I'm not a Republican or a troublemaker for complaining about TSA and holding Obama accountable

[CreekDog]

Isn't that how it's supposed to work?

[ProSense]

1. Yes, that's how it's suppose to work without

ignoring what he said and/or trying to portray him as a social deviant.

[CreekDog]

2. so we shouldn't cast aspersions on him? that's what you're saying?

:shrug:

[akbacchus_BC]

30. Give him a fucking break! If you know better, why aren't you the fucking President!

Am sick and tired of the Obama bashing on here!

[MrsCorleone]

31. Yep.

It's funny how this is suddenly a big issue now that there's wall to wall coverage on RW radio. I mean, nobody seemed to give this big a shit before. I guess the right-wing media control both the right & left now. I'm not saying that there isn't a good debate here. It's the ad nauseam, hyperbolic RW talking points on DU that I find so sad.

[CreekDog]

42. Right wingers tell me to take my xrays and not complain --basically like you did

sit down and shut up is what you want.

[Dr.Phool]

34. I'm kinda tired of the authoritarian follower mindset around here.

He's probably not resident because he can't line up enough corporations to buy him.

[CreekDog]

41. then who should i complain to? and what if i dont' want xrays?

on average 10 xrays per flight? without a provision to opt out of them.

is keeping silent what's required?

[YOY]

48. We've given enough breaks. Go elsewhere if you can't discern honest criticism from "bashing".

May, I suggest a Justin Beiber fanboard?

[liberal N proud]

3. The TSA overreach is not a party issue

And if both sides agree on something, it is not wrong for me to agree.

Yes, we should all be able to agree when something is wrong.

[donheld]

23. What did the OP have to do with TSA?

[liberal N proud]

36. From OP: "complaining about TSA"

[CreekDog]

43. It's about a form of TSA screening that I'm complaining about --how do you miss that?

:banghead:

[donheld]

50. OMG, My glasses must be on the blink.

:banghead:

[MrsCorleone]

32. But, it sure does make for a good distraction from a lot of serious issues.

Funny how this seems to be the number 1 topic day in and day out on RW radio. They didn't give a shit about it before. I wonder why? And, like clock-work, voilà!, every 5th post here on DU is now the same RW talking points.

[liberal N proud]

38. The TSA issue is one where people are just fed up

Fed up with the process and pushed to the limit. We are sick and tired of having to go through the undignified process or watching others be humiliated as they travel.

I remember the day when traveling was still glamorous, you still dressed nicely before you boarded the plane. Now you are just a piece of meat they want to scan, poke and prod before herding you on the plane. They are doing things to humans that are not done to animals.

It all started with one man who had enough and walked out, making the news and from there, the firestorm began.

[IdaBriggs]

40. The policy changed three weeks ago. nt

[CreekDog]

44. multiple forced xrays on each flight IS a serious issue

i want to opt out, but i'm hearing that i cannot. only some passengers have to deal with this particular aspect of TSA screening.

:hi:

[MrsCorleone]

49. Yes, of course you are "hearing" that.

The RW has been screaming about this all over the airwaves. They own +90% of those airwaves. It's really quite sad how many repeat their mantra, almost verbatim. They are doing what they do best: tearing the President down. It's a well funded and effective campaign, and you and others here are helping them just like the Teaparty helped the health insurance companies.

Have you actually experienced the tactics that "some say" is going on at the airports? I would really like to know how many screaming about this have actually experienced intrusive tactics. I haven't, and neither have my family members. If you have, instead of helping the rightwing party with their campaign to cripple the Dems, why not complain to the airlines directly? If these tactics/xrays are going to hurt the bottom line, they will lobby to dump them. Second, push for a low-tech alternative: dogs at security lines and air marshals on all flights, which are far more effective and less expensive. Listen, do I think that there is a good debate here regarding the insane amount of money that is being made here all in the name of "security"? Of course there is. Falling for this RW crusade, a la tea bagger style, is willful ignorance, IMHO.

:hi:

[atreides1]

4. One would think

But, it's evident that even on this site that so many are willing to just lay down and die. To give up their rights because they believe in the myth that it will somehow keep them safe.

It's just like Bush and his claims that torture kept more terrorist attacks from happening, which are similar to me wearing a garlic necklace to keep away vampires.

It must be working because I haven't seen a vampire yet!

[saigon68]

6. The TSA and Napolitano can go screw themselves

[hughee99]

5. I blame Bush and the new repuke congress for the TSA,

and while it's happening on Obama's watch, I understand he can't just waive a magic want and fix it. I'm willing to give him until the first Wednesday in November 2012 to fix it, and then I'll start blaming him if it's still screwed up. That's actually my plan for most of the issues.

[jaxx]

7. Makes you wonder why 80% of the public agree with the TSA

on the scans and the pat downs. How could that be? Maybe the dissent is really small and coming from a very few sub-media pot stirrers who know how to fire up the restless with another baseless cry of 'they're takin my freedoms away agin'. (misspellings purposely done, so don't get antsy)

We really do need a hair on fire smilie.

[Vincardog]

11. Link? Please prove to me that 80% of the US public want to be felt up on their way to the plane

[jaxx]

17. Here is some info which you are, of course, going to prove wrong.

I will await your proof, as I have given you mine in this:

<snip> Even so, a poll earlier this month by CBS News found 81 percent of Americans support the TSA's use of full-body scanners at airports. The poll, conducted Nov. 7-10, had a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40298973/ns/us_news-airliner_security

[Laelth]

21. Very poorly-worded poll question.

The pollster doesn't explain that TSA agents can see you nude, basically, and record that image with their "full body x-ray scanners." If the question had clearly explained what was meant by a "full body x-ray" scan, the results would have been different.

Lots of people are outraged about this, and it's silly to pretend only a few are upset.

-Laelth

[CreekDog]

46. a similar number thought the 1st Amendment is too much freedom

but let's do civil rights by public fiat. we all know how well that goes.

[de novo]

13. Is there a poll supporting that claim that has been done in the past couple of weeks?

[jonnyblitz]

14. yeah we should base all our public policy on polls.

you're brilliant.

[tblue37]

15. Having to submit to a Hobson's choice of either the nude-o-scope or

an aggressive grope just t fly when one has done nothing to warrant being considered suspicious or guilty is a denial of Fourth Amendment rights. There is nothing "baseless" about the feeling that these methods are "taking away our freedoms."

Furthermore, it is pretty much certain that these methods are not going to prevent terrorists from smuggling explosives aboard planes. The nude-o-scope is making millions for Michael Chertoff and other politically connected people, and the groping style of pat-down is deliberately over the top because the TSA wants to make people think the scanner is a better choice, in order to justify buying and using the scanners.

Even worse, no long-term studies have been done to make sure that the radiation exposure over time from the scanners, especially if they are poorly maintained, will not cause health damage.

[dickthegrouch]

18. I entirely agree that we must not stand for this

It is criminal that the government and airlines have us in a catch-22 situation
Agree to be assaulted or lose your non-refundable ticket, ruin your Thanksgiving, miss your wedding, whatever.

I just wrote to my senators after seeing the youtube video of the assault on a minor by TSA.

What TSA thinks it get can get away with in my name is DISGUSTING

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skkCpnCm7iM

These kinds of assaults on people presumed innocent until proven guilty must stop NOW.

Tell Janet Napolitano if she does that to any kid I'm responsible for, she will answer for it in court.

Furiously

[YOY]

16. 1. Please prove that. 2. Afraid we don't write laws based on popularity.

n.t.

[Pacifist Patriot]

19. I'd be curious to see a more recent poll. The 80% number is...

a couple of weeks out of date. That may not seem like long, but the media tidal wave was barely beginning a couple of weeks ago. The increasing flood of stories is very likely to be changing public opinion.

[Laelth]

20. It's a very bad poll question that produced that result.

The pollster doesn't explain that TSA agents can see you nude, basically, and record that image with their "full body x-ray scanners." If the question had clearly explained what was meant by a "full body x-ray" scan, the results would have been different.

Lots of people are outraged about this, and it's silly to pretend only a few are upset.

-Laelth

[Odin2005]

25. Because the populance is frightened into submission.

a fearful populace is easy to control.

[Dr.Phool]

33. The 80% who never get on an airplane?

The 80% who are scared of their own shadows?

[CreekDog]

45. that's low

:hi:

[TheKentuckian]

8. According to some democracy is suspended until the 2016 primary, at the earliest

Obama is apparently so inoculated from any form of accountability that anything that happens at all is defended on the off chance it can be related to the President.

If he takes any stance then it will be taken up to the death of all life, anywhere.

Better every star in the universe shut down than Obama be wrong and by chance he is wrong, defend it to the hilt anyway.

[Andy823]

10. Well...

If there was a "republican" in office now instead of Obama, the right would be "DEFENDING" this practice till the cows come home. If Obama were "AGAINST" this practice the republicans would be for it! This is all about make things hard on Obama so he won't get elected in 2012. Now I am not agreeing that the pat downs are fine, what I am pointing out is no matter what side the president comes down on things like this, the right will take the "OTHER" side in order to try and put all the blame on the president.

Now as for some defending Obama up to the death of all life, well there are also others here who would "ATTACK" him till the end of all life, so that thinking process works both ways!

[stray cat]

9. And your voice is as valuable as a single tea bagger

we are all in this together and accountability to you is no more than to anyone else

[barbtries]

12. complain to Obama

and your reps. i did. i even signed a petition, and after i signed it i realized that it was on a (i think) right wing site. but it didn't say anything i didn't believe. and no, no, NO, i am not a republican. i've never voted for a republican and can't imagine that i ever would.

i am still glad obama and not mccain is president. but this tsa bullshit has me really pissed, and obama coming out okay with it just sucks and seems to me to be a big mistake. we need to let him know that. not just bitching at du.

[BlueIris]

22. One would think that is how it is supposed to work. nt

[Odin2005]

24. I am horrified how many posters are DEFENDING this fascist crap.

If it was a REPUBLICAN president allowing this shit they would be OUTRAGED, but it's a Dem allowing it now so it's A-OK. Same with torture, coups in Latin America, and sucking up to the Banksters.

[JamesA1102]

26. I am horrified how many posters are BLOVIATING this bull crap

throwing around terms like fascist and generally making up BS in order to be outraged.

[Odin2005]

27. No, it's the truth.

[JamesA1102]

39. No it's your opinion.

[boppers]

28. Please explain how this is fascist.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fascism

Where is the collectivism? The abolishment of competing political parties?

[Dr.Phool]

35. You're right for a change.

Although I don't think you realize it. You don't have to abolish them, just marginalize them.

We've only got one functioning political party. The Corporate Party.

Mussolini described Fascism as Corporatism. The wedding of the corporation and the state. We're there now, baby.

Citizens United just removed the last veil on the truth.

[Name removed]

29. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[southernyankeebelle]

37. Well the president is in a no win situation. If something isn't done and a plane goes down he

wiill be blamed. If something is done the president gets all the hate. Its a no win either way. Maybe the best thing if a plane comes down and people will shut up. Now if you feel you don't want to go through this procedures than drive. But stop bitching. I know I won't be flying ever again and not because of the patdown. I refuse to go through the hassle of the whole inspection deal.

[CreekDog]

47. My complaint was not based on the President's popularity or lack thereof

i didn't realize that i had to mute my complaint about x-rays for fear that it might take a few points off Obama's approval rating.

is that the new standard for complaint?