Rand Paul’s Pat-Down Standoff With TSA in Nashville Ends

Flipping crazy idiot.

TSA is nuts – plain and simple. They think your grandma might be a terrorist, a 5 year old girl might be a terrorist, a Senator might be a terrorist.

And the reality is – no, they aren’t.

I understand TSA agents can’t be trusted to use common sense, but they can be trained to simulate common sense with a lot of training – let’s start with the idea that members of the Senate don’t need to be pat down.

How is standing up against having your balls groped by a TSA agent being “flipping crazy”?

TSA is nothing but Federal Security Agents doing unconstitutional searches of persons and papers WITHOUT a warrant. They have no PROBABLE CAUSE to search you. Protect and preserve our Constitutional rights. Vote Ron Paul 2012 to return our Country to Constitutional values and restore an economy based on sound financial policy not bankers’ greed.

The TSA publishes a yearly list of their top 10 catches.

If you check the list, you will quickly see the one thing the TSA has never caught in the decade since it was created: a terrorist.

Yes, several terrorists have been on airplanes since 9/11. None of them were stopped by the TSA. It is time to stop the invasive security theater and replace it with actual security.

So did they call the police like they would with the rest of us or did they just make him miss his plane? I set it off all the time and get a pat down. I just wish they would buy me dinner first.

Go Get’em Rand!!! We’re behind you 1000000%

We should not be subjected to unreasonable searches of our body. Senators and Congressmen should be given every respect. We should have probable cause before we are searched! Glad that someone in our government understands this.

If he misses a vote, the people should take to the streets.

Go Rand Paul!

Drive a stake through the TSA’s evil heart!

U.S. Constitution, Article 1 Section 6:

The Senators and Representatives shall receive a Compensation for their Services, to be ascertained by Law, and paid out of the Treasury of the United States. They 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; and for any Speech or Debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other Place.”

The Senate is in Session.
This is a violation of the US Constitution both here and on multiple other levels.

This is just an example of an arrogant man in a position of power who figures that the rules do not apply to him.

Ummm…. Article 1 Section 6: They 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; and for any Speech or Debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other Place.

Seems like a really stupid fight to pick, TSA.

Good for him! TSA is out of control. The need to giving the third degree to Arabs and Muslims and leave the rest of us alone. This political correctness of not profiling is insane.

This guy is a SENATOR and on an airplane every other day. They STILL don’t know who he is??? How disgusting TSA.

Article 1 Section 6:
Members attending, going to or returning from either House are privileged from arrest,

From the article:
The Senate is back in session today at 2 p.m., with votes scheduled at 4:30 p.m.

God Bless the Pauls!!! The only true patriots in government.

PS – if you’ve ever been through a TSA checkpoint, you’ll notice that they are semi-literate at best. Expecting them to have watched the news and have kept abreast of current events is expecting WAY too much. Go Randy!!

Up until now, i was hostile towards the TSA about their over doing it at the airports, but now that Rand Paul is against them i realize that perhaps i was wrong–because anything the republicans oppose, i know that i should support. As we all know, Conservatives are inherently evil, and i mean that with all due sincerity. Republicans ARE evil incarnated, they oppose every single thing Jesus stood for, and they are the living, philosophical progeny of the Nazis of the 1940s.

He was on his way to speak at the March for Life in Washington, DC.

Liberty means that the government has no right to be searching people without probable cause. It’s also a property rights issue. The government couldn’t stop 9/11 so they decided to treat all Americans as possible terrorist and expand in a more intrusive way. That is wrong,because we are citizens not subjects. The last 10 years have shown a very unhealthy expansion of federal power. You may accept it now, because it doesn’t seem that bad, but I ask: Where does it stop and what happens when we all come to the conclusion that it has gone to far? At that point it will be to late for any of us to do anything… world history has shown us that. If we want greater security on airplanes then demand it through the market and the airlines, not through the government. Government power eventually leads to sinister acts.

To the people who say SENATOR Rand Paul (member of the legislative branch) is “flippin crazy” or an “idiot” or “he think’s rules don’t apply to him” … would you idiot liberals say the same thing if President Obama (a member of a CO-EQUAL branch of government, the executive branch) were detained by TSA? come on now.. your partisanship is showing

No one has to try to embarass the TSA–they are doing it themselves.

As I see it, even having a TSA is unconstitutional. Such an agency violates the individual’s right to NOT have an unfair and unwarranted search and seizure. Posted by: Ed Hartwell | January 23, 2012, 11:11 am.

It is very, very easy to make sure you are never subjected to a TSA patdown or scrutiny. Do not CHOOSE to fly. There is no constitutional right to use a private enterprise (the airlines) to travel. Flying is a priviledge and a choice. Don’t want to follow the rules? Then don’t choose to fly. Simple, really. He easily could have driven there, it just would have taken a few hours longer. But he would not have been able to make the news if he chose that option.

It’s funny. You same people here screaming that this is unconstitutional and an invasion of our privacy would be screaming bloody murder if a criminal or a terrorist DID get through the TSA screening and DID do something bad.

Everyone here forgets that you don’t HAVE to fly. If you don’t like being patted down, scanned, interrogated, etc, then take a bus. Does anyone remember 9/11? A plane can be used as a weapon and I, for one, do not mind the security.

And yes, it could be a grandma, a kid, anyone. That’s what the terrorists do, anything they can (desperation is their mantra) and what they will one day try here. I remember people saying, “That’s Europe, that stuff will never happen here.” Well, guess they were wrong, and we all paid the price.

If you want to fly, follow the rules, stop complaining when you get patted down, stfu and get on the plane.

Well good for him, the TSA is abusing their authority in a regular basis when they can strip search
an elderly woman in diapers or steal someone’s cupcake! Someone needs to take a stand SOMEWHERE! It amazes me that we continue the stranglehold on the American traveler at airports when Napolitano has wide open southern border where anyone can cross at any time for any reason!

So does that mean that If I go through a TSA security checkpoint and it goes off, I can tell the TSA agent to go to hell and just get on the plane?

If a mother of three has to be pat down, so do you Rand.
If an elderly woman in a wheelchair has to be pat down, so do you.

If you think these checks are invasive, I agree, but they are not against the constitution. You have every right to get in your car and drive to wherever it is you want to go. If you want to go on a plane, you have to go through security.

TSA refused to let me empty a water bottle that went with me to 14ers I had for years. Insisted I had to go back to end of a line over an hour long. Said 2 hours before flight wasn’t long enough.

Coming back thru, TSA supervisor told me this was BS and policy was that the screener was supposed to have walked me back around.

What about the lethal water? They dropped it in a trash can next to them and then stood beside that bomb the rest of the day.

So what will prevent them from detaining all Republican representatives before a close vote? Anyone? Are there ANY limits? any?

Thank a Republican for violating your rights against unlawful search and siezure…thank the supreme court for endorsing it.

Thank Geo W

There is NO Constitutional right to fly. They can institute any rules they want.

I don’t like Rand Paul and would think that his arrogance has more to do with his stance than his care about American Liberties, but I’ll take a victory where I can get it. Rand Paul– You go guy; stand up and protect us from our chicken liver selves!

Are you guys for real? The TSA trying to see if you are carrying a bomb in your jock (like that never happened before) because you refused the scanner is an attack on your “liberties?” Ummm… I expect the TSA to do that and lock up people like Rand Paul because I expect to fly in peace. Either many of you have never been on a plane before, or you think that the TSA will make you into something by inspecting your testicle area is hilarious! You people are delusional!!!!

Not true “a cynic”. I accept danger for Liberty. However, the rules have chained and the “mommy” feds have been fired from handling any actual hijacking. Now that passengers handle the response, there have been zero successful in over a decade.

That is something the totalitarian, cowardly control freaks do not want you to realize.

Also, there IS a constitutional right to free interstate travel, and using public common carriers is not a licensed privilege. If it is, what would be an example of a right to travel? Walk?

The TSA detention of Rand Paul is unconstitutional.

Article I Section. 6.

Clause 1: The Senators and Representatives shall receive a Compensation for their Services, to be ascertained by Law, and paid out of the Treasury of the United States. (See Note 6) They shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felony and Breach of the Peace, beprivileged from Arrest during their Attendance at the Session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same; and for any Speech or Debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other Place.

Uh, Cynic, last I checked is the federal government didn’t stop 9/11. Which brings up bigger issues…like what motivates Islamic terrorist to fly planes into buildings in the first place? What you fail to understand, like many anti-2nd Amendment people, is that if someone wants to kill you, they will find a way. And we should be cautious about giving up liberty in the name of security. I object as an law abiding American citizen to the complete disregard of the U.S. Constitution in the name of security. Is there a need for security? Sure, but there is a better way than the TSA and a federal government police state

George, I am against the TSA, not for it. I want it disbanded. The problem has been that members of Congress usually don’t have to be put through the same screening as everyone else, so they haven’t seen it as a problem. If the government really wanted to stop terrorists, they would close the borders and deport illegals from all countries.

So, he set off the alarm and refused a pat-down? He probably had a weapon on him and refused the pat-down to avoid being arrested. The TSA may be very unpopular, but it is their job to ensure that people do not board planes with weapons.

Time to let our representative hear our voice concerning the TSA much like we did the SOPA and PIPA acts. Stuff gets done when everyone pressures them all at the same time. NOW GO!

Article 1 Section 6 of the US Constitution. “They (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; and for any speech or debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other place.”

Good for Rand Paul! NO American—whatever their station, religion, race or ethnicity—should be subject to random, warrantless searches of property or person. No free people can long endure the humiliation of such totalitarian impositions. Which raises the question: are we still a *free people*?

Certainly, those who whine that Sen. Paul should obey the “rules” and submit should be excluded from this category; for they embrace their chains and hate—as only the envious can—those with the courage and conviction to resist bondage.

Its amazing how ABC forgets to mention that he requested a second screening as opposed to the TSA pedi-feel pat down.

And since when did “reporting news” consist of NOT interviewing both parties involved in the event? Way to go ABC your about as useful as the TSA and Obama Administration!!!

sick of the mindless TSA monster…

detaining US Senators and old ladies in wheel chairs

nit-wits who get their jollies watching naked people in security scanners

Vee moost haff compleet compliance. No exceptions. Papiere gefallen (papers please) When will the Americans get enough of this?

US Army Blue: “It is very, very easy to make sure you are never subjected to a TSA patdown or scrutiny. Do not CHOOSE to fly. There is no constitutional right to use a private enterprise (the airlines) to travel. Flying is a priviledge and a choice. Don’t want to follow the rules? Then don’t choose to fly. Simple, really. He easily could have driven there, it just would have taken a few hours longer. But he would not have been able to make the news if he chose that option.”

Who defined flying as a privilege? By that logic, moving myself as an individual is a privilege that can be taken away by someone else? I don’t think so. What other “privileges” do you feel we have that you feel like you can take away if you so choose?
Let’s let your logic run it’s eventual course, shall we. Everything in life is a choice and since there are nearly always multiple choices for any given action, those choices are privileges that you can take away. Therefore, we can set up traffic stops anywhere we want and if you don’t want to subject yourself, don’t drive. Home owners are a threat because the public doesn’t know what’s going on in their private dwellings, therefore the government will be searching all homes on a regular basis. If you don’t want to subject yourself to this, don’t own a home. Renters, because they don’t own their homes, are not subject to the same privacy rights, therefore they will also be searched. You’re bank records are already monitored by the government, if you don’t want to subject to having your bank records monitored, don’t bank. The government has decided that most of the food you eat is unhealthy, therefore the privilege of deciding what you will eat will be closely monitored and your diet modified if the government feels it necessary. etc. etc. ad nausium all in the name of protecting you from the entire freaking universe.

I take it the TSA is not aware of the revolution? Or they are and were told to probe all patriots.

Would someone tell me the educational requirements for a TSA agent. If it is public high school or less then I understand the lack of common sense and critical thinking skills.

I see the Article I Section VI aspect is finally getting some play….and the light on the misreporting on the “pro-life” rally, when of course….BEFORE that he’s in the SENATE.

My fellow American’s ALERT ALERT ALERT

Newt Thinks the constitution should be replaced as stated in his book google, iitHow can anyone be elected who will not uphold the us Constitution.

Stephen

It embarrasses me that people are posting support for this kind of behavior in this country ( not to mention that they targeted a US Senator, wouldn’t you just apologize and send him on his way?). You tell us we don’t have to fly if we don’t like the searches, well, I think it would be better for us to keep our rights and ask you to go live somewhere else if you don’t like the our constitution.

P.S. Yes I remember 9/11, I was standing on Liberty St. when the 2nd plane flew over my head. And I will continue to stand on Liberty St. instead of Fear St.

Some TSA agents and supervisors are going to have to lose their jobs over this unbelievable infringement of the Constitution.

Actually, we should scrap the entire agency as an affront to the Constitution.

ed there wont be a next time for terorrists on an airplane cause mark whalbergs gonna fly up there and kick some arse. all kidding aside there wont be a next time . any terrorist will be confronted and dealt with in our new world as they have been and not by TSAsince the TSA as they let them on the plane. get rid of TSA…..we cant because they are almost unionized now and this will become an entitkemnt.

Aw, come-on Rand. The TSA just wants to get a feel on how big your “package” is.

To those of you that keep posting the constitution…….Does anyone know for sure that he had not committed a felony? If he set off an alarm, maybe he had a gun in his pocket. I know that is an extreme example, but I’m not so sure Article 1 Section 6 should just allow them to circumvent the rules either.

Posted by: Ed | January 23, 2012, 11:46 am 11:46 am——I would be more worried why the people on board chose to do nothing and just wait for it to happen. After 9/11 no one is ever going to hijack a US plane again, the passengers, assuming they are not all wussies.

Paul is 100% correct and is being illegally detained.

Hmmm….i guess the next filibuster will fail because unionized tsa apparatchiks will detain a few wrong headed senators traveling to dc to vote? On a union matter per chance? Given technology today why convene in person at all? Video conferencing can replace in presence sessions. Also it would keep the representatives closer to the constituency and less prone to DC armtwisting.

The “flipping crazy” people are the ones that allow their freedom to be stripped away day by day. Use your brains. If a terrorist wanted to kill people at an airport, it would be much simpler to blow himself up standing in line to get through the security line. He’d still take out a lot of people, and would cause fear and headlines. It’s unlawful search plain and simple.

Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. ~ Ben Franklin

“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.

~If you do not follow the law, you are in “Breach of the Peace” this is clearly speeled out. If the man cant follow the law that has been imposed on the rest of us, by his legislative body, then perhaps he should actively work to change the law. I would support that. Until then rules is rules, and you are in “breach of the peace” Senator.

Yes, there is already a protection in the Constitution (Article 1 Section 8 Clause 3). The words of it have been interpreted to mean one state or fed can not infringe on a person’s business/commerce from state to state. Back in those days they were talking about water ways and roads. From my quick research I see railroads too. Flying must be included by extension as it is just a newer form of travel and transporting goods. So if I am going from Atlanta to San Jose for business, I am conducting interstate commerce. I am doing so via another company just as people would have done a long time ago. Therefore I am automatically allowed to go as long as the airline will take me. Current TSA practices break that Constitutional tenet.

@TO US ARMY BLUE: It is very, very easy to make sure you are never subjected to a TSA patdown or scrutiny. Do not CHOOSE to fly. There is no constitutional right to use a private enterprise (the airlines) to travel. Flying is a priviledge and a choice.

so let me get this straight, HE set off the alarm. then HE refused to let the TSA agents pat him down. if i had done that, i would have been detained. but guess what, he was not detained. and now he is lieing about what happened. im guessing the apple doesnt fall far from the tree.

He set off the alarm. All others who set off the alarm must comply with being patted down/wanded/singled out for extra screening.

I don’t care that he thinks he’s above the law, he isn’t and must comply with security procedures.

He’s probably packing heat, which is against regulations and thinks his name should allow him to break the rules. He’s wrong, his name means nothing to the TSA or to about 99.999% of America.

Frankly I’m not so concerned about about this incident violating Article 1 Section 6, which prevents detention and other harassment of legislators. There are only 535 of them.

I’m more concerned about how the TSA’s screenings routinely violate the Fourth Amendment for us other 320 million citizens: “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”

A full-body grope IS an “unreasonable search,” and I have never heard of any of the TSA’s fondlings having been done for “probable cause,” much less in compliance with any pre-issued warrant.

THESE ARE YOUR RIGHTS, PEOPLE! Stand up for them or they CAN AND WILL be denied to you!

OCMarsha, you do realize that due to their diplomatic immunity, your fantasy would be just about the only thing that could explain the situation. (Even then, I’m not sure if they could detain him.) What I would love to know is if you’ll put your money where your mouth is and admit that if he wasn’t packing heat, then the TSA were wrong. My guess is no, you will continue to think up excuses. You know, I’m not really interested in your excuses for the TSA. I’d much rather hear it from them. BTW – they are not claiming what you claim. They’re just doing the denial dance again and claiming they didn’t detain him. Kinda blows you out of the water before you even spoke. Just sayin’.

I don’t blame the actual agents. Their just doing their job. But I sure do blame the federal government for turning the nation into a fear mongering nation.
People live free or stay locked up in your homes if your scared !
This is AMERICA–Land of the FREE…don’t like it? Then leave it !!!

Good for him standing up to the TSA! Every American should do the same. I’m amazed that anyone is willing to go thought the scanners given the potential risk from the radiation and cancer. They are testing the TSA agents for radiation impact, but what about the passengers who go though the scanners? We are not being made safer, it’s all about political theater, profit, and jobs. Stop the madness!!!

The TSA patted down my 85-year-old father-in-law in his wheelchair because his hands were shaking and he ‘looked nervous.’ The man had Parkinson’s disease and we told them so……not that it made any difference. The TSA is nothing more than a band of low-IQ idiots.

When you are deprived of your liberty and you are not free to come and go, that is an ARREST

It is unconstitutional. Too bad you don’t like it. You liberals don’t get to ignore the Constitution when you think you know better. There is a process to change the Constitution but it involves work so you will never do it. Now sit down, shut up and get out of our way. We have a ton of work to do. You guys really screwed things up bad. We’re no longer in the mood for your screeching.

PS2 – if you think this is bad, just wait until they expand highway surveillance. What a great place to live this country will be when we have roving teams of semi-literate imbeciles with automatic weapons. Simply do a web search for their raid a couple weeks ago of a social security office, where they bullied and humiliated a bunch of senior citizens.

Way to go Rand!!! These TSA fascists have gotten away w/ this crap for TOO long. They’re completely unConstitutional. We should be using bomb sniffing dogs and racial profiling. thats what Israel does and NO ONE ever gets them. To the idiots who think Rand is wrong about this, move to Cuba where this crap is commonplace because yr a disgrace to the rest of us REAL americans who are outraged at these repeated violations.

Just a bit of constructive criticism:

I wanted to print the article you presented and of course clicked on your printer icon to do so. The printer window opened and I clicked on print. It then proceeded to print not only the article, but 14 pages in 5-point type of comments.

Wouldn’t it be more useful for your readers if you printed out just the article and in a form that is readable?

Thanks.

Ed writes : “I guarantee that the next time the terrorists fly a plane into a building, all of you against the TSA will be the first ones screaming that the TSA didn’t do enough to stop the terrorists.’

Good to see all the pillow-biting liberals admit that the terrorists were responsible for 9-11 and not that it was an inside job.. see.. your delusions can get better!! Also nice to see so many liberals defend a policy of George Bush.. thanks libs!!

Also, there IS a constitutional right to free interstate travel, and using public common carriers is not a licensed privilege. Posted by: Paul Rowe | January 23, 2012, 11:33 am.

There is no specific, spelled out right to travel in the US Constitution. The word ‘travel’ doesn’t even appear in the Constitution. Look it up. “As the Supreme Court notes in Saenz v Roe, 98-97 (1999), the Constitution does not contain the word “travel” in any context, let alone an explicit right to travel.” There is a PRESUMED right to travel that is well established in case law. However, nowhere is that presumption used as the basis for not following the rules established for private commercial flight. What “public common carriers” existed when the Constitution was written? The only thing even close is a private sailing ship. The state does not own public common carriers. You may have the presumed ‘right’ to travel but you still have to follow the rules set forth for airline travel, especially since the 9/11 attacks occurred. If you do not want to follow those rules – then walk. Or take a bus. Or drive yourself. There is no right to travel by private aircraft.

“I find it funny because it is illegal to detain any member of congress or the senate up to two week before they meet. Then again it’s the government and they expect us to uphold the law while they perpetual break it and commit treason against the american people on a daily basis.”

@SAMUEL You need to study a little harder. The Senate *is* half of Congress. Cite your examples of treason or shut up. Don’t drink the cool-aid!

Only one short statement how many of you concerned citizens would make the same statements if a plane was blown up do to a carry on bomb

Dear ABC News webmaster,
Please turn off the auto-play on your videos. So uncool.

Best comment I’ve seen about this: “The TSA found an anomaly with Rand Paul’s body scan: they found a US senator who actually had balls.”

for all the truculent posters claiming that we do not have to fly ( that it is a privilege ).., I would remind you that driving also is something you choose to do and is a ‘privilege ‘.
Posted by: CorAutMors | January 23, 2012, 12:41 pm.

Yes it is. And you must be licensed by the state to do so, and your vehicle must carry some minimum amount of insurance. You need neither of those to fly.

You do not see the TSA targeting the rest of congress. Wonder why ……
Posted by: Freedom | January 23, 2012, 12:11 pm.

Because they have not set off any alarms going through the scanner.

Nobody arrested Paul.

They didn’t detain him for either felony, or treason. But what constitutes breach of the peace?

He triggered an alarm and claims it was a glitch.

Maybe it was, maybe it wasn’t. But when the alarm bells, buzzers, klaxons or whatever goes off it has to be treated as legitimate.

Definition:

A breach of the peace was a common-law offense, but is presently governed by statute in many states. It is frequently defined as constituting a form of Disorderly Conduct. Examples include using abusive or obscene language in a public place, resisting a lawful arrest, and trespassing or damaging property when accompanied by violence.

Statutes commonly require that conduct constituting a breach of the peace must be clearly a type of misbehavior resulting in public unrest or disturbance. As an example, a prostitute who solicited men walking by on a public street from her window was found guilty of breaching the peace, but a man who raised his voice to a police officer while the officer was issuing a ticket to him was not guilty of the same offense.

A breach of the peace is synonymous with a disturbance of the peace. Jurisdictions that do not have a specific statutory provision for the offense may punish it as a form of disorderly conduct. The usual penalty imposed is either a fine, imprisonment, or both.

Seems it applies quite well to the situation involving Rand Paul. He set off an alarm, supposedly designed to provide a measure of protection for public safety. Then he refused to cooperate with the official request.

We can argue all we want about the TSA, but the fact remains they have the power until someone successfully challenges the status quo. In the meantime, breach of the peace certainly includes Rand Paul’s actions.

Reminds me of the old, “Do you know who I am?” line.

Easy fix: One line for Americans – One line for eveyone else.

Almost every day, one reads about something done by this administration being unconstitutional, and yet nothing is done about it. When did the U.S Constitution become just a worthless piece of paper? If the President, who has sworn to protect it, instead violates it regularly, is that not a “high crime”? The President may be the nominal commander-in-chief of the armed forces, but it is not him they are sworn to defend; rather, it is the U.S.Constitution. When are we going to see a long overdo impeachment of this marxist dirtbag? The fact that he can even run again and win another 4-year term in the White House is an afront to clear-thinking Americans.

The Texas Constitution has the same clause concerning citizens going to or coming from a poling place.

Greg and US Army Blue,
Evidently th ConstituTion is foreign to you and those in charge of the DHS. What do you not understand concerning Article !, section 6? What do you not understand about the 4th Amendment of probably cause, unreasonable search and seizure, security of your person, paper and effects?

How is thumbing you nose at the TSA elitist? It is the opposite, and you don’t get it.

Then don’t fly. It is not your constitutional right to fly. After 9/11, we have taken measures to prevent future terrorist attacks. Something Ron Paul and his supporters seem not to care about.

@A Cynic

Have you not heard of the TSA’s “VIPR” teams? For starters, see the following short piece in the _Orange County Register_: “TSA spreading its wings beyond airports.” The TSA is an expansive—and, for certain groups, highly profitable—operation.

Another over privileged white man complaining about being frisked; oh my the sky is falling !!!
Oh that’s right customs borders are only for suspicious colored people.

@Markangelo : Only an idiot or a leftist Obamabot would somehow see a way to bring race into this situation. Get a life loser or at least a brain before typing such drivel.

Aww, poor baby Rand Paul had to deal with security in the face of very proven suicide bombers. Guess you didn’t expect to be treated like us peasants, eh Rand? – too bad, as an airport isn’t your private home, kiddo.

I’m just going to say, RON PAUL for president, because if I had someone running my country with the thoughts and views of some of you, i’d rather die.

I will never allow a pat down on my son or myself. I’d rather give up the money spent on the tickets.

MARKANGELO: You would have a point if every story along these lines didn’t involve a white child, a white grandma or a Republican. Or if guns and bombs weren’t ending up on planes because the TSA was too busy “making a point” by singling out the same for special oppression in a public display of your precious teachable moment. Do you ever look at what is actually happening around you or is your ideology based solely on what goes on in that little head of yours?

Finally, the TSA toed the line too far. It is bad enough that they have infringed on the population’s Constitutional rights against illegal search and siezure (a right that was penned to prevent our government from following the British practice of random strip searches to find “terrorists”), but they could hang it on the argument that flying is a privaledge, not a right (flimsy argument, but might fly in court). This however was a VERY Clear violation of Article 1 Section 6. Their direct actions may well cause a direct violation of this Constitutional right of our Congressmen to have unfetered access to and from Washington. It is about time that our Supreme Court recognizes Air travel as a right, thereby protecting its citizen’s Constitutionally penned rights while participating in it.

Who cares, is he someone special???

Yeah Markangelo, you’re absolutely right. Hey man, I need a place to stay. I’m coming to your house. Leave that door unlocked and don’t start with your “RULES”, ok man?

@Steven – Actually, if you have ever listened to Rand Paul, he has been fighting this fight for the “peasants” for a long time. Where is your line between which rights you’re willing to sacrifice for safety? Would you be willing to allow mandatory strip searches of all passengers? What about when the terrorists use the first tampon bomb? Shall we have cavity searches of all individuals regardless of age? Fortunately, we don’t have to draw this line. The Constitution does it for us in the 4th ammendment “The right of the people to be secure in their PERSONS, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, BUT UPON PROBABLE CAUSE, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”

I was shocked. At Boston’s Logan airport, they have a devout Muslim, a female with a head scarf, screening us NON-MUSLIMS!

This is the suicida,l crazy, PC world that liberals have created.

So does this mean that the TSA will now start patting down President Obama? Do they actually even screen him?

Stop blaming the TSA, Bush and Obama! Blame yourselves America. Instead of stating to terrorists worldwide that we will destroy their country and allies if they mess with us, we have created a police state where we hope to stifle all terorrist attacks at the expense of our own liberty and reputation as the world’s superpower. Our leaders are delivering exactly what we ask for because we no longer have a stomach for retaliation and war. What happens when the technology doesn’t prevent an attack? I guess we’ll ban flying, or fly naked, or maybe tatoo our citizens. All because we’re now a nation of wimps.

It is a crime to stop a Senator on his way to a vote. whether you like Paul or not (I’m ambivalent), the TSA actually broke the law. The reason for this law is to protect the Congress from the arbitrary use of police power by the executive branch or other party.

It is beyond fathomable that a TSA agent thought they could supercede the authority of the Constitution. But then again, the President does it all the time now, so what the hell.

It’s interesting reading all of the comments.

You have people that are so ignorant and IQ deprived, that they have no idea what the government is or the law that gives it authority in the first place. These people have no hope of every being an American worth spit. They are useless.

Then you have the people saying he just wants attention, because being publicly humiliated with testicle and anal probing is every Senators aspiration. Sounds like they are more self-absorbed than most, and likely think Obama is a humble civil servant. Slightly more useless than the complete morons.

Then you have the people that actually know the law, and how completely off the reservation this Country is right now. And I thank you for posting. You are Americans.

Take a look at these comments. When it hits the fan, know exactly who your friends and enemies are.

Obama was right. Americans are his enemy, and anti-Americans are his friend. Just read above and below. There is no middle ground anymore.

The coming civil war won’t be like the last. This time, we Americans will enjoy it.

Orwell was only 20 years off. Not too bad considering 1984 was written in1934. Posted by: MrSid | January 23, 2012, 1:32 pm.

So Orwell’s dystopian future vision actually occurred in 2004, under GW? Gee, who knew.

So he sets off the alarm and is angry at TSA for doing their job??? As for the application of the Constitution as to whether or not he was detained on his way to the House – NO he was FLYING [something which did not exist in 1783] to Washington. He was not in Washington going to or from the Capital Building. This seems to be a very broad reading of the article. He was NOT arrested. He was taken from the secured area and not allowed to board a flight after he refused to be properly screened AFTER setting off the alarm. I do want to say that TSA and Homeland Security were a Republican Idea after 9/11 [I am in NJ and remember the smoke all too well]. There has to be a complete change of the system. I just think Rand Paul is going too far with this. He should have just done what every other American has to do, get on the plane and then,when in Senate – started looking into the task of dismantling the whole thing and starting over from scratch. Security is needed. Of course, he BETTER go to the Capital building immediately upon arrival or this is a moot point.

IF YOU DON’T LIKE SECURITY…….DON’T FLY!

Abolish the TSA!!!!

I doubt Randy needs to worry they’ll touch his stuff. He’d have to have some first. He should be spending more time on his oddball attempts to make sure gas lines don’t get replaced after explosions. Just cauz.

This is an outrage! The TSA agents who perpetrated this invastion of privacy and contradiction of the clear mandates of the Constitution should be fired and the TSA stripped of its authority.

No airport security got thousands of Americans killed on 9/11 and thousands more have died when 9/11 was used as an excuse to start two wars. Continue security, stop the wars.

I can hear the defence by Janet and Barrack now. We didn’t “Arrest” him. Detaining is not the same thing.

We need a New America for a nation at War. The time is right to forego all rights and make Martial Law. We pledged allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and if you can’t trust your President to do your thinking for you, then you are no better than a terrorist.

Obama-Cheney 2012

Then you have the people saying he just wants attention, because being publicly humiliated with testicle and anal probing is every Senators aspiration. Posted by: ThoreauHD | January 23, 2012, 1:52 pm.

LOL! Although Republican politicians are known to enjoy that sort of thing, it didn’t happen here. But hey, there’s always next time.

The TSA & DHS need to be shut down!!

“To those of you that keep posting the constitution…….Does anyone know for sure that he had not committed a felony? If he set off an alarm, maybe he had a gun in his pocket. I know that is an extreme example, but I’m not so sure Article 1 Section 6 should just allow them to circumvent the rules either.

Posted by: ocmarsha | January 23, 2012, 12:02 pm 12:02 pm”

What?! You realize that Article I, Section 6 IS ONE OF THE RULES, right?! It’s one of the rules that govern all the rest of them!

Does anyone else here see the irony in someone with the screen name “A Cynic” arguing for MORE government control?

I love to hear the ignorance of sheeple like Dan who say,

“No airport security got thousands of Americans killed on 9/11 and thousands more have died when 9/11 was used as an excuse to start two wars. Continue security, stop the wars.”

We’ve always had airport security in my forty years of living. Not sure where you’ve been. No, the security didn’t stop the 9/11 attacks, but even post 9/11 TSA didn’t stop the underwear bomber. In fact, he was escorted on. TSA and its mothership the DHS are nothing but political theater. They have NEVER stopped a terrorist attack. Period.

This is a very clear violation of the Constitutional Seperation of Search and State.

God gives you your rights (read the Declaration), the Constitution prevents the government from taking them away (Congress shall make no law . . . .).
Posted by: Mike | January 23, 2012, 2:19 pm.

There is no “god”. Now what?

According to the federal government, I can be trusted. They issued me a Security Clearance, gave me access to Top Secret information, as much as needed to do my job, and they periodically renewed my background investigation to keep the clearance in force. The last re-investigation was only a few years ago.

Yet, the TSA is unaware of this. In fact, they are FORBIDDEN to have the information that would identify any Americans as loyal and trustworthy. We live in Backwards-land.

dmartin72266,

You don’t know what you are talking about.
I’ve been a member of the Army for 23 years. To keep your oath you need to get some glasses and actually READ the document you SWORE to support and defend.

The CONSTITUTION grants no rights. Zero. None. Not a one.

The Constitution creates the Federal Government and assigns it a list of powers. Yes, it is a list. If you actually READ IT, it will be clear as day.

The BILL OF RIGHTS also grants no rights. Zero. None. Not a one.

The BILL OF RIGHTS Prohibits the Federal government from interfering with rights.

It is all in plain English. It isn’t even written in the legalese of the day.

PLAIN ENGLISH.

So, contrary to your assertion that the Constitution grants no right to travel, the CONSTITUTION FORBIDS detainment without Habeaus Corpus. (Latin for “Show the body”.)

The Constitution says, “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”

AND

“No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.”

So yes, you do have the right to travel. And no government agent can interfere with that right without due process of law.

KEEP YOUR OATH AND CRACK A BOOK KNUCKLEHEAD!

You expect the Obama white house and his minions in the TSA to adhere to the US Constitution? LOLOLOLOL

Posted by: El Gordo—-I believe the governments argument is that the law creating DHS and TSA, is your due process, of course the government doesn’t like to be limited, it is harder to get more money if you don’t have responsibility over much.

I am one of the TSA. Me and those agents who work around me are VA sent. We are Marines, Army, Air Force, Coast Guard and Navy. Come to our airport in Small City Texas and get rowdy with us…we will show you gestapo-claiming, supposedly-constitutional-minded “conservatives” what real security is all about. Our mission is to ensure that EVERYONE that boards our planes are safe. Don’t like it; don’t fly. Have a problem with us…then you will have a problem with all the men and women who are heavily-decorated, combat-hardened veterans whose service stretches from the mud of WW2 to the desert sands of Afghanistan and Iraq, and all places in-between. Not everyone is as respectful to the public as we are, but to lump all of “us” in TSA as bad seeds means that all of us, Vets and Non-Vets, are bad. So be wary; TSA has a lot of vets within their ranks, and I would rather do this job than be homeless, or worse…taking handouts and unneeded welfare from Barack Hussein Obama because I am too lazy to get up off my dead-democrat rear and put in a full day of work. Devil Dogs.

Posted by: OldWarrior83—The TSA is a wellfare program.

Posted by: retrocon | January 23, 2012, 2:39 pm 2:39 pm—We gave them Illinois and California, what more do they want.

where’s the Occupy movement when you need them? Why can’t we have an Occupy TSA?

All this crap about the ability to fly not being a Constitutional right, and the whole “when you buy a commercial ticket, you agree to be searched any way the TSA wants to” BS really sets me off. Constitutional rights (like those in the 4th Amendment) are INALIENABLE. That means that the government doesn’t give them to you and the government can’t take them away. The argument that you agree to be searched when you buy a ticket is completely invalid unless the policies were airline policies – not government policies – and you signed a legal contract to allow the airline to search you when you agreed to the Terms and Conditions when buying your ticket.

Also, whether Senator Paul was, strictly speaking, arrested is irrelevant because they prevented him from attending a vote in the Senate just because their machine (an embodiment of violations of the 4th Amendment) screwed up.

I applaud Rand Paul for his stand. The Federal Government in general and the TSA specifically is out of control with their fanatic approach to security. Cowering before politically correct stupidity their refusal to use rational profiling is a abominable affront to all Americans. The rules are perhaps written by well meaning individuals but are enforced by cretins and morons.

They quote the constitution, as if it matters anymore…..

When Sen. Paul becomes Chairman of the nation al security committee I’d like to sit in when he questions the heads of TSA sand DHS.

Paul: How many terrorists have you swept up ijn this vast net?
TSA: None

Paul: and how many US Senators did you stop from boarding their plane?
Paul: One more than you should have. Your screening budget for next year is zero.

Hey Soros funded activist bloggers pretending to be normal Americans, while getting your paycheck subverting us from your move on dot org cubicle….. This Senator is being an elitist, he’s one of the FEW who actually is on our side against the TSA’s overreaching anti-Constitutional policies! He is being entirely consistent in this situation, and it is a breath of Fresh Air! While Senators like McCain & Graham actually gave Obama a bill that can detain Americans without trial indefinitely…..

There ia confusion over performing busy work and accomplishing something! While unnecessary checks of low risk individuals creates work it does little to make people safer. Resources used to check low risk individuals should be used where it will make a real difference to the safety of the American people! (e.g., incoming inspections of imported food and goods)

Have you ever noticed that the majority of all federal employees seem to be about as smart as your nearest chair? Because this is the Democrat work program for their constituents. Posted by: David Kramer | January 23, 2012, 2:22 pm.

Yeah, I clearly remember, under Reagan, Bush 1 and Bush 2, that we didn’t have one single federal employee.

Our Constitution is increasingly disregarded. When will VOTERS wake up?

Only true idiots say “if you don’t like it, don’t fly”…….

The TSA isn’t limiting their rapes and fondling to flyers, in case you haven’t noticed. This was only to be expected, but with morons like you defending them, there has been little effort to restrain them……. So enjoy…

I’m an American living overseas in another “western” English-speaking nation, and one of the first things I noticed when I moved here was how much more “free” it is here, and how many less police and law enforcement there are here as compared to my relatively modest home of 35,000 back in the USA (city of 400,000 here). In the USA, on a typical short 10-mile drive to work I’d see about three or four police out doing their thing – writing tickets, speed-trapping, patrolling, parked on the roadside, etc. In my current home overseas, in a city of 400,000, I could drive all around town for days before I saw four cops. I don’t know what line has to be crossed before a government becomes a “police state”, but the differences between the USA and other “free” nations are becoming greater and greater.

Posted by: howdymo1—Agreeed

The TSA is Legalised Molestation

Excuse me, but those who say he wasn’t arrested are quitewrong. T he meaning of “arrest” at the time of the Constitution was not “put in jail”, it was “prevent the free movement thereof”. That is precisely what they did in direct violation of the Constitution. NOW, what is he going to do about it?

So here I am on a train, avoiding the planes and grabbers at TSA. It really is out of control and now TSA has violated the Constitution. Rand Paul for President 2016

Ironic the man all over freedoms here with his little platform was flying to speak at a rally to rid me of my freedoms.

Hey, just a note… “Freedom from arrest” doesn’t equal “Freedom from screening” like every other American without his privilege. Maybe he should have been allowed to walk away as a ZOMG senator… But I’m not feeling the sympathy in letting him on the flight just because he doesn’t like how he gets screened when the rest of us don’t have that option.

Way to prove your a self righteous idiot Rand Paul..
Like father like son.

I’m sure the TSA could and would argue the case that detaining someone isn’t the same as arresting them thus they did not violate Mr. Pauls rights. Believe me these people are so twisted. The whole government is.

REAL potential terrorists (obvious middle-eastern looking Muslims) are probably ignored while the TSA goons concentrate on grandma and nuns. We’d be better off if the 3 Stooges ran airport security.

TSA are Morons, Ignorants and Immature jercks. They are harassing travellers and also RACIAL DISCRIMINATION. We should get rid of them alltogether. TSA are abusing the system, they are a lot of people looking for jobs, while TSA r chatting and making fan of people.
I went to pick my relative in IAD for Christmas holiday, I waited more than 3 hours after the flight landed. After all this waiting they told me they wouldn’t let her in. She had European Passport and citizenship, under European law, european citizens don’t need visa to come to US. But TSA is discriminating travellers by sending back black travelers holding european citizenship. They also strip her and spent the night with no Food in a small room for 24 hours. They are too young (TSA) what they did is making fun of visitors and at them. She said she couldn’t wait for the night to end coz they were harassing her. She paid over a thousand for her trip just to spend the holiday with family, instead she was sent back after all this. TSA while they letting in White european citizenship holders, they are harrassing and returning back BLACs holding european citizinship. TSA are RACISTS. VERY DISAPPOINTED AMERICAN CITIZEN

Go get them Paul. Hope it gets congress attension.

Whiny puke1 Simple solution for you: STFO of the airport, take a bus, walk, whatever!

What we are wittnessing is how “CONTROL’ is being put in place. Its like putting a frog in cold water
and constantly be heating up the water………….. how hot does it have to get before Americans wake up and realize that the NEW WORLD ORDER wants to control anything and all things that you do and where you go and how you go. WAKE UP America and stand up and fight back before you wake up one morning and find that YOU are TOTALLY CONTROLLED and living in a MARXIST COUNTRY! Wake up and fight back NOW! Senator Paul is trying to fight back! These actions by PSA are directly from the ‘Powers that control’. Please fight with him and his Dad who are fighting for YOUR FREEDOMS NOW! Vote Ron Paul for President!

On the way to a senate vote should exempt him from that search, just like it did that little idiot whining liberal punk Patrick Kennedy when he was caught drunk driving a few years back ! Or, is this different according to you leftist ?

I agree with Paul on this one…but his father….

Get a taste of your own medicine, dude. These law maker don’t know what ordinary citizens go though with the stupid laws that they make until they themselves get caught in the mess.

lord help us if mr Paul a senator was treated as a suspected terrorist how about us where common scence

Detaining a United States Senator!!! the TSA is beyond unprofessional, if this does not demonstrate they cant find their butt with both hands I do not know what does…And now the White House says being taken aside, not allowed to leave or use a phone is not technicaly detained?? we are in deep dodo people…wake up

Rand Paul has a hissy fit. Not enough security when W was president-too much to bother with when Obama is president.

“Most people have long forgotten the Constitution trumps all other laws. Most people think it is the government that gives them their rights, it is what they were taught in schools.
Posted by: snewsom2997 | January 23, 2012, 2:24 pm 2:24 pm ”

Well said, and I agree with you. But man, I wish you weren’t right. More people in this country need to take a **** civics class. Certainly ocmarsha does…

Defund / disband the TSA! Un-Constitutional to begin with, maybe now the Senate will see what a nightmare it is and has become!

Whoever manages ABC News is really stupid. They cannot see what’s going on right in front of their eyes and always side with this tyrannical government. ABC News, you suk!

He made them run in circles. Now the shim will hit the flam and Sen Rand Paul of Ken will bring it up before a committee O’s campaign season…. all because TSA agents don’t know their limits. Liberty will reign supreme.

I’m sooooo glad that he spoke up about the scam w/the machines themselves setting off deliberate false alarms as a way to conduct random searches.

The whole thing is security theater and the cost for the texpayers for tickets to this TSA production is staggering – not only in tax $$$ but in the elimination of our freedom.

President Obama should offer TSA “screening” and/or “pat-down” for everyone flying on Air Force One to demonstrate that everyone is treated equally!

To those who support the TSA and willingly trade their liberty and dignity for this facade of safety:

You are cowards and fools.

Your borders and inner cities are more dangerous than war zones, yet you fear the specter of terrorists in the form of children and elderly woman.

in defense of TSA:
Rand Paul does associate with terrorists and works for a terrorist organization that is trying to destroy this country…con-gress. Even though he is one of the very very few good guys in con-gress he is guilty by association.
God bless Rand and Ron Paul.
TSA is useless!!!

Who cares about the so called “Constitution”? That old ass paper was written by slave owners!!!

The fact that he may have missed the vote is exactly why it was written into the document (OUR Constitution – The Constitution of WE THE PEOPLE) in the first place. All you had to do if you wanted to swing a vote one way or the other, in the first congresses, was to delay the trip of a Representative of WE THE PEOPLE. Harass, obfuscate through denial of service of necessities along the trail to the Capital (D.C.). It had to be made a crime because those loyal to the crown were everywhere…because of religion and colonial aspirations, land grant and deed manipulation ….and they would rob them, assault them along the way. It is the truth and the Senator from The Commonwealth of Kentucky was DENIED his vote because of an out of control bureaucratic mess? Or intent to teach the junior Senator from Kentucky to get in line ………or miss a vote? I’m not saying that this conspiratorial picture is true…but it should be the question of the day! Is that what happened or… what???? The U.S. Constitution actually protects federal lawmakers from detention while they’re on the way to the capital…..according to Article I, Section 6. Think of the possibilities.

You people are all crazy. I fly a lot and I fly out of the very busy Newark Liberty Airport. Never once have members of the TSA overstepped their authority or bounds with me or my wife. Rand Paul can be stopped on the way to a congressional session if he is suspected of having a device which could be dangerous to a flight (a felony!!!). You think the TSA agents even knew or cared about who he was? Why should they? BTW you people complaining are the same ones who were all aboard after 9/11. We need more security and flying on a plane isn’t a constitutional right. I love how some people who post comments speak of communism. Do you even know what communism is? Drive your cars people. Enjoy.

even if you buy the real 9/11 conspiracy, can’t people see that the tsa is a joke? 11 years since 9/11 and how many REAL terrorist acts have we seen? NONE.

more people die from car accidents, bee stings, and the list goes on and on. why isn’t the tsa “protecting” us against all that? because the tsa is actually training americans to be submissive to their banker/corporate hijacked country.

wake up folks – stop watching tv, get off the cell phones, and stop drinking fluoridated water. these things are what is killing your brain cells – causing you the inability to understand what is really going on around you.

Enjoy the bus ride.

Imagine a nation where one does not need to produce identity papers and be searched for travel.
We had one.

Imagine a nation where one does not need to produce a social security card or a license to work.
We had one.

Imagine a nation where one’s auto license plate was not read and tracked as you went about your life.
We had one.

Imagine a nation where who and when one spoke to was YOUR business alone and not recorded for authorities to review.
We had one.

Imagine a nation where one’s property was YOURS to do with as you wanted without obtaining approval from authority and was safe from theft by government to give to its friends ala Kelo.
We had one.

Imagine a nation where taxes are used for operating government and not as a carrot and stick for social control and redistribution to others.
We had one.

Imagine a nation where one could express their religious belief in a public setting under the PROTECTION of the law and not denied by the force of law.
We had one.

But we could have this nation once more. It’s up to Americans to stand up and say NO, we have had enough — restore Constitutional restrictions on the power of government.

RPaul2012}F=L+R (Freedom=Liberty+Responsibility)

Sure, there is a “lack of similarity between an 8 yr. old in Kandahar and an 8 yr. old in Bowling Green”; and that is their clothing. What Senator (TSA: “Mr.” ) Paul says here is really intriquing: An 8 yr. old in Kandahar is willing to Die for their Country, but an 8 yr. old in the “Good ‘Ol USA” is NOT?
I think the semantics is getting twisted in Sen. Paul’s rhetoric as in that of so many other “Patriot” Senators in recent memory.

To those who say drive instead of fly, obviously you do not know that the TSA is expanding its searches to buses, Amtrak and highways (your cars). Soon in order to travel you will have to present “Your papers please”. There is nowhere to avoid this every-expanding bureaucracy, it must be destroyed root and branch.

Let me get this straight. The TSA can not identify a US Senator, yet is supposed to be able to find terrorists???

The US Constitutions says that law enforcement is not allowed to prevent a member of congress from getting to the US Capitol in order to conduct government business. I know the Constitution doesn’t mean much in today’s police state, but this is creating a dangerous precedent. The stupid sheeple don’t care, as they have their circuses (sports and TV) to keep them busy.

Check your facts guys: 1. TSA was never created to ‘catch” a terrorist. The FBI has that task of catching terrorists. TSA was created under the Aircraft Transportation Security Act with the only provision to prevent prohibited items from being brought into the cabin of an aircraft or in the cargo hold. 2. TSA has no arrest authority and can’t detain, however if you walk away without complying with the search, the airport police can and will detain you. 3. Searches by TSA are not unconstitutional. They are “administrative searches” which are not subject to 4th amendment provisions. The federal courts have ruled time and again that as long as TSA limits the searches to items considered to be a threat to transportation security e.g. guns, explosives, etc. the search is permitted without a warrant. Your implied consent to the search begins once you place your items on the X-ray belt. That being said, if in the course of the search TSA finds drugs (if you’re stupid enough to fly with them in your bag) they have a fiduciary duty to report it to the local police. Keep in mind you have no “right” to travel by aircraft, it is commerce and a regulated mode of transportation which the government can essentially make it as restrictive or lenient as it wants. For those who want private security back at the airport take a second and think…TSA is abolished, private security takes over…who they gonna hire? People from TSA who used to do the job…don’t ya think? SO what will have changed?

The Article 1, Section 6 protection on the way to official business is not applicable here because it says EXCEPT in case of felony. If you read your plane ticket carefully, entering the secure area, but not completing the security procedure, is a felony. He is lucky he wasn’t arrested. The purpose of this is so terrorists don’t do “trial runs” to see what gets through security and what does not.

It is absolutely absurd that Rand Paul thinks that he is special. These rules are in place for our protection. It is that protection that gives all of us the right to have these opinions and actually be able to say it. When 9-11 happened everyone in the country wanted protection and came down on the airport security for not being cautious enough! Now that it interferes with people’s daily lives they want the restrictions dropped. So what happens the next time a potential terrorist slips through security and endangers hundreds of lives because people wanted a more lax security? Is it ok as long as its no one you know? I was searched the last time I flew. I didn’t ring any alarms or look suspicious, it was a random pat down. And to be completely honest, I was happy to do it because I knew that at least I would be safe on my flight if this is the security that everyone goes through. It gave me peace of mind. If you’re that worried about missing your flight, get there earlier! If you are worried about have a quick pat down, think of how many people they stop by doing these exact procedures. Get over yourself and thank your lucky stars that you DO live in America

Yet again this administration thumbs its nose at the Constitution. As this article clearly states and no matter how those who detest Paul’s politics don’t like it, he had the Constitutional right to board that airplane without interference. In fact, it was the TSA agent who actually broke the law and violated Paul’s Constitutional rights by detaining him. I’m sure he will leave it alone, but he would be well within his rights to call for the arrest of the agent and any supervisor on the scene.

The TSA is the only “Jobs” program the Obama regime can point to. You used to only see these quality of employees cleaning the tables at Mcdonalds.

It was all part of a subversive plot by the TSA to x-ray Mr. Paul to see if he really had a brain.

What a great display of arrogance by Mr Paul. After hearing what had happened, it just made me realize that it was iust more theatrics from a so called representative of the people for a lame attempt at personal gain.

There were no airline attacks between 2001 and 2010 and TSA didn’t need feel up little kids, strip search old ladies, remove diapers from incontinent passengers or irradiate and take nude photos of people then. In ten years TSA has caught one terrorist.

They didn’t find one item in 2011 because of the scanners or groping. Over 90% of items were found using the x-ray belt and walk through metal detectors. They are only groping people to get them to use the scanners and funnel more money to the scanner manufacturers that former TSA head, Michael Chertoff, now represents.

Over 1.3 million Americans have died in defense of the liberties that TSA is trampling. Cowards who defend TSA’s violation of the 4th Amendment in exchange for false security are a disgrace, dishonor the fallen and make a mockery of their sacrifice.

This agency and its workers are a national disgrace and should be replaced with a system that actually works. Thankfully Rand Paul and a few other legislators are trying to preserve our liberties and stop the ascent of the American police state.

I hope Rand is a presidential candidate in the near future.

He should have been arrested for Breach of the Peace as allowed by the Constitution. That’s what the “don’t touch my junk” guy was arrested for, so why wasn’t this hillbilly terrorist arrested?

AIRLINES ARE A BUSINESS, NOT A PUBLIC RIGHT. IF YOU DON’T WANT TO GO THROUGH THE SECURITY HASSEL, GET IN YOUR CAR AND DRIVE, OR TAKE A BUS, OR A TRAIN, OR WALK!!! THIS GUY IS AN IDIOT AS WELL AS HIS FATHER.

Where are our 4th amendment rights?

some people really need to get a life-at least they have access to transportation! Try being a person with a disability and ASK for an application for paratransit in Honolulu as a resident! You cannot get a paper application!! They refuse you! You MUST go through a stopwatch timed “functionality test” to “gauge your balance, gait, and COGNITION” after which a non-medically licensed person will judge whether you are able to RIDE fixed transit instead of needing para transportation! I have had brain surgery, do not have a full brain, when forced to stand on a bus I have convulsions, have now been turned down for Para transportation! All in the name of looking for “Fraud and Abuse” the totalitarian manager is threatened when reminded he is a lay person and operating outside of medical circles when determining these medical situations for brain disabled people that can walk and are intelligent as myself. Doing so is tantamount to profiling the brain disabled! He fears as he says, “Stop discrediting my program.”

U.S. Constitution Article 1 Section 6:
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; and for any Speech or Debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other Place.

This isn’t about ‘security’. It’s a large exercise of conditioning of he public. Just like when they raised the gas prices from $2/gallon to $4+/gallon. People aren’t screaming and dancing in the streets when it finally settled at $3/gallon is there?
You were desensitized to the price because it is better than the ‘temporary’ price of $4.

What they are doing with this is only larger. They are throwing so much at you with the TSA that when they finally level it out the public will accept the ‘lower’ intrusions.

You’re all being manipulated…

I can’t believe all the morons who assume
Rand Paul set off the alarm, and was
probably carrying something illegal. What
A stretch of imagination your tortured brains
make. How easy do you think it is for the
TSA agents to make the alarm go off, when-
ever they want to hassle a certain person ?
Since the Paul’s are on record of wanting to
do away with the TSA, don’t you think the
goons could easily set them up ? With the
electronic equipment they have, it is as easy
as putting a homing device in a building and
have a missle or plane fly right into it. So, the
previously mentioned MORONS could very
Well be some of the Sayanim we hear so much
about lately. The same goes for that phoney
“man in blue”.

There were no airline attacks between 2001 and 2010 and TSA didn’t need feel up little kids, strip search old ladies, remove diapers from incontinent passengers or irradiate and take nude photos of people then. In ten years TSA has caught one terrorist.

They didn’t find one item in 2011 because of the scanners or groping. Over 90% of items were found using the x-ray belt and walk through metal detectors. They are only groping people to get them to use the scanners and funnel more money to the scanner manufacturers that former TSA head, Michael Chertoff, now represents.

Over 1.3 million Americans have died in defense of the liberties that TSA is trampling. Cowards who defend TSA’s violation of the 4th Amendment in exchange for false security are a disgrace, dishonor the fallen and make a mockery of their sacrifice.

This agency and its workers are a national disgrace and should be replaced with a system that actually works. Thankfully Rand Paul and a few other legislators are trying to preserve our liberties and stop the ascent of the American police state.

TSA Crimes & Abuses
bit.ly/TravelUndergroundTSAabuses

I think Senator (I use term loosely) Rand Paul is one who believes he is above the law. The bottom line is that you live in a country and world where terrorism is a reality. The small check to see if you or anyone else is a potential threat no matter how small or large is real. I just would like for you and dad to not think you are entitled to live above the law stay in line be searched like everyone else and get over it! I am not a fan of those who use political position to get away from rules you (Mr. Paul) indicated in your election campaign you would not do that but in fact you have it’s a shame!!!

Does he not realize we are at war? Not sure when or if this war will be over but 911 changed things.
Maybe would could special low security flights for folks like Paul. Let the free market decide. (Doubt if they could get a pilot to fly one thought)

Where was Rand Paul on September 11, 2001. That day has changed the way we travel through the airlines. If a pat down or a screening device is necessary to make air travel safe then I would have no problem going through that process. Your missing the big picture.

These machines need to go…and the pat-downs are in most cases totally unnecessary, such as this case. To treat a SENATOR like this is absolutely ridiculous. We are losing our rights as free citizens daily, it seems. It makes me seethe in anger to see a small child subjected to a pat-down. What is our country coming to?????????????

If you or I groped someone in this manner we would spend years in jail. The citizens need to put an end to this ridiculous system. Sexual harassment is not an acceptable price to pay to be allowed to board a plane. This type of search does nothing to prevent terrorists from getting on flights. At least the TSA contractors are spending a fortune of taxpayers’ money on the whole charade.

This is a violation of the Constitution and I call on all citizens to demand criminal prosecution of TSA