The guy called TSA Director Kip Hawley an "idiot", written on the plastic bag containing his toiletries, and was detained by the TSA. He's even said that a TSA supervisor told him he doesn't have the right to express his opinions "in here."

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/09/28/idiot.baggie/index.html

When it comes to situations like that, it kind of looks like unexplored territory America is venturing into while depending on untrained TSA employees to explore it for us.

I long ago ceased being surprised at the stupidity, incompetence, and arrogance of bureaucrats, particularly the low-level variety.

The screener was probably worried about something happening & getting fired over it. This seems to be the trend these days. Got a problem with an employee howerver slight; fire him. There are plenty more where he came from.

Exactly what did this passenger expect? He was obviously looking for a reaction, and he got one. Maybe not the one he wanted, but a reaction nonetheless.

Did he have a right to express his opinion? Absolutely. Did the TSA rep and supervisor have the right to detain him? Absolutely as well.

I'm no fan of TSA policies, but I'm even less a fan of people who knowingly cause a disturbance, and then wonder why they're in the jackpot.

While I agree that the passenger is probably a jackass, as long as he did not have any banned items or make any threats he should not have been detained. I can understand why a low-level screener might call his supervisor over for a looksee, but I think it's a bit assinine for the supervisor to then detain the guy and have the police check him out. It turned out to be a tremendous waste of resources that would have been better spent looking for the real deal.

Hmm, I don't think I can agree with that statement either, sorry. They did not have sufficient cause for deliberate detention because no threat was communicated. I believe if the opinionated traveller pursues the issue properly, there will be a likely discplinary act promulgated on the supervisor. I've seen my share of supervisors get sacked too; they are also easily replaceable.

Unless you are judge sitting in a courtroom, I don't believe anyone gets to detain someone just because they don't share the same opinion. In a courtroom, that would be contempt, but that is the exception to the rule. (Well, except for when you mouth off to the DI that is, then you get detained in the forward leaning rest position for a while).

It was bound to happen. Someone, somewhere, finally had to point out the basic truth about the emperor's new clothes.

Ten years ago, there was no thoughtcrime in this country.

This is precisely why I fly as little as possible. I'm a little surprised, though. Heck, I didn't even know Mr. Hawley was the director of the TSA. Kudos to the TSA staff for knowing it when they saw it!

<img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

What he should do is sue for breach of his right to freedom of speech. What that supervisor has said in effect is that the Bill of Rights does not apply there. That should give the Court's a serious conniption fit.
If Mr Hawley wants to take exception to that comment, he can of course sue for libel.

Go on, please................ <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />