Don't you think it's hypocrisy to fault President Obama for not implementing policies you are doing everything in your powers to block? The same people who voted against airport screening, explosive detection, and no fly list are the same ones who are doing the shrieking. The GOPs policy of saying no to everything is helping to make air travel less safe. People need to stop parroting what they hear on Fox and talk radio.

I fault him because he doesn't have a clue. The TSA nominee is being held up because Republicans don't want the TSA unionized. Do you think that is a wise idea Ars?

Unions worked so well for the auto industry.....I can see the screeners now with there feet on the desk reading the paper "I will be with you in a minute."

What a joke the unions are, more payback for votes. I guess the millions of dollars of contributions to the Obama campaign by the unions will be paid back soon! Is this change you can believe in?

Unions will be the open door for terrorists. They'll find ways around the already shoddy practices of the TSA, and then it will take months of barganing to get the changes put into place. People who screw up will be protected under the Union rules.

Wait just a minute here Steve! Let's not assume that just because a union is involved that the thing is going to fall apart at the seems. The country has been built over the past five or six decades on back of solid union labor. Are they perfect? Of course not, there are problems that are have to be dealt with all the time. But do not forget the reason unions came into place in the first place was due to shady management practices. Was it the unions that created the banking mess of the past few years? Was the unions that caused Wall Street to go into a tail spin? There is enough blame to pass around for the screw ups in this country without taking shots at a overall group of people.

And no I am not a union member. My son is, my dad was, my grandfather was and they are and were all hard working men. To assume that just because you are a union man makes one lazy and worthless by association is unfair if not down right insulting.

Wow! I got nothing. TR, Kat and Dave hit all the points I was going to make, and even a few more.

Hey, I believe the Republicans would have other reasons if the guy wasn't into unions and fair treatment of workers--"He jaywalked in Butte, Montana in 1991 and that shows he has no respect for the law". To me, this is sabotage that makes our government less efficient and keeps the TSA from having leadership and direction.

It's smoke and mirrors.
They stand on principles to the detriment of the greater good. Attack Obama relentlessly so they'll have a chance of winning in 2012.
Interestingly, I was checking in another discussion group where the conversation was not about politics at all. It's about writing, and the creator of the topic wanted to discuss meanings of words. He started things off by breaking down the definitions of "conservative" and "liberal" and then illustrating how the terms are used today. In the process, he mentioned something about "parroting" what the talking heads say.

Dave - I was 1/2 joking about the comments. There are good workers and bad workers is all working environments. Unions were good after the Depression and into the 70's but since we have become a global economy they generally do more harm than good and hurt job growth. THis is a good read about unions.

http://www.heritage.org/research/labor/bg2775.cfm

Aren't police and firefighters all unionized, as are the airline pilots and flight attendants? DeMint's rationale for blocking a very qualified individual is pretty lame and putting airport security at risk.

DeMint is the same guy who said he would do everything possible to ensure that President Obama fails. In my opinion, he's putting his party before the country. Why else would he fear unions more than the terrorist? SC sure knows how to elect them!

Say what?

http://blog.heritage.org/2009/12/30/sen-chris-dodd-d-ct-puts-union-friends-ahead-of-air-security/

This thread gives me a headache... with an emphasis on party partisanship and misplaced anger.

Elected officials are supposed to work for us... which is not what's happening with all of these partisan squabbles.

No offense.... but voting to slash funding is not exactly the same as blocking the appointment of someone to head the TSA. Chris Dodd is going to find it difficult to be re-elected - but not due to this....

Funding is an action which affects the new fiscal year. Blocking an appointment is largely symbolic - and leads to delay in the TSA doing its business.