'Nothing better than a disobedient government agent'

A friend wrote to tell me his recent encounter with the TSA at the Houston airport:

So, I'm was at the Houston airport which just loves the porno scanners. The TSA agents seem to be the most gung-ho here. I don't know what it is...perhaps it's a Texas neocon thing. Well, I figured out that they usually have people go through the regular metal detectors, and then they randomly switch to the porno scanners. In the past, I've just gotten into a line where I've seen about a dozen people pass through the regular metal detectors. I did the same thing this time, but they decided to switch to the porno scanner right as I got there. So, I decided to opt out. I thought that my luck had run out but it hadn't. The lady at the scanner was the regular TSA thug, but the guy that was supposed to search me was much more relaxed. I didn't get an authoritarian vibe from him at all. Essentially, he didn't even do his job. He gave me the old-fashioned search one would receive if the metal kept beeping -nothing invasive. This reminds me of a saying, "There's nothing worse than an honest bureaucrat when the laws are dumb." I actually thanked the agent afterweard. Thank God for government agents that refuse to follow rules and procedures!

The political shenanigans in Texas

This is a humorous round-up of the politics (and politicians) surrounding the anti-groping bill that failed in Texas.

Stop Austin Scanners explains what happened

A blow-by-blow re-cap of how the anti-groping bill failed in Texas: Republican “Leadership” Derails “Restrain-the-TSA” Legislation in House

Pat-downs will continue in Texas

This is an unfortunate turn of events. House speaker Straus seems to have gotten to the legislature with his cowardly stance that the anti-groping bill is a "publicity stunt."

UPDATE: Here's a little more info on the back-and-forth of the anti-groping legislation over the last few days.

Gov Perry puts anti-groping bill back on the agenda!

As I reported over at LewRockwell.com:

This is very good news, indeed. Texas State Rep David Simpson introduced two bills to the legislative session this year: one making use of the naked scanners illegal and one making invasive pat-downs illegal (without due process, that is). The anti-scanner bill died, but the anti-groping bill came very close to passing. It stalled in the state senate when Obama's DOJ threatened to stop all flights in Texas if the bill passed.

In a wild turn of events, the legislative session was extended by Gov Rick Perry for a month to finish work on other legislation, and it was left to his sole discretion to decide what to add to the agenda. With a little over a week left in the extended session - and after an about-face by Lt Gov David Dewhurst, a nationwide campaign, and recent publicity of state legislators being violated by the TSA - the bill is back on the agenda.

It is expected to pass in the House this week, and the fight in the Senate will be next week. This is a very good precedent. There are numerous other states considering similar legislation who will hopefully be emboldened by a success in Texas. And, according to some, this is the best chance at fighting TSA tyranny (see my thoughts on this here). This also is indicative of the general unrest about this issue that Rick Perry - who is, after all, a politician (and I don't mean that to be a compliment) - has stuck his neck out.

(A good source of up-to-date information on this fight in Texas can be found at the Stop Austin Scanners blog.)

Simpson pleas with Perry

I'm less hopeful about this now that the 2012 elections are winding up. Perry keeps coming up as a possible contender, which means he will not want to ruffle feathers. But Rep Simpson's latest letter is very strong and I do hope it will get this thing back on the agenda! And Downsize DC joins in.

Texan politicians share their groping stories

NY Times covers TX anti-groping bill

Fantastic interview with Texas Rep David Simpson in the NY Times! The finale:

Q. Any upcoming travel plans?

A. “I haven’t been on a commercial airliner since all this started, and I’m a little worried about what’s going to happen to me.” (He laughs.) “But I am going on vacation this summer to see my daughter in Montana. I’m driving. It’s a long way. But I won’t have to be groped or ogled by anyone but my wife.” (He laughs again).

CNN: Shill for government-approved sexual assault

This AOL news article is fine, but the CNN video that is embedded is appalling. Texas Senator Patrick is on message and makes all the right points. The anchor (Don Lemon), on the other hand, implies that 1) the senator wants terrorists to board planes and 2) that if the TSA responds to Texan legislation by closing airports that it would be the Senator's fault.

Newsflash, Don Lemon: what the TSA is doing is unconstitutional. It is sexual assault, so it is also just plain illegal. And, if the TSA shuts down airports rather than stop breaking the law, it is the TSA's fault. How can you call yourself a journalist when all you do is repeat the state's propaganda? How about some independence, thoughtfulness, and honesty?

'Don't Touch My Junk' Rally

Texans are hoping that Gov Perry will put the anti-groping bill on the special session slate.

Call Gov Perry

I just got this in my inbox from the president of Campaign for Liberty:

Please take a moment today to call Governor Perry at (512) 463-1782. Demand he back up his speeches and stand up for states' rights by bringing up HB 41 & SB 29 during the special session of the Texas state legislature.

Make sure he knows the whole nation is watching what happens in Texas. If he allows the feds to walk all over him and Texas with some empty threats and misinterpretation of the "supremacy clause," then the TSA will have won a major victory.

Here's the full message:

Texas anti-TSA legislation - Still a fighting chance?

In another twist in the story of Texas standing up to the TSA, we learn that the Texas legislative session has been extended to deal with some loose ends. It is possible that the Governor will add the anti-pat down bill to the docket, so it may not be dead yet!

Update on Texas anti-pat-down law

It's dead in the water for now, unfortunately. Here's how the Obama administration operates. (Remember, Obama is the head of the executive branch, whose function is to enforce the laws of the land. As such, the Department of Justice follows his orders or, at the very least, has his implicit blessing for their actions.)

When the Texas Senate was about to pass the legislation that would make TSA pat-downs a sex crime, a US Attorney (working in Obama's Department of Justice... in case you thought that W's DoJ was still running things, which would be an honest mistake) threatened to cancel all flights in and out of Texas. Here's the text of John Murphy's threat.

After the threat was made, the support for the law in the TX Senate dissipated. The legislation was tabled and, last Wednesday, was put to bed (at least until next term). Nonetheless, at least one TX representative, David Simpson, is not letting the matter go (and good for him!).

Here's a little bit more on the legal fight. And a dumb post from Jaunted (Hey! They called the legislation "dumb" so I'm just returning the favor!). Let's hope, however, that more states stand up to the TSA and force Obama into the awkward position of admitting that he is personally responsible for this, this, and this, just in time for the 2012 re-election campaign.

Op-ed from Texas legislator

The Texas legislation to treat pat-downs as sexual assault is getting more news, especially since it's the first state to get it passed through the house. Here is a good piece from one of the signatories, David Simpson. It makes the scanners harder to justify if the only alternative is sexual assault. (Of course, the agents viewing scanner images should also be subject to sex crime charges.)

Texas pat-down bill makes headway

The bill to make TSA pat-downs a type of sexual assault is moving forward. This is a great precedent and I hope it gets the final votes it needs in the Texas House and Senate.

H/T Erik G.

Texas anti-TSA legislation

More coverage on the Texas legislation.

Will Texas copy New Hampshire? I hope so!

Legislation is Texas would make TSA pat-downs equal to sexual assault. Go! Go! Go!