Thank you for preventing the appointment of Erroll Southers to head of TSA, leaving the security of our nation’s airways leaderless during this critical time. One can only imagine how the security of our nation’s airports would be in the hands of unionized “lifer” professionals, with full benefits and a high incentive for a high performance. Instead, I feel much more comfortable knowing that the security of our nation’s airports lie in the hands of under-paid, no-benefits transitional workers who seek little incentive except finding a better job that could provide for their families. So, kudos Senator! Its quite clear that you hold the safety of airlines in high importance- or you would if you actually flew them opposed to lobbyist-provided corporate jets.
And a thank you also needs to go out to the 108 House Republicans who voted against the $4 billion of “wasteful government spending” in the Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill that would have gone towards updating and improving, including $1.1 billion for explosives detection systems. Thank you for being so concerned about the safety of our money as opposed to, you know, our actual physical safety.
And while the Republicans are currently gnashing their teeth and demanding the installation and use of full body scanners at airports, thanks should be extended to Republican Congressman Jason Chaffetz, who introduced an amendment to the Homeland Security appropriations bill that banned such scanners. Granted, this amendment was defeated passed by a bipartisan vote, but I must extend my gratitude to Rep. Chaffetz for originally offering the amendment, thus indicating that the current outrage expressed by the GOP is utterly toothless.
Perhaps the current outrage expressed by the GOP might have more weight if Obama had blatantly ignored a security memo that read “Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab determined to blow up American plane with explosives hidden in his underwear.” I can’t even imagine the most partisan Democrats continuing to support Obama if the President had dismissed such a memo with important national security implications. Can you possibly imagine the pathetic partisan apologists who would defend a President who had ignored such a memo, even voting for such an inept blunderer for reelection? Why, it boggles the mind!
