Here’s something that doesn’t make sense.
The Transportation Security Administration rejected as a “myth” CNN’s report that less than 1 percent of the nation’s daily flights carry armed federal air marshals. Now the agency is conducting an investigation into who talked to CNN and who encouraged other agents to do the same.
Spokesman Christopher White said a TSA investigator is looking into the “possible unauthorized release of sensitive and classified information to the news media by covered parties.”
In one sentence they say the number is false. In the next, they are investigating the “possible unauthorized release of sensitive and classified information.” How can false information be sensitive and classified? We are supposed to declassify our false information first. Then, use it to manipulate the public into supporting stupid wars. Get it straight.
In the Police State Lord Bush would have us live in, any thruth would be suppressed and the deliverer of such truth would get a bullet in the back of the head in some dank cellar.
TSA is a complete joke, as is all of DHS. The next president should disband this fear-mongering joke of an agency. It has never served any purpose but to make people afraid and drain the treasury. But that’s all the entire Bush presidency has been about.
No shoe bombs have gone off, have they?
Reality, you sound like some bitter terrorist that had his plan foiled by the TSA. Please leave our country immediately and make no plans to return.
Reality,
Get a grip dude. You are living in a state of paranoia. If anyone is fear mongering, it’s you.
It sounds like you’re comparing Saddam Hussein’s regime with President Bush’s Administration. Wow, that’s rational thinking. Oh yeah, it’s obvious you’re a far left loon.
Exactly Matt, I don’t mind taking my shoes off at the airport or having someone go through my bag. I certainly feel safe flying.
I’ve always felt safe flying, with or without the shoe rule. It’s the safest transportation in the world. A lot of the security measures are simply psychological to make people believe they are safe.
Jake,
Wake up and smell the dictatorship!
Taking off your shoes in an airport has nothing to do with having your private emails scrutinized illegally. The agency is a failure and the people who have the courage to tell the truth should be supported. The problem is that this truth is too unconfortable. You can keep taking your shoes off and feeling safe, it doesn’t change the fact that your safety is actually in the hands of incompetent and irresponsible people paid out of YOUR tax money.
And pretty soon, they’ll be using some scanner that shows your private parts to those incompetent people.
I’m much less annoyed with airport security screenings than I am with the privacy issues you address, Wake up!.
Matt & Wake Up,
Let me ask you this, do you really care that the govt may be listening to your phone conversations? If you’re not doing anything wrong and you never find out, who cares. Again, large corporations can listen and record your phone conversations while at work, without your knowledge. THAT would make you far left liberals even more paranoid.
Enjoy life a little and stop looking over your shoulder constantly.
Yes, we are just like that “far left liberal” Ron Paul. You don’t have to be paranoid to take offense to government intrusion. Broaden your mind a bit on this subject before you start name calling.
Matt,
How is the govt intruding on YOUR life? Please cite examples.
Going through security at an airport? Having your emails read during an investigation?
As for name calling;
Matt said:
“And pretty soon, they’ll be using some scanner that shows your private parts to those incompetent people.”
You don’t even know these TSA employees and you’re calling them incompetent? Talking about narrow minded and judgmental. Oh yeah and a hypocrite.
Jake,
My “incompetent people” line was a play on Wake up’s lively comment. I’m sure the people there are satisfactory.
I don’t have the government’s ultra-secret file on me in my hands at the moment, so I can’t cite specific examples. However, the deterioration of civil liberties during the Bush Presidency is well documented. Google can provide you some handy links, if you like. And I’m not talking about security screenings at airports.
Not asking you to cite your file, but rather HOW your civil liberties have been directly affected?
Since you brought it up, cite specific examples of this deterioration of civil liberties under President Bush’s watch? And before you cite a liberal website, how have these liberal examples affected YOUR life?
Jake,
Get off the “liberal” label as it pertains to civil liberties. It’s not a liberal view at all. It’s in the Constitution. Heard of it? “Give me liberty or give me death” is another phrase you might have heard of.
I don’t have time to type up all the civil liberties violations, but warrantless wiretapping on U.S. citizens and habeas corpus rights are good places to start. These are mainstream criticisms, Jake. They are not off some left-wing blog. Seriously, why are you asking me for examples when YOU’LL just reply back calling me a LIBERAL and using CAPS to highlight WORDS in sentences because YOUR writing can’t convey it on ITS own?
Other than stripping me of rights I used to have, it hasn’t affected “my” life, at all. It has hurt my country.
Worst President of all time.
Matt,
The warrant less wiretapping on US citizens that are suspected of an association with terrorist groups. This is the main reason for this act. What problem do you have with this?
Habeas corpus rights? Are you talking about people caught in terrorist acts or the battlefield fighting our soldiers? And the problem with this is what?
President Bush will be judged much better than you believe, in time.
Matt said:
“Other than stripping me of rights I used to have, it hasn’t affected “my” life, at all. It has hurt my country.”
What has been stripped of your life? I must hear this.
Jake,
On warrantless wiretapping: You can tap a suspected terrorist’s phone. I’m fine with that. The main criticism is that they weren’t using a court to verify that they were wiretapping the right people. Checks and balances are important. And it wouldn’t have hurt our national security. You can go to the courts after the fact. You can’t let power go unchecked. It’s dangerous.
On Habeas: There have been numerous offenses. Mainstream news outlets have reported on false imprisonments. Why do you think the U.S. maintains Guantanamo? The Supreme Court, with a conservative lean, has restored Habeas for even these people now. What’s wrong with making sure you have the right people imprisoned?
I just told you that I haven’t felt the direct effects. I’ve yet to be indefinitely imprisoned or wiretapped, as far as I know. I’m making an argument on Constitutional principle, not personal experience.
This is America. That’s my point. We’ve stood for certain things for a long time. We had the intelligence to stop 9/11, but screwed up. We went a bit too far in response.
Matt,
I totally agree with you on the checks and balances. I just believe that this terrorist “game” that started on 9/11, has opened up a whole different world for the United States. And to deal with this, we need to give the US participants some latitude with their techniques. Yes, some are and will be borderline “illegal”, but certainly in the best interest of National Security.
On Habeas: The Guantanamo situation is a sticky situation. Just because you catch someone on the terrorist battlefield doesn’t necessarily mean he is a terrorist and it’s certainly hard to prove in court. I take the better safe than sorry approach. If you’re that close to the fire, than something is up.
I’m a true believer of the Constitution and what it stands for. It’s an amazing document that is over 200 years old and 99% of it still applies today. But I also believe changes (see Amendments) are necessary over time. I’m all for it, if we can make subtle changes without affecting the fundamentals of the Constitution.
Please try not to be offended with my usage of the word “liberal”. I tend to toss that around a little too much…..just ask my liberal daughters. I still love them. There is certainly a need for both of us in the grand scheme of things.
Jake,
Thanks for discussing this. It’s a good dialogue.
Now, onto my objection to your use of the word “liberal.” You labeled me as liberal from the very beginning. Did you happen to browse around more than one post on my blog before jumping to this conclusion?
The two-party system is horrible. Too many people like you feel the need to line up, lockstep with the party. So, whenever you see someone embrace an idea that differs from your party’s views, you dismiss them as liberal.
I have the unfortunate pleasure of seeing good ideas from conservatives and liberals. Unfortunately, the Republican brand can’t claim small government, low taxes anymore. The tax we’ve paid for a giant mistake of a war is the rapid devaluation of the dollar. At least liberals are honest when they tax you.
I don’t understand why every Republican isn’t absolutely furious with how things are.
At the beginning I thought you were a moderate conservative and than I quickly “labeled” you a liberal. Granted, I shouldn’t do this, but I do try to engage extreme liberals to open my mind as well as theirs. If I happen to engage a conservative, there is just a lot of agreeing and no debating. That’s boring. So yes, I will browse your blog, and then I will judge you. That was a joke. But after reading your comments, I would say you describe yourself as an Independent. This would support my confusion.
During the Democratic Primary, I started to like Hillary, even though I would never vote for her. But I believe that’s because she started to move closer to the middle. As for Obama, he is too far left for me. As of late he has started to show signs of a central platform, but I’m not buying it because I’m from Illinois and just know better.
I find myself defending America against the left, because there is too much American bashing going on. Just because there is a Republican in office doesn’t mean America is falling apart. I do understand where they are coming from; the economy is shaky, oil prices are ridiculous, US debt is out of control, we’re at war, etc………we’ve been there done that before. Guess what, we ended up back on our feet and we will do the same again.
But every American, no matter what their social or economic standing, have opportunities to do what ever they want within the laws. Even with all the “bad” things going on. If you want to be a bum, you can be a bum. If you want to start a business, you can start a business. A perfect example is the Democratic party. A woman and a black man running for the highest office in the land and being seriously considered.
Anything is possible in America. Even today.
Matt,
Has there been another hijacking in the US? While the TSA may not be a well managed organization, it certainly serves a purpose. There is more to it than psychological pandering to the frequent flyers. AFTER what happened on 9/11, I don’t have a problem with anything that is done to protect us on our soil.
Wake up,
Evidently you have never worked at a large corporation. Email monitoring is extremely common. There are programs made to red flag words and redirect these emails. You’re just a paranoid left wing nut. It must be fun to live a life actually believing there is a conspiracy with EVERYTHING in your life! Get a life!
Another dumb thing you said:
“You can keep taking your shoes off and feeling safe, it doesn’t change the fact that your safety is actually in the hands of incompetent and irresponsible people paid out of YOUR tax money.”
Even with incompetent people working at the TSA, has there been another hijacking?