Is this the TSA's Blogger Bob? Or another Bob?

And is that his name, or what he does for his boss?

You have character?? no you don't cupcake.

you don't have any of our values,
Duty
Honesty
Integrity
Honor
Selfless-Service
Respect
and Personal Courage.
Truth be told, you're a fraud. You couln't hold the attention of the Mickey Mouse Club. I lost a friend named Joshua Riess during 9/11 in the North Tower, you twit, next time you want to bad mouth the TSA, answer me this, what kind of useless words would you Spewing out if you we're on one of those planes on 9/11.

You are completely useless. @ss clown.

"Part of what makes this country great..."

There's a laugh. Part of what makes this country great is the ability to complain about the horrible treatment. So there's that. What would make the country greater is if there were no arbitrary (misnamed "random") selection of passengers to mistreat. This is done in the name of security but in fact it is merely bureaucracy. It is a bloated organization performing these insane tasks that could never have any positive impact on airport security.

"By the book" he said.

Which book would that be? Mein Kampf or Mao's Little Red Book?

"By the Book."
"According to Procedure."
"I Was Just Following Orders."

Excuses for tyrants, petty and otherwise, and they sycophants since time immemorial.

This guy is a douche bag. Unless there's a reason to be suspicious, send people through the metal detector and be done with it. Last time I went through LAX, it was just through the metal detector, no harm no foul.

Nightflyer,

Astounding what people will give up in exchange for *the illusion of* safety.

Whether the TSA does any good or not (they don't), I would rather take my chances as a free person, than submit to excessive authority and STILL not be GUARANTEED that I would make it safely to my destination.

Besides, it isn't solely about the TSA. Ever heard the phrase about giving up an inch? I have never seen such sheep-like compliance from masses of people like I witness in an airport. These are people who, out on the street, would probably stand next to a no smoking sign and light one up. But ask them to spread 'em for a metal detector with no probable cause or warrant, and they move quicker than a doorknob with snot on it. It's insane, and it ALL leads to something down the road. Something bad.

Duty
Honesty
Integrity
Honor
Selfless-Service
Respect
and Personal Courage

NONE of the TSA "security" personnel that I've encountered have exhibited ANY of these traits. NOT ONE. They have been rude, obnoxious, sneering and condescending douche bags, every single one, from New York to Orlando to New Orleans to Hartford and back again. I will not fly again unless and until the TSA is disbanded. And I'm not alone. The entire TSA workforce makes a living out of violating innocent Americans' 4th Amendment rights and there is no way in hell you can convince me otherwise.

Oh, and I couldn't comment on their blog either.

Truth be told, you're a fraud. You couln't [sic] hold the attention of the Mickey Mouse Club.

Truth be told, you're one of those TSA douche bags. You couldn't spell if your life depended on it, which is why you can't hold any type of job that actually produces something meaningful. You're nothing but a mindless drone.

Nightflyer - I am sorry for your loss. Amy does tend to be a little bit... sharp in her language. However, she does point out that the reinforced cockpit doors (and, I believe, changes in in-flight protocol?) have made the type of attack we suffered on September 11, 2001 unlikely, if not impossible, in a way that TSA simply does not (as evidenced by guns going through undetected). I would like to think that, if I were on a plane such as those on 9/11, I would do what the folks who went down in PA did, but I hope to never have to find out if I have that kind of courage.

As for "our values" I'm going to assume you work for TSA (please let me know if I'm wrong). I've worked for the Government. I know what the values are supposed to be, and that not everyone has those. I am SURE there are people who work for TSA who genuinely want to do their part and believe they are helping. I am similarly sure that many are power-tripping in the same manner as some kindergarten teachers. They do a disservice to the agency and our country, just as those teachers do a disservice to educators, their communities and their country.

If I'm not mistaken, Amy believes she has a duty as an American to point out the abuses in the system and the lack of benefit she sees for the high cost of invasion of freedom - a founding principle of our country. You are, of course, free to disagree with her, to believe TSA's procedures are the best available options, and that they don't unduly infringe upon our rights... but that does not make Amy lack integrity, honor, or duty... although I admit her personal style isn't exactly the level of respectful I'd use to speak to my grandmother.

I would argue that, if instead of everyone calling everyone else names, we really focused on thinking and discussing we'd be better off (no major argument to my dog-based security yet!) as a country... and not just in this arena, but in most all of them. Of course, that would necessitate changing the level of public discourse... I'm working on it, one child at a time over here, but I'd be happy to have some help.

All - Happy Thanksgiving and, if you are traveling, safe travels. May you all have something for which to be truly thankful.

Shannon

Amy - My favorite part:

Any single commenter here smart enough to make it in the debating fray on my blog could smuggle contraband onto a plane.

I do come here for mental exercise :)

I believe that those captchas require you to include the number in the picture (though I could be wrong). In other words, "guhtsel" would be "12 guhtsel".

Just a note--on Capthas like that, you need to include the numbers in the photo as well as the letters. (fro example: dclenidi 24) You might want to try again and see if you still get declined.

Shannon, I'm humbled by your post. You said it so much more eloquently than I did. Thank you for that.

You have a nice holiday too. I'm staying home, baking pies, making the whole dang turkey dinner, having family over, and all that. And yes, I'm thankful for so many things in my life right now. Sometimes I lose sight of that. Thanks for helping me remember.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

I can't manage to post comments there either. Perhaps if I were to make a nice ass-kissing comment it would work, but I didn't try.

I think the TSA is an entirely useless agency with no purpose other than to suck up tax money. I don't fly often and in recent years have done my best to avoid it if possible. I have noticed something though. When I've shown up to the airport nicely dressed, hair done, and some makeup on I've been pulled aside for the molestation. The two times I've worn essentially swears, no makeup, and hair in a ponytail I was allowed to pass through the metal detectors only. Coincidence or something else? Based on my experience, it would appear the more attractive, well-kept women are targeted over the more slob like travelers.

Hey, Nightflyer, which part of

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.

do you need me to explain to you? why is it that our government is more concerned about affording rights to illegal combatants captured on the field of battle than protecting the rights of US Citizens, which they've sworn an oath to defend?

Nightflyer: I'm sorry for your loss, but you're not the only person to lose, or almost lose, someone important on 9/11. A lot of good people died that day. Still, the TSA doesn't do anything useful to prevent that from happening again. Not only have they not caught a single terrorist, but I wonder how many people have died in car wrecks because they didn't want to fly. I wonder how many deaths the TSA has caused.

Most of the people I have encountered at the TSA have been fine to work with, considering the task they perform. It's still wrong, and it's still stupid expensive considering it doesn't keep us safer.

Most of the people I have encountered at the TSA have been fine to work with

And I'm sure the guards at Auschwitz were perfectly nice people who were just put in a bad position by their superiors

David, they posted your comment!

I just left one. The last part of my first post to Nightflyer. They probably won't post it, though. I said "hell"!

MonicaP mentioned the deaths caused because people are driving instead of flying... which happens to be the topic of a post on Slate today:
http://www.slate.com/blogs/moneybox/2012/11/20/counterproductive_airport_security_does_tsa_cause_more_deaths_than_it_prevents.html

I find your vitriol against hardworking Americans offensive and uncalled for. I have undergone these “rapes” (pat-downs) at various airports from TSA contracted screeners and regular TSA screeners. To marginalize the words of “molest” and “rape” is disgusting and a very wrong characterization on what is going on. If you need attention, this is wrong way to go about it. If you have legitimate complaints about what TSA does, be an adult about it. While I respect your opinions about liberty and rights, the way you go about it is offensive and unforgivable. Good day.

Yea Amy does raise her voice up once and a while. I generally do not comment on her anti-TSA diatribes. Still good for her expressing her first amendment rights. Sometimes busy bodies are needed to keep government in line. Plus uhhh this IS HER SITE. She can do what ever she wants here.

So NightFlyer, uhh the TSa was formed after 9/11.

Till that fateful day the game had been different. Hijacking and terrorism was one of two ways usually.

Take over plane and fly to shelter country

OR

use an explosive device to bring down plane.

THE TSA was formed to the third situation provide on 9/11 and sorry it has failed.

What good is the TSA for?
Well they are good for.

Finding a few idiots who seem to forget they have weapons on them. From some guns to toy swords
Confiscating cupcakes.
Judging breast milk as a dangerous substance.
Deciding a picture or an item that slightly resembles a gun as dangerous.
Stealing from people.
Taking away bottled water bought at airport.

The list goes on.... and on....

Now I agree there needs to be security and some measures need to be taken. But the TSA have been just kneejerk reactions to each situation. Or implementing security procedures not for security sake but political or financial reasons. Not even good reactions.

For example
First, X-Ray/scatter-ray machines are NOT completely safe. Yet they where allowed to be used. Because powerful lobbies got them fast tracked.
Two, the security provided by the TSA is done by semi to non existence professionals. Many of them have no training in security. It would be worse the expecting a mall cop to investigate a crime. Why are uneducated people hired to protect us. I think there might be enough ex military people who might want a job, who have more security mind set then Candy whose last job was sliding cans across a laser.

But the worst reason the TSA is a joke is because it is where logic goes to die. Why the fuck is a cupcake with too much frosting being seized? Why is there a need to have what you can see as a visibly elderly person in a wheelchair to STAND and WALK THROUGH A MACHINE? OK, search the chair and the person.

OR

have a person take of their artifcial leg and HOP through a machine. Sorry no helping allowed.

OR

But why for the love of GOD does a knife that is provided to first class passengers on another airplane and could barely cut a piece of meat need to be taken FROM THE FUCKING man that is flying the plane. The pilot, yep the fricking pilot! Who if he wanted to take over, sorry already has control of the lane! Nope he might use the knife to take over the ..... but he is already flying the plane... but he has a knife... which is provided for on many airplanes..... Round and a around we go....
If a TSA agent can not solve this problem, fire them. Because they make the whole agency a joke.

It is these stupid stories that come up every week in one form or another. Because the TSA refuses to use logic and commonsense. Rather then the TSA saying yep they fucked up. Then try and fix the mistake they made. Nope, they double down and fluster about. Threat and refuse to change and adapt.

I am getting bored with this. but NightFlyer sorry to hear you lost someone on that day. But I want practical solutions and commonsense procedures to protect. No the bleating of emotional people who scream "SOMEBODY THINK OF THE CHILDREN" or "WHAT IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN?".

OK before I go. I got my second wind.

Duty - TSA workers are routinely found sleeping and doing other non-work activities on the job. Good jon protecting me their skipper.

Honesty - umm the weekly/monthly news reports of TSA workers caught stealing.

Honor - For what, standing by a machine and groping people. For putting there lives in front of 4 ounce liquid tube. For filling in a job form and passing basic requirements. If the TSA has done some honorable then I will respect them.

Respect - Two way street, many of the TSA do not show the respect to anybody. No it is threats and power. You show me respect I will give it. Respect does not come from a badge or a job it comes from the persons actions. yet people are routinly not show simply respect with a please and a thank you but with commands. Many of the TSA have shown they are not worthy or respect or show respect.

Personal Courage - Yes, the courage to come to work and do your job. I know single mothers and teachers with more courage then most of that bunch. Their job is not dangerous. Well, besides dealing with outraged people like our beloved blogger Amy, might be a little dangerous. "Yea, she scares the shit out me."

Those are are empty words NightFlyer. The TSA shows none of the attributes. Yet Amy fills them.

Duty - Amy has provide for years constantly updated and content filled site. Never minds she also weekly provides a column for many newspaper. The multitude of people and friends who can count and counted on her would fill a conference hall. Amy does not need to run this site or answer posts, but she does. Why? Duty, maybe...

Honesty - A women who will not pirate any material and calls people out on it. She is a person who tells the truth all the time. This women is scary honest! I know only a handful of people who are this honest. Read her articles.

Integrity - She may disagree with me and rather then biting my head or crids head off, she usually keeps friendly and calm. She is willing to suffer fools like BOTU for years, just on the ideal that maybe he will grow up. She has shown countless integrity in situations, when most people would show horrible behavior. In situations that even I would turn away from she jumps right in. This is a women who will go out of the way to help a homeless person. A person who will confront injustice if she sees it.

Selfless-Service - She donates time and knowledge too many people. Not just here on the site, but the people she has in her life. I know Amy makes not much money on this site, but she always gives her heart into it. Where else can I come and actually get a response from the blogger. Many of the other big site just post ignore.

Respect - She is an atheist libertarian who treats me a inactive Mormon conservative with fascist tendencies with the courteousnesses and politeness at anybody else here. Never has censured my posts and ridiculed my questions. She even puts up with my slightly off topic comments. She has my respect, that is why I have come back here time and time again. She has never shown any disrespectful behavior.

Personal Courage - she has more courage then me. The women is fucking amazing. Really read some of her pasts posts. She has ventured out to the world and faced it at times when other people would give up or run away. At least read the Pink Rambler story! This is a women who works hard and always tries new things. If I could be half the ability and courage she had, my life would FUCKING ROCK!

Finally I am almost done. So Night Flyer. The TSA does not show any of the attributes you stated. Amy has shown all of them and in SPADES.

Fuck Off! (look with a sneer!)

@Paulson....what else could I add, except *bravo!* Well written.

I don't know Amy personally but she has corresponded with me quite a bit, offered encouragement and advice when I needed it, and viewed through her writing shows herself to be all of the above.

As far as the topic du jour, again, bravo, sir. I do not enjoy the pit-in-my-stomach feeling lately, knowing the Bloombergs and Obamas of the world (among many countless others) are whittling away our rights, and knowing that far too many people are okay with it.

Perhaps our friend Nightflyer or Baghdad Bob Burns would like to try and comment on this case of poor TSA behaviour?

For the link wary: TSA reportedly exposed breasts of Rep. Ralph Hall’s teen grandniece, called it ‘accidental’. She was apparently travelling with her church group to Australia, and had a lay over at LAX.

See, Amy, you could be treated worse...

My mother works for an airline at JFK so she has regular interaction with airport personnel from many different areas. What she has to say about her experience of the TSA agents she sees and comes into contact with makes Amy seem like a fan of the TSA.

The reason your post is being rejected is you are not typing the complete captchas

In your first example, the complete captcha is

declinedi 24

You are missing the number part in each one.

Yes, those verifications are a pain. Tom is right: it has to include the number in the photo.

Flynne,

Thank you for the kind words. Very nice to hear (esp. as I've been battling the scream-athon of a over-tired 3-year-old all day)! :)

Enjoy your holiday, and good luck with the cooking!

Shannon

Amy does tend to be a little bit... sharp in her language.
To this and all the others even slightly calling out Amy I say "It's called Wit, you should try it sometime."

I am scared spitless to fly because I am afraid of heights. I don't have to see how high off the ground I am, if it is more than a couple of stories, I start to panic. My husband has bruises on his arm from me clinging to him every time we fly. Add to that having to be felt up by some perv stranger and I am pretty much in tears.

I am a middle aged white woman traveling with her military spouse. He's white, with blonde hair. Neither of us has a police record, or fits any kind of profile. Yet we still get pulled. Why? I'll admit, hubby is a good looking guy, and I am fair to middling, but while these jagoffs get their jollies the next panty-bomber is probably sailing thru the nudey scanner to his flight.

It's a double Captcha, you need to put the numbers from the photo in, also. They are moderating comments, so they may censor it, anyway.

"By the book."

What a cruel fucking joke. The TSA has refused to let the public see their standard operating procedures - we literally have no idea what is and is not "by the book."

Nightflyer wrote"

"Truth be told, you're a fraud. You couln't hold the attention of the Mickey Mouse Club. I lost a friend named Joshua Riess during 9/11 in the North Tower, you twit, next time you want to bad mouth the TSA, answer me this, what kind of useless words would you Spewing out if you we're on one of those planes on 9/11.
You are completely useless. @ss clown."

Gee, Nightflyer, too bad the 9/11 families themselves don't agree with you:

http://www.911familiesforamerica.org/?p=6141

Nobody is impressed with these TSA losers, these vermin who sell out America for a paycheck.

Cowards, perverts, thieves, all of them sucking at the government teat, sniggering as they collude with this out of control agency running amok on the decent citizens who pay their salaries.

Let's face the truth: There are no good people among the TSA, because no good person would associate with this filth.

Disgusting, liberty-hating assholes like this should never be given any respect.

Kat,

I'll admit that I'm fairly humorless. I tend toward the overly dry scientific side of life, but I usually appreciate Amy's way with words, even if I do find some of her ways to be a bit more brash than I would use myself.

What I don't understand is 1.) How was what I wrote "calling Amy out"... and why the need to call ME out?

For that matter, if you look at the rest of what I wrote, I think I made a good case for laying OFF Amy. I acknowledged that she does tend to make her points in a somewhat combative manner, but then laid (some of) them out in a softer tone. I did this because some people will listen better that way, and I think what Amy said is important (and Nightflyer, to whom I addressed the comment, was hanging out in a raised/combative state).

Just to make sure that I didn't come across critically, I posted another comment (to AMY), immediately after, showing that I appreciated what she wrote. (Not to mention the whole "Happy Thanksgiving" thing isn't exactly the best I'm-calling-you-out tone setter)

Of course, I could be completely wrong in how it came out... so let's ask the subject of my comment.

Amy, was my comment in any way offensive to you? Did you feel I was calling you out, supporting you, something else?

One last thing... I'm sitting here wondering: why pick on me? There are plenty of people who throw insults at Amy on a regular basis. She has proven she's a big girl and can handle it. What compelled you to pull that one sentence out - of ALL the things people have said to Amy that are far worse - as an example??? The only reason that comes to mind at the moment is that my relatively soft tone made me look like a soft target. Is that the sort of person you are?

I haven't flown since they introduced the choice between the scanners (where they do not have to comply with the same level of testing as a medical scanner, nor monitor the exact output of each device) or the genital touching.

I've reworked my business so I don't have to fly. The year before the scanners, I flew 20 times. I just turned down a flight today in favor of Webex. When Webex doesn't do, Ford does.

Gog_Magog_Carpet_Reclaimers: "...these TSA losers, these vermin who sell out America for a paycheck... Cowards, perverts, thieves... Let's face the truth: There are no good people among the TSA, because no good person would associate with this filth... Disgusting, liberty-hating assholes like this should never be given any respect."

The Truth. Clear, concise, well said. Thank you. Especially that last part:

"...liberty-hating assholes like this should never be given any respect."

Amen!

Amy, if you want to get a comment in with a blocked IP, download and install "Tor". It gives out an IP address from a random location.

Amy, I tend to agree with Bob. You're looking for attention and it seems to have worked.

"Bob Burns" Obviously a fake name. Probably wears his name tag upside down too. (That is, if it really is a he)

DW appears to be a paid shill for the TSA.

Don't worry folks, the USSA empire is about to break up. Just like the USSR. How did the 1980's arms race cause the USSR to collapse? For the same reason that the soon to be former USSA will collapse. They could no longer afford the interest on their national debt. It was not a question of actually paying off their debt because it was impossible to do so due to it's size. Guess how many trillions of federal reserve notes the USSA owes the central banks and other countries.

One more thing, Nightflyer:

TSA is not protecting the country against terrorism.

This may produce the open mouth of shock on your part, or perhaps some expletive about me, my butt and a clown.

But any long look at airport "security" will show the average 12-year-old boy where he can still do mischief. In fact, there was a case where a child with no ticket actually flew (I guess the rule book said entire persons are allowed as long as they aren't carrying a nail file) but I digress.

The real story is that millions of tons of hazardous material is in transit right now throughout the United States, and nobody cares about that at all, despite its destructive power. You could do a lot more harm than trying to bring down a plane with something you can carry.

Bottom line: TSA does not stop terrorists. Though Jeff Guinn has tried to apologize for them before - and failed - any such deterrence would be met with a shift of target, not wholesale surrender of the terrorist's goals.

Want to think about something really strange?

Americans - Americans! - are patted down for wanting to fly on an airplane, are subject to "no-fly" lists despite the alleged efficacy of the patdown process...

... and the American who objects to being fondled by people who are NOT police officers, who do not even undergo background checks, is the nut?

If you think that, WTF are you smoking?

If a terrorist set off a bomb in a plane he could kill a couple hundred people and disrupt one flight.

If he set off a bomb in a crowded terminal he could kill a couple hundred people and disrupt all flights, possibly for months, and possibly delay traffic at other airports that feared another attack. And TSA would never know he was there until after the explosion.

Radwaste: "...the American who objects to being fondled by people who are NOT police officers..."

Police officers have no more right to fondle law abiding citizens than anyone else without probable cause and some specific, legitimate purpose.

If a terrorist set off a bomb in a plane he could kill a couple hundred people and disrupt one flight.

There have been between 86 and 88 airplane bombings in aviation history. But let's round the number up to an even 5,000 that have been attempted in aviation history. That is out of over 75,000 flights, per day, in the U.S. alone. Do I need to do the math for you?

If he set off a bomb in a crowded terminal he could kill a couple hundred people and disrupt all flights, possibly for months, and possibly delay traffic at other airports that feared another attack. And TSA would never know he was there until after the explosion. -- Ken R at November 20, 2012 7:30 PM

If he set off a bomb in a crowded mall in America he could kill a couple hundred people and disrupt all commerce, possibly for months. And the Mall Security Agents would never know he was there until after the explosion.

If he set off a bomb in a crowded subway station in America he could kill a couple hundred people and disrupt all transportation, in the city, possibly for months. And the Subway Security Agents would never know he was there until after the explosion.

Are you willing to be groped to walk into a mall or store? What about to get on the subway?

You are trying for safety at the expense of your liberty, and the liberty of everyone around you. You really aren't any more secure, and now have to worry that something you are carrying, like a pocket knife. would deprive you of your freedom.

Jim P. "There have been between 86 and 88 airplane bombings in aviation history... That is out of over 75,000 flights, per day, in the U.S. alone"... "If he set off a bomb in a crowded mall..."... "If he set off a bomb in a crowded subway station..."

That's the point. Even if TSA knew how, or had any intent, to stop terrorists they still would not have stopped any because there haven't been any for them to stop. If they'd ever caught one the whole world would have heard about it. If there had ever been a single one they didn't catch the whole world would have heard about that too, because a plane would have been bombed.

Not only are all of their "security procedures" nothing but bullshit, the whole "terrorist threat" is bullshit... pretext to justify their outrageous existence.

"Are you willing to be groped to walk into a mall or store? What about to get on the subway?"

Malls, subways, train and bus stations, sports stadiums, ferries, highways, outdoor festivals, concerts, high schools... DHS intends to infest all of them with its perverts and molesters. That was the plan from the beginning.

Don't want to be molested by perverts and creeps in security guard costumes? TSA has given its response: "People have a right not to fly." ... and eventually, a right not to take a train... a right not to shop... a right not to go to a ballgame... a right not to drive... etc, etc...

As Gog_Magog_Carpet_Reclaimers said farther up in the comments: The truth is there are no good people working for the TSA, because no good person would would ever take such a job. Disgusting, liberty-hating assholes like that should never be given any respect.

I've never been treated rudely, but that's not the point. We are paying billions for an agency that is useless. A private entity would have liquidated it long ago. Government just keeps coming back for more of our money to violate our freedoms.

Now the Senate wants the government to be able to read your e-mail without a warrant. Meanwhile, they violate the law by using private e-mail for government business. They are corrupt.

I kind of want to take a job at TSA and then write about it from the inside. Too bad I don't live in the US.

I kind of want to take a job at TSA and then write about it from the inside. Too bad I don't live in the US. -- NicoleK at November 21, 2012 4:34 AM

Why should that stop you. You can get fake id easily in the U.S.? :-p

Oh the citizenship isn't a problem... it's more the commute that would be an issue.

It is outrageous and likely illegal, for this government thug to waste taxpayer money to harassing a citizen for expressing your dissatisfaction with his agency on an official Federal website.

Burns should be fired immediately and a Congressional investigation launched on this agency and this website.

You have a good lawyer and should consider suing TSA for harassing you and also for misuse of Federal property.

Thanks, Bill, but Marc put in a lot of time (and his associates time) on just keeping me out of trouble. If there's a lawyer who wants to take this on, I would be happy to have them do it.

Regarding the TSA's double captcha -- text of an email I sent to somebody who pointed it out:

Thanks - a few people have told me this. Why they have a double captcha is beyond me. Do single captchas not work, or do they want to keep people from commenting? I have a captcha that never changes and I've gotten maybe three pieces of comments spam in this entire year.

See below. The answer is, of course, "cars."

And my comments aren't moderated like those on the government's post decrying me for standing up for our civil liberties. TSA thugs and everyone who wants to post can post here -- well, that is, providing they have sufficient intelligence to figure out, for my anti-spam message, that people do not drive to work in "pirates."

It interests me as a matter of course that his initial complaint is the characterization, he states it is "offensive to say the least". I wonder, why should that even matter? One could not find a book in any library worth its salt, that was not offensive to someone. If we confine our public discourse solely to what is acceptable to everybody, then we may as well forget how to speak, read, or write, as there is no longer anything to say to each other, and no decisions can ever be made.

Mr. Burns claims that they protect our nation's transportation network? But do they? Stating that it is what they exist for, is NOT the same thing as actually accomplishing their mission. Indeed if the ONLY way they can accomplish their mission is by throwing away the constitution and treating every passenger as a probable terrorist, absent any evidence whatsoever, then their mission is utterly impossible to accomplish, and our liberties are cast aside like trash for nothing. The fact that this is so is amply proven by the fact that they have yet to identify a single terrorist, every terror attempt involving air travel for the last 10 years has been stopped by PASSENGERS.

The TSA can crow about finding guns or drugs, but as these have yet to be used on a plane in flight, we can rightly point out in return that:
A. That is not what they are supposed to be there for
B. That has not posed a threat worth spending 8 billion to combat

To cooperate with the abuse of our rights and liberties is to say that they are unimportant.

I encourage EVERY citizen to protest every step of the process. TSA employees are rightly derided, sneered at, and mocked, and that would be the very least of things that should be heaped upon those who abuse the rights of citizens and call it "just doing my job."

To many people abdicate their responsibility for their actions, being paid to do something does not make it better, if anything, accepting money to abuse the rights of citizens, makes the abuse WORSE, as it is done in official capacity, not better, as if the searching individual were not making a choice.

And last but not least, being able to speak our thoughts publicly is ONE of the great things about our country. It is not the ONLY great thing, but one of those things is fading and nearly gone, the right to be secure in our persons and our homes, from unreasonable search and seizure, absent probable cause or warrants.

SO, Mr. Burns, do pray tell, are we just as great a country when we treat every person like a probable criminal, for no other reason than they wish to fly from point A. to point B?

You are the mouthpiece of tyranny, speaking for those who abuse the rights of others, and no matter what virtues you may possess, they are overshadowed by your cheerful endorsement of the removal of liberty from free people. You may as well write for Pravda, and tell us how our rights are taken away for our own good.

--------------------

And to "Nightflyer" someone with the Army values of which you speak, SHOULD know the value of liberty. Obviously you do not. The TSA is worse than just useless and expensive, it has confiscated the property of American citizens and resold it to fund itself. Its employees have stolen from passengers. It violates our 4th Amendment rights so thoroughly that it just assumes we have none. You want to find someone with those values, you look at people who oppose the TSA, not who meekly submit while a stranger touches their daughter between her legs because she's trying to fly somewhere.

Fuck you and the horse you rode in on. Death does not justify the loss of liberty, it should prompt the creation of more of it, or at least, a reaffirmation of its importance.

As I note that you specifically list the Army values, I presume that you either are or were in the service. If so, I suggest you reread your oath of enlistment, in detail, and pay attention to it. If you do, you'll find that your first duty is to the Constitution, before anyone or anything else. And then frame those values in such a way that they apply to the highest priority in the oath…then tell me how you can defend the TSA.

"But, my living is earned as a syndicated newspaper columnist and author working on her third book which just sold at auction, meaning more than one company bid on it."

Did Harlequin win? I can't wait to hear about your romance with a female TSA agent. :-)

"Any single commenter here smart enough to make it in the debating fray on my blog could smuggle contraband onto a plane."

Two points: First, I'm happy to debate this with any one of your conspiracy theory constitution misinterpreting sheeple. I'm not afraid of the "fray".

Second,Perhaps you should attempt to get something through yourself Amy. Put your actions where your mouth is. Since you know so much -- prove it.

And don't waste my time by saying they are "watching" you closely. Because in reality, they see thousands like you every day and really don't give a rat's a$$ what you say or think. With more than 2 million people flying every day, your face doesn't stand out in the crowd.

Sorry I injected some humor about your rape fantasy (or was that fantasy rape). I am more than aware of the size of the romance novel market.

You wouldn't get arrested if it was so easy as you describe it, now would you? So no, you didn't put your money where your mouth is.

Standing up for the constitution? Ummm sorry it called an administrative search and it is in no way unconstitutional. Just like when they check you out before going into most Federal buildings, courts, etc. You never have to undergo an administrative search. You undergo it with knowing consent. Or didn't your attorney explain that to you?

One in 50,000? Yeah I bet they have a pic of you at every checkpoint right next to that pic of Zawahiri. You need to get over yourself. You come across as conceited.

Yes, I am contentedly confident in my correctness. Otherwise, I couldn't be smug, now could I. You actually want to try and lecture me in logic? That's funny for someone who rationalizes that all TSA people are perverts and pedophiles because of a couple bad apples. Can you say bigot? :-)

BTW, nice job figuring out how to post on a blog.

Or was that a "stumbling block to free speech"?

Honestly, that was funny. Thanks for the laugh. Way to protect the constitution there. You go girl!

Two points: First, I'm happy to debate this with any one of your conspiracy theory constitution misinterpreting sheeple. I'm not afraid of the "fray".

And yet while declaring you would you didnt, why is that? There were more than enough comments for you to dissect and start a debate on, and yet you didnt, curious isnt it?

Second,Perhaps you should attempt to get something through yourself Amy. Put your actions where your mouth is. Since you know so much -- prove it.

What they hell does this even mean? Prove what? What actions should she take that she hasnt already? Did you have a stroke after writting the word 'second'?

And don't waste my time by saying they are "watching" you closely. Because in reality, they see thousands like you every day and really don't give a rat's a$$ what you say or think. With more than 2 million people flying every day, your face doesn't stand out in the crowd.

Well if that were true the TSA pet blogger wouldnt have commented would he? Ever stop to wonder why a government agency "dedicated" to 'security' pays people to read internet forums and argue with people who claim the TSA is worse than worthless? You suppose the DMV or the USPS has people trolling for blog posts about the bitch behind the counter to argue with those who complain about the service they recieved?

"And yet while declaring you would you didnt, why is that? There were more than enough comments for you to dissect and start a debate on, and yet you didnt, curious isnt it?"

Fire away.....

"What they hell does this even mean? Prove what? What actions should she take that she hasnt already? Did you have a stroke after writting the word 'second'?"

That was in response to her claim that anyone here could smuggle something onboard a plane. I asked her to prove it.

"Well if that were true the TSA pet blogger wouldnt have commented would he? Ever stop to wonder why a government agency "dedicated" to 'security' pays people to read internet forums and argue with people who claim the TSA is worse than worthless?"

It's pretty easy to find. Add to that Amy has had an ongoing war with TSA through her blog, Mens Daily articles, etc. and it makes sense he'd run across her now and then. After all, isn't she the person who falsely accused a TSA agent of "rape"?

"Aren't you the person posting with utter disregard for any facts or support?"

Ummm first, if she "raped" you she'd get charged. But there were no charges were there? Second, as you point out, you got sued for your allegations. Even though you wriggled out of it, it doesn't mean you were right in what you did.

Worse yet, you held a person who was simply doing their job up to public ridicule because you had an agenda before she even touched you. But then, you are a "classy" lady.

"But, read here, smug quisling. Randazza says it so well:"

I don't need to read your paid lawyers argument in your defense. He knows you didn't get raped, just as much as you do.... Again it was a conflict created by you for the purposes of getting yourself attention and sensationalising a non-event. I thought journalists reported the news, instead of fabricating it. Your amateur hour gives real journalists a bad name.

"I live 20 minutes from LAX. I used to be able to roll out of bed, have coffee, get to the airport shortly afterward and board a plane. Now, I have to leave three hours before my flight."

And how much is "shortly"? Two hours before? I cry BS. Anyone knows LAX security wait times aren't that long. But you can look it up for yourself. You know, fact check your own work.....

"Yes, commerce is greased like the lube they won't be using when they start cavity-searching us."

Too funny. More sensationalism. C'mon, where are these facts you keep talking about? Not once have you presented anything to dispute what I have said other than weak attempts at an "oh snap" comeback and name calling. The latter of which is the last bastion of those whose words can't stand on their own in the face of the truth. Do your homework.

Hey, look, it's "Knowing" again!

Hey, didn't you get your ass handed to you a while back on here?

"C'mon, where are these facts you keep talking about?"

Here's a fact for you. Just one American airport, Memphis International, handled 3,916,410 metric tonnes of cargo last year:

http://www.aci.aero/News/Releases/Most-Recent/2012/08/27/ACI-Releases-its-2011-World-Airport-Traffic-Report-Airport-Passenger-Traffic-Remains-Strong-as-Cargo-Traffic-Weakens

Go on, tell us how you & your squad of overpaid granny-gropers screened every ounce of that cargo to keep American skies safe.

To Knowing: (the know nothing)

1. On rape. Read the legal definition of rape. Then read the description of events. If in fact the events took place in the manner in which they are described, they fit the legal definition. If you wish to assert that she is lying about what happened, say so. But if you want to argue about the definition of a word, your real name should be Webster. Otherwise you are factually incorrect.

2. On the constitution: 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.

That is the text of the 4th amendment. Show me where in there you find an exemption for administrative activities. No matter what title you give to a search, it is still a search, and if it is not backed by probable cause and a warrant issued by a judge, it is by definition in the plainest words of the founding document itself, unconstitutional. You can call a search "administrative" you can call it blowjobs by unicorns, and it is still a search by a government employee that is backed by neither probable cause nor warrant nor grounds for suspicion.

3. On correctness: You certainly do sound confident in your correctness. I'm sure the judges in the Dredd Scott case sounded confident to. That you are confident, does not make you less abysmally wrong.

4. On "Proving" what could be smuggled: That has already been done you ignoramus. TSA agents failed to find a single terrorist for the last 10 years, every attempt at airborne terrorism was stopped by PASSENGERS. And the TSA has failed to catch everything from knives to firearms, even in authorized tests, their failure rate is around 60-70% or worse.

5. On "Just doing their job" If you do a job that is inherently bad, you are not good in spite of it. Lots of people "just did their jobs" in history, and the job aided and abetted evil. And yes I mean the word "evil." Those who rob others of their liberty and rights, deserve no lesser word, a little devil is not more of an angel than a big devil.

So tell me, what do you KNOW, about what our 8 billion tax dollars have brought us?

Oh and last but not least, lets pretend that you are not as stupid and ignorant as you sound, and lets say that the TSA was 100% effective, a terrorist could easily just oh I don't know…fly over from Canada. Y'know, on an international flight where there is no TSA.

"Ah, but they can be. And often are, especially when you are held up by the gropers because you are one who stands up for civil liberties instead of going docilely and quietly. Not sure why you're posting here. You think we're safer because of the TSA? Which let a tester with a gun through five times in Dallas? (I'm guessing she didn't have large breasts and that they were probably too busy searching granny's diaper.)"

Too funny Amy. Don't let facts get in the way. Just looked up online and those wait times you suggest approach hours, were all under 30 minutes at LAX on Thanksgiving -- one of the busiest travel days of the year. Most were ten minutes or less.

It's funny how your own vanity gets in the way of your arguments. You suggest people single you out for your "large breasts" or that you "have a nice can". Get real. I've seen pics and you aren't all that. But keep selling those glamour shots when you can, the kind that catch the angle just right to make you look passable, but c'mon anyone can hit google images and see the real Amy. So save your conceited view of self for the desperate souls who follow your every word.

As I said, if it's so easy -- prove it. People make a lot of claims on the internet that aren't true. Even if things got through once a day -- that's only a 1 in 2,000,000 chance of success. Keyword being chance. Incidentally, a person is twice as likely to get struck by lightning. Perhaps someone who knows the technology, procedures and everything else can increase those odds some, but I doubt they could reproduce successful attempts on a consistent basis. So show us how easy it is since you're a self proclaimed security expert.

"People like you make it easier for our rights to be eroded."

Amy, with you it was never about rights, it was about getting attention. Fabricating stories doesn't solve the problem you claim you are fighting to fix. Tell me what have you done to constructively protect people's rights when it comes to airport security? I'm hearing crickets....

"Oh, and Marc Randazza defended me pro bono, at considerable cost to himself, with his associates putting in many hours of work. He's a patriot. You're a shill against civil liberties -- the kind of person who made it easy for the Nazis to get the Jews next door."

So are you telling me the money you received for your defense fund that you said was going to Randazza went into your pocket instead? Did it pay for your vacation to France? I wonder how the people who donated would feel about that? Disgusted, deceived, or used perhaps?

"And no, I don't bend over for those who trample the Constitution and our right to not be searched without probable cause simply because it puts on a good show of security, because it obedience-trains Americans to be docile in the face of their civil liberties being taken, and because it makes people like Michael Chertoff rich. That's your job, apparently."

You know nothing about what you're talking about as I have pointed out over and over. Administrative searches existed long before 911 and TSA. The airlines and contract security used to perform them. You weren't complaining back then. You weren't a "martyr" as you want to portray yourself. The real issue here is that post-911 they are more thorough than you like. Suck it up, buttercup. There are people that would love to kill us -- here and abroad. Or did you not notice the rise in attempted bomb plots in the U.S. Pre-911, we were pretty much insulated from the terror groups overseas. An occasional plot was foiled and we were all snug in our illusion that it wouldn't happen here.

So now you think I'm a "hamburger clerk". If that were true, it must be a serious blow to your psyche to know you're being shamed by someone you deem as being lesser than you. Humility is a good thing, you ought to try it sometime.

I saw your op-ed before. It was another -- there she goes again moment for me. I left it alone as I was still bored of you and yours from the last time I came here.

"Your collaboration with those who would take your rights -- unless you're one of them, which is a possibility -- is sickening."

And your collaboration with those who would bring down our country and put our people in fear -- unless you're one of them -- is sickening.

"I'm in Paris with my boyfriend and will leave you to rant away to yourself, "Knowing," feeling all squishy and good inside about defending those who violate our Fourth Amendment rights, and attacking me for ignoring the AP Stylebook."

"Really, the fact that you'd try that, and think that way, says everything about you."

You crack me up. As always you have no facts to back up what you stated, nor are you capable of rational debate. It's funny you had to mention Paris, because it's just another way to stroke your own vanity. I think I'll call you Carly from now on because her song is so apropos.

BTW, you couldn't ignore me if you wanted. Your ego will always get the best of you. Even if you painstakingly avoid me, I know you're languishing and seething in silence. I know you're reading what I have to say. Just know that puts a "smug" smile on my face.

Je ne suis pas parlez vous en anglais?

"Hey, look, it's "Knowing" again!

Hey, didn't you get your ass handed to you a while back on here?"

Radwaste, Hello again.

So are you Carly's knight in shining armor or just a groupie hoping for a little something something?

Don't know what wet dream you're thinking of, but I've never had my ass handed to me. Please feel free to back up your bold statement.

I have a life. When I come online I get bored of broken records repeating the same opinion- rather than fact-based arguments. Give me anything real to consider for a change. I'm already bored with this site because you guys keep talking about things you actually know nothing about. And no one -- including Carly -- seems to do their homework.

This is about as stimulating as watching neurotic lemmings cascade off Carly's cliff of self-aggrandizement in the hopes of licking her bunions.

Robert, Robert, Robert.... Just another mindless ewe follower of Carly. How sad.

1. If you go to a party intending to claim someone raped you. Then have consensual sex with someone, and turn around and claim rape, is it rape? Nope. If you want to play that game, then I would say this: When your child, niece, nephew, or whoever asked you for a horsey ride and you let them up on your knee. You then bounced your knee and they rode on it all the while you were coming in contact with their genitalia, then that would make you an incestuous, pedophile rapist, correct? You need to be careful, as definitions of an act expand, so to do the potential offenses. I know what rape is in my mind, and what Carly embellished upon and claimed to be rape -- wasn't rape. She consented to a physical search of her person because she refused to go through equipment that would search her less in a less invasive manner.

While I can somewhat understand her questions about the safety of the equipment, it's ironic she won't go through because of potential radiation exposure that equates to less than a minute of flying. Just curious, but how many minutes did it take her to get to France?

If yyou want to get hung up on definitions then let's see: Carly called me an asshole. By definition that means anus, which by definition means the opening at the lower end of the alimentary canal, through which the solid refuse of digestion is excreted. I have one, but it's physically impossible for me to be one. ;-)

2. Let's make that simple: UNITED STATES v. AUKAI. That's the law. The Supreme Court says it is not in conflict with the constitution. So misinterpret what you want, but you are wrong. I can hear your ass chapping from here.

3. Did Dred (one d not two) Scott have a work visa or a green card? Just kidding (since everyone gets so literal here). I take the time to learn which is much more than I can say for many others here. Am I wrong at times, sure, but you have to give me something that I haven't considered to make me reassess my views. I have no aversion to learning.

4. So here comes the name calling.... The least resort of people without a valid position on a topic of discussion. They aren't supposed to find terrorists. The FBI, CIA, etc are responsible for that. They are responsible for screening as directed. Your argument about passengers stopping every attempt of airborne terrorism is wrong. For instance, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was successful in getting a bomb aboard an airplane -- though not originating in the US where TSA screens passengers. The passengers couldn't have stopped him if his bomb worked properly. They only found out after it didn't work and it started a fire in his pants. This guy wants us dead....

http://video.msnbc.msn.com/rock-center/49848963#49848963

5. Is i inherently bad? So give me a better way to prevent an attack. It's easy to say what they do is wrong. Tell me, what would you do differently that would ensure the safety of the American public and not require checking their persons and property with existing technology. Bueller, Bueller....

What do I know about what your tax dollars bought you? You can find it all over the internet. Even Blogger Bob, they guy Carly (Amy) is attacking hs information to share. Just look. In the meantime, no planes have fallen out of the sky due to a terrorist act in the US in 10 years. Airports and airlines haven't been disrupted which costs us billions in a matter of days (note: which is cheaper than TSA). Intelligence has been greatly increased -- but I guess you didn't notice all the busts they've made on American jihadists the past few years. Missing children have been found and returned to their families. Drug smugglers have been busted. The people who were harmed in Katrina, Sandy and other natural disasters have been helped. Etc. etc. etc. And all that was on the side.... If your child was on Amber Alert and a TSA employee spotted them, I think you'd be singing a different tune.

The US government can't tell other countries what to do, but they can encourage them to improve the quality of their airport security. I do believe that's why they have personnel working with governments around the world. Remember the underwear bomber came from overseas not the US.

You can call me stupid, whatever.... But in your questions I see that you are actually willing to learn and consider other views. I respect that. It's rare here. I have a lot of friends who are veterans that work for the TSA and they tell me stories about how they are treated and it pisses me off. I've heard about people taking a crap in a ziploc bag and putting it in their luggage for screeners to find. Them opening coolers to find human arms and legs because someone forgot to tell them they were carrying tissues for organ harvesting. Or coming across child porn. On and on it goes. Recognize, not everyone who travels is a good person. Only then will you understand what they deal with. Are they perfect? No. But then no one is. All I can say is they don't deserve the attacks people like Amy inflict upon them. They deserve respect, just like any person.

"C'mon, where are these facts you keep talking about?"

Here's a fact for you. Just one American airport, Memphis International, handled 3,916,410 metric tonnes of cargo last year:

Go on, tell us how you & your squad of overpaid granny-gropers screened every ounce of that cargo to keep American skies safe."

Sorry almost missed you Martin.

Domestically:
http://www.tsa.gov/certified-cargo-screening-program

Internationally: (where they have no control but negotiated with other governments)

http://thehill.com/blogs/transportation-report/tsa/228123-tsa-clears-cargo-screening-deadline-for-take-off-in-december

Bueller..... Bueller....?

Too funny Amy. Don't let facts get in the way. Just looked up online and those wait times you suggest approach hours, were all under 30 minutes at LAX on Thanksgiving -- one of the busiest travel days of the year. Most were ten minutes or less.

Can I ask where your information came from? Because the apparently the TSA no longer self reports them[1] and some of the traveler reported info on the TSA website[2] is over three days old.

It's funny how your own vanity gets in the way of your arguments. ...

I quite frankly don't care and don't find it relevant what a passenger looks like when they are being searched unconstitutionally. That you resort to insults tells how weak your arguments are.

As I said, if it's so easy -- prove it. People make a lot of claims on the internet that aren't true. Even if things got through once a day -- that's only a 1 in 2,000,000 chance of success. Keyword being chance. Incidentally...

As for smuggling just google "tsa security smuggling tests"[3] what's to stop a terrorist from changing the drugs to guns once the TSA agent is already compromised? And when you have a 70%[4] failure rate at detecting knives and firearms that is better than 1 in 2M chance.

Amy, with you it was never about rights, it was about getting attention. Fabricating stories doesn't solve the problem you claim you are fighting to fix. Tell me what have you done to constructively protect people's rights when it comes to airport security? I'm hearing crickets....

Are you accusing Amy of lying? What does she have to gain from it? Do you think she will get a million dollar settlement from it? She is for the the small, Constitutional government that the founders envisioned. As for the crickets you are hearing -- it is because you have not listened to any of what has been said to you. The security that existed prior to 9/11 was all that was needed.

And your collaboration with those who would bring down our country and put our people in fear -- unless you're one of them -- is sickening.

Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. -- Benjamin Franklin

[1] www.budgettravel.com/blog/wait-times-for-airport-security-lines-are-no-longer-posted-online,10633/
[2] apps.tsa.dhs.gov/mytsa/wait_times_detail.aspx
[3] www.google.com/search?q=tsa+security+smuggling+tests
[4] www.infowars.com/more-tsa-lies-in-attempt-to-cover-up-security-failures/

I'll note that at Certified Cargo Screening Facilities, Indirect Air Carrier Services, and Independent Cargo Screening Facilities the actual screening of cargo is done by freight forwarders, shippers, and independent screeners, not by granny-groping TSA employees.

Jim p

"Can I ask where your information came from? Because the apparently the TSA no longer self reports them[1] and some of the traveler reported info on the TSA website[2] is over three days old."

Traveler reported at www.tsa.gov/mobile data I got this morning.

"I quite frankly don't care and don't find it relevant what a passenger looks like when they are being searched unconstitutionally. That you resort to insults tells how weak your arguments are."

Nothing unconstitutional about it see my response to Chip above. As far as insults,again see above for Amy. I welcome rational discussions. Name calling is weak. When in Rome....

"As for smuggling just google "tsa security smuggling tests"[3] what's to stop a terrorist from changing the drugs to guns once the TSA agent is already compromised? And when you have a 70%[4] failure rate at detecting knives and firearms that is better than 1 in 2M chance."

Good question" That's up to the individual. Drug smuggling or murder.... But one in how many? And are criminals always reliable after the first time? When did that 70% happen? Was it tiny pocket knives that wouldn't do anything or AK-47s? There is a difference. Wouldn't the real goal be to prevent bombs? How many of those slipped past?

So she should put her rear where her mouth is and prove it. Period. You guys all talk a good story, but not one of you have done what you say can be done so easily. Go for it....

"Are you accusing Amy of lying? What does she have to gain from it? Do you think she will get a million dollar settlement from it? She is for the the small, Constitutional government that the founders envisioned. As for the crickets you are hearing -- it is because you have not listened to any of what has been said to you. The security that existed prior to 9/11 was all that was needed."

Yes, I am accusing her of lying. She and I both know she lied. It was about an agenda she had, but it didn't work out the way she wanted. Even though she fabricated the incident.

Let's be clear, in my view, Carly (Amy) owes Ms. Magee an apology for what she did to her. Scumbags are scumbags and the only thing that differentiates a person from being one, is being accountable. Amy has never owned up. She lied. We all know that. If you don't understand that after reading everything on the subject, then don't bother trying to debate with me, because in my world, you will never pull your head out of your ass to come up with a cognitive thought.

As far as old security.... You missed what is going on in the world. Threats change, and the response is countermeasures. Hello? Plus the same thing was constitutional then.... But you didn't complain. So why now?

And yet the same Ben Franklin quote that comes from your creed so often. One question: Did Ben deal with today's terrorists?

BTW, you never offered a single solution.... If you want to fix a problem then fix it. Don't whine about it.

Oops sorry, did you want a trophy for posting? Maybe Amy will send you a coupon for a discount on her advice for nibbling at her self described incredible can. In spite of the fact she has no certifications or degrees you can solve all your problems for $125 an hour. Sounds like a half price deal from getting real treatment. But hey, you get what you pay for....

"And your collaboration with those who would bring down our country and put our people in fear -- unless you're one of them -- is sickening."

This is really cunning. Using the name "Carly", you can claim that you weren't talking about the blog's hostess if you get audited or taken to court. Nice going.

Gee, I wish I had a government job harassing the public who pays me. Not.

I wish I was so ignorant of the English language that I didn't understand what "collaboration" meant. Not.

(By the way - you've made a claim here that Amy Alkon is colluding with terrorist elements to fight the United States. Your approach indicates a basic dishonesty, however cunningly you may present yourself, so there you go. Are you going to try to arrest a blogger now?)

I wish I had a job claiming that the 4th Amendment only applies when the government says it does. Not.

I wish I had a job based on the ridiculous premise that patting down Americans makes the entire country safe from terrorism. Not.

I wish I had a job that can be traced, action for action, to the policies of dictatorships throughout history. Not.

I wish I was so righteous that I could disregard the ridiculously simple task of risk assessment because I get paid to suppress observations like Amy's. Not.

I wish I was part of an agency that causes misery and pain to the public without measurable gain. Not.

I wish I could enjoy the idea of prosecuting people from behind a government desk for objecting to being fondled. Not.

I wish I could be so confident in my own position that I would never question the morality of my job. Not.

I would never presume to use the handle, "Knowing", because it indicates an ego bigger than the world around it, and an unfounded confidence at odds with the truth. True.

It gets better.

See what DHS is reading?

I wonder if

Mr. S. (Woody) W. Hall, Jr.
Chief Information Officer
Bureau of Customs and Border Protection
Department of Homeland Security
1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Room 3.5F
Washington, DC 20229
United States
Tel: 202-927-0680,
Fax: 202-927-2080

knows that, apparently, a government employee in his office is accusing a private citizen of collaborating with those who would bring down our country for protesting her violation at his agency's hands?

"And yet the same Ben Franklin quote that comes from your creed so often. One question: Did Ben deal with today's terrorists?"

Wow, this is easy. I suppose you're the type insisting that the musket is the only arm protected by the 2nd Amendment. (No.)

In Ben's time, you could have killed a couple of dozen people and crippled the nation. In fact, in that era, Washington himself prevented an episode of barratry that would have disbanded Congress and put the nation under martial law, probably never to recover.

Nitwit, Ben's world had more open borders, no police coordination at all, nations after the New World's resources, trade confederations seeking influence and no gun or explosives laws to speak of.

What it didn't have is an abundance of money paying government employees to harass its own people.

How these people can actually live in DC and not "get" the idea of serving the public amazes me!

Traveler reported at www.tsa.gov/mobile data I got this morning.

Yes -- that is not even close to real time, and no guarantee for accuracy.

Wouldn't the real goal be to prevent bombs? How many of those slipped past? -- Knowing at November 24, 2012 12:44 AM

Well looking at the timeline of airliner bombing attacks there appears to be less than 100 recorded attempts. But let's assume that the attempts have been under-reported by 100%. So call it 1000 bombing attempts in commercial aviation history. That has to be contrasted by the fact that there are more than 50,000 flights per day, in the United States alone.

Your arguments, lacking facts, fall flat.

BTW, does does JERRY.DOWELL <at> associates.dhs.gov need an e-mail to let him know how you are using government computers?

Remember the reference anyone can use to see what actually happens in commercial air mishaps.

For yourself.

Guess what: "Knowing" is yet another government thug. I looked up his posts from within my software, and there was another IP address he'd posted from previously -- from the Department of Homeland Security. I have to go out, but I'll post more on this. Yet again, as with thug blogger Bob, we've got a government employee, most Orwellianly, going after an American citizen while on the taxpayer dime -- without feeling compelled to identify himself.

Amy, it's standard procedure for public employees to use public facilities (like a computer) for their own agendas. In this case I think we also have to consider that Knowing is getting paid to do exactly what he's doing here by the DHS/TSA, to be a propagandist. Lately there's been a rash of cases where prosecutors and other public employees have used sockpuppet identities to attack those they see as their enemies online. The chutzpah of these leeches and parasites, that they think it's their job to attack someone for exercising free speech, and that they would do so in a careless manner, not bothering to anonymize their IP address, shows just much they think the public's property and their own on the clock work hours are theirs to play with.

The notion that Knowing will get in trouble for misuse of government computers is laughable. His boss will probably give him a raise. There are probably thousands of government paid sockpuppets.

Just be careful trying to track down who Knowing is. They might accuse you of cyberstalking.

My brother lives in Israel. Israeli airports have a sterling record in preventing air piracy. To my knowledge, no El Al screener has been accused of groping anyone. I guess that's the difference between real security and security kabuki.

Finally, to Knowing, if you're so sure that you are doing the right thing, why hide behind an anonymous screen name? Why not identify yourself if you're so proud of your work?

Let us remember that it is not identity, but post content, which makes "Knowing" reprehensible.

Any look at American society will show the viewer our vulnerability to terrorist attack. Anyone capable of reading a hazmat manual will realize we routinely endure the proximity of deadly materials on a continuous basis. Anyone capable of watching television news or reading a paper recognizes that our borders are not only wide open, there are those who encourage illegal entry to the USA.

And it is also apparent that anyone claiming TSA is doing anything to mitigate these things is simply dishonest.

But let us not forget that the argument "Knowing" presents stands independently of his employment - as an indication that there are those who are eager to grab power, to aid and abet the theft of rights.
Like the religious, they do this because they are convinced in some manner that it's for your own good.
Even as they would subject themselves to the same horrors they imagine are only for "other" people.

Individual rights, "Knowing". What do YOU stand for? What is your job, and how does the erosion of those rights affect it?

The very first post I addressed to "Knowing" pegged him as a TSA worker, and here was the third:

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Okay, "Knowing" - let's see how ignorant you really are.

"First, it's legal and has been repeatedly upheld in court. You do not have a constitutional right to fly. The rules are to protect a multi-billion dollar industry that makes up a critical part of our transportation infrastructure. It's not all about you, or don't you get that?"

The affiant has the burden of proof. So far, you, as an apologist for those who reduce your own personal liberty, have not shown that the current arrangements increase your security in any way. I'm really interested in the "court" you mentioned, because the Lemuel Penn case established travel as a basic human right. Next?

About my: "First of all, that's wrong. All Amy wanted to do was travel on a plane. Government agents decided to impose a system that does nothing for security while demeaning people."

"And you know this how? Do you work for TSA, or other government security agency?"

Well, first of all, what do you think anybody who wants to get on a plane does?

Actually - after pointing out that you have now invoked a fallacy called "appeal to authority" - I do work in a secured environment today and have been part of a security force in the Navy, actually carrying automatic weapons. A personal acquaintance actually operates a minefield in Edgefield County, SC, and has every non-nuclear chemical and explosives handling permit there is, in order to teach SWAT teams nationwide about IEDs. I have held a security clearance higher than any airport employee since 1980. You have been totally fooled by security THEATER that has actually done only two things: displaced the ideal venue for terror attack into the concourse, since you've packed people in lines, and accustomed unthinking people to submission to police. Again - who guards the guardians? Not you.

But this does not actually require employment in the field to realize. Get your head out of the -- into the sunlight and look around. The evidence is everywhere, and it does not care where you work or what your job is.

"Please share with me where you have obtained your vast experience, as well as, where you would get the assumption that I have none?"

I can state with confidence that you have no experience, merely a vested interest in the status quo, because you've not a word for either personal liberty or the actual threats and countermeasures necessary in an industrial society.

("Industrial society" means that WMDs are available to anyone who can hijack a truck or order chemicals to be delivered to their address.)

It would not surprise me to find out you're a TSA employee, where I would pity you for two reasons: 1) You're actually not gaining any "security" experience whatsoever, and 2) the policies a TSA agent is forced to follow don't affect TSA management or any of the bourgeouisie at all. Ms. Napolitano will maintain a distance from the animal herders at the airport.

"Are you saying that there is "no risk" to having a plane be used in a terrorist act, is that really your expert assessment? I think the 3,000 plus who died on 9/11 and their families and friends would wholeheartedly disagree with you. Or how about those lost on Pan Am 103?"

I had a teacher back in the day who made the observation, "Ignorance must be heard." Here you not only have not addressed what the countermeasures now used address, you fail to realize that TSA STILL does not search cargo. That's where the bomb was planted in Maid of the Mist. Don't believe me? Ask The Pilot. See Patrick Smith's columns for Salon.com, where he addresses these things repeatedly.

Didn't you miss where Ms. Napolitano claimed "The system worked" when her agents actually let the shoe bomber on board? That affected anyone's paycheck how?

Do you actually think this bureaucrat has your welfare in mind? Hey, you've asked about MY experience. Why don't you ask TSA agents and managers what their credentials are?

"Sorry if my kids are on an airplane, I want to make sure all those nutjobs out there aren't carrying anything onboard."

And, of course, you've missed the most elementary observation, one that a baked potato could figure out: All of the items now confiscated from passengers have actually - not theoretically, actually - flown on passenger aircraft for more than 60 years.

You're being a useful idiot. You should stop, because actual terrorists are now being smarter than you are and you're outclassed here by several people.

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That part hasn't changed at all.

I have to fly next week and I'm terrified. Simply terrified. Though I am still a little shy of 40 years, I've got new artificial knees which are sure to set off the metal detectors. My metal knees and my (quite) large breasts are sure to make me the recipient of a pervy "pat-down". Being a rape survivor, this terrifies me. I just know I'll freak out and probably get arrested simply for crying over the disgusting indignity of having my boobs and crotch violated by a perfect stranger without any warrant or probable cause to search my body. But I'm sure Blogger Bob would find some reason to blame me for it all... it's my fault for having big boobs that could be bombs and a suspicious limp that could mean I've got an AK-47 strapped to my artificial knee. Yeah, it's all my fault.