U.S Senator Diane Feinstein responds to The Swill Bucket, applauds TSA’s efforts

Dear Mr. Hamilton:

 Thank you for contacting me to express your concerns about the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) use of whole-body imaging scanners and pat-downs.  I appreciate the time you took to write and welcome the opportunity to respond.

 As you may know, the TSA began using advanced imaging technology (AIT) in February of 2007.  These scanners produce a three-dimensional image of passengers, allowing TSA officials to quickly and efficiently search for prohibited carry-on items.  Following the attempted bombing of Northwest Flight 253 over the United States on December 25, 2009, the TSA has accelerated scanner installation, placing 450 whole-body imaging scanners across the country.

 I understand you have concerns that full-body scanners and pat-downs may pose privacy concerns.  You may be interested to know that the TSA has taken steps to ensure every passenger’s privacy.  Specifically, images from AIT machines are viewed in a remote location, away from the screening process.  Once the TSA official has viewed the image, that image is then permanently erased.  In addition, only passengers who alarm a walk-through metal detector or a whole body image scanner or opt out of the AIT machines are subject to a pat-down. These pat-downs are performed by same-gender TSA officers and all passengers have the right to a private screening with a witness at any time.

 I believe the failed Christmas Day bombing plot is a reminder that it is important to meet our critical national security needs.  I understand these procedures have caused inconvenience and discomfort for passengers; however, critics of these security screenings must consider the possible consequences of relaxing our security measures.  Protecting American lives from terrorist attacks is, and must be, the nation’s highest priority.  Please know that I value your opinion and will keep your concerns in mind as I work to strengthen airport security, while continuing to protect individual privacy.

 If you have general concerns about TSA policies, I would encourage you to visit http://www.tsa.gov to view current policies for travelers. Additionally, if you have not already done so, I would encourage you to contact the TSA directly to share feedback about current policies. This may be done either by phone at (866) 289-9673 or by email at TSA-ContactCenter@dhs.gov.

Once again, thank you for writing.  Should you have any additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact my Washington, D.C. office at (202) 224-3841.  Best regards.

Sincerely yours,

 Dianne Feinstein

 United States Senator

Further information about my position on issues of concern to California and the Nation are available at my website http://feinstein.senate.gov/public/.  You can also receive electronic e-mail updates by subscribing to my e-mail list at http://feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ENewsletterSignup.Signup. Feel free to checkout my YouTube page http://www.youtube.com/Senatorfeinstein

Homeland Security troll busted spamming We Won’t Fly

“Fuck you, Fuck all you cocksuckers, you wont change anything. ride the bus, TSA is here to stay there [sic] doing a great job keeping americia [sic] safe.”

The message was clear enough. It’s a typical hate message one gets for saying anything controversial about anything in this Land of the Free. But someone traced the source and found it had come to We Won’t Fly from someone at the Department of Homeland Security:

Read more:

TSA terrorizes 4-year-old disabled boy in Philadelphia

Jack Cafferty asks: Is the TSA going too far when it makes a 4-year-old disabled boy remove his leg braces?
Shawn Hamilton answers: “Yes, Jack. We’re glad you finally noticed.”

Hear more on this ridiculous TSA exploit here:

Note: This isn’t a recent story but from February 2010. It shows that the new TSA policies, reprehensible and misguided as they are currently, are not a new phenomenon. TSA has been focusing its laser eyes and giving “freedom pats” to infants, disabled people, and our elders for a long time.

Why the TSA pat-downs and body scans are unconstitutional

Thanks to René Hamilton and Donald Sage Mackay  for submitting this to Swill! 

By Jeffrey Rosen,  Sunday, November 28, 2010

The protest on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving was called National Opt-Out Day, and its organizers urged air travelers to refuse the Transportation Security Administration’s full-body scanning machines.

But many appeared to have opted out of opting out. The TSA reported that few of the 2 million people flying Wednesday chose pat-downs over the scanners, with few resulting delays.

Read entire story here:

KPFA Story on ‘We Won’t Fly’ Opt Out Day Protest

I just filed this story on KPFA Radio about the ‘We Won’t Fly’ campaign. The story treats it more fairly than mainstream McMedia that all read from the same AP script and said the event “fizzled” too early in the day for there to have been time to accurately assess it. That reminded me of the story about John Tyner, the man of “don’t touch my junk” fame. Immediately after that story broke, the media was reporting that “8 out of 10” Americans supported the TSA’s actions in the case when clearly there had been insufficient time to have conducted a valid poll. It was an example of media not reporting news but manufacturing it. That’s what we saw yesterday in coverage of Opt Out Day.

It didn’t fizzle. TSA backed off for the day and fewer people were flying due to We Won’t Fly’s efforts. Accolades to those who protested despite the lack of support by others.

“National ‘We Won’t Fly’ Opt Out Day Protest”  Audio Here

Source: (http://www.kpfa.org/archive/id/65596)

17 minutes, 45 seconds into broadcast (about 4 minutes long)