In what is probably the dumbest political strategy ever, South Carolina Senator Jim DeMint is defending his decision to ensure the Obama appointee for the head of the TSA, Errol Southers, is delayed - even after the Christmas Day terror attempt by Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab. Senator DeMint has placed a hold on the nomination of the agency that keeps our skies safe, after an attempted terror attack on an airplane on its way to Detroit, because he believes the nominee is too union friendly.
Let's interpret that. Seriously. Even though people are trying to blow up our airplanes and we have a highly qualified appointee to lead the agency that can help prevent this from happening, Senator DeMint is more concerned that TSA employees might be allowed to participate in collective bargaining? Really? Senator DeMint believes the threat of unions to our nation is greater than the threat of terrorists?
Senator DeMint has been an open critic of the Obama administration's decision to move Guantanamo Bay prisoners to the United States, saying in a statement that "The President's decision may please some European elites but it doesn't make American families any safer. I will continue to fight these misguided policies that weaken our national security and embolden our enemies."
So, housing terrorists on American soil in a super-max facility is emboldening our enemies, but openly delaying the nominee of Southers (who will be overwhelmingly confirmed anyway) is not? Do you think that it would be useful right now to have a head of the agency that is working on protecting us from future attacks and making the decisions about what type of security screening we are subject to when flying?
The next time you hear a conservative complaining about how soft Democrats are on terrorists, remind them who presided over the worst terror attack on American soil EVER, who's responsible for sending the troops to their deaths in the wrong country (oops) and who saw to it that we had no head of the TSA to prevent the Christmas Day bombing attempt.
I'll let Claire McCaskill finish up for me:
"With all due respect, this is nuts holding him up over whether somebody's going to be able to bargain for a better benefit. Playing games with the process -- all it's doing is hurting the traveling public, because the most important front-line agency to protect Americans right now on flights is being held up over political stuff."
At what point is America going to wake up and see that allowing Republicans to behave this way does nothing but endanger our country? You can contact Senator DeMint here and ask him to remove his hold from the nomination.
"The President's decision may please some European elites but it doesn't make American families any safer."
It's funny how you can take that same line of reasoning and make a statement like,"Sen. DeMint's decision may please some Republican elites but it doesn't make American families any safer."
Sorry, I hit "submit" too quick.
Let's start 2010 on a good note. I think part of our problems in 2009 has been "confusion" over some of these small jobs, as I mentioned here, like "truck driver". Let's get these "positions" like this "filled" as they do not require congressional approval.
As "plumbers" was already used..I suggest (based on arte's idea) let's call them "truckers"?
arte wrote: Democrats need to run his ass over in order to get this nomination confirmed.
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Who's the truck driver?
One more stop on my trip to DC. TWO bananas for the not-so-honorable senator from SC.
Its not about what is wanted or needed for the Senator. Its all about the GOP losing in the election and now having a Dem President. He is seeking approbation from the rest of the GOP Congressmen for his stance against anything the administration wants.
BTW, even in Corpus, the Police and Fire are Unionized.
Artemus,
Fantastic point about law enforcement and fire fighters being unionized. I wish I'd thought of that myself.
Kel
Senator DeMint and his followers (black shards, Melissa, Sparkie et al) fundamentally misunderstand the concept of being in the minority. Theirs is a basic disconnect from reality. They believe what they say, so everyone one else must, as well. But the depth of their anger is no substitute for having the votes.
DeMint is concerned that TSA officers, if unionized, will be ineffective. He ignores, of course, the reality that most local and federal law enforcement agents are organized and engage in collective bargaining. The cops and firemen who died on 9/11 were members of unions. But DeMint absolutely misunderstands the mood of the American people on this issue. Democrats need to run his ass over in order to get this nomination confirmed. And they will.