Cancer surviving flight attendant forced to remove prosthetic breast during pat-down

[Richard D]

Source: WBTV.com

A Charlotte-area flight attendant and cancer survivor contacted WBTV after she says she was forced to show her prosthetic breast during a pat-down.

Cathy Bossi lives in south Charlotte and has been a flight attendant for the past 32 years, working the past 28 for U.S. Airways.


In early August Bossie was walking through security when she says she was asked to go through the new full body-scanners at Concourse "D" at Charlotte Douglas International.

She reluctantly agreed. As a 3-year breast cancer survivor she says she didn't want the added radiation through her body. But, Bossi says she did agree.

"The T.S.A. Agent told me to put my I.D. on my back," she said. "When I got out of there she said because my I.D. was on my back, I had to go to a personal screening area."

Read more: http://www.wbtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=13534628

---

This shit has to be stopped.

[liberal N proud]

1. WTF

:wtf:

[activa8tr]

22. I was going to say the SAME THING ... does the TSA actually think

Airline flight attendants who are verified survivors, (which could easily be verified by employer) ....does the TSA think they will be the next underpants bomber??? REALLY!

[Name removed]

173. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[boppers]

187. A right wing conspiracy site on DU?

Well, welcome, but be advised that right-wing kook sites tend to leave some here with a bad taste.

[Aaria]

190. Kook site or not, the news needs to get out, and when googled the same story in many places.

[Warpy]

2. This is utterly ridiculous. Bombers with explosives on their persons

have been deterred by alert fellow passengers, which is the first line of defense. No amount of patting down will turn up some idiot with a pack of explosives surgically implanted, for instance, which is likely the next step. However, an alert fellow passenger will see him try to light a fuse or inject reagents into his person.

This hazing has got to stop. It's humiliating and useless.

[Ruperto31]

38. The next step is body cavity searches for selected passengers.

After the pat-down. If they don't like you.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

50. Or if they think they can humiliate you. It's all dependent on the individual screener.

[Javaman]

65. if the TSA was smart they would promote it as a free prostate exam for men...

just more of my sardonic humor.

We live in sad times.

[Celtic Merlin]

146. "Selected Passengers"??? Screw that ! I say cavity searches for EVERYBODY ! ! !

Hell, don't leave out the kids either!

After that - the MRI's. For EVERYBODY!

Submit! Submit to your government! Be a bunch of good little Stepford Citizens and voluntarily relinquish your constitutional rights to the TSA. DO IT, YOU WIMPS! The Fourth Amendment will be rendered that much more toothless each time another citizen submits to the electronic strip-search and/or the pornographic pat-down.

They'll grab my junk only after they've obtained a warrant "particularly describing the place to be searched" as my crotch.

But you folks go ahead and fly somewhere and put yourselves through this illegal process. While these procedures are in place, I'll be in my car - with my constitutional rights INTACT.

Celtic Merlin
Carlinist

[Esscena]

160. This might just be the beginning

It may spread everywhere large groups gather.

[Celtic Merlin]

179. Ick! [n/t]

[SnakeEyes]

86. It was deterred by fellow passengers

only because it didn't detonate properly.

[Justitia]

3. OMG! I checked, TSA policy says they must be allowed to SEE it & TOUCH it - wow!

Security Officers will need to see and touch your prosthetic device, cast or support brace as part of the screening process.

Seriously, seriously over the line

:mad:

[CountAllVotes]

90. something that occurred to me re: this whole mess

Some women use rings that are kept in place inside of themselves for birth control and also for hormone replacement.

These rings are quite large.

A scanning machine would pick one of these up no doubt.

What will women that are using these rings do? Strip down and pull the damn thing out? They aren't easy to remove and replace and they cost a lot. They are meant to stay in place (at the the hormone replacement ones that is) for 3 months.

GOD DAMN THESE BASTARDS!

What the hell next?

:grr: :mad:

[markpkessinger]

158. Not quite...

The scanners only detect what is next to the skin; they cannot
detect items inside a body cavity.  But that fact only serves
to further illustrate the futility of these machines.  If a
terrorist is committed enough to his cause that he is willing
to strap explosives to his body, does anyone seriously think
that same terrorist would hesitate for even a second about
placing the same explosives in his rectum?  After all, it
doesn't take a large amount of C4 to cause an explosion large
enough to bring down a plane. And terrorist, as we know,
generally do their homework.  Whatever procedure, technology
or policy we put into place, a determined terrorist will find
a way around it.  So we are accomplishing absolutely nothing
by way of making anyone any safer.

[sarcasmo]

118. Guess they will want to feel up the metal rod inside my right leg. No more air travel for me.

[lovuian]

120. and like seeing and touching it is going to make any difference

Incredibly intrusive and harmful searching

[sabrina 1]

144. Some very sick minds are operating in Homeland Security.

Who would even put that in writing? And according to a former chief of security from Israel, none of this will ever stop a terrorist.

But then as we all know, it isn't about stopping people from dying. We let people die needlessly in this country every day. These people could not care less about the American people, and these vile, filthy practices which amount to sexual abuse, prove it.

[TBF]

4. This screening is reprehensible - and you can bet the republicans

are going to dredge up every last disgusting story to remind the public before they vote in 2012. This kind of stuff sticks with people more than some of the others because it affects them personally. I go out of my way not to fly now, while in the 90's I flew frequently.

[daleo]

8. They will try to pin this on Obama

Though many Republicans doing so will actually be in favor of everything the TSA does.

This is an issue that isn't really left-right in my opinion. It is as likely to be opposed by right wing libertarians as left wing liberals, and as likely to be supported by authoritarian right wingers as safety at any cost left wingers.

To me it is just common sense that it has crossed the line into paranoia.

[northernlights]

11. Biden has already come out and explained why this is necessary

do you really think that was without Obama's blessing?

[Ruperto31]

41. Absolutely. This had to have Presidential approval. nt

[liberation]

79. So basically, Mr. Foot in Mouth took ownership of this...

... the Dems are worse than tone deaf. The GOP toadie Chertoff is reaping millions out of this insanity with the scanners, and the Dems volunteer to take the fall as the GOP will soon poise themselves as thee "white knights" who are here to "save us" from their own policies.

This n-dimensional chess nonsense starts to look more and more like a bad game of parcheesi...

[awoke_in_2003]

93. If Obama is against this...

why doesn't he replace the TSA chief? Or, is he incapable of that, too?

[TruthTeller]

115. exactly, nt

[femrap]

165. FEAR FEAR FEAR

Never forget about TERROR!

I'd like to know what 2 companies are manufacturing these scanners....and then see who is on the Board of Directors. That would give me some people to target my disgust toward.....these people are the ones pulling the strings of our political minions.

[LibDemAlways]

35. The guy in San Diego who uttered the now famous line

"Touch my junk and I'll have you arrested" is a registered member of the Libertarian party. I am far afield of the Libertarians on most issues, but this is common ground. The government has no business engaging in this kind of invasive search of the public. It is clearly a violation of the fourth amendment. Until the rules are changed and sanity returns, I am joining those who won't be flying.

[awoke_in_2003]

94. the bill of rights...

died with the patriot act, and our courageous democratic leaders extended it when they got the chance. Meet the new boss.

[Psephos]

42. If Obama doesn't do something about, and soon, they rightly should.

The Washington elite doesn't have to go through airport security with the cattle. They're clueless about how much loathing of government idiocy this generates.

[Alameda]

121. Actually don't you remember when Kennedy was flagged on

a no fly list?

[Psephos]

131. Yes, I do now, after you mentioned it.

However, being on a no-fly list is in the end a computer problem.

Being groped or photographed naked by a stranger is sexual assault if the stranger's not wearing a TSA badge. Remember, there is no probable cause, no allegation of criminal activity, no legal counsel, no recourse in these TSA gropes and scans. The real assault is upon our Constitutional rights.

Here's a thread worth looking at. It describes how John Boehner gets to step around security. No nakie scan, no grope. This is what I was referring to in my original post.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=4622176&mesg_id=4622176

[Alameda]

162. I'm sure you do, it's just the evolution of what was going on then..

Boy do I miss him, I'm sure he would have some choice words on the matter. RIP Ted

[Psephos]

172. Amen. n/t

[boppers]

189. No fly isn't a computer problem....

Ted Kennedy was a terrorist alias. That's the problem.

It's a biometric problem, in that we do not have a consistent way of separating out "Ted Kennedy, guy who claims to be a senator, but might be an IRA operative", and "Ted Kennedy, guy who claims to be a senator, but might be an IRA operative".

How do you verify which one is which?

[sabrina 1]

147. Napolitano has come out and demanded that we all

'know our role' in 'national security'. So, while I don't know if she consulted with Obama about exactly what is going on with this, and whether he would ever want his wife or daughters to be subjected to these vile abuses, she is his appointee, and I expected this from Republicans, Cheney/Bush/Rumsfeld and the rest of the torture gang, but from Democrats? So who do we depend on to at least try to protect us from such abuses by the government?

[Clear Blue Sky]

157. Ron Paul has been speaking out against this.

[AsahinaKimi]

5. boycott flying if possible..

If the Airlines lose money, they will complain to the TSA.

[Moostache]

13. No qualifiers needed....BOYCOT FLYING PERIOD! n/t

[CountAllVotes]

88. amen to that!

I gave up after my last "trip".

FUCK THESE BASTARDS!

:dem: :kick:

[sabrina 1]

145. Yes, that is the only way to stop these criminal abuses. Boycott

flying!

[saigon68]

182. I'm done with it---Fuck Them

[rug]

6. Amok is inadequate.

[grahamhgreen]

7. We live in a police state. NO SCANNERS NO PATDOWNS!

[TheWatcher]

9. YoooHooo! Secrity The-ater Defenders! WHEEERE AAARE YOOOU!

Come on guys, these "exceptions to the rule" in the magical Bubble of Much To Do About Nothing we so comfortably live in are skewing reality.

Get in there and straighten all of us "paranoid reactionaries" out before it's TOO LATE!

WE NEED MESSAGE CONTROL!

WE NEED PERCEPTION MANAGEMENT!

We need your best people on this right away.

For Freedom! For the Good Of the Country! For The Football Team!

FOR DER HOMELAND!

[saigon68]

180. Nazi Thugs

[RantinRavin]

10. Curious

Exactly how does one "put your ID on your back" ?

[Lars39]

33. If your ID is on a lanyard, you just swing it around so it hangs

down your back.

[nolabear]

12. colostomy bags, trusses, penile implants, prostheses, artificial eyes,

The feelings that people have around their bodies and the ways in which they have been medicaly compromised are enormous and often shame-filled. Being put on display in a non-medical, impersonal, uncontrolled setting should be a CRIME, not a requirement. And this is just the physical, obvious aspect. The most emotionally healthy among us need to have the right to say who is aware of our most private and protected selves, and violation of that right has emotional consequences.

I think about what it will be like for wounded veterans, for people who have active wounds that are bandaged and might have to be explored, perhaps painfully, for people who need assistance to move or speak or who are developmentally disabled and cannot understand what is happening to them. I think of men whose bodies respond to that intimate touch even though they don't want them to, to their potential humiliation. I think of the old and infirm and the unbearably shy, all of whom should be tenderly provided for by our society, not shocked beyond comprehension. Hell, I think of ME, a tough middle-aged, zaftig woman who won't be frightened but will damn well be enraged if someone grabs a handful of my breasts or crotch or behind. They had better practice their most obsequious, straight-faced, apologetic and tolerant demeanor because I just might not be able to resist the urge to grab back and see how they like it.

There is nothing right about this, nothing. We need to put as much effort as possible into finding another solution to a very real problem, or the terrorists have, indeed won, because we are terrified and are now doing their job for them.

[Moostache]

14. Don't forget genital piercings...I want to see the TSA agent ask to see THAT removed...

This is beyond ridiculous already. Authoritarian measures and criminal intrusions into privacy when we live in a country of "presumed innocence" is unacceptable.

[readmoreoften]

40. It's already happened. A woman was told to remove her nipple rings and given pliers.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/03/27/travel/main3976376.shtml

[Richard D]

16. I wish I could recommend your reply.

nt

[Missy Vixen]

Tough, middle-aged, zaftig women unite!

>They had better practice their most obsequious, straight-faced, apologetic and tolerant demeanor because I just might not be able to resist the urge to grab back and see how they like it.<

As another poster here has noted, it's a matter of time before a TSA agent runs afoul of a peri-menopausal woman who's experiencing heavy flow in a security line.

I can only imagine what the significantly overweight will go through as well. After all, imagine what we could be concealing.

:sarcasm:

:eyes:

[Ruperto31]

45. My finger was patted right after the last joint had been amputated.

This happened at the Honolulu Airport. The TSA guy patted the bandage with his explosive detector pad. It hurt like hell. I said, "You son of a bitch." Looking back, I guess I shouldn't have said it. They probably could have detained me further. But the TSA guy just said, "I'm just doing my job" and let me go. This happened before the new porno-cancer scanners and body feel-ups.

[intaglio]

46. One rather pleasant guy I knew had a colostomy

He always swore that he would give muggers a face full of it's contents


... Perhaps someone should do the same to at a TSA pat down :evilgrin:

[Paper Roses]

69. Funny(not really), I just thought the same thing.

If my mother was still alive, she would have given them her famous Italian reply. I know she would have been mad as hell and embarrassed. She had to have an ileostemy because of cancer. Can you imagine how she should have felt?

This is disgusting to the extreme.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

70. I have an ileostomy, (warning, possible TMI here)

it's a Koch pouch, which is like an internal balloon you drain with a catheter.

If things got to such a critical state, and they demanded to see my medical equipment or gave me a hard time about it, it wouldn't be too hard to give someone a surprise they'd never forget.

They'll wish they'd never gotten out of bed that morning.


HAAAA HAAAAAAAA !!

[Manifestor_of_Light]

116. Thanks for the information. I didn't know about internal balloons.

That sounds like it could be quite entertaining!!

On your end, anyway.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

175. heh heh!

Watch out muggers and scumbags everywhere!

:rofl:

[dhill926]

52. + a gazillion........

this is intolerable. Will be interesting to see how or if the admin deals with this. Biden's comment is not promising.....

[EmeraldCityGrl]

62. There are people that have medical pumps implanted

in their bodies. If a terrorist wanted to they could easily implant a bomb in a
suicide bomber. How does the TSA think they are going to deal with these devices?
People like this woman should only have to provide documentation from their doctor'
and not be put thru these humiliating and traumatizing pat downs.

[MedicalAdmin]

71. We can play what if all we want.

But until inplanted bombs becomes a reality, then we are just playing into their hands. Now the cargo, on the other hand is a security problem. That's where they should be focussing their efforts and money instead of porno scanners. Cargo is not sexy enough I guess.

And yes, attractive women and men are being selected for porno screenings. It doesn't matter if the screens are not in site of the person who selects. Here's how it will go.

Joe; Hey Frank - I'm on the monitor. Pick me out some young ones.
Frank: No problem Joe. As long as you get me the skinny asian ones for my shift.
Joe: Cool. I got your back.


Get the picture. They do.

[EmeraldCityGrl]

126. It's already been proven in Britain this is exactly what happens. n/t

[sabrina 1]

148. Excellent post, thank you for expressing your justifiable outrage

on behalf of the most vulnerable who are likely to be so violated, so well. Shameful isn't a good enough word for the sick mind who is responsible for this. I would not want to know such a person.

[Kolesar]

163. You're zaftig

nice comment!

[Vinca]

15. This is idiotic when you figure any terrorist can put plastic explosive

in a condom and stick it up a rectum or inside a vagina. (Here's hoping people from the TSA don't read this post. Safety theater could get a whole lot worse.)

[Ken Burch]

17. They're looking for BOOB BOMBS?

[Pacifist Patriot]

30. It's apparently the hottest accessory in the new terrorist season.

[MsPithy]

18. Unconscionable!

I thought grabbing a screaming 3 year old was as bad as this could get. Boy, was I wrong!

[SnakeEyes]

19. Sorry but...

It has to be this way. The TSA cannot begin profiling people. So long as their mission is looking for things instead of people then it has to be this way since people must be treated equally.

[Boudica the Lyoness]

21. speechless..

Fucking hell! Do some research before you make stupid comments like that.

[shanti]

23. you must be TSA

to make that kind of remark :eyes:

[DFW]

24. It is not "profiling" to exclude a 28 year veteran flight attendant from a groping examination

I fly a LOT, and plenty of it is out of European airports where there are fifty times as many "suspicious-looking"
Middle-Eastern types as there are in North America. They seem to be able to manage security just as well as we do,
and without all the offensive crap that the TSA is currently engaged in. For that matter, out of my home airport of DFW,
where most terminals do not have these scanners, there have been no incidents yet, and the TSA seems to be able to
do their job just fine without acting like guards at some Soviet Gulag. So, I have to disagree: it does NOT have to
be this way.

[SnakeEyes]

56. Yes it is.

Profiling isn't just identifying suspects based on criteria, it's also eliminating people from being potential threats based on those criteria. Excluding her would be the other half of profiling.

Same rules for all. Terrorists seem to now being using the crotch. It's invasive but it's the only way to verify someone hasn't put an item down there and then opted out of the full body scanners. And to be fair to all, everyone must be checked since we cannot profile and subject minorities groups to treatment/scrutiny that others do not get.

[DFW]

63. Even the TSA appears to disagree with you

"TSA to exempt pilots from screenings, mulls ‘G-rated’ scanners"

full story here: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2010/11/tsa-exempt-pilots-screenings/

Pilots are a start. Senior flight attendants are next.

[SnakeEyes]

77. The TSA is bowing to pressure

I'm not sure how that suggests anything regarding what is and is not profiling.

[sabrina 1]

150. How many terrorists has the TSA caught? Homeland security?

What are the odds of death by terror, do you know? What are the odds of death by lack of Health Insurance, by automobile accident, murder, drug overdose?

I'll help you out. Death by terror rates so low on the scale, that most intelligent people do not even give it a thought. All the screams of 'terra'! 'terra'! are coming from ghoulish profiteers, like Michael Chertoff and Giuliani who got into the security business, ironic beyond belief since both failed in the security department so dismally, thousands died on their combined watches. Chertoff stands to make millions from the use of these obscene machines. He thanks you for your sales pitch.

[Pacifist Patriot]

26. God I hope you're being sarcastic.

[awoke_in_2003]

96. (S)he isn't, sadly. nt

[ProudDad]

27. You forgot your smilie thingie

:sarcasm:

El Al seems to do ok without "profiling"...

They just have well trained experts question everyone...

This shit don't work and even if it did it goes WAY past the 4th Amendment protections against unnecessary search and seizure...

How many more freedoms and liberties are you willing to give up for a false sense of "security"?

[SnakeEyes]

58. El Al security does profile

Those experts know those currently most likely to be threats and take that into considering when questioning people as part of knowing what to look for.

I'm not sure how you say it doesn't work. Again, terrorists are making use of their crotch now. The only way, when someone opts out of the full body scanner, to find out if something in a passengers underwear is to feel.

[Javaman]

68. How long have you written satire?

you have a future. LOL

[liberation]

82. Sadly, I think he is being serious...

... all the authoritarian tadpoles are finally getting their wet dream, soon they will get to ask "papers please" ... for our "own security" of course. Now if they TSA did something about those uniforms, they need more starch and flair... throw insignias with some angry looking eagles and some nice shiny leather boots and booyaa! It'll be like Christmas morning for a lot of people.

[Javaman]

176. Oh I know he's serious...

I just like poking them with their own ridiculousness. :)

[Renew Deal]

32. The problem isn't discrimination. The problem is these searches shouldn't take place.

[SnakeEyes]

59. So how do you prevent

future underwear bombers if you aren't checking the pants of people who opt out of the full body scanners?

[Renew Deal]

60. The old way.

Which by the way, is the way that has prevented an underwear bombing attempt in this country.

[SnakeEyes]

80. Old ways didn't detect the underwear bomber.

and it didn't prevent an underwear bombing attempt. An underwear bombing in this country was attempted but wasn't successful. The unsuccessfulness of the attempt had nothing to do with the old way of screening.

[ProudDad]

123. The "underwear" bomber wasn't screened...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4621768#4622297

The Porno Scanners are a waste of time and money -- well, they're profitable for Chertoff's clients but for the rest of us...not so much...

They DID contribute to the GDP a little -- yeah, USAmerica... (:sarcasm: in case it's required)

[whoopingcrone]

"unsuccessfulness"?

:banghead:

[whoopingcrone]

128. "unsuccessfulness"?

:banghead:

[MedicalAdmin]

73. First show me an underwear bomber who either...

Made a plane go down or even had the ability. The "underwear" bombers bomb, when analysed was considered unable to cause and serious damage or force the plane to crash.

So you are worried about the boogie man. Oooooooooooo. I'm so scared my bunny slippers just ran for cover. Underwear. Scary.

[SnakeEyes]

84. Not true

the underwear bomber's bomb could have caused serious damage had it detonated properly. The guy had 80 grams of PETN. 50 grams can blow a hole in the side of a plane. http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/northwest-airlines-bomb-photos/story?id=9436297&page=1

[awoke_in_2003]

97. 50 grams...

directly applied to the fuselage skin would, yes. So what was he going to do? Pull down his pants and do a "pressed ham" against the fuselage? Do you think the passengers would let that happen? It must be tough living life so scared.

[CreekDog]

102. then why are they not screening for explosives on every passenger

except for the disabled ones with walkers, wheelchairs or metal inside them?

[rucognizant]

110. Fa crying out loud!

YOU HAVE FAITH! The only thing we have to fear is FEAR ITSELF.
How many people have died at the hands of terra ists, in the USA, since 9/11.
Your caution is TOTALLY BASED ON SWALLOWING WHOLE THE MYTH OF THE FALSE FLAG EVENT, 9/11!It is what THEY intended so they could gain control!

[truth2power]

125. "9/11 is what they intended..." Yes, you are correct. Furthermore..

the supposed underwear bomber was a staged event to keep the fear ramped up. A number of things don't make sense about that. For example, what about that well-dressed man who got him through security? Hmmm?

Down the memory hole....Shhh!

And while we're on the subject, I can think of a way a terrorist could get a bomb onboard, and it has to do with cargo. No, I don't have any specific knowledge. I'm just a reasonably intelligent person who is able to think outside the....umm...box, so to speak. :evilfrown:

[SnakeEyes]

185. Truthers

:rofl:

[SnakeEyes]

186. Truthers

ridiculous. :rofl:

[Devil_Fish]

113. How do you prevent an anal supository bomber who dosn't opt out of the full body scan? NT

[LynneSin]

39. I'm sorry but you're just wrong

I think the security checks we had in place were doing the trick. These extra measures are just too extreme and unnecessary.

I have no problem with limited profiling. A flight attendant who has spent 32 years in the industry should be ok for a basic pass thru the regular security checks (before this crap rolled out).

I see no problem that a person who was born in the USA and has no criminal record whatsoever to be allowed through normal security checks.

In this country I am innocent until proven guilty or buying an airline ticket. That is just WRONG.

[1monster]

48. Just wait until YOU have to go through the same procedure to get to your job... or to the grocery

store, or your children have to go through it to get into school.

Once a ball is rolling down hill, it is hard to stop it. If it is a snowball, it just keeps getting bigger and BIGGER AND
BIGGER AND

BIGGER AND

BIGGER AND

BIGGER AND

BIGGER AND....

[Hissyspit]

54. Equal anal probes for all!

[mwooldri]

61. No it does *NOT* have to be this way.

I guess our family's next flight will be "extra interesting" and we will not have even got on the plane!

No, I am not telling you why either.

[Javaman]

66. LOLOLOLOLOLOL

Dude, you so crack me up! LOLOLOL

:spray:

[awoke_in_2003]

95. Land of the free...

and home of the chickenshit cowards who condone this shit. The Constitution used to mean something. I would gladly go back to the 70's (security wise) and risk death from some damn terrorist than to be terrorised regulary by our "security" apparatus.

[DissedByBush]

129. Two people are getting on a plane

One is a frail 80 year-old black (or white or Hispanic) American lady with gray hair.

The other is a male 20-something Muslim Arab engineer from Pakistan.

You have time to search one.

Which one do you search?

[SnakeEyes]

188. Neither

Both went through the metal detectors without alarm and their luggage has been screened with nothing suspicious. Neither are on any suspicious persons lists. Neither have passport stamps that are cause for concern. Both were fine during the interview and have had no suspicious behavior or body language to warrant additional searches.

[midnight]

134. Snake eyes, don't know how you came to this opinion, but

there is a list..... "We already are being profiled".

[sabrina 1]

149. What a stupid comment. Fortunately we are not all so easily

terrified. You must be scared to death of driving on the highway. Should we all be strip-searched and probed before leaving the house in the morning? We could be carrying explosives in those automobiles which is what real terrorists do after all.

Those who would give up their freedom for security, deserve neither freedom nor security

Feel free to give up your freedoms and rights, but you have no right to give up ours.

[Boudica the Lyoness]

20. This will be stopped

More and more people will start to go mental in airports.

It really puzzles me why they started doing this in the first place. (Yes dip-shit I know about planes and bombs). Why didn't a grown up step in and say, "I think people are going to become enraged when we start talking pictures of their naked bodies and feeling their genitals and breasts".

The people responsible for this need to be held accountable and I don't care what political party they are in.

[ProudDad]

25. Start here...

Janet Napolitano -- traitor to Arizona in order to get her higher-paying job as pornographer in chief for Barack Obama's "Dept. of Fatherland Security"...

[Pacifist Patriot]

28. I'm flying on December 4. I've already made a mental plan...

if I am targeted for the scanner.

I'm hoping something is done soon and my preparations are for naught. At any rate, I have both the Orange County Sheriff's office and a lawyer's number memorized just in case.

[ProudDad]

31. EVERYONE is "targeted' for the scanner

if they have one at your airport...

And if you opt out, then you will be made an example and groped in public...

Those are our only "choices" as USAmerican citizens of the Empire...

[Pacifist Patriot]

34. Then it looks like I may find myself spending a night in the Orange County Jail.

I've prepared my family and congregation for it.

[ProudDad]

43. Be safe...

Jail's not as bad as some people make it out to be...if it's just a day or two...

Of course it depends on the jail. Orange County's probably not too bad but I wouldn't recommend Maricopa County in Arizona...

:hi:

[Pacifist Patriot]

51. The irony?

I do volunteer jail visitation as a member of the clergy. I know how awful it can be. And it can be bad!

[ProudDad]

111. Indeed it can...indeed it can... (n/t)

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

99. to the best of my knowledge there are no freedom handjobs of scanners at John Wayne yet

[Boudica the Lyoness]

37. Good Luck to you

I hope it changes. I'm not going down without a fight. I have a totally artificial ankle that sets off metal detectors. In the old days they'd just wand it but I think it'll be different the next time I fly.

[LibDemAlways]

47. Back in 2003 pins in my ankle from an old surgery set off

the metal detector in Seattle. I lifted my pant leg and showed the TSA agent the six inch scar and invited him to wand it. Instead he called over a female agent who gave me the public pat down. At the time she only went around the bottom, straps, and back of my bra and up and down my legs, but it was invasive enough. I couldn't believe the level of stupidity, especially since I had calmly explained the problem and invited both goons to wand the ankle.

If you get x-rayed, I'm 100% certain they are going to use the metal in your ankle as an excuse for a full groping. I hope the policy is changed before that happens to you.

[CreekDog]

85. yes you have metal on/in you, therefore, they check you for bombs

make sense? no, not really.

no metal on you? they usually don't check for bombs.

TSA: making sure those artificial hips aren't bombs. thank you very much.

:crazy:

[awoke_in_2003]

100. This is the same agency...

that took my bic lighter from me in Houston- but, oh if you need to light a cigarette at the next stop matches are okay. REALLY? I can light a bomb with a lighter, but I could never do such a thing with matches. Regular Einstein's these guys are- or as Bugs used to say "what a maroon". As was said upthread- body cavity searches are coming next. Some will claim I am being outrageous, but look at where we are at now.

[LibDemAlways]

143. Regular Einsteins is right. I think one of the reasons people have

such a negative reaction to this crap is they've seen the caliber of the screeners and intuitively know that these cretins couldn't spot a real threat if it bit them in the ass.

[Bette Noir]

142. I had already decided not to fly, but I'm also glad that my artificial joint

(thumb) is ceramic.

[Boudica the Lyoness]

137. Most of them seem incapable of common sense.

In 2008 my ankle didn't set off any alarms in Spokane even though it's a lot of metal. At Oklahoma City it set of the alarm on the metal detector but they were very polite to me. I think it was because I was giving them shit about stealing the Seattle Super Sonic's and they didn't want to piss me off any more, lol.

I don't fly often but will be flying in the Spring. I hope there's a policy change before then or you might be reading about me in the papers. ;-)

[Ruperto31]

49. The Brits don't have a choice. It's porno-cancer scanner or no-fly.

I can't make up my mind if this is better or worse than what we've got in the US.

[MedicalAdmin]

76. It doesn't matter if it is worse than what the US has.

What do you think about it? And why are you tolerating it (along with the CCV cams every freakin where)?

[Ruperto31]

92. Just saying. n/t

[awoke_in_2003]

101. It shouldn't be right, no matter who is doing it...

I cannot speak of your constitution, but this violates ours.

on edit: welcome to DU :hi:

[Sabriel]

124. I'd say it's worse...they live on an island

If they want to go anywhere other than Europe, they have to submit to the scanner.

[Boudica the Lyoness]

138. Only random people are picked for the rapescan.

Maybe they profile..maybe they just rape scam grannies and teenage girls. :sarcasm:

[glowing]

161. I'm a bit worried about that... or rather my husband...

I am small, but have larger assets. I can only imagine what my husband will be doing when he sees someone groping my body? I'm afraid he'll be in Gitmo at that point.

[sabrina 1]

152. Why would that surprise anyone, and who wants to

emulate that? They were after all the Bush gangs accessories to all the other crimes committed. The Brits need to start taking care of their own business over there. Maybe we can join forces with them. Looks like these New World order criminals are operating in unison around the globe. And if they can do that, so can the people.

[daleo]

177. When did that start?

I know someone who visited London in late September, he said there were no naked scanners at that time.

[tblue37]

55. Michael Chertoff and other politically connected people are making

millions of dollars on the scanners, so of course they want them used. Therefore, the pat-downs are deliberately made humiliating and punitive, so that people won't balk at going through the scanners, since the pat-downs will seem so much worse.

As always, follow the money.

Cui Bono.

[sabrina 1]

151. They knew the public would be enraged. They were stopped from

using those scanners in 2004 after a legal challenge. But little by little they've preparing the public to take more and more abuse. We all know they broke the FISA law, people screamed for a while, then a certain Senator who was completely opposed to spying on Americans, changed his mind, and on the left, the opposition voices went down to a whisper.

Now, they don't care about public outrage. They will always pull the 'terror/national security card out. Also, they may have been counting on the Left, always the loudest voices against these kind of violations, remaining quiet, now that they let us have a Dem. majority for a while and Dem in the WH.

Which is all the more reason why we should prove them wrong. It doesn't matter who is in the WH, this is wrong and needs to be stopped.

[ProudDad]

29. Don't forget to let your favorite EX-airline to know how you feel about this

And then give them this name and number for them to call:

Secretary Janet Napolitano (traitor to the People of Arizona)
Department of Homeland Security
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Washington, DC 20528

Citizen Line

* Operator Number: 202-282-8000
* Comment Line: 202-282-8495

[droidamus2]

36. Ridiculous

My significant other is on dialysis due to end stage kidney failure. On a recent trip to Las Vegas she had a temporary dialysis catheter in her chest. It is very important that these catheters be kept sterile and only be touched and used by experienced doctors or nurses. She had paperwork explaining this and she still had to argue with the security idiot that she would not allow it to be touched.

What I am really afraid of is this is just the governments way of getting us used to being poked and prodded and accepting that we don't really have any civil rights at all. After a generation or two of people putting up with this newer generations won't even realize what they have lost. Welcome to 1984 (just a few years late).

[ProudDad]

44. Actually 1984 arrived here in the Empire

in 1944...

When it was decided to implement the "Permanent War Economy(tm)" :shrug:

In order to preserve capitalism...

[MedicalAdmin]

78. +1 for reading and understanding history.

Great freakin' point.

And now that the China experiement is working out TPTB now know that democracy is definitely not needed for capitalism.

[awoke_in_2003]

103. They have been chipping away...

at rights, pay, worker protections, and education for years. We are reverting to a feudal state, slowly but surely.

[classof56]

53. A few months back I had a total knee replacement, so here's what I wonder...

would my ugly scar and the beeping scanner suffice to verify the presence of a foreign object in my body? Would I need a note from my surgeon? Would TSA want to remove my TKR to make sure something else isn't implanted in my poor tortured leg? Whatever the answers to these questions, it makes no difference--I do not intend to take to the "friendly skies" anytime soon. Or to be honest, ever. I'm a 72-year-old grandma who will not be subjected to this humiliating assault on my dignity simply to board an airplane.

Peace.

[JJW]

57. Bombshell

I've heard of a woman being a bombshell but, exploding boobs.

How many American women have been terrorists with exploding tits?

The American Stasi

[mwooldri]

67. Let me understand...

A long-time employee of an airline - part of the flight crew - was given effectively a strip search courtesy of the TSA?

At an airport considered a "hub" of the airline she works for?

Going in and out of the same security screening fairly often, most likely with the same people?

CLT is hardly the busiest airport in the world. Therefore the likelihood of this long-time employee going through the same scanners day in, day out and the chances of one of the TSA crew to at least know who the heck she is - I thought would be quite likely.

So either some individual at CLT TSA has a severe grudge against her, or they have been over-aggressive for applying the rules.

I can't rule out the former, but the latter I can't rule out either. Could be both.

This crap has to stop!

[EmeraldCityGrl]

64. This will become an election issue. Is Obama even slightly

aware of the outrage the public is expressing over this issue?

I just can't believe this is happening under the Obama Administration.
This is tyranny and we are living in a police state.

[awoke_in_2003]

105. if he is not aware...

of what agencies he has oversight on are doing then he is incompetent. If he does nothing he is complicit. We said these things about Bush, and they are still true today. TSA falls under president, and he appoints the person who heads up that agency.

[Stonepounder]

72. This is why I no longer fly

I am a lifetime American Airlines Platinum card holder, which
means I have flown over 2,000,000 on American.  I have told my
wife and my employer that I will no longer fly anywhere.  I
will drive, take a train, or simply not go.  I will not put up
with the stupidity that passes for airport security.  The
x-rays, the pat-downs, the getting half-undressed, etc. does
NOT make us safer, it is all for show to make us think that we
are safer.  And I have decided that I will not put up with it
any more.  This nonsense will not stop until the airlines make
it stop, and the only they will be motivated to make it stop
is if we, the passengers force them.  The way to do that is
the same way you force any other corporation to change - by
hitting them in the pocketbook.  When the nice lady from AA
called me to find out why I wasn't flying with them any more I
politely told her why and informed her that so long as I was
subjected to what I considered to be an unreasonable search I
wouldn't be spending my money or my employer's money on the
airline industry.

[MedicalAdmin]

81. Good for you.

Excellent post. YOu did the most important thing. First stop using them but more importantly MAKE SURE THEY KNOW WHY.

Kudos. A gold star to you.

[thereismore]

74. This has got to stop! Jesus. nt

[somone]

75. TSA has become an obscenity

The contempt for them is fully justified.

[saigon68]

183. I compare them to the Guards at a Nazi death camp---they have the same

arrogance about them

[Amimnoch]

83. You know something is really messed up when right wingers, tea baggers, and us can all agree!!!

The range of blogs, and message boards I frequent is wide and varied. All of them, from DU to Ann Coulter, to Kos, to Hannity all have threads open where all but a few are absolutely opposed to the new TSA gestapo.

Any cause that can elicit outrage from the full range of the political spectrum should be a cause that we should have no problem providing remedy for.

[awoke_in_2003]

106. One thing we all share in common...

we don't want strangers fondling us.

[Yeahyeah]

87. When the government is this revolting it's time for revolting.

[awoke_in_2003]

107. That has a ring to it. nt

[and-justice-for-all]

89. That is just revolting...nt

[femrap]

91. the pilots got an

Exception...but the TSA dudes like humiliating women....so we'll about the Flight Attendants.

Fuck this Shit. Obama should speak up....and put some common sense on this issue.

[awoke_in_2003]

108. No, they just like humiliating...

they would probably enjoy humiliating a pilot even more- to put that "so and so in his place"

[femrap]

164. Maybe so....

Sometimes, I look at what has occurred in this nation and I just want to wake up from the nightmare. I just can't believe how surreal, stupid....I can't even come up with the right word....to describe what this world has become.

As someone said on 'The Ed Show' last night....'Bring in ob/gyns and at least let the women get their annual pap test for free.'

I have to laugh or I think I would roll up in a ball and cry.

[awoke_in_2003]

166. i do not recognize...

this country anymore.

[Politicub]

98. I have no words.

..

[Jefferson23]

104. On so many levels we have failed and Osama bin Laden has won. n/t

[slackmaster]

109. Another day, another indignity for air travelers

:argh:

[AllyCat]

112. I agree with Thom Hartmann and others: Osama has won

We have absolutely lost our liberties when we cannot fly to visit family or conduct business without being groped. I cannot imagine that I will fly with children every while this policy is in effect. How traumatic it would be for them. It's bad enough for adults and doesn't prevent JACK SHIT!

[Swede Atlanta]

114. Even less trips by air..........

I used to travel regularly for my job. Thankfully budget pressures have made that a rare occurrence and I couldn't be happier.

I also used to travel at least 4 x a year by air to visit family and for long weekends.

When they banned all liquids on an aircraft I told my family that lives 3,000 miles from me that I wouldn't be seeing them again in this lifetime unless they came to see me or when I retire and I can drive. At least now I can take some eye drops, nose spray, etc. onboard to help me deal with the horridly dry air on these airplanes.

Now I guess I will have to tell the family again I will see them in 15 years when I retire. I refuse to fly and be subjected to the porno-scan and no one will touch my junk either.

And no more long weekend trips.

So let's see, I spent an average of probably $1800-2000 a year on airfare. So the airlines will not be getting that revenue from me anymore. If everyone denied the airlines that revenue we would see things change.

[sarcasmo]

117. Conditioning the sheep for the next step. What a sad state of affairs this country has become.

[PatrynXX]

119. Nobody's in control of TSA is there??

Because the republicans keep holding up half of Obama's nominations. Which is why shit like this keeps going on. Republicans still control whats going on the ground at the moment. Obama's no angel but he's not a dipshit.

Frankly though I'll take the full fucking body scan over something touching my junk. I still don't feel cool about the doc doing it. But he's the only one to have some fun. When the movie Airplane II made fun of this. It was a joke. I don't think they thought it might become real. (where the nice beauties go by but the old lady is arrested) UBL is just laughing at how smart he is.

(seriously lets stop calling him Osama, that aint even his name. Usama. Like Me****** vs Burma. It's Burma!!!)

[ProudDad]

122. The Bizarre Tale of Graft and Sleazy Political Opportunism That Brought Us the 'Porno Scanners'

"Chertoff was caught red handed shilling for full body scanners in behalf of a company that was a client of Chertoff's consulting company. He was busted in public by the New York Times editor.

"What was the outcome? Chertoff's original, self-interested assertion prevailed. We have full body scans headed for 1,000 airports and, for those who don't want the radiation, the national security grope, invasive searches of the passenger's genital area.

"Never mind the first hand eye witness accounts by Kurt and Lori Haskell. Never mind the report by one of the most prominent public figures in Nigeria, the bombers father, that his son was a terrorist and the lack of decisive action on that tip off. Never mind the never released 200 hours of Dutch security footage that could have proven without a doubt the existence of a facilitator, the sharp dressed man who accompanies the bomber.

"All of this reveals a systemic defect in anti-terrorism activities, one that, if corrected, could have more efficiently and effectively prevented future terror threats everywhere by logical changes in policies and practices. Instead of decisive action on this clearly documented problem, we now have full body scanners proposed by a Bush era security official with a clear conflict of interest."

http://www.alternet.org/story/148924/the_bizarre_tale_of_graft_and_sleazy_political_opportunism_that_brought_us_the_%27porno_scanners%27?page=entire

[LibDemAlways]

127. Intelligent, efficient security is not the American way. We have to

make sure assholes like Chertoff get their pockets lined by foisting potentially dangerous, cancer causing machines on the public. Makes no difference to Chertoff, of course, because he no doubt flies around on corporate jets.

The American people have been played. Fortunately, by all indications, they are starting to see the light. With the nude-o-scopes and gropings the government finally overplayed its hand and pissed people off. Good. It's long overdue.

[Shining Jack]

130. K&R

That's total madness. :(

[McCamy Taylor]

132. This is just plain sick. These are airline employees. When has an airline employee ever

been responsible for any kind of terrorism in the air?

And to make her remove her prosthesis---what kind of sickos are they hiring to do the pat downs?

[flyarm]

170. Zero common sense. any crew member could take a plane down

without carryinng anything onto the aircraft.

[saigon68]

181. Brain Dead bureaucrats

Oh well Nice job Obama ---Nice crew of Retarded double digit IQ Cretins you have surrounded yourself with

[Spiderzumbie]

133. I love this country

Land of the Free, Home of the Brave.


:patriot:

[marasinghe]

135. sadly, this poor Lady falls at the bottom of the TSA food chain.

now, with your apex predators it's a different ballgame:

No Security Pat-Downs for Boehner
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4622176

TSA agrees to allow airline pilots to skip security checks:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4622167

Denver Airport Mobile Command Used for Sex Romps
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4621920

[sabrina 1]

154. The Airline pilots fought back. And they won.

Now everyone else has to fight back.

And until they remove them, we must demand that Boehner's boner is as vulnerable as everyone else's. Why was he exempted? I am more afraid of him than I am of any terrorist. The chances of a terrorist harming me or anyone I love are minimal, Boehner otoh, is constant threat.

[flyarm]

168. It was Obama's Homeland security Admin that put these regulations into place.

Not Boehner's.

Put the blame where it really belongs.

this is nothing but bullshit brought to you by Obama's Homeland security appointee!

This is a waste of tax payers money and does nothing but feed the pockets of Obama's buddies he took to India with him!




posted here :

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9596582


TSA is Delivering Naked Insecurity
by Ralph Nader
November 20, 2010



This month Homeland Security has implemented a new rule calling for extremely invasive pat-downs of commercial airline passengers who decline to use full-body, "backscatter technology" scanners that use low-level X-rays. Pregnant women, parents with young children, adherents of religions, amputees and people with wireless insulin pumps or embedded medical devices are increasingly saying, "No thanks." They do not believe they should be exposed to technology that could pose risks, may malfunction, and certainly invades their privacy. So Homeland Security has doubled its trouble by turning to the invasive pat-downs. What the department should do is reconsider its use of these scanners, but after reading Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano's full-throated defense of the technology and procedures on this page this past Monday, I'm not hopeful.

Questions, and lawsuits

The technology has already been challenged by recognized academic specialists on both safety and efficacy grounds. After six months of testing at four major airports, Italy is likely to drop these scanners, finding them ineffective and slow. The European Commission has also raised "several serious fundamental rights and health concerns" and recommends less-intrusive alternatives.

Back in the USA, the legal volleys have begun. Two weeks ago, the Electronic Privacy Information Center, a public interest research center, filed a lawsuit in federal court against the Department of Homeland Security. The suit alleges violations of the Fourth Amendment, the Privacy Act, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, the Video Voyeurism Prevention Act and the Administrative Procedure Act (which calls for public hearings).

Immersed in its own bureaucratic bubble of secrecy and inaccessibility, Homeland Security cites "national security" as justifying its unresponsiveness to critics. Napolitano wrote in USA TODAY that our security depends on being "more creative" in adapting to evolving threats. Indiscriminate pat-downs are anything but creative. Yet the department listens to commercial lobbyists pushing scanner sales, including former Homeland Security secretary Michael Chertoff.

Earlier corporate pitchmen sold the department on the notorious puffer machines. This $36 million boondoggle forced Homeland Security to remove these failed screeners from airports last year at considerable embarrassment and expense.

Read the full article at:

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/11/20-1
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

this is nothing but a steaming pile of horse shit.

from a now retired 33 year flight crew for a major US airline.

[sabrina 1]

174. Oh, I know. I have been following this issue since those machines

were first introduced as a 'security measure' several years ago. Up to now, they were unable to get them installed due to actions taken by civil liberties groups.

Like so many other things Republicans couldn't get done, like SS cuts eg, Democrats are called upon to do, assuming the 'left' will remain silent if it is their party doing it.

Napolitano criticized those objecting to the patdowns and scanners last week telling us 'we all need to know our role' in National Security.

I guess our role is to submit to every terror imposed by the government, theirs is to profit from 'security measures'.

[jillan]

136. We just need to stop flying. That's the only message we can send to TSA.

Horrific.

[defendandprotect]

139. But that's not an invasion of privacy, especially since she's "agreed" to it -- !!!

If we can be made to believe absurdities, we can be moved to atrocities.

Think that's the way that quote goes?

Think W and the PNAC'ers are off laughing somewhere at how completely they've

got America ripping itself apart?

[flyarm]

169. she had a job requirement to go through security.

alot different than voluntarily flying.

[azureblue]

140. a serious question

If I (a Male) get the pat down, what would happen if I simply yanked down my pants when the TSA person goes to inspect my "junk"? And I was commando, of course... Seems to me like they couldn't do anything, since I would be complying with and allowing a full visual inspection. If they tried to say I was exposing myself and try to charge me with exposing myself, or something like that, then wouldn't that open the door for a blow back of sexual molestation charges on the TSA, since they would be tacitly admitting that the pat downs were sexually offensive.

[downeyr]

141. Does anyone know,,,

where I could get an example of what a letter to my congressman/woman or senator regarding the TSA scanners would look like?

[Honeycombe8]

153. Shameful. nt

[democrank]

155. Good grief

[spooked911]

156. where are the lawsuits on this?

they have to be coming. Personally, I would sue their asses off.

[flyarm]

159. Is there no Fucking common sense left in this country?????????

as i posted in another thread on this subject..

It is absurd beyond words that Pilots and Flight Attendants get groped or even sent through these dumb ass-ed machines..


Who the fuck is at the helm of the gazillion dollar machine called an "AIRPLANE" ?????????? THE PILOT

Can't that machine be made to do what pilots want it to do? Just as you can with your car???????????
You could smash your car into a brick wall ..If you wanted to ..correct???????

The Pilots nor the flight attendants need to carry a fucking thing through security to do harm to the aircraft or cause an "accident" with that aircraft. They know the intricacies of that Aircraft backward and forward.

Flight crews have been Psychologically tested throughout their entire training to make sure they are stable and responsible to be in a tube in the air for many, many hours a day.

Geeze louise..does anyone have a damn ounce of sense in this country/government anymore??..or logic skills or just damn common sense?


The idiocy of this government and this Administration just astounds me.

But what astounds me more is the idiocy of Americans and the sheeple we have all become.

No one takes there shoes off in Europe to get on an plane ..except brainwashed sheep-le Americans. There is no deman,d nor security provision in most of Europe to take one's shoes off , and yet day after day you will see Americans in Europe take their shoes off... without any provocation. We train for a police state so easily.

Where they do over kill on this ...way the fuck.. over kill...they were allowing with Homeland security the killing of the Gulf of Mexico...and the poisoning of millions of Americans in the Gulf. Go figure.

From a now retired 33 year Flight crew of a Major US Airline

[defendandprotect]

171. No -- that would work against everything TPB need to convince us must be done ...!!!

"If you can be made to believe absurdities, you can be made to commit atrocities"

[somone]

167. TSA: We Must See It And Touch It

Seeing Is Believing

[saigon68]

178. insanity

[sarcasmo]

184. Kick!