Today's New York Times has an article about Dan Quayle's traveling experiences, focusing on his two episodes of deep-vein thrombosis. The article also mentions security:
"By the way, don't think that the airport security bureaucracy is unduly impressed when a former vice president shows up at the gate. That fair-haired fellow you see at the checkpoint in his stocking feet with his arms outstretched while a guard wands him under the ever-watchful eye of a rifle-toting National Guard warrior in camouflaged fatigues could well be Dan Quayle.
"On his recent trip to Taipei, he was about to board the plane when a security guard told him to step aside.
"She says, `Random check go over there,' " Mr. Quayle said. "I go, `Pardon me? What random check? Check for what?' And she says, `Go over there!' "
"Over there was an airline employee who apologized politely for the intrusion, while searching the former vice president's briefcase thoroughly. "A very nice lady, just doing her job," Mr. Quayle said.
"On another recent trip, he was at Reagan National Airport when a security guard discovered a pair of toenail clippers in his carry-on bag.
"It was hilarious," Mr. Quayle said. At the airport, lots of fellow passengers recognized him, at least as a famous governmental face. "Half the people said `Hi, Mr. Vice President,' and the other half said `Hi, Senator,' and this guy is sitting there watching," with the toenail-clipper contraband in hand, he said.
"Finally, he says. `Well, do you want this with the metal file on the end of it?' And I said, `Well, what's my choice here?' And he said, 'I can break it off and give you your nail clippers back. Otherwise I have to keep these as nail clippers.' I said, `Well, I'd like to have my nail clippers back.' So he just broke off" the file, "and I was on my way," Mr. Quayle said.
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I hate to see people so accepting of this nonsense. A guy as well-known as Quayle should object. It would help all of us. Instead, he chooses to be one of the sheeple. Maybe he really is stupid!
Bruce