[Cacophonous]

Well, the "Party of Small Government" has done it again. I wonder of the GOP ever tires of castrating itself.

[Salvation]

House Majority Whip Tom DeLay and Majority Leader Dick Armey, both Republicans from Texas, led the fight against the ultimately successful Senate approach, apparently unable to change the bill substantially.

A bump for Armey, DeLay and Young. I am very disappointed in what finally came down. It will lead straight to corruption. At least with private screeners you would have to work a little harder (pay a little more)to corrupt the process.

I bet this is reversed in two years.

[Monti Cello]

The GOP should have at least gone down fighting on this one.

A 'bipartisan' solution lets the Democrats avoid responsibility once the shiite hits the turbofan.

One thing about airport security -- it's hard to bury the real screw-ups.

The government will continue to do the wrong thing until even more vast numbers die.

[engrpat]

I see that the stupid party is at it again. If they won't stand for anything they will fall for everything. What I don't understand is why are they so afraid of the democrats? Rarely do you see a republican on TV saying something with force but you sure do see the democrats laying out excatly what they want and tell everyone they will get it and you know what they do! It is becoming vary hard to vote for the stupid party, if you vote for the rats at least you know what you are getting there. Like the man said, "don't p** on my boots and tell me it is raining."

[KQQL]

demoracts always win, what's new? GOP is a nothing but a country club version of the Democrat party.

[The KG9 Kid]

Pelt me with rocks if I'm wrong, but doesn't the US Constitution state that the business of the Federal Government is responsible for protecting the American people?

I don't like Federalism as much as the next Freeper, but replacing the single-parent mothers from the projects who work at airport security checkpoints with a genuine Federal agent seems to me to be a fine idea.

So, to those of you who don't like this idea, answer me this: Why is it a good thing to have a Federal agent acting as a 'Sky Marshal' on the plane, but not as a first line security agent at the gate?

Now, if they're just going to lay a sword on the shoulder of the current crop of hobos that we see at airport checkpoints and proclaim them Federal agents, then yes, I see a problem.

Am I missing something here in this discussion?

[ex-snook]

Does th GOP really fight for anything other than income tax cuts for contributors?

[HamiltonJay]

Guys,

I know I am in the minority on this board on this one, but federalizing these workers is the only way, private industry under federal control is what we have had and look what its gotten? People fresh off the boat making $6 an hour can't speak english doing security! Profit motive for private industry in this matter will never allow adequate security, ever... because the private companies won't pay or train enough because the airports and airlines won't pay or train enough.

It was a fools errand for the Republicans to take this stand, they could not win the fight, and they knew it... this whole stand was token on this from the get go, putting on show for their hard core constituents who just will not accept federal control of anything, or government run anything even if it is the only practical way to achieve what is neccessary.

I ain't crazy about another federal union, but I sure as hell feel better about it being this way than some pakistani fresh off the boat working for some proxy company being responsible for airliner security.

[liberalism=failure]

There is no longer a republican party,

We have one party (the democrats) who will do anything no matter how despicable to gain and/or hold onto power

And another party (the pseudo republicans) so desperate to hang onto whatever dwindling power they still have left let the other party get away with it every time.

PATHETIC!!!

[Liberals are Evil Socialists!]

Oh well, treat them like the ,ilitary and they'll vote Repub in droves. On issues of national security, this cuts both ways for Repubs. The real issue is wasteful Demonrat socialsitic policies that have swollen over decades.

[PeoplesRepublicOfWashington]

If the idea of airport security is to provide for our common defense, then federalization is appropriate. Now, the issue about not being able to fire incompetent feds is valid, but really separate. We need Congress and the President to take the iniative to change the law to hold federal bureaucrats responsible--do your job right or get canned. This should be applied throughout the federal government and state governments--we'd all be far better off.

[arkfreepdom]

Spare me this castration crap. This bill denies the workers civil service protection and allows airports to opt out. Less than a week after eating s*** for misjudgements on the war in Afghanistan, and you same people are pulling the same 'ol "the sky is falling bull".

Another thing...the pubs will gain seats in the 2002 elections.

[monkeyshine]

This is probably the last straw for me. I think I'm going to resign my membership in the GOP. For Pete's sake I might as well become a democrat for being in the GOP. Constitution party or Libertarian Party... here I come.

[FryingPan101]

Is there anything left to say? Weak, weak Republicans.

[gfactor]

how much will these new employees be paid? not mc-wages, thats for sure.

[mlocher]

C-A-V-E

[lawdude]

Please check in to the airport at least 12 hours before flight time!

[VA Advogado]

Well, the "Party of Small Government" has done it again. I wonder of the GOP ever tires of castrating itself.

This is disgusting. The difference between the democrats and most congressional republicans is - the republicans give us the same posion, they just phase it in.

[BlackbirdSST]

Here we go again, same ole sh!t again. Blackbird.

[rwfromkansas]

At least we did have the House leadership fight against the Senate....it failed though, alas.

[Stultis]

DAMN! Federalization is going to take so long to implement that we could have fought this for months and still saved time by implementing the House plan.