Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Baggage Handling

The idea that having an appointed head of TSA would have averted last week's close call is a little stupid, but it hasn't stopped Democrats from slamming Jim DeMint for holding up the president's appointment for TSA head, a Mr. Erroll Southers. On an unrelated note, there really should be more men named Erroll.

Outrageous that those nasty GOP obstructionists would play politics with national security, right? Unbelievable that this vital position would go unfilled, thanks to the Republicans, right?

Well, not really. This job is so vital to national security that a nominee was picked in September. I'm not a math whiz, but September minus January=8 months. His nomination was not voted out of committee in mid-November. And DeMint's issue with Mr. Southers is that he wants to unionize the airport screeners. DeMint's stance is perhaps a system that rewards longevity instead of performance wouldn't make for the most diligent baggage and passenger screeners.

The Wall Street Journal captures the saga well.

2 comments:

  1. More men should also be called "Basil".

    By the way, listen to a Brit closely someday. They will never say "he was "named" Basil". They will say "he was called "Basil". I've always liked that.

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  2. A couple of weeks ago TSA posted on one of the websites their security procedures at airports. Now we get suicide bombers riding around on planes. Gee, how did that happen?

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