TSA Detains US Senator

[BDKJMU]

"Standoff With TSA in Nashville Ends

Sen. Rand Paul told his communications director this morning he was being detained by TSA at the Nashville airport.
The Twitter account associated with Paul staffer Moira Bagley, @moirabagley, tweeted around 10 a.m., ET, “Just got a call from @senrandpaul. He’s currently being detained by TSA in Nashville.”
A TSA spokesman disputed that Paul was ever “detained.” But he was not granted access to the secure area of the airport when he tried to board a flight Monday morning.
The standoff was short-lived. By late morning, according to TSA, Paul had been booked on another flight and made it through the screening process.

The TSA version of events is that Paul triggered an alarm during routine airport screening and refused to complete the screening process (pat-down) in order to resolve the issue. Paul was escorted out of the screening area by local law enforcement.
“When an irregularity is found during the TSA screening process, it must be resolved prior to allowing a passenger to proceed to the secure area of the airport,” according to an official statement released by TSA. “Passengers who refuse to complete the screening process cannot be granted access to the secure area in order to ensure the safety of others traveling.”
Paul’s office confirmed he set off an airport security full-body scanner “on a glitch,” according to a spokesman.
The Paul staffer said TSA agents would not let Paul walk back through the body scanner and were demanding a full body pat-down.
The Paul spokesman said his office called TSA administrator John Pistole about the incident this morning.
The U.S. Constitution actually protects federal lawmakers from detention while they’re on the way to the capital.
“The Senators and Representatives…shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felony and Breach of the Peace, be privileged from Arrest during their Attendance at the Session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same….” according to Article I, Section 6.
The Senate is back in session today at 2 p.m., with votes scheduled at 4:30 p.m. It is not clear if Paul will make it to Washington by 4:30 p.m. on his new flight.
The issue of pat-downs has been an important one to Paul, the son of libertarian-leaning Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul. Sen. Paul brought this issue up at a hearing earlier this year."
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/20 ... nashville/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[BDKJMU]

"...‘I was barked at: ‘Do not leave the cubicle!”
http://dailycaller.com/2012/01/23/rand- ... e-cubicle/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[BDKJMU]

"Ron Paul on son’s detention by TSA: ‘Police state’ is ‘growing out of control’"
http://dailycaller.com/2012/01/23/ron-p ... f-control/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[kalm]

Constitution doesn't matter. He's a suspected terrorist.

[BDKJMU]

Constitution doesn't matter. He's a suspected terrorist.

Yeah. Ok.

[kalm]

Constitution doesn't matter. He's a suspected terrorist.

Yeah. Ok.

[grizzaholic]

Fuck Rand Paul. In the last 2 weeks I have received 6 8x11 envelopes from this fucker. I hope he dies tonight so I don't get anymore from him.

[BDKJMU]

Yeah. Ok.

I just reported the news on this but didn't give an opinion. You just ASSumed that I was 100% behind Paul. For all you know I could be siding with the TSA on this.

[BDKJMU]

I actually think Rand Paul has a point but went a little overboard in making it.

I started this thread because this broke nationally yesterday and I was curious to hear what others think- not about Rand Paul per se but about the TSA and his complaints about it.

[DSUrocks07]

TSA does go overboard but these are the times we live in. Americans are all running scared. I'm just waiting for the day until TSA become the administrator of the DMVs, a national ID system and set up security checkpoints at state borders and outside major cities. Maybe then people will realize (albeit too late...as usual), the slippery slope that sacrificing for the sake of "public safety" really means.

[dbackjon]

If he had just agreed to the pat down, no biggie. I had an anomaly when I went through pre-screening, they patted me down, I was on my way.


Friggin Drama Queen.

[kalm]

If he had just agreed to the pat down, no biggie. I had an anomaly when I went through pre-screening, they patted me down, I was on my way.


Friggin Drama Queen.

[HI54UNI]

If he had just agreed to the pat down, no biggie. I had an anomaly when I went through pre-screening, they patted me down, I was on my way.


Friggin Drama Queen.

Heard a radio interview with Rand yesterday on the drive home. He claims TSA staff told him the machines are programmed to create these "anomalies" randomly so they can pat people down. His complaint is that if it happens you should be able to be screened again and if there is nothing there you go through. If the anomaly comes up again you have to do the pat down. He may have a valid point. If you go through the metal detector and set it off they let you try and fix the issue and go through again.

[CID1990]

If he had just agreed to the pat down, no biggie. I had an anomaly when I went through pre-screening, they patted me down, I was on my way.


Friggin Drama Queen.

I doubt Paul's "anomaly" was a little boner the size of a Vienna sausage like your anomaly was.

[dbackjon]

If he had just agreed to the pat down, no biggie. I had an anomaly when I went through pre-screening, they patted me down, I was on my way.


Friggin Drama Queen.

I doubt Paul's "anomaly" was a little boner the size of a Vienna sausage like your anomaly was.

He is a Republican Politician, so maybe there was a little kid in line in front of him. Did Paul go to The Citadel?

[mainejeff]

If he had just agreed to the pat down, no biggie. I had an anomaly when I went through pre-screening, they patted me down, I was on my way.


Friggin Drama Queen.

I doubt Paul's "anomaly" was a little boner the size of a Vienna sausage like your anomaly was.

Gay guys are hung like horses..........don't be bitter.

[houndawg]

@ the image of a Senator getting his junk thumped.

[UNI88]

If he had just agreed to the pat down, no biggie. I had an anomaly when I went through pre-screening, they patted me down, I was on my way.


Friggin Drama Queen.

Heard a radio interview with Rand yesterday on the drive home. He claims TSA staff told him the machines are programmed to create these "anomalies" randomly so they can pat people down. His complaint is that if it happens you should be able to be screened again and if there is nothing there you go through. If the anomaly comes up again you have to do the pat down. He may have a valid point. If you go through the metal detector and set it off they let you try and fix the issue and go through again.

I agree with Jon on this one. Paul is right about TSA being heavy handed and that there should be an opportunity to go through the detector again but I'm happy he was treated the same as a regular flyer. He should have respected the process and then made hay about it later.

[AZGrizFan]

If he had just agreed to the pat down, no biggie. I had an anomaly when I went through pre-screening, they patted me down, I was on my way.


Friggin Drama Queen.

Yeah, I'm sure Rand Paul was carrying a backpack full of C-4. It's stupid shit like this (usually in the name of political correctness) that causes/allows the REAL terrorists to get through without being noticed...TSA should just go away. Period.

The only thing worse than NO security is the ILLUSION of security, and that is all the TSA provides.

[CID1990]

I doubt Paul's "anomaly" was a little boner the size of a Vienna sausage like your anomaly was.

Gay guys are hung like horses..........don't be bitter.

Listen here you two ladies:

When your better says something really funny like I did, you just shut the fvck up and don't respond.

When you try to come back with some fudge packer retort you just make all the other queers look bad.