How partisan are you, really?

[Denny Crane]

How can anyone defend Janet Napolitano and the TSA pat down mess?

http://www.cnn.com/2011/TRAVEL/04/15/tsa.screeners.complain/

Earlier this week, Janet Napolitano, head of the Department of Homeland Security, said the TSA had the authority to conduct an intrusive pat-down on a six year old girl. “Parts of the pat down, in another setting, clearly constituted the kind of inappropriate touching that, if done by anyone else, would have resulted in charges of child abuse and sexual assault. The pat down even caused the little girl to cry, her parents later said in televised interviews,” writes J. D. Heyes.

 

[barfo]

How can anyone defend Janet Napolitano and the TSA pat down mess?

http://www.cnn.com/2011/TRAVEL/04/15/tsa.screeners.complain/

Earlier this week, Janet Napolitano, head of the Department of Homeland Security, said the TSA had the authority to conduct an intrusive pat-down on a six year old girl. “Parts of the pat down, in another setting, clearly constituted the kind of inappropriate touching that, if done by anyone else, would have resulted in charges of child abuse and sexual assault. The pat down even caused the little girl to cry, her parents later said in televised interviews,” writes J. D. Heyes.

What's this got to do with partisanship? I would have thought that if there was anything we could all agree on, it's that the TSA sucks.

barfo

 

[PapaG]

What's this got to do with partisanship? I would have thought that if there was anything we could all agree on, it's that the TSA sucks.

barfo

If it's a Dem official in a Dem administration condoning sexually assaulting kids, it isn't a partisan issue.

kthnx

 

[barfo]

If it's a Dem official in a Dem administration condoning sexually assaulting kids, it isn't a partisan issue.

kthnx

The TSA sucked under Bush, and it has continued to suck under Obama. I don't see the partisan issue here.

barfo

 

[MARIS61]

It's a 100% Republican operation.

Bush/Cheney created the DHS, which runs the TSA and FEMA and the Secret Service and the Coast Guard and the INS, and in many ways the entire US military.

The notion that Janet Napolitano is anything more than a puppet for the corporate interests running the DHS is naive.

I am anxiously awaiting the day when the TSA fondle and grope routine is used to overthrow convictions of child molesters and sexual abusers nationwide. If it's legally acceptable, everyday common treatment of innocent citizens by our government, it's not going to stand up as a crime in appellate courts simply because the "offender" isn't a schmoe working for TSA.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

I think the TSA is fine. they staff them with dumbshits though but this whole "they're invading my rights" is bullshit. i never have problems. its more the stupid ass infrequent travellers that piss me off.

 

[barfo]

I think the TSA is fine. they staff them with dumbshits though but this whole "they're invading my rights" is bullshit.

Road to serfdom, baby!

barfo

 

[Denny Crane]

The TSA sucked under Bush, and it has continued to suck under Obama. I don't see the partisan issue here.

barfo

60 vote super majority in the senate, big majority in the house, democratic president. They could have done whatever the fuck they wanted. Apparently, they want to see children groped in inappropriate manners.

 

[BrianFromWA]

I think the staffing is partially based by how much they pay. I mean, getting out of the military, it wasn't like I was wowed by any chance to work for the TSA and their McDonald's-esque salaries, even though I'm pretty decent at running an anti-terrorism/force protection program. Now, if it would've been similar to working at a defense contractor or nuclear plant, then maybe. It's an important job. But it's (a) saddled by political correctness and (b) staffed for the most part by people who aren't experts in the field.

Not taking away from any TSA employee's particular level of effort or professionalism, but we're not nearly at the level as, say, France or Israel (or even Japan!) at this.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

I hear TSA is looking into unionizing. If so, maybe they can get better training and learn how to NOT pat down a 6-year old girl.

This is getting out of hand.

 

[bluefrog]

Road to serfdom, baby!

barfo

nice

 

[barfo]

60 vote super majority in the senate, big majority in the house, democratic president. They could have done whatever the fuck they wanted. Apparently, they want to see children groped in inappropriate manners.

It's true. Reforming the TSA wasn't high on their priority list.

You libertarians didn't do a damn thing about it either, though. Of course, you never do a damn thing about anything, so I suppose you want a pass on that basis?

barfo

 

[Denny Crane]

It's true. Reforming the TSA wasn't high on their priority list.

You libertarians didn't do a damn thing about it either, though. Of course, you never do a damn thing about anything, so I suppose you want a pass on that basis?

barfo

Libertarians in congress certainly voted against it, and the war resolutions, and increased spending, and ObamaCare (especially the death squads).

 

[MARIS61]

Libertarians in congress certainly voted against it....

link?

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

It's true. Reforming the TSA wasn't high on their priority list.

You libertarians didn't do a damn thing about it either, though. Of course, you never do a damn thing about anything, so I suppose you want a pass on that basis?

barfo

There aren't enough Libertarians to do anything, anyway.

 

[RR7]

How can anyone defend Janet Napolitano and the TSA pat down mess?

http://www.cnn.com/2011/TRAVEL/04/15/tsa.screeners.complain/

Earlier this week, Janet Napolitano, head of the Department of Homeland Security, said the TSA had the authority to conduct an intrusive pat-down on a six year old girl. “Parts of the pat down, in another setting, clearly constituted the kind of inappropriate touching that, if done by anyone else, would have resulted in charges of child abuse and sexual assault. The pat down even caused the little girl to cry, her parents later said in televised interviews,” writes J. D. Heyes.

Is this story in the article you linked? I don't see it in there.

 

[Denny Crane]

It's quoted from a link in the linked article.

 

[RR7]

cafe to link that one for me. Not seeing it.

 

[Denny Crane]

When I get home later. The quote is real.

 

[Minstrel]

Apparently, [Democrats] want to see children groped in inappropriate manners.

My god! Democrats really are turning into Republicans!

 

[Ed O]

I agree this isn't a partisan issue, but I don't really have an issue with this.

If someone does?

Do.

Not.

Fly.

There is no God-given or Constitutionally-protected right to fly, and every time a plane takes off it endangers the lives of the crew and passengers and public.

If we're making a commitment to making those planes safer, then that means discomfort. If we really think that terrorism is a threat, then we need to anticipate that they will use unconventional means--potentially including little girls as bomb mules.

I personally feel a bit uncomfortable and put-upon when I fly, but it's a cost of participating in the system.

If I didn't want to put up with it, or if I valued the privacy I experience on a regular basis more, then I would stay home. Or drive. Or take a train.

Ed O.

 

[PapaG]

I agree this isn't a partisan issue, but I don't really have an issue with this.

If someone does?

Do.

Not.

Fly.

There is no God-given or Constitutionally-protected right to fly, and every time a plane takes off it endangers the lives of the crew and passengers and public.

If we're making a commitment to making those planes safer, then that means discomfort. If we really think that terrorism is a threat, then we need to anticipate that they will use unconventional means--potentially including little girls as bomb mules.

I personally feel a bit uncomfortable and put-upon when I fly, but it's a cost of participating in the system.

If I didn't want to put up with it, or if I valued the privacy I experience on a regular basis more, then I would stay home. Or drive. Or take a train.

Ed O.

TSA seems like a legitimate gig for pedophiles. NAMBLA must be going crazy!

 

[Ed O]

TSA seems like a legitimate gig for pedophiles. NAMBLA must be going crazy!

Pediatricians seem like a legit gig for pedophiles, too, by your logic.

Ed O.

 

[barfo]

I agree this isn't a partisan issue, but I don't really have an issue with this.

If someone does?

Do.

Not.

Fly.

That's not very practical advice, Ed, for those of us who fly for work.

If we're making a commitment to making those planes safer, then that means discomfort.

That's a big if. I don't believe we are actually making a commitment to making flying safer. What we are actually doing is pretending that we are making flying safer by inconveniencing people.

If we really think that terrorism is a threat, then we need to anticipate that they will use unconventional means--potentially including little girls as bomb mules.

We need to anticipate that our security measures are well known and obvious and therefore ineffectual. Terrorists are smarter (or at least more strongly motivated) than TSA agents.

I personally feel a bit uncomfortable and put-upon when I fly, but it's a cost of participating in the system.

It doesn't need to be a cost of participating in the system.

barfo

 

[PapaG]

Pediatricians seem like a legit gig for pedophiles, too, by your logic.

Ed O.

Pediatricians are looking for illness in a child, and with the consent of the parent.

LOL at you comparing a pediatrician to a TSA groper.

 

[barfo]

Pediatricians are looking for illness in a child, and with the consent of the parent.

LOL at you comparing a pediatrician to a TSA groper.

The TSA is looking for bombs in a child, and with the consent of the American public via its duly elected representatives.

barfo

 

[PapaG]

The TSA is looking for bombs in a child, and with the consent of the American public via its duly elected representatives.

barfo

How many bombs has TSA found in a child's private areas?

Now, take that number and compare it to the number of illnesses that pediatricians find on an exam. I know of two instances involving my own children.

It was a stupid comparison, so I'm not surprised you would latch on to it as well. May as well make a stupid lupus joke to really be an ass.

 

[Ed O]

That's not very practical advice, Ed, for those of us who fly for work.

People who don't want to work in high places aren't steelworkers, and people who don't like to have their privacy invaded/use airplanes shouldn't have jobs that rely on that.

As someone who only flies for pleasure, I don't want to have more lax security because some people are sensitive about privacy when they fly.

That's a big if. I don't believe we are actually making a commitment to making flying safer. What we are actually doing is pretending that we are making flying safer by inconveniencing people.

That's your opinion. I'm not sure that I agree.

We need to anticipate that our security measures are well known and obvious and therefore ineffectual. Terrorists are smarter (or at least more strongly motivated) than TSA agents.

Just because someone can bust in my window doesn't mean that I should leave my front door unlocked.

It's true that terrorists are more strongly motivated than TSA agents, but that's why we should have a process in place that sets the bar high for terrorists to perform actions on airplanes.

It doesn't need to be a cost of participating in the system.

I'm not sure what the cost should be, but if it's overkill and it prevents some people from wanting to fly while keeping planes from being blown up and/or crashing into buildings... it's a worthwhile cost to me.

Ed O.

 

[Minstrel]

How many bombs has TSA found in a child's private areas?

Now, take that number and compare it to the number of illnesses that pediatricians find on an exam. I know of two instances involving my own children.

That's because illnesses are more common than bombs. That doesn't mean bombs aren't still important or that children's private parts (or secret places / naughty bits...whatever your favourite euphemism is) shouldn't be investigated as part of the War on Terror.

 

[Ed O]

How many bombs has TSA found in a child's private areas?

Now, take that number and compare it to the number of illnesses that pediatricians find on an exam. I know of two instances involving my own children.

It was a stupid comparison, so I'm not surprised you would latch on to it as well. May as well make a stupid lupus joke to really be an ass.

You're making a distinction without a difference.

Terrorists, unlike cancer or other maladies that a doctor is intending to detect, react dynamically. They will anticipate security measures and act (or not) appropriately.

If no one was being inspected, then the bar would be lower and it stands to reason that terrorists would be more likely to act.

Ed O.