Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Blimps Over Capitol: Just Hot Air?
Roll Call ^ | 5 a.m. May 27 | Hannah Hess

Posted on 05/27/2015 8:53:14 PM PDT by OK Sun

Coming soon to a Capitol skyline near you: Giant blimps at 10,000 feet?

The woman at the helm of the House Administration Committee thinks the Capitol needs eyes in the sky, after authorities failed to detect Florida mailman Douglas Hughes’ April 15 gyrocopter flight.

Chairwoman Candice S. Miller, R-Mich., visited U.S. Customs and Border Patrol ground stations along the Southern border in January and was amazed at the clarity of the Tethered Aerostat Radar System, or TARS. She is suggesting the “sophisticated technology” might suit the Capitol.

That would mean giant blimps stretching along the Washington, D.C., skyline at around 10,000 feet. Deployed by federal law enforcement, the aerostats contain 2,000-pound radars in their bellies, capable of detecting aircraft at a range of 200 miles.

“They’re going to be using drones to deliver your taco here pretty soon,” Miller said during a May 20 hearing featuring Capitol Police Chief Kim C. Dine. She suggested the department might be able to get “surplus stuff” from the Department of Defense. “I mean, this is what’s coming, so how can you be able to assess using technology that’s available, as quickly as you can?”

Other lawmakers take the suggestion of jumbo aeronautic balloons seriously, pointing to Hughes’ flight as justification for investing more money into surveillance of Washington’s skies.

(Excerpt) Read more at 3.blogs.rollcall.com ...


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: blimps; blog; bloggers; gasbags; pleasedonatetonight; washingtondc
What can you say. Beats talking about Iran.
1 posted on 05/27/2015 8:53:14 PM PDT by OK Sun
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: OK Sun

Or they could just pump Gov. KrispeyKreme full of helium and tether him to a garbage truck circling the beltway.


2 posted on 05/27/2015 8:59:32 PM PDT by tumblindice (America's founding fathers: all armed conservatives.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: OK Sun

They got plenty of gasbags in DC already.


3 posted on 05/27/2015 8:59:46 PM PDT by smokingfrog ( sleep with one eye open (<o> ---)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: OK Sun
Chairwoman Candice S. Miller, R-Mich., visited U.S. Customs and Border Patrol ground stations along the Southern border in January and was amazed at the clarity of the Tethered Aerostat Radar System, or TARS. She is suggesting the “sophisticated technology” might suit the Capitol.

Is that really a good selling-point? That they have been so effective protecting and securing our southern border?

Regards,

4 posted on 05/27/2015 9:09:28 PM PDT by alexander_busek (Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: OK Sun

We should never forget the huge manatee.


5 posted on 05/27/2015 9:18:14 PM PDT by Ouchthatonehurt ("When you're going through hell, keep going." - Sir Winston Churchill)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: alexander_busek

They were tested in Arizona and we’re very effective. Of course after the successful test they never came back.


6 posted on 05/27/2015 9:23:03 PM PDT by 98charlie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: OK Sun

My my. They do worry about protecting themselves. The rest of us, not so much. Bastards.


7 posted on 05/27/2015 9:39:18 PM PDT by ThunderSleeps (Stop obarma now! Stop the hussein - insane agenda!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: OK Sun
THEN

NOW

We've come a long way, baby.

8 posted on 05/27/2015 9:58:20 PM PDT by UCANSEE2 (Lost my tagline on Flight MH370. Sorry for the inconvenience.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: OK Sun
The FAA air traffic controllers are going to have their jobs cut out for them keeping the inflated egos of the political hacks out of the way of the blimps. Is there enough airspace in the Washington, DC area? [sarcasm off]
9 posted on 05/27/2015 11:02:47 PM PDT by MasterGunner01 ( Barbara Daly Danko)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ThunderSleeps
That was my first thought also. It seems Federal Government is all about protecting itself in any manner possible at any expense.

When they do turn to think about protecting the citizen at large, it usually involves serious inconvenience and serious violations of Constitutional rights, all at enormous cost. And, more times than not, they do not proactively stop anything but rather say “we had them under surveillance but.........” in the aftermath.

Imposition, inconvenience, excessive mistreatment and condescension at a bloated cost all by people who couldn't find their butts with both hands and a flashlight.

10 posted on 05/28/2015 4:24:08 AM PDT by Gaffer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: OK Sun

There is one of those way out in the desert north of Marfa (I drove past it just yesterday). It’s a good 80 miles from the border, and it’s run by the Air Force- I’m not sure exactly what it’s purpose is.


11 posted on 05/28/2015 5:10:48 AM PDT by TexasBarak (I aim to misbehave!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TexasBarak
Looking for aliens of another kind? Visit Marfa
12 posted on 05/28/2015 6:10:51 AM PDT by OK Sun (Freedom is not just another word.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: OK Sun

And when an air liner hits one?


13 posted on 05/28/2015 6:11:44 AM PDT by GreyFriar (Spearhead - 3rd Armored Division 75-78 & 83-87)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: OK Sun

I go through Marfa on a fairly regular basis- I’ve really got no use for the pretentious “artist” types who hang out there. I did take my kid out to see the Marfa lights once, but they didn’t show that night (and it was bitterly cold, so we didn’t stick around long).


14 posted on 05/28/2015 6:36:46 AM PDT by TexasBarak (I aim to misbehave!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: ThunderSleeps
My my. They do worry about protecting themselves. The rest of us, not so much. Bastards.


15 posted on 05/28/2015 8:55:24 AM PDT by Robert Teesdale (III% | 4GW)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson