KUCINICH: a suspected terrorist?

[Mairead]

I find myself having to explain to people why I, as a Presidential candidate, am repeatedly shuttled off to that special line of selectees identified by the SSSS stamped on my ticket. The transportation security agents inform me that a computer has made this decision. I want to know who programs the computer. Is it John Ashcroft?

Even though I don’t feel as though I’m getting special treatment or that I’m entitled to special treatment, it makes me wonder how much of a threat I must be since I really do intend to replace the entire government. So when people occasionally recognize me getting the magic metal detector wanding and dutifully submitting to searches of my person, extending my arms and my legs spread-eagle, I explain with a smile, "I’m running against George Bush."

Hot damn!

(excerpted from one of Dennis's posts in Lessig's blog http://www.lessig.org)

[Garage Queen]

1. I knew it! I just KNEW you couldn't trust that shifty-eyes so-n-so!

After all, the guv'ment wouldn't be searching him unless he was a threat, right? All the more reason to vote for Dean ... :evilgrin:

(for those who have had their funny bones removed, my tongue is planted firmly in cheek) :P

[DemBones DemBones]

2. Don't know whether to laugh or swear, do you? I wonder if all

the candidates are getting this treatment when they fly?

It's really ridiculous that people are treated this way. We needed better airport security long before September 11 but they've gone about it in a heavy-handed way that almost seems designed to demean people, without, last I heard, improving the screening of checked luggage. Flying has gotten increasingly unpleasant over the years, anyway, with the way seats are packed into coach (and who can afford first class?) As I read somewhere, it's not traveling anymore, it's being shipped.

It's just so damn hard to get to Europe by car. . . :shrug:

[jiacinto]

9. It happened to me

They said it was because I bought my ticket at the last minute and that that was why I was "randomly selected".

[diamondsoul]

10. The blog entry

goes on to explain that anyone flying on a one-way ticket gets this treatment, apparently regardless of stature or political standing. It seems the Sept 11th terrorists used one-way tickets, (makes sense to me in a sickly humorous way) so that's part of security "profiling" now.

And yes, I really did laugh when I read that bit abut the terrorists buying one-way tickets. I guess I'm a bit more twisted than I realized. It seemed kind of like one of those "DUH!" moments to me. Of COURSE they'd buy one-way tickets since they weren't planning to survive the damned flight!

[zekeson]

22. One way tickets? Stupidest thing I have heard so far

in this incomprehensible war on terra. There is no reason to buy a one way ticket.

I have, on several occasions, had need to only fly one direction. A one way ticket is outrageously expensive. What does a normal human do? They buy the roundtrip and only take the first round. Your whole itinerary is cancelled if you miss the first leg, so ya gotta plan to make that first date count.

I don't know, maybe the FBI knows that terrorists aren't concerned about economy, but gee, one way tickets would seem to be a flag...

[Lydia Leftcoast]

24. I flew on a one-way ticket

when I moved from Portland to Minneapolis, because Frontier Airlines had one for a reasonable price.

And yes, I got the full-treatment out-of-the-line inspection.

[diamondsoul]

25. *sigh* Read the entry, please.

Kucinich explains why he uses one-way tickets. He flies from city to city, not to one place and back again. He flies to Seattle, Californion, Iowa, Texas and then back to DC when he's out campaigning. Apparently buying one way tickets is the most effective way for him to travel for this purpose, and given his limited funding I'd be willing to guess he doesn't pay outrageous prices.

[zekeson]

26. *sigh* read my post

I could give a rats ass how or why Kucinch flies or how he spends his campaign money. I was talking about the war on terra and how its stupid to target terrorists by looking to see who bought one way tickets...

The only restriction I would hope to have on Dennis' flying is that he avoid small planes, but I know that is not a reality in a presidential campaign.

Should've not posted anything, I guess, rather than anyone think I was attacking Dennis - I know flaming is at a real peak these days.

I posted becasue it always seened asinine that I can fly round trip cheaper than one way and now the security folks find it a flag?

edit - added.

[diamondsoul]

27. Sorry, about that!

I think I misunderstood what you were getting at, my fault not yours.

I ran into the same ting many times in the past, round-trip costing less than one-way. I wonder if that has something to do with them thinking it's a red flag? It IS a stupid profiling point, imo.

[dajabr]

3. Is the day that far away?

Where our candidates will be shuttled Underground via a network of "safe houses?"

I know it's hyperbole on my part, but that's the reaction I feel when I read about these things.

At least Kucinich can raise the verbal "middle finger" while being subjected to this treatment. Good for him!

Unbelievable!

[Rainbowreflect]

4. LOL

So when people occasionally recognize me getting the magic metal detector wanding and dutifully submitting to searches of my person, extending my arms and my legs spread-eagle, I explain with a smile, "I’m running against George Bush."

This is great on so many levels

[dweller]

5. is this from a speech?

or his webpage, tv?

dp

[Mairead]

7. Sorry...it's from his stint posting to Lessig's blog

(I've edited my basenote)

[The Sushi Bandit]

6. i'll get you through Dennis!

Wait till they see my Jedi moves... BACK you evil-doing BUSHITES!!

[jiacinto]

8. That happened to me at National Airport

I was flying from DC to Miami and vice versa a few weeks ago. I got the "royal" treatment and had to take off my shoes and to get screened on the side.

[Northwind]

11. My girlfriend and I

Flew to New York last month. She got that treatment in Dallas, we both got it in New York. Kucinich is trying to maker a conspiracy out of nothing and make points with his more gullible supporters.

[Mairead]

12. He's a Congressman and a presidential candidate

If he can't be trusted not to blow up an airplane--especially one he's on--who the hell can? Is it all simply theater?

Furrfu!

[diamondsoul]

17. You didn't go read the blog entry, did you?

There is NO mention of any "conspiracy" anywhere in it. He may allude to conspiracy by some of his comments but that isn't anywhere near the point of the entry. Oh, and by the way, I'm not "gullible" but even I can see there is a whole lotta shit going on in DC we don't know about. Conspiracy? You betcha there is. Plenty of evidence to back that up as well.

Not necessarily with airline security but there ARE conspiracies going on. If there weren't why would they need to lie, hide, and mislead the people so consistantly?

[GreenArrow]

23. Yes, anyone can get that treatment

My wife got it on our honeymoon last year--I didn't. What's is interesting about this claim is that it is a "repeated" instance.

[TheReligiousLeft]

13. I'm not the only one

Wow, the only reason I was stopped was because a security guy saw me reading a book with strange characters (hebrew, he thought it was the Koran, woops) in it before I boarded the plane, but Dennis has a good reason, promoting regime change.
I like this Kuchinich's sense of humor, of course being so far back in the polls he needs all the sense of humor he can get.

[diamondsoul]

14. WTF?!

"Wow, the only reason I was stopped was because a security guy saw me reading a book with strange characters (hebrew, he thought it was the Koran, woops)"

So because the terrorists who carried out the worst attack on US soil to date happened to be radical Islam the Qu'ran is cause for suspicion now? Cripes *I* have a copy of the Qu'ran and I'm not even Muslim!

'Scuse me while I go scream!

[Desertrose]

15. I love his sense of humor!

Same thing happened to Gore once or twice, didn't it??

I mean really..is it just Dems running they pick or dothey do it to repubs too???

And yeah...if we can't trust our elected officials...well, who can we trust?
Oh cr*p...did I just say that??LOL

Dennis is just so great...I can see him saying that...I am running against George Bush.....
tooo funny....tooo sad!
Peace
DR

[Mairead]

16. Yeah

As Rainbow said above, it's great on several levels. What must people think of SmirkCo when they realise that a nationally-known Member of Congress and political opponent of Bush is being given The Treatment? I wonder how many go 'hmmm...is this security really to catch bad guys, or just to make us feel as though they're doing something?' Because if it's really to catch bad guys, how can they possibly justify doing Dennis? And if it's only theater...was there ever really a threat?

I love it, and I bet that's why Dennis is so patient with it, too. It makes people go 'hmmmm'. Click!

[dpbrown]

18. "All in a days work"

I've never met a person in politics before who so completely understands his role in it, without getting fooled by the trappings.

This man is incredible.

Dan Brown
Saint Paul, Minnesota

[burr]

19. I hope he carries his candidate ID when crossing state lines.

Don't leave home without it!

[GreenPartyVoter]

20. I do LOVE this guy!

I hope everyone is trying to get the vote out for him in their state primaries.

[JackieO]

28. I love him too

The man is awesome.

[ErasureAcer]

29. when I met him I said "I Love ya man"...haha...

:)

[genius]

21. Little Natasha from the Santa Ana rally was subjected to the same search

last January. She was eleven. Democratic kids and Presidential candiates are such a threat to the government.

If this happens repeatedly with Dennis, it looks like harrassment. I guess Dennis has Bush pretty scared.

[The Sushi Bandit]

30. Did she have SSSS stamped on her ticket??

nm

[genius]

31. Yes she did.

nm