Senators and TSA Defend "Love Pats" at Airports

cbsnews.com ^ | 1-17-10 | By Joshua Norman .

[rawhide]

Transportation Safety Administration chief John Pistole and several senators from both parties defended the new, enhanced airport security screening procedures as necessary in the face of a persistent and evolving terrorist threat in a hearing Wednesday on Capitol Hill.

Pistole, calm and confident in the face of an increasing public outcry against the procedures, talked extensively about the repercussions of last year's attempted Christmas Day bombing being the impetus for the enhanced screenings before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, TSA's oversight committee.

"We know the terrorists' intent is still there," Pistole testified. "We are using technology and protocols to stay ahead of the threat and keep you safe. (Several near-misses by terrorists on airplane bombings) got through security because we were not being thorough enough in our pat-downs."

Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri said prior to Pistole's testimony that she believed TSA was in a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situation, because people would be hopping mad at TSA if Christmas bomber Umar Farouk Adbulmutallab had succeeded. She went on to say the new advanced imaging technology--which has caused uproar because of its leave-no-secrets imaging and potential health risks--is more of a blessing than a curse.

"I'm wildly excited that I can walk through a machine instead of getting my dose of love pats," Sen. McCaskill said.

[Terry Mross]

Send the lawyer who accepts service for them in your state a 30 demand letter. If they don’t respond you automatically win. If they do respond and turn you down file small claims action. That’s what I’m going to do.

[xeno]

Thanks for the advice.

[4Runner]

Absolute garbage. The TSA isn’t defending the flying public from terrorist attacks when all screening efforts are blatantly directed toward the American flying public, who are the intended TARGET of the terrorists.

The persistent policy refusal to profile the population out of which 99% of terrorists emerge (Muslim, Arabic, Middle Eastern)—and according to recent news articles, the granting to this group of an exemption from pat-downs due to “Sharia violations”—effectively means we are no better off in the hands of the TSA than we would be in the hands of al-Qaeda. This is exactly what THEY would do to us. Does anybody really get this?

We are watching our government do al-Qaeda’s dirty work for them. Washington is acting like an occupied power, like Vichy France did in WW II, manipulating the French population on behalf of their German overlords.

How many ways can you spell “national suicide”?

[varon]

TSA's new recruiting slogan in San Francisco:

Swish & Sway
With TSA!!!

[conservativegramma]

If Sen. McCaskell is ‘wildly excited’ about these machines, I propose she go through one every morning before being allowed into her senate office. Then I further propose that naked image be blasted all over the internet for everyone to see.

[pigsmith]

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/11/04/canada.disguised.passenger/index.html

[Ann Archy]

Claire is WILDLY EXCITED!!! YAHOO!! I guess she loves the radiation! SHe is a NUT!

[Joe Boucher]

Ya have to know there are some freaks in T.S.A. who do quite enjoy hasseling normal folks.
Some that like touching little girls, some that like touching little boys.
Union scum all.

[Hoodat]

Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri said prior to Pistole's testimony that she believed TSA was in a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situation, because people would be hopping mad at TSA if Christmas bomber Umar Farouk Adbulmutallab had succeeded.

Adbulmutallab was not stopped by TSA. He was stopped by the very same passengers TSA is now trying to victimize. Besides, Adbulmutallab should have been on a no-fly list after being warned by his father that he was a threat. Yet TSA did nothing to stop him from boarding a flight bound to a US Airport. McCaskill is an embarrassment to America.

[Hoodat]

I was told that they have no position on TSA’s procedures since it is the government.

But Southwest does have a position on which security service is provided by the airports where they lease gates. And right now, they are choosing TSA over all other security services. Don't let them tell you otherwise.

Delta is about to get a letter from me informing them that y wife and I (two million mile club) will no longer fly out of Atlanta as long as TSA is doing security checks there.

[xeno]

Any idea what other airport security services are available? I want to add that to my letter. I’m outraged with Southwest Airlines that when they are confronted with the facts that they are in the child porn and child molestation business they turn a blind eye to it and make every excuse to keep the money rolling in.

[Hoodat]

Wackenhut, for one.

[xeno]

Thanks. Do you know if Wackenhut is required by the government to use nude scanners and molestation pat-downs?

[Freedom56v2]

“I’m wildly excited that I can walk through a machine instead of getting my dose of love pats,” Sen. McCaskill said.

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WTF????

[Yaelle]

Any Senator who supports Americans being searched through radiation or sweaty TSA hands without probable cause should be removed from office immediately. They are NOT defending our Constitution.

[Hoodat]

I'm not sure what controls government has placed on private firms. But according to this article, there are 5 agencies that have been approved as adequate replacements for TSA.

Sanford Airport to opt out of TSA screening

My worst TSA experience thus far happened in Orlando Airport. They seriously deserve to be kicked out of there. Those agents take joy in seeing people miss their flights after being held up by 'security'.

[xeno]

Thanks again. Adding this Sanford Airport story to my letter. I was pat-down in mid-October for the first time, thought it was excessive. Cannot believe what they are doing now.