Airport security protests fizzle

[Joanne98]

Source: Marketwatch

CHICAGO (MarketWatch) — Threatened protests over airport screening procedures largely failed to materialize on Wednesday, one of the busiest travel days of the year, with the Transportation Security Administration reporting no spike in fliers “opting out” of screens by its new Advanced Imaging Technology units.

“Things are going smoothly across the country and we’re not seeing an unusual number of people opting out,” said Nick Kimball, a spokesman for the TSA.

Those who choose not to pass through the new full-body-scan units are directed to go through the usual metal detector and then subjected to what the TSA calls a “thorough pat-down by someone of the same gender,” the same procedure as if the person had set off an alarm.

The body scanners, which some call a “visual strip search,” have been accused of raising the risk of everything from cornea damage to cancer. And the pat-downs are often seen as overly intrusive following reports of TSA agents reaching into underwear.

The TSA plans to spend about $1 billion for the purchase of 1,000 of the backscatter X-ray machines. As of now, 385 have been installed at 68 airports including busy hubs like Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, John F. Kennedy in New York and Los Angeles International.



Read more: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/airport-security-protests-fizzle-2010-11-24

---

Americans are so docile.

[dixiegrrrrl]

1. And Chertoff's client is getting SO rich on those machines.

I am waiting impatiently for the health related lawsuits over them.

[phasma ex machina]

2. Re: "Americans are so docile."

Only for those who believe what Nick Kimball says. This is the first time I ever heard of Nick Kimball. He could be the world's biggest liar for all I know.

"Fascism can be Fun" is a dominant social meme as evidenced by the oh so gentle humor directed at the TSA from SNL and PBS.

It's hardly surprising to see a propaganda outfit such as Marketwatch parrot the dominant social meme.

[Gin]

4. it did get attention and the TSA heard it....the issue didn't go away

[Bragi]

5. It's over. TSA has won, big time. /nt

[Bragi]

3. This worked well for TSA

Some unknown outfit without the ability to organize anything announces a protest, TSA gets the word out early in the day that the protest has fizzled, anyone who intended to protest is discouraged from doing so, fans of intrusive search feel self-righteous in their compliance, and all is well.

The current crop of intrusive measures is thereby vindicated, and plans can be put in place to bring in the new "Anal Climbing Device" sometime in the new year, along with random inspection of people in their homes who have bought air travel tickets.

It's a win-win-win for everyone, other than a tiny handful of weirdos who still blather on about something called "privacy" and "civil liberties". Fortunately, they are harmless and easily rounded up, when and as needed.

[LisaL]

8. He was actually encouraging people not to fly at all.

[fatbuckel]

6. Get over it. You don't like the rules, don't fly. I want to be safe.

[LisaL]

10. Maybe the ones who are so scared that terrorists will blow them

up should stay home. After all, all the patting and scanning in the world won't make you a 100 % safe and won't protect you if your plane has a mechanical failure. So why don't the scared ones refuse to fly and stay home so they are safe?

[Bragi]

11. Baaaaaaaa! Baaaaaaa! /nt

[Matariki]

13. I really hate your "get over it" attitude. It is completely non-progressive

It's the sort of attitude that NEVER addresses injustices in society, NEVER strives to change anything, ALWAYS goes with the status quo. This lame attitude can and has been applied to every progressive issue that people have fought for since, well since probably the beginning of time.

[fatbuckel]

22. This whole thing is a non starter. Try as they might, there is no argument.

Some feel the need to bitch about something. It's a security issue, not the end of all good freedom. Lose the drama, fight an actual cause, and do alittle good. There were no protests today (http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4627953) only a few people feel this way, move on. Like theres nothing else to worry about.

[AsahinaKimi]

38. its funny how I heard

That same kind of statement when BUSH won the election. "GET OVER IT, BUSH WON..Some people feel the need to bitch about something, Lose the drama... Only a few people feel this way, move on.. "

Maybe thats how Moveon.com started, because of people talking stuff like that.

[redirish28]

18. By that view point. I hope you don't drive a car or live your life outside a bubble.

[Hissyspit]

23. Who says this makes you safe?

[14thColony]

24. Go hide under your bed then. You'll be safe there. nt

[Bragi]

26. Does the 4th amendment mean anything to you?

Just wondering.

[pattmarty]

32. Then let them START checking all the freight that goes into the.............

...........belly of the plane along with your luggage.

[ixion]

35. Spoken like a true enabler

you must be so proud. :eyes: :puke:

[smiley]

37. don't worry - you will be

:eyes:

[krabigirl]

41. Hope you will be lining up for these in courthouses, buses, trains, malls, etc.

[lbrtbell]

43. You're not safe

Cargo is hardly inspected at all. One bomb there, and your freshly-groped genetalia will be blown to bits.

[woo me with science]

52. God, this is depressing

and shameful.

The Bill of Rights used to stand for something. Now people welcome the government into their pants because they are afwaid.

[MineralMan]

7. Of course they fizzled. The people who went to the airport today

went there because they wanted to go someplace. Expecting people who want to go someplace for Thanksgiving to engage in a futile protest is expecting too much. I'd guess that a huge majority of them weren't even aware that some protest was supposed to be going on. A majority may not even know about the new security screening strategies. A big majority won't even notice the difference, since they'll be going through the metal detector on their way to their gate just like they have in the past. A small minority will be selected to go through the scanner. A mast majority of those will pass the scan and go on to their gate. A very few will end up getting an "enhanced" patdown. Most of those will be somewhat surprised, but will go on to their gate after a very short time. A vanishingly small minority of all the travelers will raise a ruckus, refuse a hand search, and will be escorted out of the terminal. Almost nobody will even see this happen, since they'll only be in the security area for a very brief time...on their way to their gate.

Such a protest was bound to fail. Most of those advocating it and supporting it are not even going to the airport today. They've already decided that they aren't going to be flying anytime soon. Many have already not flown for a long time. Some have never flown at all. They're not going to be flying in the future. They don't fly.

For the rest, today at the airport was just like any other day at the airport. After going through security screening, they got on their planes and arrived a few hours later or less at their destination, where they're seeing their families for Thanksgiving. All this foofarah is for nothing.

Now, my sister-in-law and her husband are still stuck at the Ft. Myers airport. They were supposed to leave over three hours ago, but their plane has some sort of radio malfunction, which is being repaired as you read this. They're going to arrive almost five hours late. But, the nice folks at Sun Country gave them a meal voucher and a voucher for shuttle transportation to my MIL's house when they arrive. So my wife and I don't have to drive through the snowstorm that's developing to pick them up at the airport.

My wife talked to them a short time ago and asked about their security screening. They went through the metal detector. My BIL's CPAP machine got looked at by a TSA guy. Then, they went to their gate. They didn't see anyone getting patted down. And so another Thanksgiving holiday travel day continues as usual.

Lots of sound and fury, signifying nothing. :shrug:

[LisaL]

12. The guy has a photo of an empty airport on his website.

His goal was to encourage people to opt out of flying all together.

[MineralMan]

17. So? You can find photos like that quickly with a Google image

search. Do you suppose he went there and took that photo? Anyone can post any photo they can find. That's just silly, you know. I've seen a number of news stories about MSP here in Minneapolis St. Paul. Crowded, as usual on the day before Thanksgiving. No slowdowns. No problems. Just another busy day. Of course, now it's started snowing, so who knows what the next few hours will bring. MSP is very good at winter operations, though, and this isn't supposed to be a huge storm. I don't think it's cold enough to require the de-icing trucks, so things should go along pretty much as normal.

I hope you enjoy your Thanksgiving tomorrow, whatever you do.

[LisaL]

19. You are missing my point.

This guy never was even trying to organize some massive protest, he just wanted people to opt out of flying all together.
It's not like he was encouraging people to disrupt travel.

[MineralMan]

21. I missed nothing. The guy did manage to get lots of publicity for

himself, though. He's having his 15 minutes of fame day, it seems. People are still flying, you know. Lots and lots of them.

[Rebubula]

15. I flew today

I left from BWI (Baltimore) and flew to Atlanta.

My trip through security at BWI took about 15 minutes. I saw no one being molested or any TSA agents being assholes. What I saw was courteous TSA personnel and efficient job performance by everyone.

If you do not try to make drama - usually you do not find it.

[MineralMan]

20. That's what I'd expect. That's how it always is at MSP and LAX,

my two most visited airports. The local teevee news has been showing airport stuff off and on all day. No problems. Looks just like normal, except there are more children in the airport than usual. Heading off to see gramdma and granddad, I assume. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

[pecwae]

30. Good for you.

When you are one of those chosen for genital groping and harassment may you hold onto those thoughts.

[lbrtbell]

44. "Make drama"

So rape victims being traumatized by these searches are "making" drama? An old man humiliated when his urine bag spilled all over him was "making" drama?

They're not making drama. You're lacking in compassion.

[SnakeEyes]

46. So were the nude scanners active?

If they were, then apparently nobody opted out. Or the TSA scaled the new invasion pat downs back, like they stopped using the nude scanners at other airports today.

If not, the only way you'd have seen the new invasion pat down procedure was if someone was randomly chosen or they triggered the metal detector. Again, assuming they didn't scale back the new pat down procedure. Otherwise it would have been crotch grabbing time.

[KoKo]

28. Remember, though. This is only first batch of screeners in 68 Airports and

of those Airports (mine is one) there is one scanner in the new terminal which is Delta/American. Those flying Southwest or any other carrier will not have the scanners until the rest of them are delivered later in 2011.

It will be awhile until there are enough machines for all the passengers flying other than the major airlines and in smaller cities that aren't part of the first 68 which are larger cities with major airports.

So....we shall see.

[Matariki]

9. Actually, from accounts I've read they've dialed back using the scanners today.

My guess is that it will go back to normal tomorrow.

Info in post and comments here: http://wewontfly.com/blog/

[rainbow4321]

49. Just spoke to my daughter at the Denver airport

Asked her how the security has gone. She said that they are not using the scanning machine, either.
She travels for her job and has spent alot of time at airports. Said she has only had to go thru one scanner over the last several weeks and was given a pat down of her leg because the agent thought they saw something in her empty pocket..it was an "air pocket" in her pants pocket that looked funny, apparently. So they patted down her one leg and let her go thru.

[Bragi]

14. Maybe there was NO organized protest to fizzle

Who allegedly organized this alleged national protest? Seriously, was it the one guy from Alabama with a website who has never organized anything?

This was a gift to TSA and the media is playing along beautifully for them. They are able now to pretend that there was a protest which failed, which means everyone loves having their balls fondled.

What's the problem? There is no problem. Coming soon -- the TSA Advanced Anal Crawler.

[LisaL]

16. And that guy was actually encouraging people not to fly at all.

I don't know how many people if any actually had tickets but decided not to fly, but that guy's goal wasn't even to organize some massive protest to disrupt travel.
He has a photo of an empty airport on his website, for crying out loud.

[EFerrari]

25. On Monday, their numbers will be cr@p, watch. n/t

[The abyss]

29. I will be interested to know the numbers.

Were planes full?

Any equipment taken off line for lack of passengers?

From the early reports I believe Logan was only using half of their security check points - maybe that was somewhere else.

[Skittles]

27. because people are not idiots

it's a poor way to get a point across when you delay people from seeing their families to do it

[SnakeEyes]

31. It fizzled because...

The TSA decided to compromise security to avoid greater backlash and the protest by simply not using them much, if at all.

http://gizmodo.com/comment/33032822

[The abyss]

36. Interesting link - thanks for posting that one

[krabigirl]

42. Yep. Talked to a couple of people and they said the machines were off at US Airways in LAX.

[truedelphi]

33. K & R. n/t

[SkyDaddy7]

34. Of course there were no wide spread protest...It was the Press trying to start...

something so they could cover it like they always do! The polls that came out said a large majority of Americans did not care.

I wish the press would just get back to journalism & stop creating problems to cover like the Tea Party, Sarah Palin, death panels, etc.

[SnakeEyes]

45. Polls came out before most even knew/know what's going on

New procedures, most don't fly regularly.

And newer polls than that CBS poll show negativity toward the process.

But go ahead, trade your freedom and privacy for an invasive, unconstitutional, false choice of a necessary naked scanner or a groping pat down all in the name of supposed "security".

And see my other post. The TSA weren't using them today to avoid trouble and make the protest impossible to occur.

[SkyDaddy7]

47. There was no change in policy! The TSA did what they have been doing for weeks!

[AsahinaKimi]

39. self-delete.

[krabigirl]

40. It's because the people who don't like these measures are not flying.

Also, they turned off the machines in many airports today and used the old-style pat-downs. Interesting.

[lunatica]

48. TSA tooting it's own horn. Of course their spin is that it fizzled.

[Exultant Democracy]

50. Zero surprise, dumb thing to try when people just want to be with their families.

[Anakin Skywalker]

51. Boo! Americans Have No Principle.

They'd rather see their whiny families and relatives than f*ck the TSA and the airlines by NOT FLYING (an economic boycott). Stay the f*ck home and jerk off! (Christine O'Donnell highly disapproves) It's better than having strangers touch your junk!

[jamiefoxer]

53. I'm the opposite of most people..

I'll gladly take the patdown and groin searches....but it must be done by a member of the opposite sex and she must be moderately attractive at least...

THEN I don't have a problem :P