I bet you five imaginary dollars that, given the current weather forecast, my experience in LaGuardia this afternoon will result in me sounding angry, swearing under my breath, mumbling, and muttering "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus".
Fucking insanity- Powerline ends the post saying "Here's to US Airways for doing the right thing." I mean, whether it's the right thing has been proven at this point, hasn't it? The guys were not terrorists, they were in town for a legitimate purpose, the police interrogated them and let them go. If they've been shown to not be terrorists, how was it the right thing to kick them off? Wouldn't "mistake" be the correct term?
"Here's to US Airways for making a mistake" does not have the same ring to it.
From the Times article linked at Powerline: yesterday morning a US Airways ticket agent refused to book them on another flight
Ogged, they *did* get vouchers and got home on Northwest.
I read somewhere that a TSA spokesman said something to the effect of "we never criticize someone who errs on the side of security" in response to this incident.
yeah, the thing that gets me about the Powerline treatment is that there's *nothing suggesting these guys were dangerous* and everything they did is run-of-the-mill behavior, yet Powertools keeps going off as though there's some dark (aha) conspiracy that's being ignored by the MSM.
2: For Powerline, the "right thing" is anything that resembles giving the middle finger to a Muslim.
7: Seatbelt extension! He wanted a seatbelt extension! Don't you even read, Labs?
WHO NEEDED THE SEAT BELT EXTENSION????
"Errs on the side of caution" makes me crazy too, since false positives weaken security. Taking threats seriously means learning how to distinguish between real problems ("why are you lighting your shoe on fire?") and non-problems (prayer, bitching about Saddam).
6 brings up another important premise of the new national security state. Not only are all Arabic men automatically suspicious, but any hardship felt by them as a result of your policies is inconsequential. You should always err on the side of safety--after all, there is no loss for a false positive.
In defense of Powerline, those imams look at most a little chubby. Would someone give me a clue as to how the seatbelt extension would help take over the airplane? I actually googled a little this morning trying to figure this out, but I couldn't do it-- all I get is threads about overweight people.
Another important point is that shabby treatment of Muslim's makes them less inclined to cooperate by doing things like reporting suspicious behavior.
Did they all ask for seatbelt extensions? Or just one?
Just look at it! Would YOU want to be on an airplane where a Muslim had one of those? Who knows what he could do with it? I don't, but that just makes it scarier!
13- Clearly the fat one in yellow was photoshopped to make him look smaller.
My favorite part is that FrontPage thinks it's suspicious and scary that the guys claimed they didn't pray on the plane, but "initial reports held that the men had been removed from the plane after ostentatiously standing and praying Islamic evening prayers." Right, because initial reports based on ignorant witness accounts are never wrong.
FrontPage- I heard they're funded by Al Qaeda. I may be wrong, but isn't it suspicious that I even thought of typing that?
I mean I guess you could beat someone with it. Those buckles are kinda heavy.
Ok, I'll say it: anyone who has been following recent events even a little and still supports the War on Anything Bush Decides to Label Terrorism is a bigot.
13 -- The metal bit is probably heavy enough to give you a nasty bruise if somebody holding the other end of the seat belt swung it at your head. Centripetal force, man.
Seat belt extensions are so totally the kind of comfort gizmos that immigrants fall in love with, and knowing and asking about them is a small "I understand this country's customs" thing (ironic, heh). Powerlinians no doubt have Macgeyverite fantasies about A-rabs using them like piano wire to choke people, or maybe as nunchucks, or even lines to swing from overhead bin to overhead bin.
Don't the inflatable life vests under the seats have CO2 cartridges? Much scarier than seatbelts, and you don't even have to ask for one. What about the cord on your headphones? And don't get me starting on the SkyMalls catalog- paper cuts hurt like hell!
Everything looks like a weapon when you're an ignorant bedwetting wuss.
You could throw it, like a bola, and try to trip people. That would get pretty annoying after a while.
Yes, a skillfully weilded seatbelt extension might be almost as dangerous as a carryon bag.
The PowerLine Clown Brigade™ really is made up of three of the stupidest people on God's green earth. "They each purchased bottled water in the airport bar prior to the flight. Now I ask you: which of these men looks extraordinarily thirsty? NONE OF THEM, THAT'S WHO."
It's entirely possible that yellow-shirt man required a seatbelt extension to be comfortable.
Also the "chanting Allah" things bothers me, depending on what language the guys were speaking. If they were speaking in Arabic, well, there are a ton of ways you can say "Allah" that are just expressions, e.g. Insha'allah or saying "Allah!" expressing frustration (equivalent to "Damnit!"). It's entirely possible someone was listening intently to them, heard someone say "Allah" one or multiple times and through the magic of hysteria and the fallibility of eyewitness recounts, this turned into "chanting Allah...Allah...Allah."
Or you could paint it green, and pretend it's a dangerous poisonous motherfucking snake, assuming you've managed to smuggle paint on board.
Or you could paint it green, and pretend it's a dangerous poisonous motherfucking snake, assuming you've managed to smuggle paint on board.
They're not stupid, they're mendacious and evil. They know exactly what they're doing.
They're not stupid, they're mendacious and evil.
Those are not mutually exclusive categories, Ogged.
Isn't it obvious what's going through the Powertools' mind? If you're going to blow up a plane, you need explosives, right? And those explosives would be attached where on your body? That's right, in the form of a belt or vest around your midsection. They gave the game away because they presumably were planning to use an explosive-laden belt so bulky that an otherwise medium-sized man would need a seatbelt extension in order to be properly buckled in for safety before killing himself with the explosives. We're winning here people -- just imagine if the terrorists had the technology to create an explosion with less than 3 ounces of liquid per person.
This thread is dangerous--I think we may be giving the fucking nutcases some ammo to support their ludicrous arguments.
The lawfirm of stupid, mendacious, and evil. Which is which? I think Hindrocket's the evil one, I don't know about the other two.
If we had a belt,
we could make a bomb belt
if we had a bomb.
What these imams have is the will to do evil. Their buddies brought down two skyscrapers with boxcutters, so how can we possibly guess what they want with seatbelt extensions? What we need is a separate airline for Muslims.
Last time I went through, Minneapolis airport's visible security force looked mostly Somali to me.
38: That's basically what the FrontPage piece said:
Shahin has complained that he was "humiliated" and that the way the imams were treated was "terrible." Indeed. It is terrible. It is terrible that he and the other imams who were taken off the plane, as well as other Islamic leaders in America, have allowed those who commit violence in the name of their religion to do so unimpeded and unchallenged.
Rational discourse from redstate that mentions the Imams.
Actually, make that bigoted jingoistic discourse from redstate, but you already knew that.
FrontPage's theory seems to be that it's a good thing to throw Muslims off planes, regardless of whether they (as individuals) are terrorists, in fact especially if they're not terrorists, because then the good Muslims will get fed up with not being allowed on planes, and will get the bad Muslims to knock that terrorist shit off.
42: It's a good thing for barristas to piss in Republicans' coffee, because then the good Republicans will get sick of the flavor of urine, and will get the bad Republicans to knock that fascist shit off.
38: I don't see why they should get an airline. Maybe after they earn it.
I don't see why they should get an airline.
Of course, it will only offer one-way flights to Camp Lemon Chicken.
23 is exactly right. 31 and 37 are just awesome.
Everything looks like a weapon when you're an ignorant bedwetting wuss.
And anything is a weapon if you're knowledgeable. That said, I still haven't figured out how seat-belt extensions would lead to eventual control of the aircraft. It's not as if any pilot or other passengers are going to give in just because you've strangled a few babies, grannies, or flight attendants.
Are there enough Muslims for a boycott of US Airways to have any impact?
(Realistically, I'm sure that all airlines are equally offensive about this sort of thing, but somebody has to be the sacrificial goat, right?)
Are there enough Muslims for a boycott of US Airways to have any impact?
A billion and a half, I think.
When I first read 27, I thought it must be someone like Retardo M. trolling at powerline as a joke. But then I went there and discovered they don't even have commenters. My god.
Well to be fair, 27 is an Apostrostrophic paraphrase of Powerline, not the original.
they don't even have commenters.
Also, the new top post argues that Iraq is only twice as violent as DC in the 1980s.
Also, the new top post argues that Iraq is only twice as violent as DC in the 1980s.
It's true, the stories about dozens of headless corpses showing signs of torture being discovered in and around Washington D.C. in the 1980s occurred every other day.
From the PowerLine forums about the airline incident:
This was most probably a recon mission. I pray that each of these islamics is put under 24 hour survelance, including wiretaps of ALL comms present, future and past.
I'd bet that at least one of these enemy has been in contact with other cells or possibly even their masters in Iran or Afganistan.
The plan would be to add more legal complications and confusion to airline travel, and ultimately, to use these techniques toward another 9/11 or worse.
So next time you're on airline and three islamics start chanting, "Allah Akbhar", instead of slipping a note to a flight attendent, the smartest thing to do would be to grab three of the nearest Real Men and choke those bastards to death!
I especially like the proposal to wiretap communications that occurred in the past.
How are you going to choke islamics using Real Men? Is that anything like a Real Doll?
How are you going to choke islamics using Real Men?
With their Real American Cocks, obviously.
And anything is a weapon if you're knowledgeable.
For example -- the Comfy Chair!!!
Emerson makes a Tick reference? This changes my entire image of him.
Also, how many of these Muslims, or people whom other people have confused for Muslims, get thrown off a plane for no reason stories are there now? I feel like I've seen six or seven?
It's a Monty Python reference. It may be a Tick reference as well, but if so the Tick got it from Monty Python.
I especially like the proposal to wiretap communications that occurred in the past.
*Snort*
Every couple of weeks, you kinda have to sit back and acknowledge the degree to which are country is currently run by people who are complete fucking idiots. There's a Lewis Black bit in this story somewhere, I'm sure...
Wait, you can be detained and questioned for five hours now--quite apart from missing your flight--because some nervous ninny thinks you seem odd? Not someone in any position of authority, with any training, but just Joe Whoeverthefuck that happens to be passing by?
Also, how the fuck would you prove, in an airport with, like, a carryon bag, that you're not actually a Bad Guy? "Well, you can't get ahold of my husband because he's at work. No, I don't know his work number by heart. It's in my cell phone. Well, yes, I suppose *in theory* I could have pre-programmed the cell phone with false numbers so that when you dial him the airplane will blow up, if such a thing is possible. So right, I guess you can't call him *just in case*. And of course you have no *proof* that the man who would answer the phone *is actually my husband* and not a co-conspirator. Hmm...."
It may be a Tick reference as well, but if so the Tick got it from Monty Python.
I read it as the MP reference, as well, but as a Tick reference I would see it as pretty unrelated. In the episode of The Tick in question, a villain steals a chair so comfortable that anyone who sits in it is overpoweringly compelled to sit in it for all time. It's not really the same deal. Yes, I am a huge nerd.
Also, with perhaps amusing consequences, I just pasted the quote above into a client-viewable ticket at work and pushed it out to them, thinking I had something else in my clipboard.
In all seriousness, you know what I want to see? I want to see someone flip their precious little wig over a brown-skinned guy speaking another language, and get them thrown off the plane, and then someone else on the flight tell the flight attendants that Patriotic Vigilante Dumbass over there makes them nervous because PVD might try to take "security" into their own hands rather than leave it to the flight professionals and any air marshal that might be onboard, and get PVD, in turn, thrown off the fucking plane. I would pay good fucking money to see that.
a villain steals a chair so comfortable that anyone who sits in it is overpoweringly compelled to sit in it for all time.
And y'all don't instantly see that as a weapon to be used on useless management flunkies? I'd love to watch a few starve. I'm disappointed. Really.
65 - I think wig-flipping is a legitimate reason to get someone kicked off a plane. In the hands of a trained expert, wigs can hurt like fists.
The Dr. Lady in #63 is making me nervous and is also brown (or at least appears so in her comment), please remove her from the blog.
If I had a couple million to blow on plane tickets and lawyers, I would organize a mass protest of this sort. Just stock the plane with people who are going to get one another thrown off in rapid and preordained succession.
The only question is whether the last person would stand up and say, "To be honest, I make myself nervous and would like myself removed from the plane," or whether they'd pull an attendant aside and say, "Did you get a good look at the pilot? I'm not so sure about them..."
In the hands of a trained expert, wigs can hurt like fists.
I said "precious little wigs," snarkout. Let's not go crazy. These would be slap-fight quality wigs at best.
You wouldn't need so much effort, Robust. I think all you'd really need to do would be to get some dude who looks really wealthy and important and litigious booted off a plane.
We tried that already.
And you let her back in?!!?!??? You're all in this together! AIEEEEEEEEEE!!!!
the degree to which are country is currently run by ...idiots
(Snort.)
Soon, terrorists will be dressing like Hindrockets and making nasty cracks about Muslims, just for cover.
They already have great cover. They go to nightclubs and booze it up the night before their big operation. Apparently it worked last time.
What we need is a separate airline for Muslims.
Are there enough Muslims for a boycott of US Airways to have any impact?
Clearly, market size is a major hurdle for an airline catering only to bearded praying men. But if you were to include all bearded men, including these ursine fellows, imagine the benefits beyond a winning business plan -- cross-cultural bonding, sitcom fodder, and maybe even true love.
Soon, terrorists will be dressing like Hindrockets and making nasty cracks about Muslims, just for cover.
*Gasps*
How do we know it hasn't been done already?!!? And didn't Hindrocket infiltrate the White House itself?!!? My God.
I want to talk more about the urinating in coffee, because that's something I'd probably be good at.
that's something I'd probably be good at
Massive endowment and all.
More like "little girl bladder", to be honest.
Anybody can urinate in coffee. There's this mystique that it's something very difficult, so a lot of people don't even try. There's no reason that this should be reserved for the so-called elite.
But how would you know which coffee-buyers were Republicans? Are we going to institute a policy of peeing in the coffee of anyone who looks like they *might* be Republican, just in case?
Also, McManly, I guarantee that if I am ever on a flight where someone flips their wig and makes a fuss about someone else being kicked off, I'm totally gonna tell the attendants that the wig-flipper is making me hella nervous.
If that ever happens, I'll bill you.
Are we going to institute a policy of peeing in the coffee of anyone who looks like they *might* be Republican, just in case?
Enough with the civil liberties nonsense. A little profiling is just common sense. We're going to pee in their coffee over there so we don't have to pee in it over here.
I keep misreading this post title as:
6" plastic Arab men
which is a euphemism for something.
84: Agreed entirely. I'm going to start peeing in all you white dudes' coffee.
Since I have my nose pierced, I'm good.
Come to think of it, not just the white dudes, neither. Ogged has made pretenses in the past to being suspicious of liberalism. Better pee in his coffee, too, just to be on the safe side.
74: Sure Firefox 2 has spellcheck, why not grammar check as well?
I ban myself.
I've never seen tea drunk that way. Isn't it messy? I should think it would leak back out again and stain your trousers.
Look, this isn't difficult, people. Every morning, good, dedicated liberals will pee in their own coffee just a little bit, increasing it ever so slightly each day, so that we build our tolerance. That way, even if you get misidentified, when your Republican "friends" ask whether the coffee tastes funny to you, you can just smile and say, "No, tastes fine to me. Try adding a little cream."
88: Crap. Okay, from here on out it's me and my NARAL t-shirt, 7 days a week.