Airport rules changed after Ron Paul aide detained – Washington Times — The TSA has defended this action, now seeing it will lose in court relents. The audio is below. It’s unfortunate that people like this have no regard for the real laws of the USA. This situation was essentially false imprisonment and the TSA officials should be indicted.

An angry aide to Rep. Ron Paul, an iPhone and $4,700 in cash have forced the Transportation Security Administration to quietly issue two new rules telling its airport screeners they can only conduct searches related to airplane safety.

In response, the American Civil Liberties Union is dropping its lawsuit on behalf of Steve Bierfeldt, the man who was detained in March and who recorded the confrontation on his iPhone as TSA and local police officers spent half an hour demanding answers as to why he was carrying the money through Lambert-St. Louis International Airport.

The new rules, issuedin September and October, tell officers “screening may not be conducted to detect evidence of crimes unrelated to transportation security” and that large amounts of cash don’t qualify as suspicious for purposes of safety.

“We had been hearing of so many reports of TSA screeners engaging in wide-ranging fishing expeditions for illegal activities,” said Ben Wizner, a staff lawyer for the ACLU, pointing to reports of officers scanning pill-bottle labels to see whether the passenger was the person who obtained the prescription as one example.

He said screeners get a narrow exception to the Fourth Amendment, which prohibits unreasonable searches, strictly to keep weapons and explosives off planes, not to help police enforce other laws.

CLICK TO PLAY AUDIO:




  1. Phydeau says:

    … because if the government ever decides you’re an obnoxious asshole, you’re gonna need the ACLU behind you.

  2. cmon says:

    Uhh OK. So I’m a “wingnut” because I don’t support everything the ACLU does, or is it because you interpret my support of the TSA case as grudging? Or because you’re just prejudiced by reflex? Quite the mind reader, young man.

    I suspect we’re closer in our support of ACLU actions than you think, but I still don’t support everything they do. For instance, I’m not convinced that a show trial for Khalid Sheik Mohammed within US borders is a good idea. Listening to Holder today, it seems more political than not, certainly not about the rights of the accused, despite what the ACLU’s position is. But it’s an interesting question regarding the rights of non citizens not within US territory, and the real solution is to be out of the business of rounding up (or blowing up) citizens of other countries on their territory, unless we’re actually at war. I am troubled by ACLU vs Myriad since it is attacking property rights of citizens, but again can see the need to test this particular category of “composition of matter” patents. What’s your opinion?

  3. chuck says:

    So the new rule for the TSA is:
    Don’t search people who say they are important.
    But continue with the cavity searches on WW2 veterans.

  4. Phydeau says:

    #35 Yes, there are many wingnuts here, so my apologies if I unjustly put you in that category.

    I agree about that trial, especially about holding it in New York. WTF? Show trial indeed.

    That Myriad thing is bizarre. How can you patent a gene? Just because one company figured out the gene first, they can prevent other people from figuring it out too? I don’t see any property rights here. Discovering something in nature doesn’t give you rights to it. Does that mean the first person to discover a new archaeological site can “patent” it and keep other people from digging there? That’s a huge issue. I haven’t studied it enough to really have a firm opinion. But if it’s anything like software patents, big corporations with expensive lawyers will do anything they can to make a buck (that’s their job). Regardless of how it affects the rest of us.

    And BTW, calling someone a “lap dog” is a bit prejudiced too. 🙂

  5. Dallas says:

    #14 Thanks Fusion for keeping this forum honest with some fact checking. 🙂
    …which is another thing that is despised.

  6. wygit says:

    Now if the ACLU can just use the same argument to get the Patriot Act limited to terrorism investigations, instead of being just an open door for law enforcement.
    The number of arrests under the Act for other criminal activity is staggering.

  7. Hmeyers says:

    #21 for the win just because his name is “Goiter”!

  8. Faxon says:

    The recording shows the low level of intelligence in the law enforcement wing of society.

  9. ECA says:

    #28..
    Rules fixed??
    NOT ON OUR LIVES..
    They will NEVER walk thru all the old laws and decide WHICH WORK, WHICH DONT, WHICH are no longer needed..and it would take ABOUT as long to go thru the/that “PILE OF CRAP” AS it did to create it.

    THAT would be a Lovely mandate..

  10. Mark T. says:

    I am glad someone else is standing up to these guys so that it won’t be an issue the next time I fly somewhere (I usually carry up to $1K most of the time, more if travelling).

    TSA is right up there with INS. They would rather hassle the citizenry then to actually do their job as intended. I think they are all frustrated cop-wannabe’s.

    Ever since the “Know Your Neighbor” banking directive, if you carry lots of cash then you are automatically assumed to be either a criminal or a malcontent or both until proven otherwise.

    I wouldn’t doubt that the TSA reported him to the IRS and he will be audited next year. “Know Your Neighbor” runs deep.

  11. George says:

    Why did the ACLU have to get involved? This was a George Bush/Dick Cheney thing. I thought Mr. Hope and Change was supposed to fix this.

  12. Antonin C. Dvorak says:

    I think the TSA agents were well within their rights and ultimately trying to protect us. So the rest of you: shut your pie-holes. Where were all the complaints right after 9/11? When the next terrorist attack happens you’ll be thanking your government again — and asking for more.

  13. #47 Not only did Baldwin denounce communism in books but, one he saw the error of his past faith in a yet untested communism, he worked to rid the ACLU of all communists before US involvement in WWII.

    This, I learned in school from red-frocked Jesuits. What’s your error?

    Flawed men and women are capable of great acts and historical criticism is not a science.

    Geesus!

  14. Jess Hurchist says:

    #35 Phydeau
    ‘BTW, calling someone a “lap dog” is a bit prejudiced too’

    I rather liked the Phydeau/Fido/Lap dog punning. Shows a bit of wit

  15. LibertyLover says:

    #49, You need to read a book called “The Jesuits” by Malachi Martin. It might change your opinion on the Jesuits and what they tell people about themselves.

    And note, I know the ACLU has done some good. But I think if they are going to proclaim something like supporting Liberty, they should support it the whole way, not just part way.

  16. Don Quixote says:

    #19 your right about the police and phonetics. It isn’t spelled out as needed in the Lethal Weapon’s videos they use for training material.

  17. Mr. Fusion says:

    #51, Loser,

    And note, I know the ACLU has done some good. But I think if they are going to proclaim something like supporting Liberty, they should support it the whole way, not just part way.

    So once again because someone isn’t a greedy selfish bastard like Liebertarinas generally are, they must be wrong.

    The part YOU don’t understand is how society works. WE depend upon society working in order to support the life and lifestyle we have. Maybe your little fantasy world can’t comprehend that but it is true.

    The ACLU is for civil rights of all Americans that the government might want to deny. It is not for the destruction of society. The original American Constitution is the basic rules that our society will use in order to have a functioning society where the best is attainable for all. Well, except for slaves, women, those not in the elite, farmers, tradesmen, those who don’t own property, … .

    The ACLU is not concerned about taxation because taxation is constitutionally legal and proper. It is also required for society to function. Taxes are NOT an illegal taking under the Constitution. Not challenging taxation is not a denial of our Liberties. Forcing someone to pay homage to a flag or worship another god is.

    Don’t you ever get tired of being wrong?

  18. LibertyLover says:

    #53, So once again because someone isn’t a greedy selfish bastard like Liebertarinas generally are, they must be wrong.

    Why would you sacrifice others to save your wife?

  19. Mr. Fusion says:

    Looks like you have been owned again.

  20. Phydeau says:

    #54 Your fail is bordering on epic, LL. 🙂

  21. LibertyLover says:

    #55, If you think so, you shouldn’t mind answering the question. Wishing it doesn’t make it so, no matter how much the Obamessiah says so.

    Seriously, I answered it at your request. Why won’t you be man enough to admit why you married your wife, why you wouldn’t be able to look yourself in the mirror if you let something happen to her through your own inaction? Why do you take your ball and bat and go home when you lose the game?

  22. LibertyLover says:

    #56, Sigh, you are correct. I’ve failed so many times trying to get him to man up. Thanks for recognizing that 🙂

  23. LibertyLover says:

    #54, Why would you sacrifice others to save your wife?

    I’m not sure where you’re going with this, and I’m not Fusion… but no, I wouldn’t — if what you mean is take some action that would kill another innocent person, to save my wife’s life.

    It’s a very simple question:

    If you could save your wife or a group of strangers, but not both, which would you choose?

    Fusion has already stated he would do anything in his power to save his wife. Now we want to know why. He challenged me to answer it first, which I did, but then ran off and hid like a good little liberal when it was his turn.

  24. LL, I know who Malachi Martin is from my days as a cross-country driver. I would listen to Coast to Coast AM with Art Bell. MM was a regular “guest.” I won’t try to convince you that he is a loon who makes unsubstantiated claims about Jesuit devil worship because I don’t care one bit. As far as I know, and I was educated in a rigorous atmosphere of intellectual open-mindedness and a respect for honesty, the Jesuit order makes little attempt to hide the skeletons in their closets. I know few organizations, as an ex-catholic, atheistic skeptic, who so freely admit their “jesuitical” agenda.

    You can’t take Liberty hostage, either. That’s sort of ironic, ya know?

    Liberty is what? I say it’s up to the individual. Read some Kant, dude. In fact, read or go on assuming you were born with all the tools you need.

    Why do I waste my time though? It is passingly amusing to snark the stupids.

  25. Bryan Carney says:

    LL, I know who Malachi Martin is from my days as a cross-country driver. I would listen to Coast to Coast AM with Art Bell. MM was a regular “guest.” I won’t try to convince you that he is a loon who makes unsubstantiated claims about Jesuit devil worship because I don’t care one bit. As far as I know, and I was educated in a rigorous atmosphere of intellectual open-mindedness and a respect for honesty, the Jesuit order makes little attempt to hide the skeletons in their closets. I know few organizations, as an ex-catholic, atheistic skeptic, who so freely admit their “jesuitical” agenda.

    You can’t take Liberty hostage, either. That’s sort of ironic, ya know?

    Liberty is what? I say it’s up to the individual. Read some Kant, dude. In fact, read or go on assuming you were born with all the tools you need.

    Why do I waste my time though? It is passingly amusing to snark the stupids.

    The Jesuits asked me your whom would you kill question, when I was 14 years old, as an example of logical and moral pitfalls. Do you know what _they_ told me the answer should be? They said whatever leaves the world a better place. Liberty!

  26. LibertyLover says:

    #61, Liberty is what? I say it’s up to the individual.

    I would agree with that . . . as long as that individual accepted personal responsibility for his own actions to go along with it. Liberty doesn’t survive in a vacuum.

    AFA MM and the skeletons, I think you should read the book before passing judgment. If what you say is true about historical criticism, I could say the same thing here. It’s just possible he lost his mind later in life.

  27. Mr. Fusion says:

    #63, Loser,

    I would agree with that . . . as long as

    That is the exact reason Liebertarians are scorned. Liberty is conditional upon your take. News, liberty is not a conditional right!

    America didn’t become such a great nation because we have a Constitution. It became great because it was built with government money. Free or extremely cheap land; subsidies for canals, then railroads, and later roads and air travel; subsidizing and encouraging growth in mechanical innovations; investing in education; going to the moon; and many many more areas.

    America is a great nation in spite of your hatred for her.

  28. LibertyLover says:

    #64, Um, you still haven’t answered the question.

    Answer the question and you can be invited to the conversation.

    Why would you let other people die in place of your wife?


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