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INTRODUCTION



Clay Jones, see reader comments in the Freelance-Star (Fredericksburg, VA), Buy this cartoon

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Many Democrats are quite upset that the intrusive personal body searches by the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) at the nation's many airports infringe upon their civil rights and as evidenced by a plethora of diaries in recent days on Daily Kos may be, in some cases, outright illegal in nature. Undoubtedly some Republicans and independents feel this way too.

As Jones points out, however, there are probably a number of Republicans who feel outraged only because these transgressions are taking place under the authority of a federal agency accountable to a Democratic Administration. It isn't much more complicated than that. Period

Don’t Touch My Junk Everyone’s jumping on the TSA about how aggressive they are in their security measures. I think it’s funny a lot of conservatives are complaining about it. These are the same people who said profiling was for the safety of our nation. I suspect if a Republican was in the White House then we wouldn’t be hearing these people complain about advanced security measures. Funny story, kinda. Once in line in Baltimore I was being patted down and I said to the guy "so, ya gonna call me tomorrow?" He stopped very suddenly and said "what’s that supposed to mean?" I was like "uh...it was a joke." And he said "we don’t joke with security." I kept my mouth shut after that as I was afraid they might wanna "search" me further in a private room. Personally, I’m grateful "don’t touch my junk" is now a part of American terminology. I’m also grateful I didn’t have to explain the definition of "junk" to my editor today. :: ::

Airport Pat-Downer by Bruce Plante, see reader comments in Tulsa World, Buy this cartoon

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1. Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places



TSA Looking for Love by J.D. Crowe, Mobile Register, Buy this cartoon :: :: I've spent a lifetime looking for you

Single bars and good time lovers, never true

Playing a fools game, hoping to win

Telling those sweet lies and losing again. I was looking for love in all the wrong places

Looking for love in too many faces

Searching your eyes, looking for traces

Of what.. I'm dreaming of...

Hopin' to find a friend and a lover

God bless the day I discover

Another heart, lookin' for love Lookin' for Love by Johnny Lee (Another version on YouTube)



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As Johnny Lee once asked in a song, have you been looking for love in all the wrong places so far? If so, Crowe has some advice for you. You'll never know where you might find the love of your life!

A Few Good Perverts Do you keep getting turned down for jobs because you're a little on the pervy side? Good news. You could have a career opportunity with the Transportation Security Administration. If you're flying these days you could be taking your life and body into a stranger's own hands. The new security system at airports could expose you to a full body scan or, if you prefer, a good groping. Hubba hubba. If you haven't had any action lately, you might wanna book a flight. It ain't as romantic as it seems. They don't have time to take everybody out dining and dancing before-hand. And besides, put yourselves in a TSA worker's place. How many people have you seen running around airports that you would really like to get all touchy and priesty with? OK, never mind. Wrong crowd. You're all thinking about that a little too seriously, you creeps. Not everybody's a pervert at the TSA. Just the ones who enjoy their job. And it is a job. They're just doing the best they can to thwart terrorist attempts. At least the TSA fella in this cartoon is an old school romantic. He figures if he's gonna feel you up he should at least bring flowers and some nice bubbly to set the mood. Unfortunately, the lady pictured here has put a higher price tag on her privates. If you're gonna grab Granny's junk, you're gonna have to bring the treasure.

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2. Gonna Fly Now



Bob Englehart, Hartford Courant, Buy this cartoon :: :: Trying hard now

it's so hard now

trying hard now Getting strong now

won't be long now

getting strong now Gonna fly now

flying high now

gonna fly, fly, fly... Gonna Fly Now by Bill Conti (YouTube)

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Many people refuse to fly not because of the humiliation they might experience while checking in at airports and undergoing outrageous security procedures. They may be genuinely afraid to do so. Are you afraid to fly as Englehart seems to be now? If so, you aren't the only one

Full-Body Scanners Today's cartoon was inspired in spite of the fact I haven't flown since the full-body scanners came into play. I used to fly to Fort Wayne, Indiana every year to play golf with my dad and visit with my brothers, but this year I drove. It was a pleasant drive, didn't push myself, spent a night in a nice motel with a pool, and didn't feel violated by the TSA. I'll continue to do that until it becomes completely impractical to drive, such as a longer trip to the left coast. I've come full circle about flying. In the beginning, I hated it. I was scared to death the plane would crash. I used to pray that the plane in front of us would crash on takeoff because the odds would be impossible that two planes in a row would crash. I'd drink myself into a stupor to get on a plane, even if it was a morning flight. Eventually, I came to understand that when it's your time to go, there's nothing you can do about it. I became aware of news stories about people doing ordinary things who died, or were killed. I became philosophical about flying and grew to enjoy it even to the point I could sleep on the plane. Now, I'm back to hating flying again.

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3. Missing You



Rob Rogers, Comics.com (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) :: :: All my bags are packed I'm ready to go

I'm standin' here outside your door

I hate to wake you up to say goodbye

But the dawn is breakin' it's early morn

The taxi's waitin' he's blowin' his horn

Already I'm so lonesome I could die So kiss me and smile for me

Tell me that you'll wait for me

Hold me like you'll never let me go

Cause I'm leavin' on a jet plane

Don't know when I'll be back again

Oh babe, I hate to go Leaving On A Jet Plane, John Denver (YouTube)

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Rogers seems to be channeling Ben Franklin who famously said once, "Those who sacrifice liberty for security deserve neither"

TSA Agent Airport security has taken on a new urgency with revealing body scans and aggressive pat-downs. I am all for tighter security, but at what point do our personal civil liberties get tossed out along with our unapproved liquids? Hard to say, but I hope the Transportation Security Administration can strike a balance.

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A Note About the Diary Poll



Jack Ohman, Comics.com (Portland Oregonian) :: :: At first I was afraid, I was petrified

Kept thinkin' I could never live without you by my side

But then I spent so many nights thinkin' how you did me wrong

And I grew strong and I learned how to get along And so you're back from outer space

I just walked in to find you here with that sad look upon your face

I should have changed that stupid lock, I should have made you leave your key

If I'd have known for just one second you'd be back to bother me I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor (YouTube)

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I'm just having fun with the diary poll given some of the above editorial cartoons. I could have as easily included many more dance songs and if I didn't list your favorite ones, they might be in one of the following lists

Don't forget to take the diary poll. Comments are welcomed.

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Crossposted at Docudharma and at The Stars Hollow Gazette