Texas Politicians Back Off Anti-TSA Bill After Being Warned Of Potential Flight Loss

from the don't-mess-with-texas? dept

Thu, May 26th 2011 3:13pm — Mike Masnick

Apparently, the new slogan for Texas is "don't mess with Texas... unless you threaten to stop all flights out of Texas... because then we'll fold." Following the US Justice Department warning the state that if it passed the bill to make overly aggressive TSA gropings illegal, the TSA might have to stop all flights originating in Texas. And, rather than call the feds' bluff, Texas politicians have shelved the bill. Apparently, this means the same bill cannot be reintroduced this session. Some have pointed out that the bill probably didn't have enough support to make it through anyway, but it makes you wonder how much of that was due to threats from the feds.

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Filed Under: flights, groping, texas, tsa

24 Comments

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Nathan F (profile), 26 May 2011 @ 3:36pm

Might irresponsible of the TSA. First they threaten to not allow any flights out of Texas if they couldn't assure the safety of passengers and flight crew. So they basically just said that they are 100% successful in catching anyone who might wish said passengers and crew harm. So if something does go wrong in the future and the flight originated out of Texas.. then we can lay all of the blame at TSA feet for failing to do their job in assuring the safety of crew and passengers.
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- MrWilson, 26 May 2011 @ 3:41pm
  
  Re:
  No, if the TSA fails to catch terrorists, it's because we haven't yet given them the chance to grope passengers from the inside also.
  
  Why are we tying their hands and expecting them to catch terrorists if they can't do full body cavity searches out in public?!? What do you have to hide if you're not a terrorist?!?
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  - Anonymous Coward, 26 May 2011 @ 3:50pm
    
    Re: Re:
    A half-dozen extra-spicy tacos?
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Anonymous Coward, 26 May 2011 @ 3:49pm

Breaking headline: "You don't mess with Texas for the same reason you don't mess with France".
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- testcore (profile), 26 May 2011 @ 6:37pm
  
  Re:
  Saw some french rifles for sale recently - never been fired and only dropped once. You can now find similar items in Texas.
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Zach Mollett (profile), 26 May 2011 @ 4:21pm

Sad
Remember the Alamo.
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- DCL, 26 May 2011 @ 4:51pm
  
  Re: Sad
  That is the problem... they remembered that the Alamo was a major tourist destination (and all that $$$)
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Daemon_ZOGG (profile), 26 May 2011 @ 4:24pm

"Texas Politicians Back Off Anti-TSA Bill.."
Well I guess now we have proof of fact that Texas politicians are Weak-Minded, Crumb-Snatching, Bed-Wetting, Bribe-Taking, Loosers that are Over-Qualified At Backing Down Without A Fight. Yeah, that's right.. Run home to your mommies you friggen cowards. }:P
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- Jay (profile), 26 May 2011 @ 4:32pm
  
  Re: "Texas Politicians Back Off Anti-TSA Bill.."
  We have John Cornyn and Kay Bailey Hutchinson who believe in the Republican Party full stop.
  
  I think they saddled up their cowboy boots and changed them for yellow sunflower dresses (John) and pants (Kay) a long time ago.
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- Anonymous Coward, 26 May 2011 @ 9:44pm
  
  Re: "Texas Politicians Back Off Anti-TSA Bill.."
  Says the man sitting behind his computer screen scratching himself like a caveman.
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  - Liz, 26 May 2011 @ 10:12pm
    
    Re: Re: "Texas Politicians Back Off Anti-TSA Bill.."
    Irony?
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  - Daemon_ZOGG (profile), 27 May 2011 @ 8:17am
    
    Re: Re: "Texas Politicians Back Off Anti-TSA Bill.."
    The name is ZOGG. Daemon_ZOGG... "caveman" is Soooo analog. :P
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- Anonymous Coward, 27 May 2011 @ 7:39am
  
  Re: "Texas Politicians Back Off Anti-TSA Bill.."
  so...same as the rest of the country?
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- Anonymous Coward, 27 May 2011 @ 8:24am
  
  Re: "Texas Politicians Back Off Anti-TSA Bill.."
  Losers, not loosers. Dolt.
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Matt, 26 May 2011 @ 6:46pm

But from the middle east & the rest of the world is OK
I find it funny (but sad) that I can fly into the US airspace from other parts of the world without being groped, nude scanned or enduring other "safety" measures. Yet if I fly internally I must be subjected to the most abusive screening in the world.

US airspace will be so much safer because the TSA has stopped all those crazy Texan terrorists from flying in US airspace. Unless the crazy Texan terrorists cross the border and fly into the US from Mexico.
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Angry Puppy (profile), 26 May 2011 @ 7:13pm

What a Relief
I was worried that I would not be felt up by an under paid, under trained, humiliated TSA employee wearing dirty rubber gloves when I fly out of Houston next month. Something to look forward to!
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Anonymous Coward, 26 May 2011 @ 7:55pm

About 200 years ago the states joined the United States.

If United States continues to make bad laws abuse citizens of its states and piss them off, will some time later the states vote for quit?

With such a vote, no matter it's successful or not, would be shameful for the current administration...
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- Anonymous Coward, 26 May 2011 @ 7:56pm
  
  Re:
  Correction: I should use "poll" instead.
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Whisk33, 27 May 2011 @ 4:42am

"but it makes you wonder how much of that was due to threats from the feds."

Or how much before that was just grandstanding with only the desire to raise a stink about trying to "stand up" for our 4th Amendment rights...
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Nick Dynice (profile), 27 May 2011 @ 10:31am

Texas, I am so disappointed in you!
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Anonymous Coward, 27 May 2011 @ 12:49pm

DON'T MESS WITH TEXAS! (It's not nice to pick on retards.)
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Anonymous Coward, 27 May 2011 @ 6:31pm

Gamega.com
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dww, 27 May 2011 @ 6:55pm

TEXAS COWARDS
HELLO TEXAS

You yellow bellies have proven your worth once again ... ONE BIG ZERO. All braggers with no back bone .. TSA ... OWNS YOU AND OTHERS OF CHICKEN YELLOW.

Cowards state usa.

USA .. land of lies and cowards.
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doughless (profile), 3 Jun 2011 @ 9:58am

So how was the federal government planning on enforcing their ban?

"For failing to protect the safety of your passengers, you are ordered to immediately land this plane, or we will be forced to shoot you out of the sky."
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