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

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

These people are really just 2 digit IQ fools.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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!

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

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