Air Travel: Who's Keeping an Eye on Her? (She's a DU'er!)

[rainbow4321]

http://www.registerguard.com/news/2005/01/06/d1.cr.watchlists.0106.html

Every time she flies, the 51-year-old Creswell grandmother gets pulled aside, searched and patted down ``thoroughly'' - too thoroughly, she says - by Transportation Security Administration agents.

The last straw came when she took her 9-year-old grandson to Eugene Airport on Sunday so he could fly back alone to his home in Reno, Nev. Airport screeners were going to search McLaughlin, until they realized she wasn't flying. So they searched her grandson instead.
They had him take off his shoes, his belt, his coat. They searched his backpack and his lunch box. They looked inside his sandwich, McLaughlin said.

McLaughlin's name may well be on a government list, said David Fidanque, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union in Oregon. But, he said, "There's no way to know unless the TSA is willing to tell her or you something they're not willing to tell anyone else. All of this has been completely shrouded in secrecy."


McLaughlin said she's not shy about writing to the government and members of Congress, and she's a member of the "Democratic Underground," a Web site dedicated to political commentary and satire. And that may explain why she could have ended up on the list.

[pinniped]

1. Baby-bombs and sandwich-bombs. Those have been around for ages.

.

[thoughtanarchist]

41. I thought they were called torpedos...

well, steak bombs I guess.

A hoagie can't be considered dangerous but anything on baguette can get pretty risky.

Seriously though this is scary, outrageous bullshit.

[NYC]

51. Who wants to eat food after they have touched it?

I wouldn't.

[pinniped]

62. LOL!...don't order a torpedo at any airport food joint or you will end...

up in Gitmo and on the nightly news. Or on the nightly news and then Gitmo.

[stevedeshazer]

2. I'm sure glad we're so secure now

She looks pretty suspicious.

[DRoseDARs]

4. The glasses act as dishes so she can send and receive messages...

...with al Qaeda for instructions and reports on her progess.

[DS1]

6. The real danger is her boring a hole through the airframe by magnifying

her sunglasses with the sun :eyes:

[ckramer]

24. Hand search the bra! something is in there!

[damntexdem]

36. "It's something we don't generally talk about because of the secure nature

... of it."

Yeah, right: Only the people who are on it suspect that they're on it, and post their suspicions on the Net. Not so secure, huh?

Now, if they really wanted to keep it secure, here's what they could do: not use it at all. That way, no one would suspect that they were on it, so it would remain secure.

;-)

[MADem]

81. What a lovely woman!

This is really getting absurd....either that, or some poor bastard down in Cuba told a HUGE lie about hypnotizing grandmas to make them stop water boarding them...!

[RobertSeattle]

3. What a waste of time

My wife for some reason gets extra checks, but only when flying UsAir - go figure.

[Cheswick2.0]

43. my younger son gets checked every single time he flys

because he is slightly semetic looking from some jewish ancestors. His brand of semetic looking means darker skin and sememtic or arab looking features. He is very handsome and he looks like he should be playing soccer for the Pakistani olympic team or something.
It's pretty funny since he comes from a very blond blue eyed and freakled pasty white skinned family.

[stevedeshazer]

5. One more graf from the article

McLaughlin, who uses a cane or a wheelchair to get around, is convinced her name is on a government "watch list," though the government won't confirm it. She doesn't know why her name would be on the list. She just knows she wants off it.

--------------------------------------------------------------------
:wtf:

[DRoseDARs]

8. Where's the graf? Some days she can walk, some days a wheelchar is better

My mom uses a cane, but chooses to remain in bed on bad days instead of using a wheelchair.

[stevedeshazer]

45. Short for paragraph

Sorry about your mom, but I don't understand what you are posting about.

A little help, please?

[DRoseDARs]

53. Ddn't undrstnd "graf"; thought u meant gaffe. The bolding didn't help me.

Ce la vie.

[Emillereid]

7. I'm always denied a boarding pass and the supervisor has to be called

for a little extra scrutiny because as one of the said: "It's for security." and my luggage is pulled aside, "in case there's a bomb in it." I'm a middle aged, nutritionist who lives in the suburbs -- but I do have a lot of crazy ideas about real democracy and justice and such!

"And if my thought-dreams could be seen
They'd probably put my head in a guillotine."

[DRoseDARs]

9. I've just notified the FBI of your presence here, you terrorist.

[SheilaT]

10. Speaking as a former

airline employee, as well as someone who travels by air several times a year, I want to add that often no common sense is being used in these searches. A nine year old? A middle-aged woman who needs a cane or a wheelchair? And how many times have I seen elderly nuns being subject to thorough searches.

Whenever I complain, I hear the crap about "You never know who might be a terrorist these days" or equal bullshit about how there hasn't been another hijacking since that fateful day in 2001. Well, I'm not remotely convinced the lack of new hijackings is from improved security. Especially since every six months or so there's another piece in the news about someone getting some kind of weapon past security.

Oh. And the times they evacuate an entire terminal because of some trivial slip-up with security.

I do fly less often than I might because I cannot tolerate this nonsense. I've been known to drive halfway across the country rather than put up with it.

[Bouncy Ball]

37. I said the same things to a freeper

and he said "You think the Muslim radicalists are afraid of using a baby or an old lady as a walking bomb???"

What a horrible place we have come to when we are jumping at our own shadows.

I swear they get off on fear.

[kclown]

44. Monty Python did this in a sketch 30 years ago

The vicar gets manhandled while guys in camo carrying machine guns walk past.

[AndyTiedye]

47. Amtrak Is Nice

much nice than flying. I always take it for shorter trips.

On my last plane trip, I discovered that DELTA stands for

Don't
Expect
Luggage
To
Arrive

[flygal]

60. I had my 3 year old and was 8 months pregnant

and "randomly" picked out for further questions. I think it was because they wanted to proove to others that they were not being "racist". I didn't mind, it got me away from my mother-in-law for a precious few minutes :)

[The White Tree]

71. I would postulate that it is very likely that

there have been no hijacking attempts because of the severe unlikelihood of their success due to the American peoples heightened awareness of the implications of terrorists hijacking a plane they are on.

In the few times that I have flown since 9/11 I still find myself mentally preparing for the event of a high-jacking on the plane I am on, going so far as to make sure I always have my camera handy because it is a heavy object on the end of a strong strap that could conceivable used as a weapon if needed.

I believe these terrorists understand this, particularly with what occurred on Flight 93. They realize they could not subdue a whole plane full of people, not to mention the pilots, who thought they were about to die.

Taking down a few hundred people on a plane is not their intention. Making a bold statement by killing thousands in a spectacular way is. Since the chances of success in doing this are very small, it is doubtful they would try it again without some way to ensure success. That is not to say they aren't planning to try them but just that anything they do would likely have a longterm feasibility and planning faze.

So I believe you are right, what they are saying about there not being any terrorist attacks is a load of BS and I am sure someone knows it.

[amazona]

74. no hijack attempts?

I think you are wrong because I distinctly remember two planes being hijacked on the same day in 2004 and both planes going down with all hands. I'm sure the name of the flights can be quickly googled. It happened in Russia or the Ukraine and was widely reported.

The terrorists who brought down those planes were female and they didn't bother to fly into any buildings. They just blew up the planes, and there was plenty of grief and terror caused to the families destroyed just the same.

Every hijacking and explosion doesn't have to be a mega-event like Sept. 11 to cause grief and terror.

I am a very frequent flyer and I do not kid myself that the untrained pax on the flight with me are capable of stopping a hijacking or a bombing. Even if you believe the fairy tale of UA93 about the pax crashing the plane early, no passenger walked away alive from that event. You don't need another 911 to destroy and disrupt the travel industry or the airline industry. Regular "conventional" bombings and hijackings will just do as well.

I'm truly sorry if it inconveniences someone to have their luggage and shoes searched, just I expect my luggage and shoes to be searched, and to be patted down, just as I have been patted down...but I am more interested in getting there and back alive than in creating huge gaping truck-sized holes in airport security.

I realize most people play the odds and they figure THEIR flight won't be the one attacked. But I would never dream of asking someone else's flight to get blown up to save me a few minutes of check-in at the airport. It just doesn't seem quite fair or in proportion.

I support getting rid of unfair "no fly" lists that accomplish nothing. If you are going to search everyone named David Nelson or Ed Kennedy, hell with it, hire enough people and just search EVERYONE. Fair is fair. Don't pick and choose favorites. But I sure can't get behind a movement to weaken airport security. We need to plug holes, not drill new ones.

[The_Casual_Observer]

11. Senseless overreaction closing the barn door bullshit

The whole fucking place has gone nuts. Honest to god, bothering a middle aged lady and a boy with shit like this is way out of line. The fact is the stupid fucks didn't do anything they should have to prevent 9/11 so to make us lose site of that fact they make us believe that it is somehow our fault and punish everybody with this unbelievable phony search shit.
I would be happy if I never had to fly another god damn commercial plane again.

[arcos]

12. She's a DUer... who is she?

"McLaughlin said she's not shy about writing to the government and members of Congress, and she's a member of the "Democratic Underground," a Web site dedicated to political commentary and satire. And that may explain why she could have ended up on the list. "

[rainbow4321]

13. Just edited my original subject head to add she's a DU'er n/t

[prolesunited]

15. What's her screen name

We certainly want to congratulate her on her success in becoming a threat to society.

[rainbow4321]

16. I have no idea....

I just found the article...no mention of her SN... Maybe she will see this in LBN??

[Bouncy Ball]

38. If I were her, I wouldn't identify myself here

because her real name is already in the article.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

58. Why would she tell you or anyone else on this board? Use your head.

[arcos]

61. jeez, I was just wondering...

no need to be so agressive...

[IA_Seth]

94. LOL

Geez man, get it together! I can't believe you would even ask such a thing!

just kiddin...I thought it funny the response you got from that.

[rooboy]

14. Logic therefore dictates that Al Qaeda terrorists would register...

and participate on the Free Republic message boards to evade detection by the TSA.

[goforit]

17. Bull crap!!!.....everyone gets searched!!!

Thankyou registeredguard..........
NOT!!!

[Cha]

18. They better get their damn priorities

Straight! They don't have time to be checking the same grandmother every single time she flies.

Democrats are the ones building bombs...it's the fundamentalists stupid!

[central scrutinizer]

19. the last time I flew

I was singled out for a complete search EVERY FUCKING TIME - two times going and twice coming back since I had to change planes each way. I asked them why I was chosen and they said it was random. They even searched the luggage I was checking through before they would allow it onto the belt. This was my revenge - I was returning from a 10 day backpacking trip in the Grand Canyon and my sweat-encrusted, mildewing clothes would have gagged a maggot.

[tyne]

20. I'm on the list

And, I've only posted here a handful of times....

My real name is VERY common. This past summer while trying to board, I found out my name is on the TSA watch list. They explained that it was because my name, age, build, etc., are very close to a person that they have on file. It took almost an hour to clear it up.

In Dec, I tried to fly again. The same thing happened. They gave me the number of TSA so I could go through the steps required to clear my name....I did so.

Last week I received a notice stating:

"We are pleased to report that upon further review of the information you provided, we have determined that the delays you have encountered do not result from being mistaken for an individual on a TSA watch list. We apologize for any confusion that may have resulted from our previous communication with you.
Furthermore, while TSA could not determine the reasons why you have encountered unsual delays at airport ticket counters, we are working with airlines to streamline...blah blah blah."

They go on to say that I am required to provide 3 pieces of notorized identification papers...one includes MY VOTER IDENTIFICATION CARD.

Tyne

[mainer]

26. THREE PIECES of ID?

What if we only have two? And people in Maine don't get voter ID cards -- at least, I never did, and I've been voting here for 15 years.

[LizW]

29. I've never had a voter ID card

and I've been registered to vote since 1976.

[MADem]

82. ME NEITHER!!!

And I've been registered even longer than you!!

[area51]

46. Welcome.

Welcome to DU, tyne.


"Prosperity is just around the corner." -- Herbert Hoover
"The economy has turned a corner." -- GW Bush

Herbert Hoover = GW Bush

Neither man cared about the Depression their economic policies created.

[NYC]

55. Voter identification card?

New York doesn't require voter identification cards.

Welcome to DU. :hi:

[genieroze]

21. Load up your bag with dirty underwear, lol eom

[Ilsa]

27. Heh heh heh.

Same deal with my husband, and he's in an office. But I still wouldn't want to handle his scivvies after a two week trip out of town. They can get pretty rank.

BTW, I've never been backpacking longer than 5 days. Is ten a hardship?

[central scrutinizer]

76. carrying enough food is the issue if you can't resupply

Our packs were brutally heavy at the beginning, but the Grand Canyon is an upside down mountain, so you begin by walking down for a couple of days. Then at the end, you have eaten all of your food so your pack is lighter for the hike back up to the rim. Water is always an issue there too and every day is planned around water availability.

[tblue37]

54. Once last year Al Gore was searched

three or four different times when changing planes for a single trip. I doubt that was an accident.

[Demonaut]

22. I fly to the UK on Sunday, I'll let you know if I get searched

I've been here over a year but a rarely write to politicians

[mainer]

25. I'm flying to the UK next Saturday -- ditto!

I always get pulled over and searched. But it's generally because I fly on one-way tickets. I think.

[Sparky McGruff]

95. What's with the one-way ticket thing?

I've never understood the focus on one way tickets. What on earth makes the TSA think that a terrorist couldn't pony up the extra $100 for a round-trip ticket? Are they that cheap, that despite years of planning, they won't shell out a few extra bucks for a return-trip leg that they aren't going to use? Heck, they aren't going to finish the one-way trip, either.

On another note; this year was the first holiday that we haven't gotten extra-special "loving" because of a one-way ticket thing. We do a multiple-hop trip (to see all the relatives) and they consider each hop a one-way trip. Guess I haven't posted anything too inflamatory lately...

[amazona]

96. one way tickets are more expensive, sometimes a LOT more

Therefore they are often used by drug traffickers and money launderers, whereas a normal person might just buy a round-trip ticket and throw away the return. (And yeah, I know the airline doesn't like it if you do that too much. But they'll let it slide if it's a once-in-awhile thing.)

The presumption is that terrorists are well-funded and not so concerned with the wise use of their travel dollar.

I don't think it is a bad presumption, but it is annoying when business or personal travel requires you to take a one-way flight and you become subject to a closer inspection.

[amazona]

23. a link of help for people on the no-fly list

This is for people on the No-Fly list who can't give up flying, they have to work, or their families live far away, or whatever. None of these techniques are guaranteed to work but they might help. It is a long thread and a slow bulletin board, so "dial-up warning" might be needed:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=383974&highlight=no-fly+list

Hope it helps.

[sarcasmo]

28. Are all of us here on DU now on the watch list?

I find this a little scary, are all of us here at DU now on the government watch list? Does anyone know how to find out if your name is on the list or do you just find out when they tell you that you can't fly. ImM getting closer and closer to moving to Canada.

[Corgigal]

30. I was searched and I wasn't flying either

I was escorting my son to his gate. Never boarding the plane at all but I got the full treatment. I thought this was odd and questioned why did I give PETA 10 bucks once. Now I know, its from DU. I thought we were just cranky citizens, not terrorist.

[phylny]

33. I wasn't searched, but my baggage was

going and coming from a trip in November.

My daughter's baggage was too, coming home from college.

I should save the lovely notices, I suppose ;)

[Piperay]

31. That's the kind of CRAP

that makes me avoid flying at all costs. x(

[LibDemAlways]

32. Last summer in Seattle I observed

a hunched over woman in a wheelchair who looked at least 90 hoisted out of the chair and divested of her shoes by the smarmy TSA people. When I mentioned this episode to a group of suburban moms, one said "How did they know she wasn't a terrorist?" I swear to God, if people are that stupid, there's no hope.

[Bouncy Ball]

40. They get off on fear

and the Muslim boogey man. I swear they do.

I know people like that. It's like they ENJOY being afraid.

[LiberalFighter]

88. Too bad you didn't get their names...

and report them as possible terrorists.

[damntexdem]

34. I haven't experienced such things yet.

But I hope we'll post anytime any of us do experience such things.

[bonito]

35. I' m on the list too!

Don't know why, but check out this site. the practical nomad blog. its the best info I've been able to gather to date on the subject.

[calimary]

86. How do you know you're on the list?

[NNN0LHI]

39. I have a good friend who is as non-political as they come. Too busy for it

He flies several times a week. He gets the full treatment every single time. Not the cavity search. But he gets everything else. He complained and has basically been told that once your name gets on "the list" there really isn't much that can be done to fix that. Even if the name on "the list" is not actually you, or even exactly the same as yours either. It don't make no difference. It is like you are marked for life.

Don

[bonito]

49. It is you!

Make no mistake, You are flagged, Not your name, tech is way beyond that for sure, no doubt!

[NNN0LHI]

57. Wow. Do "they" have the capability to look into the future too?

This guys on "the list" problems began long before I knew him. If the tech is that good all I can say they are damn good. Almost like Men In Black stuff. Woo, woo. :P

Don

[insane_cratic_gal]

42. Fablous my last name as well

LOL and i'm a DU'er

guess I won't be flying anywhere anytime soon. I hate flying anyway always have

[PartyPooper]

48. I just renewed my passport, and I was very afraid they would not!

This country is so f*cked up nowadays. Any dissent is branded as being a traitor or Anti-American. We're not Anti-American we're anti-fascism!

Thank you, George W. Bu$h and John A$$KROFT!

What a bunch of a@@holes!

:grr:

[MADem]

50. Every damn time I fly

I get the FULL TREATMENT. Every. single. time!!!

And I fly fairly often. They always tell me it is random, but 100% is NOT random.

Geez, maybe they ARE singling us out...could it be they fear us??

[blondeatlast]

68. My luggage is searched EVERY time.

I've only flown Southwest and America West Airlines since 9/11.

[MADem]

80. I've given up on luggage, now

After the first dozen or two fiascos, with the "full treatment" I figured it out (DOH!!!)-- Ted Kennedy and I ended up on the same list! Too bad I wasn't a sitting Senator, maybe I could get off it. Now, if I need anything, I ship it ahead, but mostly, I go to the same places and I leave bags of clothing and whatnot behind for my use when I am there. I may not always be in the height of fashion, but at least it's one less thing to have to endure. I am especially careful not to wear ANY metal, not even a zipper or a snap, and I wear cloth or plastic slip off shoes, no socks, even in the dead of winter. If I CAN drive, I DO--the airlines have lost a lot of business from me because of the way I have been pushed, shoved and pawed.

I make it a point to declare LOUDLY (though not aggressively, but I ensure that everyone in the vincinity can hear me) that this is not random, that I have a drawer full of ticket stubs with the dreaded red "S" emblazoned on them, after I ask (as I do EVERY time) WHY they are searching me. One of these days I will get a truthful answer, but it has not happened yet. I find it amazing that people who have served for decades in the military are suddenly declared enemies of the state--I make it a point to mention this to my fellow travellers as well, which causes them some consternation, even in the red states. This is how we treat our career vets? This is one fucked up country!

[American Tragedy]

52. Oh boy, if she's on it, there's a good chance I'm on it

I'm an obnoxious political junkie in my own right. I was on local television & newspapers a little while ago when I confronted Alberto Gonzales in person about civil liberties. If someone were to search my real name on Google, they can easily find it.

I don't know, it seems pretty inconsequential to me. I just can't believe they would care about things like that.

[RandomKoolzip]

56. I've flown twice since joining DU, and searched only on

the return trip the first time. Really don't give a shit, I've got nothing to hide, and they warned us this was gonna happen after 9/11.

My only complaint is that I wish they'd search a freeper or some other such buzz-cutted RW football-player-shaped conservo-fascist dickwad with an American flag shirt on sometime instead of me.....they're the ones with the stockpiles of arms and ammunition at home, and they're the ones who usually have the Jodie Foster/Pantera-guitarist fixations.

The most dangerous thing I'd ever carry on a plane is Nyquil. That shit will PARALYZE you, Jack!




So....who's the DUer in question? I wish she'd post on this thread......

[shiina]

59. Are we dedicated to satire??

[stanwyck]

70. apparently

I'm dedicated and unaware of it.

[lazarus]

63. The solution is simple, folks

Every one of us, every time we fly, should do everything possible to force them to search us.

I, for instance, refuse to take off my shoes. I'm disabled, it's a pain (literally), and it's stupid. I have to take off my shoes because some incompetent tried to use a shoe bomb? What's next? Eventually we all fly nude, hermetically sealed in pods?

Bullshit. The system is designed to search a small percentage of us. Break the goddamned system. Flood it. Overflow it. Bring it down.

[Turley]

64. Well that's clever

That'll make terrorists work a lot easier if Americans just screw up their own security. Great idea.

[lazarus]

84. you honestly believe

that our "airport security" has done anything to stop terrorism?

[Flammable Materials]

65. I'm flying to Amsterdam in six weeks.

I've been writing in political blogs for the past four years, and I've been a regular contributor here. I'll let you know if I encounter any problems.

[calimary]

89. I'm intrigued. Where should we look? GD?

I'd like to hear. Not that I myself am flying anywhere, anytime soon. But I do post here quite frequently.

[LiberalFighter]

92. Wear dirty underwear and anything else that will discourage

them from searching.

[cap]

66. if ANYONE could be a terrorist...

someone is not doing their jobs and wasting a lot of time and money.

Police dont go around saying ANYONE could be a criminal and try to search the whole population. They have mechanisms for targeting suspects.

[wabeewoman]

79. Exactly! Which makes it all the more

scary. My guess is they don't have a clue or else they are into the power trip of searching people. Maybe a bit of both. You should be able to get a background check and be 'bonded' for flying. IMHO its the same ole overreaction common these days probably to remind us to be very afraid.

[blondeatlast]

87. Good point.

Why doesn't the gov't learn from the cops in the streets?

God knows they have their faults, but they are better at this than the "experts."

[llmart]

67. Well, now I'm jealous.....

I've been a DU'er for quite some time, am very outspoken about my political beliefs, am constantly writing/emailing political people and visit lots of progressive site and I fly about 4 times a year and haven't been searched (yet). I do like the other DU'er does who said I force them to tell me to do something such as take off my shoes. I will not voluntarily do these things until they tell me I have to and I take my sweet ole' time doing them too.

Well, I love to be a pain in the ass and challenge authority. It's fun! I'm a 55-year old woman and I have "attitude."

[ImpeachBush]

69. I frequently get pulled for baggage searches, etc.

But I have attributed that to the fact that I often do last "minute" bookings (booking less than 2 weeks before I fly), and sometimes do one-way travel (when I'm catching a land ride with a friend on the return trip). One time my partner and I got "special" treatment when our flight was cancelled (weather related) and we were moved to another airlines and re-routed through a different connecting city. That was a very big deal, because this TSA employee did the same thing to her Mickey-D breafast sandwich - took it apart with his gloved hands and inpected each item. My friend told them they could just throw that sandwich away after they mauled it, and they said, "NO, you can throw it away". An argument ensued about who should throw it away. I have to hand it to the inspector, because he never raised his voice or lost his temper during this encounter (he was still was a jerk, though). Who wants to eat a sandwich after this guys handles it with the same gloves he used on the preceding individual?

[KansDem]

77. "An argument ensued about who should throw it away"

If this should happen to me, I would politely remind them that in our house we have a rule (I have a 12-year old daughter and 6-year old son): "you take the food you touch."

Of course this "rule" is used to keep "little fingers" from inappropriately touching the food at (informal) dinner time. Apparently, it could be just as successfully applied to air-port screeners...

[LiberalFighter]

93. Why don't we collect the names of these TSA employees?

[bobthedrummer]

72. Fascists kill off their intelligensia real quick, others employ them

there are a few that are evil DUers too. She's being monitored, and there isn't a real reason to degrade the youngster except as an abuse of power.

[librechik]

73. I flew into Washington DC at Dulles in Dec, and nothing happened

to me--Sure hope we aren't being targeted because of our political activities!

[amazona]

75. I fly frequently

Although I was frequently searched for awhile I doubt it was because of my political activities. It might have just been a run of bad luck, who knows.

My partner has only been searched on one-way tickets.

[shanti]

85. i was also searched on a one-way ticket

when i picked up my new van in l.a. coming from sacramento. it seems that is one of the markers...that, and short notice tickets.

[Earth_First]

78. If you are a JetBlue passanger...

you can assure yourself that you are on the TSA list.

[Shakespeare]

97. Why?? n/t

[Old Mouse]

83. for now, it's government harassment

but soon it's Club Gitmo for the lot of us, with complementary Freedom Massage from honorable Alberto Gonzales.

What ya got in that there samwich, kid?

[chomskysright]

90. Get the badget number and name of the searcheee.......

[chomskysright]

91. whoops.....searcher, that is....