Why are we allowing the TSA to take over so much control? Everyone wants to be safe but not at the expense of our civil liberties. In my limited samples of experience with the TSA I find that some locations are friendly and do their best to limit the unpleasantness of the experience and others (such as Philadelphia) are downright offensive. There needs to be a much more consistent process implemented in all locations and it’s about time this process receives a more serious debate from politicians rather than a police organization. CNN:

Rosemary Fitzpatrick, a CNN employee, said she was subjected to a pat-down at the Orlando, Florida, airport on Wednesday night after her underwire bra set off a magnetometer. She said she was taken to a private area and searched, with transportation screening officers telling her the pat-down was a new procedure. According to Fitzpatrick, a female screener ran her hands around her breasts, over her stomach, buttocks and her inner thighs, and briefly touched her crotch. “I felt helpless, I felt violated, and I felt humiliated,” Fitzpatrick said, adding that she was reduced to tears at the checkpoint. She particularly objected to the fact that travelers were not warned about the new procedures.

NOTE FROM JOHN: They did this to me coming back from Europe a few weeks ago (Amsterdam airport boarding KLM/Delta flight). It was the most thorough pat down I’ve ever had in my life – and yes, he touched everything. But it was quick, and honestly, I’m okay with it if it means there’s a chance of me not blowing up at 35,000 feet.