First Hand Account of a Pat Down

I had to fly to Phoenix last week on business and pleasure, escaping the sub zero temperatures of Northern Utah for the milder climes of the flaming bird. Got up to the scanner point and the TSA agent, noticing my shock of gray hair and other obvious tip offs to shady character hood, waved me over to the full body scanner. I politely refused. "Got an opt out here," spoke the agent into his shoulder mike, and had me stand to the side. After about five minutes, they shut down the full body scanner and the agent tending it waved me over to where my removable stuff had passed through the baggage scanner. While walking over, he was busy donning his latex gloves. Asking me to point out, but not touch my stuff, he grabbed the bin and directed me to the screening area. He informed me that I was going to receive a comprehensive pat down and began the process, informing me every step of the way. When he got to the "sensitive" areas, he said he was using the back of his hands. The entire pat down was minimally intrusive and did not invade my "junk." When he was through, I looked him in the eye and politely stated, "I hope you understand you have just violated my 4th Amendment rights." He made no reply and I departed.

In summary, I do believe TSA has backed off on the intrusiveness of the pat down, at least in my case. Maybe as an old gray haired guy, I was actually profiled. Or, it could be that they have been instructed not to be as aggressive in the past. Secondly, I found it interesting that they shut down the full body scanner shortly after I opted out. Perhaps only coincidence, but I do believe when they are short on manning they don't want to push too many people into the pat down.

I still believe that the full body scan and the pat down exceed "reasonable search and seizure of person and effects" and should be eliminated. I also believe that the only way to effect this change is through public pressure, Congress, and the courts.

JP

Powerful Stuff, If True

I came across this site and started reading the series supposedly obtained through interviews with a Democrat White House Insider. Amazing series, and since they were published before the election (for the most part), pretty spot on. The big story, of course, is that Hillary is getting ready to step in when Obama stumbles. See for yourself at  White House Insider

JP

Are TSA Scanners Safe? You Be The Judge

Here is some science to bring into question the safety of the TSA scanners.

Body Scanners May Be More Dangerous Than Feds Admit.



http://www.newsmaxhealth.com/health_stories/blaylock_TSA_scan_safety/2010/11/24/363489.html?s=al&promo_code=B2F7-1

How I Got to Flyover Country--Sort Of

From his boyhood home on a tobacco farm in Maryland, my great grandfather Raphael Morgan made his way West during the Civil War years at the age of sixteen. Finally settling in Montana, he married a 1/2 Indian woman and founded a large family and an even larger ranch. The following article, written by Linda Reno, a St Mary's County genealogical researcher, provides some interesting details. Her article was published in the latest issue of the magazine, Country Times.

"Raphael Morgan, son of James Alexander Morgan and his second wife, Mary Ann Delahay was born near Morganza December 16, 1849. Initially the Morgans were very prosperous and lived on the land James had inherited from his father, Raphael Morgan (died 1833).
The Morgan family went through some very hard times during the 1860s. In 1863, they lost their property through foreclosure, but things were to get even worse. On June 27, 1864 James Veasey Morgan (James Morgan’s son by his first wife, Ann Priscilla Howard), age 26 and Alice Morgan (Mary Ann’s daughter), age 20, both died. Alice had just been married three weeks before to William Burroughs. Then, just a little over two weeks later, on July 13, 1864, Mary Ann (Delahay) Morgan also died. All three were buried in the Old St. Joseph’s Cemetery at Morganza. James Morgan died in December 1871 and is buried beside his wife.
In 1865 Raphael left home and headed west. He went first to Cottonwood, Nebraska where he obtained employment herding stock. In 1870 he moved to Montana where he worked for several ranchers herding cattle. About 1875 he rented a ranch and began raising his own stock.
On July 28, 1880 at Choteau, Montana Raphael married Mary Weipert, daughter of Isaac Weipert (born in Quebec, Canada). Mary’s mother was from the Blackfoot Indian tribe. In 1886 Raphael and his wife secured 1,120 acres (Indian allotment claims) in Teton County, Montana.
In Teton Co. Becker and McLean of Medicine Hat, N W T have purchased 500 head of horses from Raphael Morgan and are now preparing to drive the herd overland to their destination. The brands will be vented near Cutback.” (Anaconda Standard, Montana, 7/20/1899).
At the time of the 1910 census, Raphael and his family were living at the Ft. Belknap Indian Agency in Chouteau County, Montana. Raphael was listed separately from his wife and 11 children who were in the same place but were listed as a part of the Indian population.
By 1920 the family had moved to Spokane, Washington where Raphael died on March 10, 1927. His obituary read: Pioneer Once Hunted With Buffalo Bill. Raphael Morgan, 78, whose funeral was held yesterday, was one of the pioneers of the Pacific northwest, arriving in Montana 64 years ago when Indians and buffalo were the chief inhabitants of that state. For two years he hunted game with Buffalo Bill, riding with the ox teams that brought freight from the Missouri river to Helena and shooting game for the drivers. Mr. Morgan later entered the cattle and sheep business and was one of the large stock raisers of Montana. He was twice shot by Indians and had frequent brushes with them in the early days. He came to Spokane in 1913.
Mary (Weipert) Morgan died in 1833. She and Raphael are buried in the Riverside Memorial Park Cemetery in Spokane, Washington."

By Linda Reno, Charlotte Hall, MD

JP

TSA--Some Facts to Consider

The TSA full body scan and pat down controversy has reached a fever pitch. Lot of rhetoric out there, but its time to calm down and examine this controversy from a factual, not emotional standpoint. To that direction, I offer the following:

1. Fact. In 2008 about 756 million Americans traveled on domestic airlines. I assume that they all went through TSA screening. As far as I know, there were no terrorist attacks that originated on U.S. soil. TSA must be doing a hell of a job.

2. Fact. Since 9/11, all attempted terrorist attacks via our airlines have originated overseas.

3. Fact. About 9 million passengers pass through Ben Gurion airport undergoing Israeli screening. It is considered the gold standard of air travel screening.

4. Fact. About 46 million passengers are screened at Las Vegas airport alone each year. Nationwide, about 756 million as mentioned above. Think we could fully apply Israeli methods to our system? Opinion: I think not.

5. Fact. Since and including 9/11 we have either uncovered or prevented or lucked out on numerous terrorist plots against airline travel or domestic high value targets. Sixty two of the plotters were Muslim with Muslim names. Of the numerous attempts, only one, Richard Reid had a non Muslim name, although he did admit that he was a member of Al Qaeda.

6. Fact. The full body scanners may not detect explosives such as the underwear bomber carried. (GAO report April 2010)

7. Fact. Michael Chertoff’s consulting firm represents Rapiscan, a company that recently sold TSA 15 million dollars worth of full body scanners. Michael Chertoff used to be the head of Homeland Security.

8. Fact. Tom Blank, the former Deputy Director of TSA, now works for Wexler and Walker, a lobby firm that represents American Science and Engineering, that manufactures another full body scanner.

9. Fact. The 4th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibits un-reasonable search of person and property of U.S. citizens.

I’m not going to hop on my soap box here and offer my solution to this controversy. I know what I would do, but I’m not in charge. The facts speak for themselves. You draw your own conclusions. I do know that since I do fly often, that if given a choice of the scanner or the pat down, I will elect the pat down, and politely inform the TSA agent that he is violating my Constitutional rights as he performs his search of my person.

JP

New Jersey Challenges TSA--A Big Attaboy!

Now we are getting somewhere. Would be nice if some other states jumped on the bandwagon. Saw some cracks in the administration position this AM. Hillary Clinton, on Face the Nation, opined that maybe we should find a way to reduce the numbers of people undergoing the invasive screening. In other words, Positive Profiling, like they already have with the Pilots.

Watch the New Jersey news conference  at :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EUJb_DJgBc&feature=related

Easiest way is to just click on the title above.

JP

TSA Caves on Youngsters and Pilots

Of course, that leaves the rest of us for the Peep Show and Grope. Ron Paul introduces a House Resolution to ban all touching. Pelosi sends it immediately to committee, where it will never see the light of day until after Jan 11, 2011. Keep up the pressure on your members of Congress, folks. We may just win this one after all.

Click on the Title to read the full article about the pilots.

JP