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Word of advice for 2012 convention planners?

By: Moe Lane (Diary)  |  December 27th, 2009 at 06:12 PM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

Pick somewhere easily accessible via train.

In the wake of the terrorism attempt Friday on a Northwest Airlines flight, federal officials on Saturday imposed new restrictions on travelers that could lengthen lines at airports and limit the ability of international passengers to move about an airplane.

The government was vague about the steps it was taking, saying that it wanted the security experience to be “unpredictable” and that passengers would not find the same measures at every airport — a prospect that may upset airlines and travelers alike.

But several airlines released detailed information about the restrictions, saying that passengers on international flights coming to the United States will apparently have to remain in their seats for the last hour of a flight without any personal items on their laps. It was not clear how often the rule would affect domestic flights.

Ooh, ooh, I can answer this one! The answer is “A lot!” After all, the people making the rules here don’t actually have to suffer under them, so there’s no negative feedback loop to keep them from saddling us with onerous travel restrictions designed to hide the fact that the system did not, in fact, work.  So expect the geniuses currently running the government to make sure that that the rules are blindly applied across the board; it beats thinking, right?

For more, see The Agitator, via RS McCain; and Hot Air.

Moe Lane

Crossposted to Moe Lane.

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COMMENTS

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  • 6eorge Jetson

    apologizing for the sins of America and asking terrorists to reconsider.

  • Tbone

    That way Napolitano can say the “system worked” and she would be right.

    These people are really just 2 digit IQ fools.

  • http://www.ssce.net/Web-Articles/Web-articles-indexed-authors.html#authors-l JLenardDetroit

    that a 6 year old could figure this stuff out yet Liberals lap up the feel-good do-nothing policies and that once informed of its folly it doesn’t even provide the “Feel-Good” aspect anymore. And yet, the more they display MORONIC typical Liberal responses the better it is Politically – but so very sad that so many Americans needed to hand Power back over to Liberals to re-discover (such short attention spans and memories in this Nation) just how INCAPABLE OF THINKING ANYTHING THROUGH Liberals always are, have been, and will always be!

    Many of us have been saying these same things (in countless RS Diaries) since the get go. Had the ObamaBinBiden idiots paid any attention they could have avoided exposing themselves to “exposing themselves” yet again!!!

  • USNJIMRET

    Other then the massive photo op, what gets accomplished at one, that isn’t more easily accomplished through…..oh I don’t know, a web based video conference maybe?
    When was the last time that anything surprising came out of one of these things?
    They cost the Parties a fortune, the taxpayer a fortune, disrupt the heck out of some cities normal activities for several days, provide a completely unnecessary forum for all the wackos on the planet to protest, well everything, and as I said earlier, accomplish nothing that couldn’t be done just as well differently, and more cheaply.
    Unless of course, the excuse for a once every four years party at someone else’s expense is just to much to turn down.

  • bobojake

    now the airline industry. WHAT WILL BE NEXT on I almost forgot the Heathcare Industry but the illegal bill isn’t done yet.

  • stixxxnstones

    That train thing? It’s a really, really bad idea. Idiotic as Napolitano IS, and as inconvenient as the security measures ARE, and as moronic the fact that this guy got through all that with a bomb in his boxers IS…trains have none of that.

    There are no security measures on a train. You just buy a ticket and walk on. They don’t even wand the luggage. The only reason the Teriztz don’t bomb Amtrak is that people don’t USE it. ‘S why they tend to bomb more trains in Europe. People use trains instead of planes there :P

  • antisocial

    So they won’t change anything to ensure such characters don’t end up on US bound flights. Once the terrorist in on board they hope to prevent by such stupid measures.

    How abt better intel, better coordination, screen every single suspect? half a million is not much. So let us say you run into 1000 such suspects every day. 1000 searches against even a poorly designed db should be nothing.

    The messaging needs to change. The tone gets set from the TOP. If the chief executive of the country is soft on terrorism, everybody down the line gets softer. The include DHS, CBI, FBI, Military, Police etc….

    Mr. President,
    WAKE UP.

    PS: Please stay away from my TV. DO Something.

  • mbecker908

    Safe, saves the environment, saves the cities inflicted upon millions in police overtime.

    And, given the typical TV ratings, no fewer people will see it.

  • paint_it_red

    99% of the time I agree with you, but you are way off base here. The first problem is you cite to a NYT article to prove the government’s response is vague and problematic. Since when has the NYT gotten it right? As usual, it is an unreliable secondary source. Maybe the government is taking the best responsive measure it can on Christmas day while it examines the problem and comes up with more comprehensive measures?

    The second problem is that the recent airline attack was from an international carrier. The guy underwent European security standards, and short of dismantling transatlantic commerce by stopping travel from there, there is a limit to how much leverage we have to force the Europeans to change their security measures. Even the leverage we do have takes time to exercise.

    The third problem is it appears they didn’t follow the security procedures that were in place as the man was reportedly on a no-fly list but they failed to check his passport – see here – h/t drudge – http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index.ssf/2009/12/flight_253_passenger_says_at_l.html

    Further, the security measures they have in place were probably not followed in other respects if they guy smuggled in explosives under his pants.

    In America, our TSA does a thankless job but we have not had another domestic terror attack in the transportation industry since 9/11. The failure of Amsterdam security to follow its measures is a real problem that will have to be tackled, but it should not impugn what we have done here.

    I’m generally for less government regulation rather than more, but where a security purpose is served, that is a classic and legitimate government function which protects lives and commerce. And its not “them” regulating “us.” Who doesn’t fly or have friends/family who fly? We all have a stake in this.

    Last, while limited government is worth fighting for, I think we need to be careful to do so without castigating federal employees as idiotic bureacrats, (I know this was not your intent, but all too often the message for limited government comes across this way). I know it certainly does not play well in purple Northern Virginia, where everyone at least knows someone who is working for the federal government.

  • larryp

    attention? I travel alone,have one bag, sometimes set off the alarm due to
    a screw in my hip-socket.
    I get interviewed,wanded sometimes, frisked or patted dn,interviewed again.Also the batteries are removed from camera and radio.
    So if they frishkedthis guy, they might have found the PETN explosive.He paid cash. His seat assignmnent was over the wing and gas tanks, on the outside wall. Also there is a seam above that area for assembly, I was told.
    Terrorist was nervous and agitated.
    I wonder if he got the materials in Amsterdam, or the detonator.

  • Tbone

    The TSA is nothing more than an Affirmative Action make work program and anyone with a lick of sense knows it.

  • bs

    Instead of all the TSA crapola, the airlines should simply post a sign on the plane that states:

    If you attempt to hijack or otherwise damage or destroy this aircraft, we encourage your fellow passengers to remove you from your seat and beat you until you are dead. Therefore, we suggest you not try anything threatening.

    Simple solution.

  • gekster

    Just because the plane didn’t get blown up only made it a FAILED terrorist attack.
    Still an ATTACK

  • bs

    Further, the security measures they have in place were probably not followed in other respects if they guy smuggled in explosives under his pants.

    Wrong. It would be extremely simple to go through the security line with a plastic bottle of liquid explosive hidden in one’s pants. A baggy pair of sweats would very easily hide a plastic water bottle strapped to a leg, containing any kind of liquid. It’s not metal, therefore it would not be detected by the magnetometer. Hell, I’ve had them miss liquids in the carry-ons that I run through the freaking x-ray machine. But the hidden-on-body problem is a real one that cannot be prevented by current security measures.

    The only way to fix this problem is to either use full-body scanning equipment that the ACLU types have been whining about because they show the naughty bits, or to pat down every passenger when they go thru security. It appears for the time being they are choosing the latter.

  • RedBeard

    The motorhome and the Eisenhower Interstate System.

    Which brings up a good point. I sure miss Ike. I doubt he would have any trouble at all identifying the enemies of his country and formulating a plan to thwart or kill them. Unlike our current “leader.”

  • http://dreamsfrommyforefathers.com RoguePolitics

    Let’s scrap the worthless TSA and put a dozen armed rednecks on every flight. Rednecks speak english and if necessary they can spit Beechnut in Ahab’s eye.

    I know I would feel safer. Especially because I am an armed redneck.

    If terrorists are really focused on disrupting our aviation system why haven’t they just hit the TSA’s checkpoints with bombs?

  • http://dreamsfrommyforefathers.com RoguePolitics

    Let’s scrap the worthless TSA and put a dozen armed rednecks on every flight. Rednecks speak english and if necessary they can spit Beechnut in Ahab’s eye.

    I know I would feel safer. Especially because I am an armed redneck.

    If terrorists are really focused on disrupting our aviation system why haven’t they just hit the TSA’s checkpoints with bombs?

  • dave_in_atl

    Every time I fly anywhere I tend to just wing it and take my full tube of toothpaste, and have a butane lighter on me. I have only had my lighter taken once (as I was leaving the airport to go home :( ) Every other time I have never had an issue getting those two items through security… probably 12 flights in 2 years.

  • paint_it_red

    Personal insults aside, your comment makes no sense at all. You want to get rid of TSA? Do you have any idea how vulnerable air travel and, in turn, the economy, would be without it? What exactly will stop another 9/11? And again, TSA did not fail to screen this guy, the Euro security did. You obviously don’t have the first clue what you are talking about.

  • http://www.the41stvote.org rcov092

    will make them doubly ineffective.

  • Achance

    from Juneau to Anchorage that stops in Yakutat and Cordova, turning an hour and a half flight into a four hour flight. It was winter, the weather was lousy, the ride rough, and the plane late by a couple hours already. Some kid had obviously been drinking since Seattle and was headed for Yakutat. The weather was too bad at Yakutat, so we overheaded and went on to Cordova. The pilot said we’d sit for a while at Cordova and if Yakutat got above minimum, we’d go back. We sit awhile and this kid is getting really agitated. When the pilot comes on and says it is still too bad in Yakutat, the kid goes nuts and goes up to the cockpit door and starts pounding on it and screaming. The flight attendant tries to stop/restrain him and he slugs her. Plane was an all-coach B737 and I was on the aisle only a couple rows back from the galley on the Stbd. side. Big ugly guy across the aisle turns to me ands says, “I’m bigger, you tackle him at the ankles, and I’ll get his arms and take him down.” So we launch on him and he goes nuts kicking, swinging, and screaming. I got kicked in the head and back a couple of times. Other guy got kicked a couple of times and headbutted bad, but we got him. A little the worse for wear and bleeding, but down on the floor with nylon ties on his wrists and ankles. Took the Troopers over half an hour to get there and every time the guy twitched the other guy hit him. By the time the cops got there the bad guy was pretty well tenderized and I was worried about getting charged with assault!

  • manukaudave

    Flights from NZ to the USA will now have to start their clearance Procedures 1 hour earlier. So now the flight time – counter to ground is 17 hours. For the last hour you will not be allowed to leave your seats – (God Help you if you have the Delhi Trots) – and you will not be allowed to have your knees covered, or personal items on your lap for the last hour of the flight!

    And then you get to Immigrantion at LAX!

    It is not a cheerful prospect, and all for a little positive racial profiling!

    Happy New Year to all

  • Tbone

    reasoning that is rampant in government.

    Answer me this Sparko, how many terrorist have really been deterred because you can’t bring nail clippers onboard?

    Just how does not letting people get up in the last hour of a flight deter a terrorist attack?

    As for federal government workers, I am firmly convinced that there are several who are competent and dedicated to serving the taxpayers.

  • bs

    At least 75 flights per year. I assure you that this guy would have had no issues sneaking that liquid thru security, and that’s in the relatively heavy US security checkpoints. The ones I’ve been through outside the US are often even less stringent.

  • RedBeard

    Or are we still being equally suspicious of Methodist grandmothers from Peoria?

  • paint_it_red

    “Sparko.” Hmm. You utterly lack any decorum. You demonstrate a scary lack of common sense. Or the capacity to do any research before launching straw man arguments.

    Are you seriously unaware of how often TSA keeps weapons off airplanes? Any yes, nail clippers are allowed last time I checked, http://www.tsa.gov/press/releases/2002/press_release_0104.shtm.

    Perhaps you would like to fly in a world where there was no airport security? You could call it Hemlock Air, and see how long it lasts.

    Your aspersion upon government workers, (again), sickens me most of all. To me, you represent the worst of our party. You represent the judgmental small subset who would presume 3,000,000 federal employees have no integrity except for the “several who are competent and dedicated to serving taxpayers.” That will do wonders to make inroads for conservativism in the public sector.

    Public servants often work for less money than they could make in the private sector. Its not their fault liberals grow the size of government too large. If you’re pissed off about your tax bill, direct your anger where it belongs.

  • Tbone

    That is pure BS and you know it.

    There will never be great inroads of conservatism. There are two types of people in this Country: Those who pay/paid taxes and those who receive taxes. If you are the former, you should vote for Republicans, if you are the latter, you probably should vote for Democrats.