Practical Travel Safety Issues - Right-Wing WND and Action

World Net Daily is going to work on this.

This popular conservative news site is getting on the bandwagon!

They have an intelligent poll (http://forums.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=1991) that actually looks for various descriptive responses. Requires registration to keep it honest.

They are asking for videos photos and reports (http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=226777).

They put the whole thing at the top (http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=226533) of their very popular web page today.

These guys are going to be our friends on this.

The TSA is a perfect example of government run amok. This issue affects travelers of every political persuasion.

an online campaign is urging everyone who flies the day before Thanksgiving – usually one of the busiest air travel days of the year – to opt out of the new full-body, nude-image scanners.

Who might that be? :)

The TSA is a perfect example of government run amok. This issue affects travelers of every political persuasion.

There are very thing things that could unite this country.

This is one.

Just curious and trying not to drift this off into OMNI/PR, but why is it ok if a left wing site posts something like this but a right wing site requires an apology?

This isn't a political issue. I've met people on both sides who are equally pissed about this.

Just curious and trying not to drift this off into OMNI/PR, but why is it ok if a left wing site posts something like this but a right wing site requires an apology?

This isn't a political issue. I've met people on both sides who are equally pissed about this.

Agree, TSA's Sexual Assaults and Strip Search Machines don't favor one party over another.

A united front fighting against this injustice requires soldiers from all groups.

"The enemy of my enemy is my friend".

Yes, yes, I know it is World Net Daily, but they are going to work on this.

One just has to approach WND with an open but critical mind. Even a as (very) conservative person, I'm sometimes leery of their articles. Generally they do a very thorough (albeit biased) job of reporting, but when they're off the wall, they're way, way off the wall.

The important thing is to look for common ground where people can agree to work together. I decided a couple years ago, for example, that the ACLU has a place in my life. Although I detest a lot of what they've done, they've also done a lot of good, and I feel that they're on the right side on this issue.

... A united front fighting against this injustice requires soldiers from all groups.

Please let me fix that for you: "A united front fighting against this injustice requires soldiers from all gropes."

Just curious and trying not to drift this off into OMNI/PR, but why is it ok if a left wing site posts something like this but a right wing site requires an apology?

This isn't a political issue. I've met people on both sides who are equally pissed about this.

It is because on a few occasions, and not in general, that people have made snarky comments about conservatives, tea party people, Rush Limbaugh (who gave this issue a good shout out yesterday), the new congress, George Bush (and I think the the formation of DHS is a horrible mistake), Drudge Report etc to the point that I felt uncomfortable on this site stating that I am politically conservative. Wrong? Maybe. But, my perception nonetheless. On the other hand, I do not dismiss politically opposite reporting out of hand and I read it and use the good stuff.

My comment may have been wrong to use in the OP, but I wanted everyone to read it before prejudging the location. Sorry if I offended anyone. OP has been changed.

I will say that as a proud tea party neoconservative, I am 100% with the bulk of you on this issue. Politics should be put aside when it comes to silly things like this.

Let's remember that it was Janet Napolitano & company in the Obama admin that came out with glowing statements about this new technology

It is because on a few occasions, and not in general, that people have made snarky comments about conservatives

I try to not get too worked up about conservative versus liberal. I find myself agreeing half the time with one side (when they want less government) and half the time with the other (when they want to preserve the rights of people to do unpopular things).

Luckily, this issue hits both sides - TSA may actually beat Congress and the IRS for least popular sector of the federal government this year.

Let's remember that it was Janet Napolitano & company in the Obama admin that came out with glowing statements about this new technology

And let's not forget that the TSA is Bush's misbegotten abortion of a legacy to start with.

Better yet, let's put POLITICS aside like you said in your first sentence, and not act like feces-throwing partisan babboons like your second. ;)

Luckily, this issue hits both sides - TSA may actually beat Congress and the IRS for least popular sector of the federal government this year.

People are ALWAYS taking approval ratings of congress... why not one of the TSA?

SIMPLE POLL: "Do you approve of the job TSA is doing in our nation's airports?" Yes/No.

I'd bet approval would be somewhere in the 20's.

I will say that as a proud tea party neoconservative, I am 100% with the bulk of you on this issue. Politics should be put aside when it comes to silly things like this.

Let's remember that it was Janet Napolitano & company in the Obama admin that came out with glowing statements about this new technology

I kind of agree with what you said, except that I would put it it like this:

This is an issue that transcends politics because it affects the fundamental freedoms that affect all human beings. The freedom to be secure in our persons, safe from unreasonable searches without reasonable suspicion or probable cause is fundamentally human. It knows no nationality, no race, no age, no creed, no age and no gender.

I proudly stand beside anyone who opposes these intrusions, which are not silly because they are the abrogation of all our rights. You are human, and so am I, and we deserve better.

I kind of agree with what you said, except that I would put it it like this:

This is an issue that transcends politics because it affects the fundamental freedoms that affect all human beings. The freedom to be secure in our persons, safe from unreasonable searches without reasonable suspicion or probable cause is fundamentally human. It knows no nationality, no race, no age, no creed, no age and no gender.

I proudly stand beside anyone who opposes these intrusions, which are not silly because they are the abrogation of all our rights. You are human, and so am I, and we deserve better.

The TSA is the true equal opportunity abuser.

Bizarre. Who created DHS and TSA? The leftists?

Bizarre. Who created DHS and TSA? The leftists?

Not leftists as such, but a republican administration that agreed an authoritarian solution was in order, usually a "leftist" type solution, but this time applied by a center-left administration, not an ideologically conservative administration.

I assume that you asked wanting to know. If your comment was a rhetorical one and an attempt to bring politics into this discussion, please, let's avoid that. This is not a political problem at this point but it may be resolved in the realm of politics.

Late addition:

WND is still at it today (http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=227005)! They are beginning to post experiences. Updated article is at the top of the first page.

They have posted an Online Petition. (http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=226981)

Also a click through to the poll results (http://forums.wnd.com/index.php?pageId=1991&pollShowResults=1)that are coming in are interesting.

An update from World Net Daily (http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=227489), still top of the web site, still piling on. They are bringing in the politics now, which is what they do with most reporting on issues, but that is what has made them a popular site with the ones that read them.

These guys are serious. And, when they grab an issue they are tenacious.

Not leftists as such, but a republican administration that agreed an authoritarian solution was in order, usually a "leftist" type solution, but this time applied by a center-left administration, not an ideologically conservative administration.

Left-right is a false dichotomy:

You and I are told increasingly that we have to choose between a left or right, but I would like to suggest that there is no such thing as a left or right. There is only an up or down–up to a man’s age-old dream, the ultimate in individual freedom consistent with law and order–or down to the ant heap totalitarianism, and regardless of their sincerity, their humanitarian motives, those who would trade our freedom for security have embarked on this downward course. -Ronald Regan

Left-right is a false dichotomy:

You and I are told increasingly that we have to choose between a left or right, but I would like to suggest that there is no such thing as a left or right. There is only an up or down–up to a man’s age-old dream, the ultimate in individual freedom consistent with law and order–or down to the ant heap totalitarianism, and regardless of their sincerity, their humanitarian motives, those who would trade our freedom for security have embarked on this downward course. -Ronald Regan

Absolutely agree. It was the reason for the scare quotes in my previous post. This is about right and wrong, not any political ideology or position.

And in the determination of what is truly right or wrong, people from across the spectrum of politics and beliefs will find common ground. It is a beautiful and amazing thing to see it happen in such a dynamic and exuberantly uncontrolled way.

And let's not forget that the TSA is Bush's misbegotten abortion of a legacy to start with... There is plenty of blame to place all across the political spectrum, and plenty of opposition all across the political spectrum now.

DHS/TSA was part of the Bush administration response to 9/11, but it was enthusiastically supported by the Democratic Congress. It was Tom Daschle who said, "You can't professionalize [airport security] until you federalize," or words to that effect. Neither liberals nor conservatives dared risk looking soft on terrorism. More recently, the Obama administration and Janet Napolitano have been more egregious still.

But the beautiful thing about today's situation is that it unites WorldNetDaily and Washington Times fans with NPR, Mother Jones, ACLU fans against TSA. Putting aside all the other disagreements about how much government ought to do and how to pay for it, at the end of the day people of all political stripes who understand how America is built agree that TSA in inherently anti-American.

When Drudge, WND, Alex Jones, Reuters, NPR, and the unions are all gunning for TSA at the same time, I'm impressed.

Neither liberals nor conservatives dared risk looking soft on terrorism. More recently, the Obama administration and Janet Napolitano have been more egregious still.

After all the talk about civil rights and liberties, due process and habeas corpus in Guantanamo, this is the most disappointing thing about the Obama administration.

I would expect a law professor who taught courses in due process and equal protection law to be a little more zealous in protecting citizens' civil rights. :(

After all the talk about civil rights and liberties, due process and habeas corpus in Guantanamo, this is the most disappointing thing about the Obama administration. I agree with you. I don't want to detour into partisan politics here, but on a whole range of civil liberties issues, from DHS/TSA to the Patriot Act to prosecuting investigative reporters, the Obama administration has been much, more worse than its predecessor.

And in the determination of what is truly right or wrong, people from across the spectrum of politics and beliefs will find common ground. It is a beautiful and amazing thing to see it happen in such a dynamic and exuberantly uncontrolled way.

In that spirit, let's add to the list the conservative Washington Examiner, linked to by Drudge, and their columnist who summarizes here (http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/politics/_Naked-scanners__-Lobbyists-join-the-war-on-terror-1540901-107548388.html) some of the well-connected lobbyists profiting from this.

Worth a read, right up to these final lines:

...But in that same period, more than 150,000 people have been murdered in the United States. We haven't put the entire U.S. on lockdown -- or even murder capitals like Detroit, New Orleans and Baltimore.

While reducing the murder rate to zero is very desirable, we also understand that the costs, in terms of liberty and resources, are too great. But when it comes to air travel, 9/11 seems to have stripped away our ability to put things in perspective.

Politicians feed into that paranoia with their rhetoric. And lobbyists and government contractors feed on the paranoia.

This isn't a right/left issue. I know someone who is a die hard leftie who is in the "Anything for Security" crowd.

Left-right is a false dichotomy:

You and I are told increasingly that we have to choose between a left or right, but I would like to suggest that there is no such thing as a left or right. There is only an up or down–up to a man’s age-old dream, the ultimate in individual freedom consistent with law and order–or down to the ant heap totalitarianism, and regardless of their sincerity, their humanitarian motives, those who would trade our freedom for security have embarked on this downward course. -Ronald Reagan [sic :)]

This isn't a right/left issue. I know someone who is a die hard leftie who is in the "Anything for Security" crowd.

Agreed. See above. ^