1
And so it begins...

2 So how did they eventually find Jiang and what will happen to him?  Will his student visa be revoked? 

3 Security Theater.  The goal isn't actual security, it is to reassure passengers that security is adequate so that they will keep flying.  Its a joke.

It reminds me of the Douglas Adams book, I forget which one, where the 3rd colony ship full of useless people is the only one to make it to and colonize Earth.

4

So how did they eventually find Jiang and what will happen to him?  Will his student visa be revoked? 

While the airport security cameras weren't recording, the cameras for one of the airlines were.

5

Internal Audits reveal a B+ rating.

Our System is Works!

6

Ah, Newark, N.J.. 

The Rennaissance City!

_{(No Shit, Look it up!)}

Home to my favorite, anti-semite, Mayor...what a place.  It's like a little bit of Detroit just across the Hudson!

 

 

7

I think the grandstanding by Lautenberg and the other Donkeys is laughable..all this tough talk...and I do not think the TSA is at fault here

...but having said that...huge mistake to unionize...I think anyone who is a fairly regular flier has observed some TSA employees, who would have never been given a job with relative responsibility in the private sector..

...at JFK..I once saw a female TSA agent leave her post to run and give some guy her phone #

...at Dulles...and this was truly amazing to me...I watched as, during a huge backlog at security -just after the election in 2008 -several black agents who were obviously working as slowly as possible ...and when some  passengers voiced their concern about being able to make their flights, once actually smiled and said " We in charge now"...the implication was obvious..

I know I'll be called a racist for this...but so the fuck what?? The term has been rendered almost meaningless

 

 

8 @4

OK, so they have a picture of a (I assume) Chinese guy.  From that they found his name?  I guess that's encouraging...

9 over the top anger towards the guy who went under the rope

You weren't stuck in Newark for ten hours, missing your connection (your cruise, your first day back at school, the last chance to speak with your dying grandmother, etc), were you?

Yeah, fry the guard, the TSA, the Port Authority, and the airport, but anger at a man who fucked over thousands of people is not unwarranted.

10 It wasn't a security breach. There was no security once the dumbshit TSA officer left his post. Your FIRST General Order in the U.S. Army is "I will guard everything within the limits of my post and quit my post only when properly relieved." With apologies to the anonymous TSA guy, but I don't give a shit about the lack of technology available, blah, blah, blah. It's out of our control, wah, wah, wah. I've stood many a post, and our troops are currently standing posts now where THEY are the security system. And when you willingly turn your back on your duty, you deserve whatever gets jammed up your ass. Bottom line: this jerkoff stays at his post and alert, fucking Charlie Chan doesn't slip past.

11 Woo. Good job TSA for pushing the blame off onto someone else. You know, when the next big attack comes (& one surely will) the TSA will have had exactly nothing to do with its prevention & yet will somehow be given even more "responsibility" for overseeing our safety at airports (I know I feel safer when a 102 year old woman is pulled out of line and searched by someone who knows precisely fuck all besides how to pocket nail clippers and orange juice). & good on you, whoever you are, for getting a job with the least competent (to say nothing of the least accountable) police force in the known universe. I hope you sleep well at night.

12
Lautenberg was old in 2002. The guy retired because he was old. Then he came back.

Now he's really old.

13

Thanks for making the corrections, Maet. It's nice to know that we at AOSHQ insist on a more rigourous corrections policy than is present at, say, the muliplty-layered-fact-checking editors at LAT and NYT.

(not a TSA employee, BTW.)

14 Most general schedule (GS) non-manager federal employees are "part of the bargaining unit", which means that the union represents them regardless of whether or not they join the union.  The union and the government hash out a contract, and anyone wanting an EPA, FDA, or Post Office job gets a copy of the contract on the first day of work.  Most of it is employee handbook stuff (you get 4 hours off for donating blood, you get 2 to 4 weeks off for donating bone marrow, you get federal holidays off unless you are told in writing you have to work).  The union is obligated under the contract to represent a bargaining unit employee with management, at least until the employee is fired.   It isn't optional for the unions. 

15 How do we not know that the Chinese guy wasn't testing the system?

16 The Port Authority did not frisk my Mom.  TSA hamburger flippers did.

17 drop or add a negative to that last post.

18 If this is supposed to be important then it should be military or police performing the function. I know it's unrealistic given the numbers needed, but I would have a hell of a lot more trust in it than I do now. A group of professionals with meaningful training who have a real sense of duty and look you in the eye instead of being obsessed with an ID to see if it's fake.

19
I have no problem throwing Jiang or whatever his name is out of the country, after a couple of months in the slam.   Being a sociopathic dumbass is hardly an excuse.  Same goes for the TSA mutt- being a stupid piece of shit isn't defensible.  At all.

20 The SP hit piece is on now. Muthafuckin CBS sucks.

21 Thank you Ace, Pixy, and the backup crew for allowing anon posting to AoSHQ from TSA, ABC, etc...
Otherwise we'd miss out on stuff like this - not whistle blower - just teh facts: fast and free! 

22 "Responsibility is a unique concept... You may share it with others, but your portion is not diminished. You may delegate it, but it is still with you... If responsibility is rightfully yours, no evasion, or ignorance or passing the blame can shift the burden to someone else. Unless you can point your finger at the man who is responsible when something goes wrong, then you have never had anyone really responsible." ADM Hymen G. Rickover On top of that authority and responsibility are two sides of the same coin. If the TSA is responsible for airport security then they must have the authority to establish the physical infrastructure required for security. If the TSA isn't responsible for airport security what's the point? Ace, you're initial conclusion was correct. This is security theater.

23 ...at JFK..I once saw a female TSA agent leave her post to run and give some guy her phone #

Dear Penthouse,

You're never going to believe this, but...

24 How do we not know that the Chinese guy wasn't testing the system?
Posted by: JavaJoe

How do we know that you are not a Chinese triple agent???elleventy!!!

25 15  It's that way for most of us WG (wage grade) employees, as well.  Everyone is supposed to be represented equally, member or not, but...well, let's just say that the first thing the VP of our local says when someone needs help is "Is the m*****f***** a member?  If not, then f*** him."

26 Seats and tray tops must remain up throughout the flight, and snacks must have no more than four kibble -- and zero bits!

27 In other news,,,,"How 'bout them vols"?   We lose two starters  and two secondaries toweapons drugs charges last week and we beat #1 Kansas this week with a bench of nine players.   Heck, Coach Pearl had to put his own son in to play!

28 The Port Authority did not confiscate and destroy veterans' medals; TSA did.

29 Why not let each airport handle their own security with private hirings instead of federalizing it? We save BILLIONS of wasted money!

30 It's great to have a TSA employee contribute. I hope he or she has more to say. But the finger-pointing is bullshit. The employee performance problem should never have happened. The camera problem should have been worked out beforehand. There is no excuse for this crap. From anyone.

31 #28 Big deal. Sounds like the "Volunteers" are just another NBA thugball team. Well, maybe with fewer tattoos.

32 Second, I think you greatly overestimate the control the TSA has over the airports at which it is stationed. Any construction that is done, or not done in the case of the exit lane at Newark, is the responsibility of the airport, not the TSA. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is to blame for not having any technological solution to prevent people from going upstream in the exit lane.

Actually, I don't think there was any overestimation at all...if the TSA is, in fact, in charge of security, then it stands to reason that any situation such as construction (or lack of same), inoperative cameras, or inadequate facilities of any sort should be grounds for the TSA at that particular airport to shut the screening process down until the condition is corrected.  Oh, yeah, hell, I know that would be a weapons-grade pain in the ass...the first time.  But, I guarantee you, it wouldn't happen many more times before it was fixed.

33

In other news,,,,"How 'bout them vols"?  

Bredesen: UT needs to clean up sports program after arrests of players

34 Bredesen: UT needs to clean up sports program after arrests of players

35 Was listening to the radio in the car.  A call in show.  Everyone was saying that we see so little of true love that maybe we should not be so hard on this guy.  People felt he should pay his fine and they should be done with him.  Everyone felt that the TSA agent and the airport security as a whole were more at fault. 

In hearing everyone vociferously defend him for "being in love and daring to express that love" my mind began to wander.  What if, somehow he was a part of an elaborate plan where in he handed something off to someone else (someone who would now not have another screening) or placed something somewhere where someone would pick that something up at a later time?  What if this then had an adverse result?  Those same callers would be all over the TSA and every other security agency.  In osme european airports you are screened to get into the terminal and then you are screened again to get onto the plane.  This is not the case in this airport and I don't blame the security people for going ballastic.  Know personally several people inconvenienced by having to sit on the tarmac while the airport was once again secured.

Three questions I have.  1.  What is his soon to be minted PHD in?   How come the guard just happened to walk away from his/her post at the time this lovestruck puppy was about to breach the exit?  3.  Has this guy been living under a rock, is he brain dead?  Does he not watch the news.  At his university he probably has access to the cable in chinese if he can't watch the news in English.   At his age, you have self control and you follow the rules so as not to inconvenience anyone else, period.  

Something about the entire incident isn't sitting well with a lot of people.

36 FWIW, the NTEU does NOT represent Treasury Agents. Criminal Investigators (Special Agents), no matter what agency, (FBI, DEA, IRS, ICE, ATF, whatever) are not permitted to belong to any union.

37 So, what you are saying is that TSA and local Port Authorities/Airports are just one big, convoluted Government clusterfuck?  Sounds about right; I feel safer for my next flight already!

38 Long time moron, first time commenter, Airline pilot. Typical that the TSA guy would try to pass blame for security lapses at a TSA checkpoint on someone else. It's the government way these days. Hopefully soon they will have a Union too, that will make it all better... The FSD (Federal Security Director - head TSA agent) dictates everything that has to do with security at the airport. If something isn't right, he/she makes the call and it MUST be answered. If airline security is AFU, look at the people responsible for (i.e. paid to provide) airline security...

39 Fuck the TSA, specifically including this TSA AoSHQ moron reader.  This is just a variant on Napolitano's "the system worked" comment.  If the TSA all did their jobs, and stopping a guy from getting past a velvet rope is beyond their competence or authority, they can't actually keep people out of secure areas without having their hands held by the port authority, that just calls into question the very existence and mission of the TSA.  We're supposed to watch women get groped, and grovel ourselves before a federalized bureaucracy of glorified mall cops so we don't get called out for defiance, and when the whole system is revealed as a farce, we're supposed to roll over for an apologist who points out its not their fault the whole system is a giant charade, they're doing their jobs and punching their cards, and they can't be held responsible for stopping guys getting past security?  Fuck the TSA.  With a stick.  Sideways.  And I do include the reader who bravely "wishes to remain anonymous."

40 I am OK with firing the Port Authority management, the guard, the guards boss, and fining the lovesick doctoral student.

41

I don't know why everything was held up six hours.  I could have cleared things up quickly.

All flights with Dutch tourists aboard should have been able to depart immediately.

Muslims saying prayers should be given $50,000 and rebooked on the next days flight.

See how that's done!

42 And what's up with the anonymous shit being allowed?!!

43 We're supposed to watch women get groped... Let's not rush to judgment here. This IS AoSHQ.

44
This is exactly why I'll never be flying again. Everything the government touches goes to shit. They want to run my healthcare, but they can't stop a guy from stepping under a rope holding up flights for six hours. If I can't get there by car or train, then it just ain't worth going to.

45 I blame Bush, Palin and Reagan.

46 Maybe having more than a velvet rope to stop someone from entering would be a better idea.

Cutting across a rope at a bank isn't a federal offense.  You would think if it is this serious that a whole airport would be shut down over it that there would be a chain, or maybe some yellow tape.

47 I never fly on my own nickel and haven't flown for business for about 7 years. 

After watching the news about the flying imams and other stories about how witnesses who report suspicious characters are treated, I will not report any such thing.  If I ever am forced to fly for work again and see suspicious activity occurring in the terminal I will refuse to get on the airplane, not give a reason, and ask the airline to get my luggage back. 

I wonder if they will go into lock down for that?

48  It would actually be quite easy to get real security at airports, etc. Police work is really a young man's (and now woman's) job. Police don't get to retire at 20 years with full benefits at thirty. It's that after twenty years not many officers are able to chase thugs like they could at, say, age twenty-seven. So, the number of slots open to officers in their forties and fifties are limited.

 These older officers would be perfect for airport security, twenty or more years as a street cop gives the maturity, eye and instincts. such a job needs. As a matter of fact, all big airports already have a detail from whatevever city it's in, except places like D/FW that have their own units. Still, there are plenty of retired officers in the area.
 
 And an experienced  bluesuit would know if some dweeb was trying to go through the line with a half  pound of explosives under his balls and a fuse taped to his weenie.

49 My son was in that mess trying to get back to his base in Germany.  He was already on his plane waiting for a 7:15 pm takeoff.  His flight finally left at 2:00 am. 

I blame all of them...starting with Obama.

50 46  Me, neither.  Not because I'm any more or less afraid of being blown to shit over the flyover states - but because incompetence should be neither ignored nor rewarded.  Some asscheese decides to skip a step or two, duck under the velvet rope so he doesn't have to bare his tootsies for the security screeners, and the best these dopes can come up with is "not my fault, not my fault".  On top of that, passengers that are doing nothing more threatening than reading a book or listening to music are treated like suspects - because stopping people who fit the "profile" (there's that nasty word again) would be oh so politically incorrect.  My husband and I generally make at least two trips to Dallas every year to see his mom - probably not anymore, though.  If we don't drive, I ain't goin'.

51 This was just some schmuck wanting a last kiss, not a trained terrorist looking for security leaks. That makes it even worse, because you don't have to be all that sharp to beat the crack airport security teams

52

I won't deny that the employee who walked away from his post is an idiot who deserves to get fired. That's not even a debatable point.

Tell that to AFGE.  For that matter, tell it to your bosses.  Tell it to your coworkers and see how it plays with them.  Telling it to the blogosphere is a meaningless gesture.

First, while TSA is not unionized, each employee is free to join a union. In fact, with Obama's election in January, reps from the NTEU (National Treasury Employees' Union) started coming to my airport.

Way to catch a trivial factual error!  Unless... the fact that TSA thugs are free to join unions explains why he's being defended by the AFGE.  In any case, if a thug like yourself thinks partial unionization of the TSA is comforting to the general public, I don't even know what to say to you.

Withholding your name shows you've got half a brain, but the act of defending your employer at all, and even keeping the job you hold shows you have no understanding of the real anger and contempt regular people have for jack-booted rent-a-cop bullies and molestors such as yourself.  The TSA is set to give the IRS a run for its money in the justified anger department.

53

54 Maybe having more than a velvet rope to stop someone from entering would be a better idea.

As I said in the previous thread -- Disney does better. In the same time, Disney's established PERMANENT security.  Hell, at times they've used biometrics to link individuals to their tickets -- they've got biometric scanners at the gates.

Meanwhile, TSA can't be arsed to not wander away from their posts...

(And love the bit about "they're not unionized, but can join a union". Um, distinction without difference?)

55 Whether or not the guard left his post is immaterial to how Mr Jiang should be treated for his selfish actions. He acted in a stupid, selfish and irresponsible way. Blaming a guard who left his post, which is a separate matter, for "allowing" Mr Jiang to do what he did is a symptom of why our society allows this to happen in the first place - "I did it because I was able to and oh look! Someone allowed the circumstances to happen where I could (someone left their post!)" I thought we were trying to get away from that kind of thing and back towards personal responsibility. In a more perfect world, Mr Jiang would be expelled from the US, but not before he pays reparation for the inconvenience his selfish stupidity caused. And, in that same world, the guard would be dealt with but not blamed for Mr Jiang's selfish, narcissistic behavior. What kind of thoughtless dope crosses a boundary between a secure and not-so-secure area of an airport, in this day and age, no less, thinks nothing of it, more than giving a last goodbye kiss to his girlfriend? For crying out loud! That's so selfish it disgusts me. And narcissistic, too - what, you mean to tell me there are other people on the planet besides me, and in the AIRPORT, too?? Throw the book at him. Then throw him out. A graduate student too... You'd think he could spare a few brain cells to figure out that he was in an airport post-9/11. Idiot...

56 This is terribly OT, but I need to voice this somewhere.

I would like to give a big FU to Troy Aikman and Joe Buck for ruining what would otherwise have been a great game by spending the entire f-cking game sucking off Arron Rodgers.  I like GB but found myself rooting for the cards just to shut those two b-tches up.

I'm done, thanks.

57 TSA took my nose hair trimmer but let my wife fly to Denver--and back--with a pepper spray canister in her purse. (she forgot it was there)

58 I blame it all on that fucking liberal tool Corzine.

59 Hey Mons, FU!

60 BTW -- while searching for the page on the Disney biometrics, I found a BoingBoing page screeching at how horrible it was that Disney was using biometrics: THEY'RE PREPARING US FOR THE SURVEILLANCE STATEEE!!!!!!!

1. Don't like it? Don't go there.
2. Private property. Their rules.
3. What a horrible burden -- being asked to let a computer make a couple of measurements that get tossed out in a month. Meanwhile, the government, under force of law, requires that you give them annual reports on the details of your finances.
4. If people didn't try to defraud both Disney and other Disney guests, then Disney wouldn't feel the need to spend so much money on ticket security. Odd at the number of comments to the post detailing how they used to sneak into amusement parks...

The post was from Cory "Screeching Queen" Doctorow, so you can't expect much, but still...

61 I think everything was set in place in Nov 06, GWB's hands basicly tied. Since that time, Pure Evil has been unleashed. There may be no stopping it. Everywhere you look, Evil, Prevails. These Assholes dont care if they can be re-elected.   The way they see it, Honest Elections  dont exist anymore. Maybe it is about time God stepped in and put an end to the crap.

62 @56 lowandslow

Your comment about the "one foot shoe dance" made me laugh.

As a woman, I have often found myself next to a guy redoing his belt and trying to get a shoe back on at the same time, while I, in the chair next to him am busy putting back on whatever I have had to take off; and when inadvertently making eye contact, both of us bursting out laughing.

It feels so odd and very personal to be getting redressed next to a stranger. 

63 So it seems to me that apart from the derelict guard the real scandal here is the poor physical security provided by the airport and the fact that the TSA is responsible for security in an area that it doesn't have much control over. The bottom line is, the ordinary people that work for the government are no worse or no better than anybody. They are by and large professionals that do their job as well as if they worked for a large company. Many times, when accusation are hurled against their agency, they're not even allowed to refute them in public. Probably what's going on at the TSA now mirrors what went on at the IRS, when all those tax cheaters came forward at those Congressional hearings - I know one agent quite intimately, and the fact is every one of those cases involved people that deliberately cheated on their taxes (cost the rest of us money, because we have to make up the difference). But there is a law that doesn't allow the IRS to talk about tax cases in public, so they had to watch bald faced liars and tax cheats lie thru their teeth on TV and just take it. We, as conservatives, need to be reasonable in our criticism of the civil service: ultimately, they only do what voters asked them to do. When they are grossly inadequate for the task - and that happens all too often - its usually because they were asked to do things government by its nature can't do well. But we shouldn't insult people like Maet's emailer.

64 Whether or not the guard left his post is immaterial to how Mr Jiang should be treated for his selfish actions...

I thought we were trying to get away from that kind of thing and back towards personal responsibility.

Weird... can't find anyone saying Jiang shouldn't be fined.

Doesn't personal responsibility also fall on the unionized asshat who left his post? For my money, his punishment should start at firing, continue to being barred from any government employment at any time in the future, and possibly extend to prosecution. If not criminal prosecution, he should be subject to civil suit for the damages.

65

I'm disgusted with the lack of cohesion between the TSA, Port Authority, law enforcement, military, etc., etc. et al. when it comes to national security.

Want a decent (not foolproof, but fairly decent) security system?  Follow the Israeli system.  Of course, this would mean a major overhaul of the groups mentioned above plus, and certainly not least, a major re-education of our populace.  I don't see that happening, but it would be nice if it had started oh, say around 9/12/01.

Until we can psychically reconcile ourselves to the fact that yes indeed, there are people out there wanting to kill every single one of us and we make the choice to sacrifice a little bit of personal expedience and comfort to protect ourselves -- then I'm afraid we are all very much saddled with "security kabuki"...and some people are going to be killed; unfortunately, in all likelihood a rather large number of people. 

I hated having my kids fly over the holidays -- although I'll grant that it is probably good for the ladies hair color industry; I've never had much problem with the grey...until this last year.

66 If I can't get there by car or train, then it just ain't worth going to. Posted by: Blazer at January Seriously?

67 Rob Crawford: Where did I say people were suggesting he shouldn't be fined? Nowhere, that's where. My point was that his punishment shouldn't consider what the guard did - he's responsible for himself, and also that it should be rather severe, seeing as it closed an airport. I also separated the two events. I've read that they aren't unionized, but that aside, the point I made about it being THIS asshat that did what he did and inconvenienced people en mass was a separate event from the guard doing what he did. And I didn't say that the guard shouldn't be held responsible for leaving his post at all either. I just said that this idiot should be held responsible for his action and penalized for them. Both should, and I said that. I made the comments I did because I see a lot of apologists for the idiot suggesting that he did it for lack of a guard at a post. That's BS. Period.

68 A graduate student too... You'd think he could spare a few brain cells to figure out that he was in an airport post-9/11.

Oh, he knows that he's in an airport post 1/20/09. We're in the age of "man-caused disasters", civil trials for terrorists, no profiling, and "acceptable levels of terrorism"

He was smart enough to figure out that airport security wasn't serious

69

I was over at a friend's house and made the mistake of watching 5 minutes of Steve Schmidt's interview on 60 minutes about Sarah Palin. I am guessing since Palin has sense not to go on cBS, they will be bring on Levi, and Steve Shit, etc. 

I don't now much about this man, but based on what I have seen and read about him,  he is the scum of the earth, he was dissing this woman left and right.  And I wonder, does he realise that this means he will most likely not get a job for a while.  A complete disgusting POS. Even if was doing a CYA type thing, he sounded like some teenager telling his friends how he knows all these secrets or something. What a waste of 5 minutes!

70 We give that guard and our agency a solid B+

The system worked, and the system looks for someone else to blame

71
If I can't get there by car or train, then it just ain't worth going to.
Posted by: Blazer at January


Seriously?

Posted by: Terry at January 10, 2010 08:55 PM (ddL+W)

Yea, seriously. You spend more time at the airport now than you do on your flight and the pc bullshit is beyond stupid. I tried not to take a swipe at the TSA because I'm sure they have some fine folks working for them but a few years ago my wife and I boarded a flight to Charlotte and one of the screeners was an ex-sister in law of mine who isn't fit to flip burgers at a McDonalds.


We both looked at each other in disbelief and were like "wtf ?"

This woman had her kids taken away from her for being an unfit mother but there she was at the airport screening passengers. Thanks but no thanks, I'll stick to ground transportation.

72 A League of Her Own

73 OT:  Too late Michael...as usual:

Washington (CNN) - Days after saying his party will not take back control of Congress this year, Republican Party Chairman Michael Steele reversed course Sunday.

"Oh, we will," Steele told "Fox News Sunday," adding, "We're well on our way."

Steele's remark last week that the party cannot take back the House of Representatives in 2010 added to turmoil within the party surrounding his embattled leadership.

74 On top of that authority and responsibility are two sides of the same coin. If the TSA is responsible for airport security then they must have the authority to establish the physical infrastructure required for security. If the TSA isn't responsible for airport security what's the point?

Second THAT - how the hell does one delegate responsibility w/o authority & vice versa. 'Course there is a lot of nuance on the Gov side, both drones, the nominated, and the elected.

Ace, you're initial conclusion was correct. This is security theater.

Security Theater is an understatement - any real security specialist would not spend a second glance looking at Grandma - who do you think Obama's USSS team is eyeballing...

75

You'd think he could spare a few brain cells to figure out that he was in an airport post-9/11.

Me so horny!

76 wow, the patriots lost in the first round??

77
One other thing about the Chinese fellow. Being he was from China basically an authoritarian police state, I'm pretty sure he's not totally clueless when it comes to airport security or any kind of security for that matter. The Chinese would put a bullet in you for less than what he did.

Obviously he has no respect for our laws and regulations. He should have been on the first thing steaming, back to Beijing.

78 kbdabear: Yeah, and that's a big problem, sure, but that's no excuse for him and what he did. Just because there's no cop with a radar gun doesn't mean I should go ripping through a 25 mph school zone at 55. That selfishness detracts from our society and causes entropy in it. It's an aloof, irresponsible attitude that suggests that someone allowed someone else to do something wrong because they weren't on their toes. What are the odds that we'd find mistakes in a human society? That's pretty easy - it's about the same as finding someone who'd be offended by any given thing we might say - darn near 100%, I'd say! Your point about the guards are well-taken, but they are responsible for catching idiots like this so they don't have to be hunted down, not preventing responsible citizens from being tempted of doing wrong because they're not there!

79

Sorry, ot saw this posted on politico by a poster. Good stuff. Dont know if anyone posted this anywhere on AOS or not, sorry if a repeat.

Lt Colonel Allen West, great American and candidate for Congress (and my candidate for President 2012), responded here: "Friends, attached is my response to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's comments, which I consider incredibly vile".

"The revelation of Senator Harry Reid's comments referencing "negro talk" is just indicative of the true sentiment elitist liberals, and indeed the Democratic party, have toward black Americans. The history of the Democrat party is one of slavery, secession, segregation, and now socialism. It is this new aged socialism born from the Johnson Great Society programs that have castigated blacks as victims needing government dependency. One need only to look upon the city of Detroit to ascertain what liberal social welfare policies have produced for the inner city.....the new plantation for black Americans.   The Ku Klux Klan was birthed by the Democrats as a terrorist wing to intimidate blacks, and whites, who sought to promote economic and education independence and social justice for blacks. What was once overt has just morphed and become covert, yet still exists..   One can only imagine the insanity and media outrage if Reid's quote had come from a member of the Republican party. I look forward to hearing from Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton on Reid's comments........or has liberal hush money paid for the silence of these proprietors of poverty and victimization theory.. Actually, if President Obama had any courage he would demand Reid step down as Senate Majority Leader, and discontinue any support for his Senate reelection.......notice I said "if". I am quite sure the Soros money which elevated Obama to the position of President has bought his servitude.   Why am I running for US Congress as a Republican, simple, I would rather stand proudly and be called "Uncle Tom and Sellout" than lose my self-esteem and be considered an inferior by liberals. I understand the legacy of the GOP and the black community....not that revisionist history espoused by liberal educators. I am not, shall never be, and will not raise my daughters to be a part of the liberal 21st century plantation. I am not just some articulate, clean, good speaking negro. I am an American warrior, Congressional candidate, and shall never submit to the collective progressive ideal of inferiority.   Senator Harry Reid's comments are disgusting, despicable, and unacceptable. They are representative of how intellectual elite liberals do indeed speak of black Americans in their closed private spaces. Next week I have been invited to NYC to address the Hudson Institute, a conservative organization, conference on "Reclaiming American Liberty". That invite came to me because I took advantage of the opportunities this great Republic offered. I followed the guidance of my parents and set my standards above all others around me. I speak well and have impeccable communicative skills because my Father and Mother prioritized that quality.   I shiver to think what my future could have been if I listened to the insidious rhetoric of charlatans such as Harry Reid, and the ambassadors of affirmative action who reside in the Congressional Black Caucus. Sure, the "stuck on stupid" blacks are going to address me in derogatory names, but I possess something which they lack; Honor, Integrity, and Character. To them I say, continue to be slaves to the liberals for your vote.......and in a year you will be calling me Congressman West.   Steadfast and Loyal, LTC(R) Allen B West

80

16 How do we not know that the Chinese guy wasn't testing the system?

"has a girlfriend" and "terrorist" are mutually exclusive.  It's probably never said, but should be, again and again: yea verily, the enemies of Western Civilization are self-selecting fuglies. 

Ace, if you devote a post to this fact, I'll send you a fifth of Val-U-Rite.

Napolitano just emailed me, saying that "the velvet rope worked".

81

sockpuppet

 

82 If I can't get there by car or train, then it just ain't worth going to.
Posted by: Blazer at January

Seriously?

That's my feelings lately. A couple of years ago I went out to San Francisco for work -- and despite flying from Cincinnati, it still felt like I spent more time in line for "security" than I spent on the flight. I've flown down to Disney a few times in the past, but the aggravation of the airport makes it more relaxing to drive. Oh, and unless I fly a red-eye or drive an extra two hours to another city's airport, it's CHEAPER to drive.

Oh, but I disagree about the train. I once took a train from Detroit to Peoria via Chicago. A year later I drove the same route -- took less time, didn't have to get up to catch a 5am train in the middle of Detroit, and didn't have to stop at every middling-sized town along the way. Not to mention that trains just don't go very many places.

If you think driving's boring, find a way to break it up a bit. I always find spots to check out along the way. Even if you're mainly on the highway, there will be something nearby to see.

83 I fly all the time. I see old ladies get their laptops tested, people that have big bottles of shampoo and crap get their stuff taken, people get the locks knocked out of their checked baggage. I saw a TSA guy chewing out another one for not being more forceful when he asked me to step back through the metal detector again because he wasn't watching. Something like,"Don't 'ask', you tell him! We're in charge here!"

All these things you see happen to regular Americans. Black, white, Asian, Mexican, whatever. I never see anything special happen to someone that looks to have middle eastern heritage. And yeah, I know there are a lot of them that are regular Americans too. Sue me.

I don't care about any of it. I know what I can take on a carry on.  I know I have to check bags in order to get the things I need for work on the plane. I show up plenty early enough to go through the hassle. I don't do it so I can feel safe. I do it because I don't want to spend my whole life driving across the country.

I also know if I see a panty bomber trying to inject something into his groin on a flight, he's going to know how Smoky Bear taught us how to stomp out forest fires when I was a kid. 

84

I made the comments I did because I see a lot of apologists for the idiot suggesting that he did it for lack of a guard at a post. That's BS. Period.

Really? You see a lot of those apologists here?

85 is colonel west running for any office? I know he was last year, I would like to donate to him. thanks

86 NYT's Trained Seal

87 Rob Crawford: Rob, I didn't mean you, but I saw a few here, yes. I see a number of posts relating the two events as if the guard's leaving of his post was the reason for it. They're not very hard to find here! And yes, I do call them apologists.

88
Well the other reason I drive is because I can stay armed almost 100% of  the time.A lot of criminals out there prey on tourists and I ain't gonna be one of them.

89 83 --The more I hear of/from LTC(R) Allen West the more I like him!  Please, more of this sort of person, please God.

90 Sorry, ot saw this posted on politico by a poster. Good stuff. Dont know if anyone posted this anywhere on AOS or not, sorry if a repeat.

Is that for real?

91 So Blazer, never going to visit Europe, tropical islands, Asia? Not sure where you live, but no trips to cool places on the east or west coasts? I'm not ready to give that stuff up yet.

92 The sad state of affairs of anyone who has a Federal job, is that it is really, really, hard to get fired. Anyone have any stats on the percentage of poeple who get fired? Those that have civil service jobs are almost insulated from being laid off or GASP., terminated permanently. It just isn't done! And the benefits of being retired.   OH LA LA.

93

Oh, I see.

It was somebody else's fault, not TSA's fault.

There was nothing TSA could have done about the rope or the camera.  They couldn't put extra agents there.  They couldn't have demanded the Port Authority shut down the lanes.  They couldn't have erected a more effective barrier temporarilly.  They couldn't have bumped the problems upstairs to get more attention on them.  They couldn't have reported the difficulties to the press.  They couldn't have brought in portable cameras.

In most cases, people are self policeing.  This time the lovestruck man wasn't.  But what could TSA do about that?  Al Queda has never done anything like that.  They know the rules.  What's to worry?

TSA is responsible for the safety of thousands, but their hands were tied.

Got it.

94 94 Sorry, ot saw this posted on politico by a poster. Good stuff. Dont know if anyone posted this anywhere on AOS or not, sorry if a repeat.

Is that for real?

Posted by: Rob Crawford at January 10, 2010 09:23 PM (n2wxa)

 

Sorry Rob, I meant a commentor. I really stand corrected as Politico would not post this, tee hee. He is running in Florida.

 

95 So Blazer, never going to visit Europe, tropical islands, Asia? Not sure where you live, but no trips to cool places on the east or west coasts?

I'm not ready to give that stuff up yet.

Posted by: Terry at January 10, 2010 09:24 PM (ddL+W)

I could care less about Europe or Asia, most places I even care about going are all within a day or twos drive of where I live and if I want to go to a tropical island I can drive 80 miles east to Norfolk and hop on a cruise ship.

96 Blazer,
Being able to be armed is a damn good reason. It's also a good reason to pay to check luggage.

97 Terry: I'm getting pretty close, myself. When I was over in the UK last year, they had a very reasonable procedure that was efficient (at least as I saw it - mind you, I was there during the hight of the IRA problem too and saw what they did then too). They did the whole "liquids out" thing, made me take my belt off, and on one trip, when I'd forgotten, the guard made a mention of the fact that I had and asked if he could frisk me. They searched my laptop and "sniffed" it for explosives, but it was done so professionally and politely that I was at ease during the whole thing. I was through security in less than 10 minutes, and that includes the walk and check-in previous. Now, the UK is no tropics by any means, but I'd feel safer flying to and from there than some other places, including the US.

98 Friends in the airline industry's defination of TSA, 'Thousands Standing Around'.

99 Cons, you have me so terrified again, you are so good at it. Are you the real terrorists?

100 1.  What is his soon to be minted PHD in?  

Molecular biology, apparently.  If you search his name plus site:rutgers.edu, you'll find a nice picture of him for the homepage of his lab.  (Fear my Google Fu.)  His lab is technically in the medical school.

2. How come the guard just happened to walk away from his/her post at the time this lovestruck puppy was about to breach the exit?

I'm guessing it happens several times a day.

3.  Has this guy been living under a rock, is he brain dead?  Does he not watch the news.  At his university he probably has access to the cable in chinese if he can't watch the news in English.   At his age, you have self control and you follow the rules so as not to inconvenience anyone else, period.  

I'm assuming he's from China also.  It's a pretty good guess because his first name is Chinese.  In that case, he probably flies internationally at least once a year.  As he's in biology, I wouldn't figure on the absent-minded super-genius theory.  They spend most of their time telling you that all of their research will cure cancer or end hunger or some such thing, so he's not likely to be the kind who lives in his own head.

101 most places I even care about going are all within a day or twos drive of where I live Posted by: Blazer Totally not trying to argue...it's just interesting how different we all are. If I have a week off, the idea of driving for two days to get somewhere and then two days to get back just seems wasteful of my precious vacation time.

102 Your point about the guards are well-taken, but they are responsible for catching idiots like this so they don't have to be hunted down, not preventing responsible citizens from being tempted of doing wrong because they're not there!

Why do we have better security screening at the most popular nightclubs in Manhattan and Hollywood than we do at the airports?

The security at the Hollywood studios is pretty heavy too, but I guess losing a few hundred nobodies isn't as vital as saving one celebrity from a stalker.

103 Snorkel, I find it funny that someone in the airline industry has anything bad to say about anyone. I've encountered plenty of airline agents that are more rude and tyrannical than any TSA agent I've ever met.

104 proreason: I'm not sure if this is aimed at me, but TSA is at fault for allowing this to come to a point where they had to search for a guy that did something stupid and wasn't stopped from doing that, but they are not at fault for the dope's actions. He did that himself. Flimsy ropes, guards walking away from their posts and not being filled in do not prevent someone from CHOOSING not to do something stupid because they're being selfish, or whatever the reason. Again, booming through a school zone above the speed limit is not the fault of the lack of police to monitor it - it's the responsibility of, and should be the choice of, the person doing it. Failure to make one responsible for their actions allows this to happen more than it would if they were properly made responsible for their stupidity and lack of regard for others.

105 I see a number of posts relating the two events as if the guard's leaving of his post was the reason for it. They're not very hard to find here!

Uh, if he hadn't left his post, it likely wouldn't have happened. He's also responsible; his duty was to prevent that kind of thing from happening, and he walked away from it. Jiang deserves the fine, but the TSA union drone deserves much, much worse.

106 If you think driving's boring, find a way to break it up a bit. I always find spots to check out along the way. Even if you're mainly on the highway, there will be something nearby to see.

If you think driving is boring, you're not pressing hard enough on the gas pedal

107 Lets for a moment take a possible scenario of 20-25 armed terrorists who decided to do a Bombay (Mumbai India) type thing and invade this very same airport. Trained in wherever country you want to pick. How much damage could they do to a major airport before they were all captured, read their rights, And politely carted off to jail.  At least the Indians killed most of theirs

108 kbdabear: that depends on the club, no? I've heard shootings happening in clubs in NYC, but again, I see your point. You're absolutely right though, but I do think there's a matter of scale here - the idiot-to-guard ratio is too big, and searching people at an entrance to a club is a lot easier than at a huge airport. I wouldn't want either job, but if I had to pick, and knowing odds, I'd take the club job. And not to put too fine a point on the matter, but it's some of those same celebrities that have done the majority of the shooting at the clubs

109 Rob Crawford: I'll grant you that, had the guard not left his post, the idiot would not have successfully shut down the airport, and again, that's a serious problem and needs to be addressed. It doesn't absolve the idiots' lack of judgement at all though, and that's a point I'm also making. I'm not saying that the guard's behavior shouldn't be addressed - it must - but this idiot inconvenienced LOTS of people regardless and that shouldn't be let go lightly.

110 So Blazer, never going to visit Europe, tropical islands, Asia? Not sure where you live, but no trips to cool places on the east or west coasts?

I'm not ready to give that stuff up yet.

Haven't been to Europe, would like to see a few parts of it. But I haven't run out of places to see in the US, and when I want a trip that's just "get away and not worry about anything", well, the Mouse always has rooms.

111 Again, booming through a school zone above the speed limit is not the fault of the lack of police to monitor it - it's the responsibility of, and should be the choice of, the person doing it.

Next time I do 80 on the freeway, I'll make sure to call the Highway Patrol to let them know I was speeding, and I'll mail in the fine... yeh, that'll happen

Of all the arrests made for a crime, a very low percentage of them were caught in the act by a cop. The presence of law enforcement is to deter the perp from doing the crime right in front of him.

If a robber wants to hold up a liquor store and he sees the cop heading into the donut shop, he doesn't say "it's my responsibility to keep the neighborhood safe"

112 Why do we have better security screening at the most popular nightclubs in Manhattan and Hollywood than we do at the airports?

The answer is that a nightclub that wants security pays for it and cares about the results.  Capitalism 101.

113
Totally not trying to argue...it's just interesting how different we all are. If I have a week off, the idea of driving for two days to get somewhere and then two days to get back just seems wasteful of my precious vacation time.

Posted by: Terry at January 10, 2010 09:35 PM (ddL+W)

If your not taking a direct flight and have to switch planes on a trip you very likely will be spending at least two days of your vacation at the airport. At any rate when we vacation we usually stop at several places on the way to our primary destination, so its kind of like several little vacations in one.

To me its just more fun that way. I'm not saying I'll never fly again its just that I'm gonna go out of my way not to have to.

114

#83

 

That's powerful stuff!

115 114 So Blazer, never going to visit Europe, tropical islands, Asia? Not sure where you live, but no trips to cool places on the east or west coasts?

I'm not ready to give that stuff up yet.

Go easy on Blazer, at least he's travelling more than 20 miles from his home.

Charles Johnson emailed to say he's not travelling anywhere he can't reach on his bike until the security at LAX promises not to profile young muslim men or make a big deal out of narcotics in the carry on bag

116
Charles Johnson emailed to say he's not travelling anywhere he can't reach on his bike until the security at LAX promises not to profile young muslim men or make a big deal out of narcotics in the carry on bag

Posted by: kbdabear at January 10, 2010 09:46 PM (sYxEE)

I would have figured that he was demanding the TSA start profiling creationists and GW denialists since he deems them the real threats now.

117 I've been lucky enough to travel to three other continents, and loved it.

These days my yen to travel has diminished, along with the means to do it, and the state of air travel has much to do with it.

Personally, I intend to see my own country thoroughly before returning to overseas travel again.

118 kbdabear: You missed the point, kbdabear - it's up to you to govern yourself according to the circumstances and hopefully that means you take the regards of the other people around you, because that's how we all have rights - we grant them to others because we see them as sacred and essential to a properly working society. Laws don't prevent people from breaking them at all. They can't by their very definition. It's up to the people, WE THE PEOPLE, to live to create a better society and not have the state enter or govern things like going out driving stupidly or worse. The cops are a deterrent only if they're there at the time, sure, but that's not the point, is it? We should expect the robber not to hold up the store because he acts to grant the rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness to those around him, as is his duty as a citizen, to others, and therefore not to BE a robber at all. Yeah, yeah, I know, such things are silly and romantic, but only because we don't hold people responsible for THEIR ACTIONS. Christ, I'm channeling Jefferson here!

119 If your not taking a direct flight and have to switch planes on a trip you very likely will be spending at least two days of your vacation at the airport. At any rate when we vacation we usually stop at several places on the way to our primary destination, so its kind of like several little vacations in one.

When that asshole on the flight to Hawaii caused the plane to be turned around back to Portland, with all the rescreening, and doing the preflight over along with refueling while queuing on the taxiway when taking off again, a passenger probably could have rowed to Hawaii faster.

Besides, even if you stop at a fast food joint at your typical rest stop, the food is better.

120 I'm not saying I'll never fly again its just that I'm gonna go out of my way not to have to. Posted by: Blazer I gotcha.

121 Regardless of whether it's the TSA's fault or Port Authority, it is still security theater. Wasting our time and not deterring terrorists. If the cameras and construction are beyond their control, the TSA should have spoken up about the bad conditions at Newark BEFORE something happened.

122 "TSA start profiling creationists and GW denialists since he deems them the real threats now"
--
They should.

The delusionalists are today's real problem.

123

Well a TSA employee (who is a frequent AoSHQ reader and who wishes to remain anonymous) emailed me to point out some misconceptions on my part.

Oh, great, Ace! You pissed him off and now all morons will be subject to strip and body cavity searches at every airport.

124 Tell you how stupid TSA is, I had a 6:55 AM flight to by return distination. I was at the airport by 4:00 AM to return the car, Perhaps get a cup of coffee, some chow and get home. BTW, this was at San Diago.  Got to the TSA screening gate around 4:30. Gate was in place, and they did not open the gate and start screening until  6:00 AM. By the time I got through screening, I had to run to the gate to get there on time. I got on the plane five minutes before scheduled push off.  Talked about pissed!

125
We should expect the robber not to hold up the store because he acts to grant the rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness to those around him, as is his duty as a citizen, to others, and therefore not to BE a robber at all.

If that robber kills the liquor store owner in the robbery while the cops sat in the donut shop up the block, we don't charge the cops with murder, but they'll sure as shit be in a load of trouble should the public find out about it

You're missing the point here. People aren't all that mad at the kid for doing something stupid, they're mad because someone who wasn't even looking for leaks in the security found them without trying. King Barry tells us that he's on things and we can rest easily because he's looking at beefing up security. If a kid just walking under a rope because the guard wanted to water his lizard breached security, what the hell will an actual terrorist do?

126
The delusionalists are today's real problem.

Posted by: G at January 10, 2010 09:54 PM (aDP/T)

I wasn't talking about the Democommunist party and Congress, but since you brought it up we won't have to worry about them much after this November.

127 ""It reminds me of the Douglas Adams book, I forget which one, where the 3rd colony ship full of useless people is the only one to make it to and colonize Earth.""



That would be the Golgafrincham  B-Ark.

128 ace, please ban that white supremacist denialist creationist car-ist Blazer from your blog. He's making the bad crazy alarms I have on my computer that alerts me to people lying about me go off like a Vegas slot machine.

If you don't, I'll have to consult my legal people. I have paralegals on speed dial you know. Notary Publics too

129 Just because there's no cop with a radar gun doesn't mean I should go ripping through a 25 mph school zone at 55.


Bad analogy - a cop with a radar gun does not keep one from ripping through a school zone at 55 - a road block does. In this case, there was no road block.

130 kbdabear: No, you're missing the point - it's up to the citizen not to BE a robber (or idiot crossing into a restricted area) in the first place. That they don't is a matter for punishment, and yes, it's up to the people empowered to stop them to do just that. But that they've decided to do it in the first place isn't the fault of the system they've thwarted - the fault is theirs. If the cops knew something was going on and did nothing, then they should be held accountable for not stopping it. Just as I've said that the guard should be investigated for not stopping Mr Jiang's stupid acts. But the guards, nor the cops, are responsible for actions of someone who decides to do something selfish and illegal. I'm not missing the point at all, I'm simply trying to separate things here. And if people aren't very angry at this dope for doing what he did, and then suggesting it's more the system at fault for failing to stop him, then we're in deep trouble indeed. Even more trouble if, as you note, potential terrorists are watching this. Hang 'em both is what I'm saying. Hold both responsible, but don't sit there and hold the TSA at fault for this dope's behavior. He did this because he was selfish and stupid. The guard was wrong too. It doesn't mean he can do whatever he wants.

131 searching people at an entrance to a club is a lot easier than at a huge airport.

Huh? Search them on the bridge thingy that leads to the plane. Part of the problem is trying to secure the equivalent to a large mall rather than the parts that actually matter.

132 If this idiot pulled this stunt at an airport in China he would be deceased by now.

133 Blaze buddy, cons are fascists, as you all know whats best for us all, and love telling us all what to do, and enforcing it with law.

Blaze, just let us all be free.

134 Druid: no, it's a very good analogy. We don't set up mine fields around schools either. We expect that people govern themselves accordingly, and that's why we have a free society. The point is that this guy did what he did because he chose to. Him and the guard. Hold them responsible is all I'm saying. Break the contract, face some kind of penalty. Just make it hurt so that people don't want to consider it an option. If some sign says "do not enter/restricted area", and you know you're not supposed to go, saying "well, that guy left his post, so I ignored it" is kind of a stupid defense, isn't it? In fact, it's just rife with selfishness. Our freedom derives from the fact that we expect people to grant us the same rights we grant others. When it's not reciprocating, we're in trouble. That's what happened here. All I'm saying is that he should be penalized, and that the guard left his post shouldn't enter into the penalty for ANY reason - the guard is not responsible for this dope's behavior.

135 134 kbdabear: No, you're missing the point - it's up to the citizen not to BE a robber (or idiot crossing into a restricted area) in the first place.

I gotcha. Hey Achmed, be a good citizen of the world and rejoin the community of mankind or we'll be forced to make stern speeches on the telly.

As for people being good citizens, when law enforcement is obviously absent you have New Orleans on Sept of 2005.

If I'm flying, I'd rather count on competent people running security than on the good citizenship of other travelers

136 Rob Crawford: Well, since they don't do that yet, the point I was making still stands. I didn't say it wasn't possibly to do the same kind of searches at an airport, merely that it was different. And again, clubs miss a lot of stuff going in as well...

137 I thought erg was told not to come back... why's he posting shit like #137?

138
Blaze buddy, cons are fascists, as you all know whats best for us all, and love telling us all what to do, and enforcing it with law.

Blaze, just let us all be free.

Posted by: G at January 10, 2010 10:12 PM (aDP/T)

 We believe in small limited government, liberty and personal accountability and responsibility. Liberals believe in big government imposing its will on the people and take no accountability at all for their actions.

Nazi stood for National Socialist Party not National Conservative Party and have a lot in common today with the modern Democrat party who continually try to impose a far leftist agenda and anger a majority of the populace who doesnt want it. So you want to remind me who the real fascists are again ?

139 kbdabear: And if Achmed did something stupid or malignant, I'd be all for crucifying him, too. And yes, I'd hope that the guard's going to be dealt with harshly too. AGAIN - I'm not letting the guard off here! The guard needs to be dealt with too, and severely at that! My point, once again, was that Mr Jiang needs to be dealt a very severe penalty for doing something like this. So does the guard, if he was derelict in his duty. But Mr Jiang shouldn't be afforded anything in his actions regardless of the behavior of the guard.

140 All I'm saying is that he should be penalized, and that the guard left his post shouldn't enter into the penalty for ANY reason - the guard is not responsible for this dope's behavior.

The guard is personally responsible for the dope passing his post.

Oh, the dope will get his. Once it's clear he is not under suspicion of being a terrorist his visa will be revoked.

141 All I'm saying is that he should be penalized, and that the guard left his post shouldn't enter into the penalty for ANY reason - the guard is not responsible for this dope's behavior.

The guard is responsible for deterring the dope's behavior. On our FOBs in Afghanistan there are guards at the perimeter. If one decides to sneak some sack time in and the enemy breaches the base, we don't absolve the guard.

The guard was derelict in his duty, the TSA procedures left him as the lone firewall, and somebody walked through. All the wagon circling and good citizenship lectures won't change that fact and build confidence in safe flying.

A maintenance worker for one of these planes could fail to make sure the cargo hatch was secured. The pilots are supposed to do pre-flight checks to double-check for those things. Quality control exists for the very purpose of insuring that mistakes that get caught before it causes a bad outcome.

142 "So you want to remind me who the real fascists are again ?"

Cons are.

Anti Abortion.
Anti Drugs.
Anti Sex.
Anti Many More.

143 Enough of this for the night - enjoy Security Theater any day, any time, at any airport near you.

144 Druid: No, you've got it exactly wrong - the dope did his deed and the guard should have stopped him. He didn't because he wasn't at his post. The dope CHOSE to do his deed because he was selfish. Don't know the guard's reasons yet, but I hope both get what's coming to them. What I'm saying, bottom line, is that both dope and guard should get something very severe and that the dope shouldn't have any regard coming to him in his penalty because the guard didn't do his duty. The kind of thinking that allows for a simpler penalty for the dope in this regard is exactly why we have some of the problems we do. And that's the kind of apologistic thing I've seen here in the threads and why I posted what I did in the first place.

145 kbdabear: No, the guard is responsible for stopping the irresponsible and stupid behavior of the dope. And the guard didn't do it, either.

146 "So you want to remind me who the real fascists are again ?"

Cons are.

Anti Abortion.
Anti Drugs.
Anti Sex.
Anti Many More.

Posted by: G at January 10, 2010 10:26 PM (aDP/T)

Right, not having the desire to see the defensless unborn killed totally makes us fascists. I would say on the contrary. Plus plenty of studies have shown that conservatives not only have more sex than their liberal counterparts but more enjoyable sex. As far as drugs are concerned, I could care less if you want to keep wrecking your brain with mind altering drugs or not. Its pretty clear its beyond repair anyway.

147 All I'm saying is that he should be penalized, and that the guard left his post shouldn't enter into the penalty for ANY reason - the guard is not responsible for this dope's behavior.

Thank God this time it was a stupid kid. It could have been a terrorist or nutjob who gained access to the plane at the gate and put a bomb on the luggage cart or in the cargo bay itself.

Since nobody could find this guy for days, we're damned lucky he was just a goofball copping a last feel.

Security ASSUMES that at any time a person will not obey the covenant of good citizenship and will act in a dangerous manner. I'm not reassured when the last line of defense is a guard who doesn't have to take a leak or wants to sneak off to watch the tv in the concourse.

The system failed. Luckily this time it wasn't fatal.

148 Why is it, most Liberal's I know, believe all laws were made to truss up any any all Conservatives. Hand cuff them, and made them them craw and beg for a handout. Conversly, If you are a Liberal, the laws you don't like are not to be respected, indeed flaunted.

149


Cons are.

Anti Abortion.
Anti Drugs.
Anti Sex.
Anti Many More.

Posted by: G at January 10, 2010 10:26 PM (aDP/T)

146 "So you want to remind me who the real fascists are again ?"

Cons are.

Anti Abortion.= Pro Baby
Anti Drugs.= Pro not hooked on heroin, meth, dying of overdoses,aids,  etc, etc Anti Sex.= Pro No std's if done with one faithful partner
Anti Many More.= sometimes people need to use some common sense!

 

 

 

150 Posted by: G at January 10, 2010 10:26 PM

All cons are fascist puppy killers

Mr Johnson's penis yearns to be free, you fascists make me cover him up

151 kbdabear: I agree with you 100%. And when people do break the rules, ESPECIALLY at an airport (FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!!!), they should be punished along with those that allowed it to happen. I don't disagree with you in what you're saying there, but not holding people responsible for their actions, even if their a dumb kid, leads to some of this at least. I'm and not saying that people DON'T abuse situations like this and speed zones (they do). You're right about it being a lucky thing. Using velvet ropes to close off a restricted area. Send the jackass home after a hefty fine and reparations to the airport for damages is all I'm saying. And don't get me started about the guard leaving his post and what he should have to face!

152 whoops: their = they're

153 Uh, G, Margaret Sanger was pro-abortion.  Margaret Sanger founded Planned Parenthood.  She was also a eugenicist and appointed Lothrop Stoddard as a board member of the Birth Control League (the forerunner of Planned Parenthood).  Stoddard was a Nazi admirer and met personally with Hitler.

You don't know what fascism actually means, do you?

154 So, this is America today. Nobody is going to jail, face a heavy fine, or lose their job.. Perfect.  Just as Obama wants it! Two jobs that he can claimed as saved!

155 I'm not advocating giving the kid a big sloppy kiss and his own reality show. He should face legal penalties.

I'm not worried about a kid like this, I'm worried about what amounts to having Barney Fife patrol East LA on a Saturday night, and now they know he keeps his only bullet in his shirt pocket.

156 I'm gonna nip this terrorism in the bud!

157 Citizen's arrest! Citizen's arrest!

158 kbdabear: and that's fair, and I wholeheartedly agree with you in that. It shouldn't have happened at all, either way, but since it did, both must be held accountable for their actions. My gripe was with the perception that he did it BECAUSE the guard left his post and that he should be allowed some regard for that. He shouldn't. Swing 'em both, I say. It's a very bad example, and shows an incredible weakness in our "security". But such that we learn from it, and it must not happen again. That it happened in the first place is a failure of both the dope's moral behavior, lack of regard of all others, and selfishness, and the security of an airport, which is LEGION. It would be much better suffer both, the dope AND the guard, with severe penalties and show the world that, when there are failures, we'll deal with both, as we should.

159 "So you want to remind me who the real fascists are again ?"

Cons are.

Anti Abortion.
Anti Drugs.
Anti Sex.
Anti Many More.
Posted by: G

Crap. I wasted all that time obtaining a degree in Political Science and History, and I could have gotten the definition of fascism right here. Or is this idiot describing the Shakers?

160 O/T:  Funny, John Batchelor has a guest on and they are discussing the incidence of melamine in the milk and the fact that the government knew about the melamine for twelve months and said nothing.  But the funny part is, the guest said "and after that they promised they would be more transparent" and I merphed my coffee.   Now, where have I heard that before?  lol

Also, had no idea they don't care about food safety nor did I know that they send  food here, to us.  No wonder BO was talking about food safety, does he think it is just a matter of time before our Chinese food imports somehow bit the FDA in the butt?  (don't forget the chinese tooth paste, the problem with the blood thinning drug and today I learned that they substituted cadnium in the toys cause they were caught putting in lead and cadnium is apparently more toxic than lead....so where is the outrage and announcement from the administration?

161 if  the guy is going for his PHD in English lit,  then ok, he's a romantic.  But, if he's going for his PHD in say quantum phyrics or materials science or chemistry or biology with a concentration in public health....Then I'd say they need to have a really good look at him and really get to know him well before they decide he was a romantic who got carried away.

162 So how many other anti-social whack jobs -- ELF, Black Bloc, Westboro Baptists, PETA, NoI, Stormfront, etc are going to figure $500 is worth the chaos and start sending romantic runners through the wire.

163 A glass wall with a door and a security desk against the glass wall adjacent to the door with more than one person stationed there would go a long way to staving off future romeo's and not be an expensive proposition.  But then again, guess that is too simple a solution.

164 #83 Thank you lou, we will be looking for Mr. West in the future.

165 Kudos for publishing the most complete information you can find.  Keep it up. 

166

Year after year we spend looking at the guard towers, walls, electric fences, salley ports, armed guards, razor wire, and cells that keep us locked up.

And all the stupid fucks ever needed was a TSA employee armed with a stinking badge and a velvet rope.

...face palm...

167 Lets for a moment take a possible scenario of 20-25 armed terrorists who decided to do a Bombay (Mumbai India) type thing and invade this very same airport. Trained in wherever country you want to pick. How much damage could they do to a major airport before they were all captured, read their rights,, And politely carted off to jail.  At least the Indians killed most of theirs

"No Russian"
Spoiler warning if nobody's played Modern Warfare 2 and wants to.

Also, I'm honestly surprised there's not been more of a fuss raised about that mission than there has been; especially given recent events...

168

"The bottom line is, the ordinary people that work for the government are no worse or no better than anybody. "

That, sirrah, is pure horseshit.  ANYONE who works for an organization where they cannot be fired, or even be effectively punished, effectively has a sinecure.   They behave accordingly.   Sloppy, inefficient, and a what-the-frack attitude.

What's the phrase?  "Good enough for government work".

QED

169 Having worked with, hired, and fired more than my share of Chinese Phd graduates, let me add one additional point. These people are generally (a) well connected in China which allows them to go to good schools in China and then study overseas, (2) Not part of the former academic elite, since Mao sent them all to the country to be murdered by the peasants, (3) Generally are unable to effectively operate simple western technology such as coffee maker, multi line telephone, copy machine, etc. (4) Seem to think being a foreigner gives them a special exemption from rules, (5) Spend most of their spare time editing Wikipedia to correct historical "inaccuracies" which neglect China as the source of all technology (6) Overall very nice people but when you read about the Chinese melting down their farming tools to make scrap iron under Mao and then starving to death you kind of think: "yeah, i can see it."

170

I am a freqeunt flyer and I'm amazed at the inconsistency of TSA. What is OK in hand luggage one time gets confiscated the next time.

After 9-11 I was determined not to let terrorists change my flying habits but after the latest incident I am more hesitant. I have a pleasure trip planned to NYC and I may change my plans and stay here in TX. So much for tourism.

171 davieb

One would assume that a security system for an airport would be designed to protect against more serious threats than lovesick Chinese grad students.  One would further assume that the normal operation of a serious airport security system would prevent lovesick Chinese grad students from entering the secure area without having a ticket and without being screened.

Mr.Jiang has done us the enormous favor of demonstrating that we do not have a serious airport security system, at least at Newark Airport.  My guess is that growing up in a repressive police state has given Mr.Jiang the ability to distinguish real security from security theater.

While he should certainly pay his $500 fine, Mr.Jiang's only error was in not shutting down Newark Airport to prove his devotion on Valentine's Day.  If his girlfriend is not sufficiently moved by Mr.Jiang inconveniencing thousands of people and causing the rescheduling of dozens of flights that she will now let him do her in the squeak hole, she must have a heart of stone.

172 Why are security issues like exits and cameras left to individual airports? Rather than have TSA depend on whatever level of security the airport would like to provide, TSA should establish the required security features required and then enforce and manage it.

173

Anyone who is frequently chosen for extra screening, such as myself, is intimately familiar with the holes in security that surface during the initial embarcation screening.  I waited in line for a half hour at Hartsfield along with a about five other Republicans for the TSA agent to validate an older gentleman's doctor's release covering his replacement hip.  The additional screening took place in an honest-to-dog janitor's closet where you had to duck under the coathanger pole while pulling clothing up and down in line with the TSA agent's whims. 

After standing for about 20 minutes, two businessmen looked at each other and mosied out of line and up the concourse.  There were TSA agents stumbling all over themselves but not a one noticed the breach.  I could have snitched them out but felt certain using common-sense profiling that they were indeed middle-class businessmen just trying to earn a living.  I told the TSA agent who pulled me out of line that it was clear they were profiling Republicans.  Her IQ was such that the joke remained squarely on me.  Ultimately, my underwires and belt buckle were found to be of non-terrorist provenance.

174 What means of about point 183 ? cheap newport cigarette , newport cigarettes cheap paypal , marlboro red packs