Hey L.A. Times, Kiss My Naked Blue Ass!

[20score]

On November 17th the Los Angeles Times published an editorial titled, Shut Up and Be Scanned. As is the case with many arguments that advocate for a wrongheaded solution, the L.A. Times puts forth extreme and false choices.

“We're not wild about the new methods either, but they're a necessary evil in the era of suicide bombers who board planes with chemical explosives in their underwear.”

As if chemical sensors don’t exist. Other methods are also used by other countries as other methods have been used by ours. The Los Angeles Times states that:

“There's no bright line to indicate where our quest for security becomes intolerably invasive of our privacy, but we're still pretty sure the TSA hasn't yet crossed it.”

I’m pretty sure they have. By a long shot. Looking at people naked, having children take off their clothes, grabbing genitals. Just where do you draw the line, L.A. Times? Oh yeah, here:

“Anal probes at the airport? It's safe to say that if the TSA gets to that point, it will have crossed the line, and it might be time to explore less invasive methods.”

It doesn’t take an extremely astute observer to notice that methods are implemented to stop the last attack or the last attempted attack. After the Shoe Bomber Richard Reid was caught, people had to take off their shoes at the airport. After the Underwear Bomber, body scans and intrusive pat downs. What do you think will happen after someone tries to smuggle an explosive in their rectum?

We have put up with the erosion of our rights and the trashing of the Constitution for too long. Warrantless wiretapping, no knock warrants, listening to phone calls, reading emails, National Security Letters and the list goes on. The same rationale that is used for implementing these scanners and groping of passengers at airports can be used for allowing people into the Los Angeles Times building. In fact, there are many dangerous places all over the country. And nowhere is really safe, is it L.A. Times?
With the help of rationalizations like the ones used by the L.A. Times to push for body scanners – fear is always a great motivator - we have allowed this country to move very fast towards being a place where the word “Free” is becoming a mockery.

We learned this week from an International Council on Security and Development report that 92% of the Afghans in the south of that country were unaware of the 9/11 attacks. That should be front page news all over the country. We are still in Iraq and we have done nothing serious to cut down on our use of fossil fuel. If we really wanted to cut down on terrorists attacks, maybe we should start with cutting down on the amount of terrorists we create.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. I appreciate your effort in assembling this.

And I could not agree more!

Well done.

A big K&R.

[20score]

19. Thanks, California Peggy!

[Angry Dragon]

2. I like your last sentence

"If we really wanted to cut down on terrorists attacks, maybe we should start with cutting down on the amount of terrorists we create."

This country spent a lot of time and money trying to shape Central America to our liking. They never sent any terrorists our way.
We go into the Middle East to do the same thing and they bit back because they did not like people telling them what was best for them. Because our great leaders screwed up we pay the price of losing our liberties. The only people to blame for the garbage we put up with are the people that are suppose to protect us. OUR GREAT LEADERS

[RandomThoughts]

3. I really like this song.

I think it can be seen as being about those that don't want complete security over freedom.

Also has the turn your head 'turn your head and cough' comment in it :)

So really matches up well :)

Burning them up, radiation scanners.

Traveling down the road, every day in a car is more dangerous then a plane flight, so the whole thing is really ridiculous.


Also matches the ending scene of Aliens movie in the Loader, so that is funny also :)

Molly Hatchet- Flirtin' With Disaster
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmqE-hqISmI


Although it could be that they are going to take your rights if you let them, showing them as not caring about your rights, to get you to fight for your rights. If they can take it they will, they are thieves after all, look at the bonuses and kickbacks all over the places. They will take anything they can, and hence why they should not be given any say in your choice of how you live. And it is not about government, the private sector is who pushes government.

[Me.]

4. Nailed It

[madmax]

5. Wow, Excellent

Do you plan to send this to LTTE? I seriously doubt they'd publish it but...

:toast:

[20score]

8. Thanks!

[sabrina 1]

6. Another reason never to subscribe to the L.A. Times. After

the death of the teacher they wrongfully smeared we refused to buy that paper.

When Boner, Napolitano and the rest of 'our leaders' go through those scanners or pat-downs, then they can tell the rest of us what 'our roles' are in the 'fight against terror'.

Right now, I am engaged in a fight to protect our rights from our own government and the L.A. Times can go to hell.

[JDPriestly]

27. I ended my subscription years ago when they fired Robert Scheer

and did not give the Downing Street Memos the same front-page screaming headlines that they gave to the propaganda prior to the Iraq War.

The LA Times is right-wing to the core still and in spite of the fact that LA is a true blue city.

[sabrina 1]

32. Good for you. They have been trying to get us to buy their paper

lately, now I will take the trouble to tell them why are not doing so. I remember the firing of Robert Scheer one of the U.S. best journalists, gone the way of all the rest in this dying Empire.

[Catherina]

7. +1 n/t

[malaise]

9. Super post

Rec

[punkin87]

10. Love it!

[punkin87]

25. Can i send it?

[proud2BlibKansan]

11. After what this paper did to teachers, I won't even read it online

[zenprole]

12. +1

And the LAT isn't the only media outlet in the game - instead of a First Amendment counterattack against this nonsense, there have been a few prominent articles designed to cause hesitation, I think, in the natural response to such personal violations.

I was TSA groped a few days ago and, like so much of the US, there's no middle ground: the result is either pissed-off citizens or reinforcing obedience. Here's to tipping the balance away from the latter.

One last question: does anyone think Obama's gonna do anything about this?

[barbtries]

14. it doesn't look like it.

but i did go write a long letter to him this morning about it. just in case he's listening.

[barbtries]

13. i hope you sent this to the paper.

people seem too complacent in my opinion. i like this take on it. elsewhere i've read they should go with explosive sniffing dogs. that makes the most sense to me, but i guess it can't happen because chertoff and his ilk haven't figured out how to get rich that way. i am just disgusted.
i would happily give up flying for as long as this goes on, but my grandchildren and many loved ones live 3,000 miles away from me, and i have a job. sigh.

[ProudDad]

15. And Osama and the "evil doers(tm)" (like Michael Chertoff)

are laughing all the way to the bank...

[20score]

23. Should have mentioned Chertoff.

There is a lot of disaster capitalism at play here.

[ihavenobias]

16. Happy to be # 46.

Great title by the way.

[Aaria]

17. The terrorist that pulled off the Sept. 11th attack have won.

http://www.lewrockwell.com/pr/haskell-truth-flight253.html Their reasoning is total bull shit and no one is saying crap about it.

[Bette Noir]

18. Maybe management at the LA TImes doesn't mind being photographed nude,

or groped by strangers, but that's well past what I'd consider tolerable. Heck, I won't even let my husband photograph me nude. While I was less prudish when I was younger, I still would have insisted on choosing who could grope me, and when.

This is something the Right and Left agree on: No one should be forced by the government to pose for nude photographs, or be manhandled by strangers. The only way we can overturn it is by a mass boycott of airlines. Since the election is past, politicians won't be listening to us for at least another year and a half.

[suede1]

20. I couldn't agree more.

Now, if only I were a exhibitionist with a wicked sense of humor I'd gladly do a strip for them front and center, bend over, lift my boobs, whatever. Oh, and I'd have to give some sort of commentary, too.

But since I am not, I can only cheer on everyone who is taking a stand against this invasion of privacy.

Thank you for writing it.

[pleah]

21. K&R

[Quantess]

22. I think the LA Times is going to get a lot of LTTE's about this.

This is an overall unpopular stance. I think even RWers are offended by the new "security" measures.

[ibegurpard]

24. send this to LA Time as a LTTE

[JDPriestly]

26. These searches are beyond the pale, but I suspect that a lot of

people who are complaining the loudest now would also be screaming the loudest if a terrorist with explosives managed to blow up a plane.

I resent these security measures, but I haven't been able to think of anything to replace them. Have you? Americans, first and foremost, want to be safe.

[usrname]

28. If you don't feel safe, don't fly!

No checking of any sort at airports. If you don't feel safe, take the train. People who succomb to the lure of false security with airport checking often say, "If you don't like to be screened, you can always find an alternative mode of transportation. I say, NO security check at the airport OR ANYWHERE ELSE. If you don't feel safe at the airport, take a train. Don't feel safe with the train, go drive yourself. Don't feel safe driving, stay home and mope. I'm done with the lot of you who constantly feel fear. Peoiple effin' die everyday from various accidental and not so accidental causes. S**t happens, you know. But I don't want to be searched and presumed guilty everytime I go on board an airplane. Just sick of this s**t.

[hbskifreak]

29. nice

"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."

Benjamin Franklin

[JJW]

30. Time to rethink Homeland Security

It's time to rethink what the heck the Gov is doing. US citizens should not be treated as potential terrorists. Attacks by US citizens are almost non-existent. One case of the shoe bomber who, had mental problems. That's it.

It's time for citizens to put an end to their own Government treating them like the enemy.

[KansDem]

31. Perhaps someone should enlighten the LA Times about the "underwear bomber"

DU thread: Why the underwear bomber story does not pass my smell test.