TPMDC TSA
Rand Paul
TSA On Rand Paul's Theory That Scanners Are Rigged: 'No' (VIDEO)
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY)
On Monday, I caught up with Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) in Washington's Reagan National Airport after he dominated Twitter with his tale of being detained by the TSA because he refused a pat-down in Nashville. Paul told reporters waiting for him in the DC terminal that he believed he was asked to accede to the pat-down because of a scanner that was rigged to flag false-positives in order to create the excuse for a random search.
He reiterated the theory on CNN Monday afternoon. Wolf Blitzer told him the TSA offered a terse response to his claim.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Rand Paul, TSA
Rand Paul
Rand Paul Claims Rigged Machine May Have Led To Airport Ordeal
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY)
REAGAN NATIONAL AIRPORT -- Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) says his ordeal with the TSA Monday will result in him submitting a formal request into whether or not the scanners used at airports lie to trigger random pat downs.
Paul walked into the main terminal at Reagan National hours behind schedule, thanks to an incident at the airport in Nashville he said included him being "detained" by TSA agents for refusing a pat down after a scanner went off as he went through it. Paul said he was held "in a cubicle" at the Nashville airport and told he was not allowed to make any phone calls. Eventually, he told a gaggle of reporters at the DC airport, he left the screening area and was allowed to be re-scanned. The machine didn't go off, and Paul caught a new flight to DC.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Rand Paul, TSA
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
As Frustration Grows, Airports Consider Ditching TSA
The Washington Post reports: "Some of the nation's biggest airports are responding to recent public outrage over security screening by weighing whether they should hire private firms such as Covenant to replace the Transportation Security Administration. Sixteen airports, including San Francisco and Kansas City International Airport, have made the switch since 2002. One Orlando airport has approved the change but needs to select a contractor, and several others are seriously considering it."
Obama Craves Familiarity On Hawaiian Vacation
The Associated Press reports: "There are those who crave adventure and spontaneity during their vacations. Then, there's President Barack Obama. More than a week into his Hawaiian holiday, Obama is proving to be a creature of habit, seeking refuge in the comfort and consistency of a familiar routine."
Topics: 2010 elections, Barack Obama, Climate Change, Eric Holder, Henry Waxman, Roundup, Sarah Palin, TSA
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
Napolitano Thanks TSA Staff For Hard Work
The Hill reports: "Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano thanked TSA workers for their vigilance and hard work on Tuesday afternoon...In a letter to TSA employees on Tuesday, a day before one of the busiest travel days in the country, Napolitano acknowledged the hardships of their job and said that the country was counting on them to keep them safe."
Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will receive the presidential daily briefing at 9:30 a.m ET. He will pardon the National Thanksgiving Turkey at 10:30 a.m. ET. He will meet at 11:30 a.m. ET with Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. At 4:20 p.m. ET, the First Family will participate in a service event.
Topics: 2012 elections, Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Joe Lieberman, Roundup, Sarah Palin, Senate '10, TSA
Allen West
Allen West: Gov't Should Have 'Put Out... Feelers' On TSA Pat Downs
Congressman-elect Allen West thinks the Transportation Security Administration did a poor job marketing their security procedures, and "should have put out some type of feelers" and explained the process to in a more comprehensive say.
"It comes back marketing. We should have put out some type of feelers and talked to the American people about this before we implimented this type of plan," West said on Meet the Press.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Allen West, FL-22, TSA
TSA
Senate Confirms John Pistole As New Head Of TSA
John Pistole
The Senate has unanimously confirmed former FBI Deputy Director John S. Pistole to lead the Transportation Security Administration.
Pistole is the first permanent head of the TSA in the Obama administration.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Errol Southers, John Pistole, TSA
Barack Obama
TPMDC Saturday Roundup
Obama: 'We're A Nation Still Capable Of Doing Big Things'
In this weekend's YouTube address, President Obama touted the achievements of the past week, with the passage of reforms to the country's health care system and student loan program.
"Education. Health care. Two of the most important pillars of a strong America grew stronger this week," said Obama. "These achievements don't represent the end of our challenges; nor do they signify the end of the work that faces our country. But what they do represent is real and major reform. What they show is that we're a nation still capable of doing big things. What they prove is what's possible when we can come together to overcome the politics of the moment; push back on the special interests; and look beyond the next election to do what's right for the next generation."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Barack Obama, Bart Stupak, Campaign Finance, Filibuster, Harry Reid, Health Care, Mitch McConnell, Recess appointments, Robert Harding, TSA, Tom Udall
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
Odierno: U.S. Pullout From Iraq On Schedule After Vote
Speaking to reporters in Baghdad, Gen. Ray Odierno said that the country's election were a milestone on the way to the scheduled pullout of American combat forces. "Unless there's a catastrophic event, we don't see that changing," Odierno said. "We believe we're right on track for that. We think this is another milestone."
Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will depart the White House at 9:35 a.m. Et, then depart from Andrews Air Force Base at 9:50 a.m. ET, arriving at 10:35 a.m. ET in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania. He will deliver remarks on health insurance reform at 11 a.m. ET. He will depart from Willow Grove at 12:30 p.m. ET, arriving back at Andrews Air Force Base at 1:15 p.m. ET, and back at the White House at 1:30 p.m. ET. He will deliver remarks at 1:50 p.m. ET, welcoming the BCS National Champion Alabama Crimson Tide to the White House. He will meet at 3 p.m. ET with President Funes of El Salvador. The President and First Lady will deliver remarks at 4:30 p.m. ET, at an International Women's Day reception. Obama will at 5:30 p.m. ET with Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC).
Topics: Afghanistan, Barack Obama, Budget Reconciliation, Health Care, Israel, Joe Biden, John Kerry, Ray Odierno, Robert Gates, Roundup, TSA
Flight 253
Napolitano Sending DHS Officials Overseas To Coordinate With International Airports
Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano
Top Homeland Security officials next week will do international outreach at major international airports in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and South America as the U.S. government continues to probe how a Nigerian man with explosives in his underwear was able to board a trans-Atlantic flight.
Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano announced in a statement this afternoon that Deputy Secretary Jane Holl Lute, Assistant Secretary for Policy David Heyman and other senior DHS officials to the airports. They will review security procedures and technology being used to screen passengers on flights bound for the United States, she said.
"As part of the ongoing review to determine exactly what went wrong leading up to Friday's attempted terrorist attack, we are looking not only at our own processes, but also beyond our borders to ensure effective aviation security measures are in place for U.S-bound flights that originate at international airports," Napolitano said.
She said the officials will find ways to "collectively bolster our tactics for defeating terrorists wherever they may seek to launch an attack" and said she will follow-up with them in meetings in January.
President Obama received a preliminary review today that sources say will reveal communication and process breakdown within the intelligence community before the incident.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Flight 253, Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano, TSA, Terrorism
Jim DeMint
S.C. Dems Blast Sen. Jim DeMint As Endangering Lives With Hold On TSA Nominee
Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC)
South Carolina Democrats have wasted no time attacking Sen. Jim DeMint for blocking the confirmation of Erroll Southers to be administrator of the Transportation Security Administration, suggesting his moves have threatened the lives of "millions of American travelers."
DeMint (R-SC) had placed a hold on the vote to confirm Southers because he wanted to debate the nomination instead of approve it under unanimous consent.
Democratic leadership will vote on the nomination when they return from recess next month.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (1)Topics: Flight 253, Jim DeMint, Joe Wilson, Senate Conservatives Fund, TSA, Terrorism
TSA
Dems Vow Roll Call Vote On TSA Nominee Delayed By Sen. Jim DeMint
Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) and Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC).
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will schedule a formal Senate roll call vote on the nomination of Erroll Southers to be administrator of the Transportation Security Administration as soon as Congress returns from break.
Reid spokesman Jim Manley told TPMDC that Reid will file a cloture motion as soon as the Senate reconvenes the week of Jan. 19. He said it's a necessary step to overcome Sen. Jim DeMint's hold on the nomination.
"In light of recent incidents TSA deserves to have its leadership in place," Manley said. "It is long past time for Senator DeMint to stop trying to score cheap political points."
Confirmations rarely are subject to roll call votes - several passed the Senate by unanimous consent the day they adjourned.
Democrats are furious that DeMint (R-SC) blocked the confirmation over a question of whether Southers would allow collective bargaining for TSA screeners. They believe that if Democrats had delayed a national security nominee under a Republican president, their party would be excoriated.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (2)Topics: Flight 253, Harry Reid, Jim DeMint, TSA, Terrorism
Terrorism
Congress Starts TSA Administrator Blame Game
Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS)
Democrats are pointing fingers at Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) for blocking the confirmation of Erroll Southers as the administrator of the Transportation Security Administration, and the conservative senator is pointing right back.
DeMint's office said it's not an issue of blocking Southers but instead that the senator is seeking debate on the nomination.
DeMint isn't planning on revoking the hold.
A Senate aide told TPMDC that DeMint's objection was to the procedure Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid attempted to use to approve the nomination - unanimous consent.
DeMint thought there should be a debate and a roll call vote, the aide said.
"Leader Reid can schedule consideration of this nomination any time he wants," the aide said. "But he felt health care was more important. Our view is if the Democrats are upset they've only got themselves to blame because Obama took forever to nominate him."
Southers was nominated in early September and his confirmation hearings were wrapped up earlier this month.
House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson (D-MS) said in a statement TSA needs a permanent administrator.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Bennie Thompson, Flight 253, Jim DeMint, TSA, Terrorism
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