Ive noticed that TSA at PDX is unusually friendly and professional.

LAX? angry entitled black woman. break out the lube.

Don,

What would you have suggested after 9/11?

I as well hate TSA and wish that it was disbanded, but something had to be done after the country was attacked.

No one would have an issue with the security measures if we actually believed it made us safer.

Having middle aged white guys remove their shoes and belts doesn't make me any safer.

I was with a friend Friday evening and he told me his DIL was traveling with their new daughter (6 mos old) and had baby food in small containers. Going through TSA in Albany airport the inspector told her the food would need to be left behind or she (mother) would have to be given a thorough pat down and then she could keep the food. She opted for the groping and completed the security check. Of course this didn't happen when she was traveling to Albany on two previous flights.

I think this is the kind of inconsistent procedures that just send people off the deep end. Doesn't seem to be any connection between the baby food and the groping just and irritating process, irritating and degrading.

Exactly. This "SSSS" scenario is a perfect example. It is so obvious that no self-respecting terrorist is going to fall for it so it results in ordinary, law-abiding citizens being hassled for some unknown reason. One of the reasons I've heard is that this "special screening" is nothing more than a scam for the TSA to point to as an example of how they are keeping us so safe. They can report that they "screened" X number of potential security threats per day... :rolleyes:

I looked into the "redress" procedure to get one's "status" as a security threat investigated and they (the TSA) makes it extremely difficult. Forms filed in triplicate - the usual crap.

Sodomy

Even though it is intrusive have you seen what your countrymen try to take on planes? How are they supposed to know the difference between your own homegrown freaks & terrorist freaks?

Week ending Nov 23 . . .

A pen pistol, a watch that looked like a friggin' bomb, 4 hand grenades - all inert but c'mon . . . one was a 13 year old who bought it for the zombie apocalypse . . . & on & on . . .

TSA Weekly

Your TSA might be staffed with idiots but that is also the label that fits a bunch of your flying population.

Ian

Good post Ian. That stuff is so funny I'm still laughing at the 'stun cane'. And crying.

I'm going back to rethink the 'Are we getting stupider' thread....

I wouldn't be surprised if I'm not on "the list".
I recently got back from a trip and opted-out of the scanners, as usual. I prefer not to have my body photographed by the government and zapped with machines known to cause damage.
They definitely wanted to read the boarding pass in my pocket.

The agent who screened me was really ticked that he actually had to work. Made a big deal out of it and was obviously trying to be provocative. Stood there sneering right in my face for a few minutes and did the slow extended pat-down. Genitals touched six times (apparently) as per TSA regulation....

They also made a huge deal of the chemical swipe. One guy put his hand on my chest to block me into the search area while they got really excited before the results. They were practically jumping up and down "oh please, please, test positive".
Apparently legal citizens can no longer go to the gun range, do gardening, or use household cleaning chemicals before flying.

Biting my tongue, I very much wanted to point out some legal issues:
1). While they were detaining me, my luggage was left "unsecured" on the belt, and terrorists could be handling or stealing it. There was recently a bust where hundreds of TSA agents were fired for theft. The criminal/terrorists were the TSA employees themselves.

2). While someone opting-out(myself) was getting carefully chemically swabbed, thousands of passengers walking by were not. Great job there. Sure feel more secure.

3). The procedures used to check around the waist area were quite redundant, so in order to use public airline transportation, being supported substantially by taxpayer dollars, either you have to be sexually photographed or sexually handled. No wonder it's called Total Sexual Assault.

Spot on! Totally agree...

Funny story...

A couple years ago I was on a shuttle bus across the border from Ontario to Detroit to catch a flight. There were probably 5 or 6 of us on the shuttle, plus the driver. At the border we got the usual questions, hand over our passports, no problem. Then they asked if anyone had more than (I think) $10k in cash. One guy said yes. A brown guy, who, when asked to present his airline ticket, gave them a one-way ticket to TN. He said he was flying down to get married, wasn't sure when he was coming back, no visa or anything. A brown guy with $10k in cash and a one-way ticket - can you raise any more red flags than that? He may as well have produced a bomb! They took him inside, and half an hour later someone came out and said we may as well be on our way, they'd be "a while" with that guy.

A few years ago we (our family - myself, my wife, 2 daughters) flew from Toronto to Orlando. We waited in line for almost an hour to clear security - getting OFF the plane! WTF is that for?

If he did they'd never give him a second glance, they'd nab a blue-haired granny instead. :rolleyes:

Seriously?

S.2794 was sponsored by Sen. Phil Gramm.
It passed the senate by a vote of 90 to 9 and in the house it passed 295 to 132.
That mans it was veto-proof, and no president in modern history would have the guts to not sign a bill like that, it would be political suicide.

Here are the co-sponsors in the senate:
Sen Allard, Wayne [CO] - 8/1/2002
Sen Bennett, Robert F. [UT] - 8/1/2002
Sen Bond, Christopher S. [MO] - 8/1/2002
Sen Bunning, Jim [KY] - 8/1/2002
Sen Burns, Conrad R. [MT] - 8/1/2002
Sen Campbell, Ben Nighthorse [CO] - 8/1/2002
Sen Craig, Larry E. [ID] - 8/1/2002
Sen Crapo, Mike [ID] - 8/1/2002
Sen DeWine, Mike [OH] - 8/1/2002
Sen Ensign, John [NV] - 8/1/2002
Sen Enzi, Michael B. [WY] - 8/1/2002
Sen Frist, William H. [TN] - 8/1/2002
Sen Grassley, Chuck [IA] - 8/1/2002
Sen Gregg, Judd [NH] - 8/1/2002
Sen Hagel, Chuck [NE] - 8/1/2002
Sen Hatch, Orrin G. [UT] - 8/1/2002
Sen Helms, Jesse [NC] - 8/1/2002
Sen Hutchinson, Tim [AR] - 8/1/2002
Sen Hutchison, Kay Bailey [TX] - 8/1/2002
Sen Inhofe, James M. [OK] - 8/1/2002
Sen Kyl, Jon [AZ] - 8/1/2002
Sen Lott, Trent [MS] - 8/1/2002
Sen Lugar, Richard G. [IN] - 9/4/2002
Sen McCain, John [AZ] - 8/1/2002
Sen McConnell, Mitch [KY] - 7/25/2002
Sen Miller, Zell [GA] - 7/25/2002
Sen Murkowski, Frank H. [AK] - 8/1/2002
Sen Nickles, Don [OK] - 8/1/2002
Sen Roberts, Pat [KS] - 8/1/2002
Sen Santorum, Rick [PA] - 8/1/2002
Sen Sessions, Jeff [AL] - 8/1/2002
Sen Smith, Bob [NH] - 8/1/2002
Sen Smith, Gordon H. [OR] - 8/1/2002
Sen Thomas, Craig [WY] - 8/1/2002
Sen Thurmond, Strom [SC] - 8/1/2002
Sen Warner, John [VA] - 8/1/2002

The house version was sponsored by Rep. Richard Armey and was co-sponsored by:
Rep Aderholt, Robert B. [AL-4] - 6/24/2002
Rep Akin, W. Todd [MO-2] - 6/24/2002
Rep Ballenger, Cass [NC-10] - 6/24/2002
Rep Barr, Bob [GA-7] - 6/24/2002
Rep Bass, Charles F. [NH-2] - 6/24/2002
Rep Bereuter, Doug [NE-1] - 6/24/2002
Rep Bishop, Sanford D., Jr. [GA-2] - 7/12/2002
Rep Blunt, Roy [MO-7] - 6/24/2002
Rep Boehlert, Sherwood [NY-23] - 6/24/2002
Rep Bonilla, Henry [TX-23] - 6/24/2002
Rep Bono Mack, Mary [CA-44] - 6/24/2002
Rep Brady, Kevin [TX-8] - 6/24/2002
Rep Brown, Henry E., Jr. [SC-1] - 6/24/2002
Rep Burton, Dan [IN-6] - 6/24/2002
Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-5] - 6/24/2002
Rep Calvert, Ken [CA-43] - 6/24/2002
Rep Camp, Dave [MI-4] - 6/24/2002
Rep Cantor, Eric [VA-7] - 6/24/2002
Rep Capito, Shelley Moore [WV-2] - 6/24/2002
Rep Castle, Michael N. [DE] - 6/24/2002
Rep Chambliss, Saxby [GA-8] - 6/24/2002
Rep Cooksey, John [LA-5] - 6/24/2002
Rep Cox, Christopher [CA-47] - 6/24/2002
Rep Crenshaw, Ander [FL-4] - 6/24/2002
Rep Cubin, Barbara [WY] - 6/24/2002
Rep Davis, Jo Ann [VA-1] - 6/24/2002
Rep Davis, Tom [VA-11] - 6/24/2002
Rep DeLay, Tom [TX-22] - 6/24/2002
Rep DeMint, Jim [SC-4] - 6/24/2002
Rep Dreier, David [CA-28] - 6/24/2002
Rep Dunn, Jennifer [WA-8] - 6/24/2002
Rep Ehrlich, Robert L., Jr. [MD-2] - 6/24/2002
Rep English, Phil [PA-21] - 6/24/2002
Rep Ferguson, Mike [NJ-7] - 6/24/2002
Rep Forbes, J. Randy [VA-4] - 6/24/2002
Rep Fossella, Vito [NY-13] - 6/24/2002
Rep Ganske, Greg [IA-4] - 6/24/2002
Rep Gekas, George W. [PA-17] - 6/24/2002
Rep Gibbons, Jim [NV-2] - 6/24/2002
Rep Gillmor, Paul E. [OH-5] - 6/24/2002
Rep Gilman, Benjamin A. [NY-20] - 6/24/2002
Rep Goode, Virgil H., Jr. [VA-5] - 6/24/2002
Rep Granger, Kay [TX-12] - 6/24/2002
Rep Green, Mark [WI-8] - 6/24/2002
Rep Greenwood, James C. [PA-8] - 6/24/2002
Rep Grucci, Felix J., Jr. [NY-1] - 6/24/2002
Rep Hansen, James V. [UT-1] - 6/24/2002
Rep Harman, Jane [CA-36] - 6/24/2002
Rep Hart, Melissa A. [PA-4] - 6/24/2002
Rep Hastert, J. Dennis [IL-14] - 6/24/2002
Rep Hastings, Doc [WA-4] - 6/24/2002
Rep Hayes, Robin [NC-8] - 6/24/2002
Rep Hayworth, J. D. [AZ-6] - 6/24/2002
Rep Hefley, Joel [CO-5] - 6/24/2002
Rep Herger, Wally [CA-2] - 6/24/2002
Rep Hoekstra, Peter [MI-2] - 6/24/2002
Rep Horn, Stephen [CA-38] - 6/24/2002
Rep Houghton, Amo [NY-31] - 6/24/2002
Rep Hyde, Henry J. [IL-6] - 6/25/2002
Rep Issa, Darrell E. [CA-48] - 6/24/2002
Rep Jenkins, William L. [TN-1] - 6/24/2002
Rep Johnson, Nancy L. [CT-6] - 6/24/2002
Rep Keller, Ric [FL-8] - 6/24/2002
Rep Kelly, Sue W. [NY-19] - 6/24/2002
Rep King, Peter T. [NY-3] - 6/24/2002
Rep Kolbe, Jim [AZ-5] - 6/24/2002
Rep LaHood, Ray [IL-18] - 6/24/2002
Rep Linder, John [GA-11] - 6/24/2002
Rep Maloney, James H. [CT-5] - 6/24/2002
Rep Manzullo, Donald A. [IL-16] - 6/24/2002
Rep McCrery, Jim [LA-4] - 6/24/2002
Rep McKeon, Howard P. "Buck" [CA-25] - 6/24/2002
Rep Miller, Dan [FL-13] - 6/24/2002
Rep Miller, Gary G. [CA-41] - 6/24/2002
Rep Morella, Constance A. [MD-8] - 6/24/2002
Rep Myrick, Sue Wilkins [NC-9] - 6/24/2002
Rep Nussle, Jim [IA-2] - 6/24/2002
Rep Osborne, Tom [NE-3] - 6/24/2002
Rep Oxley, Michael G. [OH-4] - 6/24/2002
Rep Pence, Mike [IN-2] - 7/12/2002
Rep Pickering, Charles W. "Chip" [MS-3] - 6/24/2002
Rep Pitts, Joseph R. [PA-16] - 6/24/2002
Rep Portman, Rob [OH-2] - 6/24/2002
Rep Pryce, Deborah [OH-15] - 6/24/2002
Rep Putnam, Adam H. [FL-12] - 6/24/2002
Rep Rehberg, Dennis R. [MT] - 6/24/2002
Rep Rohrabacher, Dana [CA-45] - 6/24/2002
Rep Roukema, Marge [NJ-5] - 6/24/2002
Rep Royce, Edward R. [CA-39] - 6/24/2002
Rep Ryun, Jim [KS-2] - 6/24/2002
Rep Saxton, Jim [NJ-3] - 6/24/2002
Rep Schiff, Adam B. [CA-27] - 7/11/2002
Rep Schrock, Edward L. [VA-2] - 6/24/2002
Rep Sensenbrenner, F. James, Jr. [WI-9] - 6/24/2002
Rep Sessions, Pete [TX-5] - 6/24/2002
Rep Shaw, E. Clay, Jr. [FL-22] - 6/24/2002
Rep Shays, Christopher [CT-4] - 6/24/2002
Rep Sherwood, Don [PA-10] - 6/24/2002
Rep Shimkus, John [IL-20] - 6/24/2002
Rep Simpson, Michael K. [ID-2] - 6/24/2002
Rep Skeen, Joe [NM-2] - 6/24/2002
Rep Souder, Mark E. [IN-4] - 6/24/2002
Rep Sweeney, John E. [NY-22] - 6/24/2002
Rep Tancredo, Thomas G. [CO-6] - 6/24/2002
Rep Tauzin, W. J. (Billy) [LA-3] - 6/24/2002
Rep Thornberry, Mac [TX-13] - 6/24/2002
Rep Tiberi, Patrick J. [OH-12] - 6/24/2002
Rep Upton, Fred [MI-6] - 6/24/2002
Rep Vitter, David [LA-1] - 7/12/2002
Rep Walden, Greg [OR-2] - 6/24/2002
Rep Wamp, Zach [TN-3] - 6/24/2002
Rep Watts, J. C., Jr. [OK-4] - 6/24/2002
Rep Weldon, Curt [PA-7] - 6/24/2002
Rep Weller, Jerry [IL-11] - 6/24/2002
Rep Whitfield, Ed [KY-1] - 6/24/2002
Rep Wicker, Roger F. [MS-1] - 6/24/2002
Rep Wilson, Heather [NM-1] - 6/24/2002
Rep Wilson, Joe [SC-2] - 6/24/2002

I still don't get how a one-way ticket is any kind of red flag. I buy them all the time because that's how Southwest usually does it, and plenty of times, my company's Amex travel portal books me on different airlines, making the tix one-way for each leg. Are terrorists really too cheap to book roundtrip? Maybe someday we'll get to interviewing and profiling like other serious countries do. I haven't had to take my shoes off while leaving a German airport in years because I was already interviewed and profiled. So the mag was all that was needed. Last time I wasn't even asked a single question in Duesseldorf, which leads me to believe they have me marked as a good guy in a database.

Lets see if I'm going to kill myself and a couple hundred others but want to get by security I'm going to book a one way ticket. I think I'll buy a round trip to insure success.

One way tickets are a red flag to immigration.

Maybe in my case travelling from Canada to the States. I don't fly to often especially from Canada to the States. I didn't complete the Customs decleration properly so I guess that is why Customs paid extra attention to me.

How would the TSA monkeys know about your customs form? They only check boarding pass and ID. I usually fill out two customs forms and keep one in my pocket. That way, if the first customs person to inspect writes some code on it to make the next one inspect further, I hand my unmarked form to the next guy. I haven't really tried this yet, as I've never been asked anything or searched upon return to the US. But if ever starts getting bad, I'll do this.

I kept getting the extra search, but only because I got flagged at the detector. I was getting the treatment at a small airport in Virginia when one of the TSA agents took the time to figure out what was going on.

It turned out it was the sharp ends of the anchors on the eagle, globe and anchor necklace that i wear. The whole thing is a little bigger then a dime, and almost as heavy. It is also the symbol of the United States Marine Corps.

I simply don't fly anymore. Last spring I drove from Denver to Florida for vacation just so I didn't have to fly. I have plenty of vacation time, and it is just not worth it to deal with those idiots.