he shuffles through the line 'Oh, Allah! They're going to search me! What shall I do? I know, I'll make a commotion!'
Let's hope Senator Paul builds on his good start with the NSA by pointing out the ridiculous and ultimately-destructive nonsense that is the TSA, and get that on the road to oblivion too.
llater,
llamas
llamas at June 1, 2015 9:06 AM
They are unionized - since November 9, 2012 they've been members of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE).
We are so screwed.
Conan the Grammarian at June 1, 2015 10:12 AM
When one opts out of the scan and submits to a body search, isn't supposed to be in private?
How is it that a male TSA agent was watching? And it appears you were in full view of other passengers.
(Maybe in a way that's better because the groping can only go so far.)
Gary Baumgarten at June 1, 2015 11:51 AM
ABC news headline, "Undercover DHS Tests Find Widespread Security Failures at US Airports."
According to the article TSA perverts failed to find 67 out of 90 (that's 95%) guns and explosives investigators tried to smuggle through airport check points. Probably too busy strutting and groping.
"Fly with confidence, your TSA is awake."
Jay at June 1, 2015 12:27 PM
Hi, Gare! I ask for it to be in public, but they're supposed to offer you private screening. This creep, Jacqueline Tirre, to the best of my recall, did not.
It was gross that he was watching. As she groped by boobs and gave me a very thorough gropedown all over.
The TSA knows who I am. There is no reason to think I'm a threat -- to anything but their feeling good about their jobs. Why don't I get waved through with only a metal detector test?
Why don't others we can be reasonably sure are not terrorists?
Again, because it's not about security. It's about stout little women like Jacqueline Tirre, who would never be in a position to order me around in "real life," having power over me by government decree.
If you have to take a job with the TSA, this says everything about you: mainly that you are unfit for jobs requiring intellect, creativity, innovation, etc. And we really -- really -- think these people in their phony cop costumes are keeping us safe?
Amy Alkon at June 1, 2015 12:29 PM
Obedience training for the new soviet state... reckon i got nothing left to say after our good hostess is done. Now i best get back to re-arranging those deck chairs.
Storm Saxon's Gall Bladder at June 1, 2015 1:27 PM
Just out of curiosity, why do you opt out of the scanner? Is it more dangerous than an x-ray at the doctor, or is it because you don't want your naked self x-ray up on the screen? Generally ignorant here I guess.
JB at June 1, 2015 1:51 PM
"An internal investigation of the Transportation Security Administration revealed security failures at dozens of the nation’s busiest airports, where undercover investigators were able to smuggle mock explosives or banned weapons through checkpoints in 95 percent of trials, ABC News has learned."
http://abcnews.go.com/ABCNews/exclusive-undercover-dhs-tests-find-widespread-security-failures/story?id=31434881
Ken R at June 1, 2015 2:02 PM
I apparently share a first & last name, but not age nor state of residence with someone on a watch list, according to a garrulous check-in agent.
Who, bless her heart, immediately got a truly panicked & odd look on her face after telling me this, in response to my exasperated question of "Why am I *always* getting pulled out of line and searched?" and "Why does my boarding pass always have extra text & stuff on it?"
This information irritated me no end. And when I get *truly* irritated, I tend to get...creative.
Now, picture this if you will: I'm 6'3", bald, fat, and in my 50's. Not going to be mistaken for a "male review" dancer, nor an underwear model, you might charitably say.
But now? Every time I go thru Security Theatre, when the stupid groping starts, I start sort of *very slightly* leaning into them, just a tiny little bit, and making little, *quiet* moans.
You know what? So far I'm batting 1.000 on completely creeping the freaking gropers out.
They're prepared for anger, they expect indignation, they thrive on intimidation, and seem to enjoy humiliation.
But - so far - every groper has gone from that smug condescension they seem to wear like a favorite sweater, to really, really obviously uncomfortable, to my very great enjoyment.
It probably won't work at all if you're young, female, attractive, or such, but for a grumpy, old, ugly, fat guy like me.. Heh. Yeah.
Totally worth it.
piotr1600 at June 1, 2015 2:03 PM
Lol!! Oh piotr1600 - this made my day!
gooseegg at June 1, 2015 3:43 PM
piotr1600 claim your gay an request a female for your pat downs so as not to be sexaully touched by the gender you find attractive.
I've done it three times so far and while always confused sometimes they actually do it
lujlp at June 1, 2015 4:00 PM
I just go through the naked scanner. Not my fault if they're vomiting and tearing out their own eyeballs back in that soundproof booth...
markm at June 1, 2015 7:28 PM
Other TSA thugs similarly ignored me and my calls for a supervisor and for someone to watch my possessions.
So my stuff was just out there a long time, with no one to watch it or see that, say, my computer didn't get knocked off the belt by all the travelers coming through while I stood to the side waiting for Queen thug to decide she'd take a grope break and feel me up.
This absolutely seems like an intimidation move for anyone who opts out of the scanner.
I too always opt out of the scanner, and I used to have this problem. But then about 5 trips ago, when I told them I was opting out, and they told me to just put my stuff through the X-ray and someone would be over in a minute to escort me, I decided to try a different tactic. Instead of obeying, I politely but firmly told them that no, I'd hang on to my stuff until someone could immediately escort me to the other side, that I was not comfortable leaving my possessions unattended. I pulled my backpack and the tub with my shoes/belt off the x-ray conveyer belt, so the people behind me who weren't opting out could go around me.
So 5 round trips, 10 times through security, and I think 9 of those I had to opt out, and I've used the above tactic. Sometimes the agents are clearly less than happy, but I've never gotten too much trouble, other than them blatantly taking an extra long time to call a male assist, or try to tell me how harmless the scanner is.
Ben at June 1, 2015 11:54 PM
@ piotr1600: To put the icing on the cake, you might consider asking the next groper "How much for a happy ending?"
the other rob at June 2, 2015 4:17 AM
Hello other Ben.
Ben at June 2, 2015 7:55 PM
"Is it more dangerous than an x-ray at the doctor?"
Possibly. TSA scanners are exempt from all requriements regarding the testing or calibration of X-ray equipment, or licensing of people who operate the equipment. One machine could be perfectly safe, while the next machine delivers a dangerous dose. The TSA has no idea.
Cousin Dave at June 3, 2015 3:43 PM
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