Journalist @baltimoresun writer artist runner #amwriting Chaplain PIO #partylikeajournalist

Journalist @baltimoresun writer artist runner #amwriting Chaplain PIO #partylikeajournalist
Journalist @baltimoresun writer artist runner #amwriting Md Troopers Assoc #20 & Westminster Md Fire Dept Chaplain PIO #partylikeajournalist

Monday, April 09, 2007

20070409 Flying in today’s unfriendly skies


Flying in today’s unfriendly skies

April 9th, 2007

If you have not read Crablaw’s April 8th, 2007 post: “Balkin: Princeton Con Law Professor Harrased By TSA,” read it now…

http://www.crablaw.com/2007/04/balkin-princeton-con-law-professor.html

He leads the post with:

Balkinization, April 8, 2007, discussing retired Princeton Constitutional Law professor Walter Murphy's attempt to board a flight to Newark for an academic conference at his former employer (HAT TIP Attaturk at Atrios' Eschaton:

Read the rest here: “Balkin: Princeton Con Law Professor Harrased By TSA.”

I’m not sure if this is more frightening than outrageous or more outrageous than frightening.

Perhaps the only thing I support more than President George W. Bush is the right to criticize him.

If the esteemed Senator Hillary Clinton or Senator Barack Obama or former Senator John Edwards should be elected president - if this is precedence – I won’t even be able to take the bus – I’ll have to walk.

Although I have not yet endured one the many documented hassles while flying, the specter of having the inevitable hassle while flying has become a downer all to itself.

The obvious challenge looming on the horizon is that while the safety implementers are pre-occupied with all the “Mickey Mouse” safety protocols these days, a real terrorist is going to slip through…

Although I do not fly often, in my limited experience, I will say that the most overly officious safety personnel I have encountered are found at BWI. In the several other airports I have utilized, the TSA personnel were much more in the customer service business.

Of course we all want to be able to travel safely and that overwhelming and over-riding dynamic continues to be an impediment to even the most constructive of criticisms of the safety procedures… or personnel.

They have a job to do… I just smile and Zen it all…

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