Trains.com

Schumer's latest statement

1831 views
13 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Georgia USA SW of Atlanta
  • 11,919 posts
Schumer's latest statement
Posted by blue streak 1 on Sunday, December 11, 2016 6:58 PM
  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: US
  • 25,292 posts
Posted by BaltACD on Sunday, December 11, 2016 7:48 PM

blue streak 1

Everybody in govenment needs to be checked against the terror watch list, especially those in elected office.

They should also get a TSA pat down before being allowed into the Capitol.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

  • Member since
    April 2011
  • 649 posts
Posted by LensCapOn on Monday, December 12, 2016 8:19 PM

So how clean a list is the "Terror Watch List"? What does it take to get on it? If you're on it do you have to be informed so you can challenge it? Who reviews it after a name is suggested? Is it just names or is there substantial id data included.
 
There is so much witch hunting injustice that could come from a list like that.
  • Member since
    August 2006
  • From: South Dakota
  • 1,592 posts
Posted by Dakguy201 on Tuesday, December 13, 2016 8:05 AM

I'm very uncomfortable with these various watch lists.  The potential for abuse through either bureaucratic stupidity or old fashioned malice is great, and there does not seem to be any efficient mechanism to appeal a listing nor a routine opportunity for judicial review.

Various people such as the late Senator Kennedy and political writer Steve Hayes have ended up on the no fly list.  How did that happen?  If the no fly list is warranted, shouldn't it be extended to trains then to rapid transit systems?  What about the Greyhound that picks up a passenger at West Nowhere at 3am?

Senator Schumer prefers to conduct business by rushing to the TV cameras with whatever idea that might get him some air time.  That is not my concept of the ideal way to conduct legislative procedure. 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: MP CF161.6 NS's New Castle District in NE Indiana
  • 2,148 posts
Posted by rrnut282 on Tuesday, December 13, 2016 10:41 AM

BaltACD

Everybody in govenment needs to be checked against the terror watch list, especially those in elected office.

They should also get a TSA pat down before being allowed into the Capitol.

I would add body-cavity search, but the TSA would only be confused which cavity to search on polititcians as crap comes out both ends.  Mischief  Chuck immediately comes to mind on that point. 

Mike (2-8-2)
  • Member since
    November 2005
  • 4,190 posts
Posted by wanswheel on Tuesday, December 13, 2016 12:06 PM

Kennedy’s parents should’ve named him Theodore if they wanted to call him Teddy.

Excerpt from Washington Post, Aug. 20, 2004

U.S. Sen. Edward M. "Ted" Kennedy said yesterday that he was stopped and questioned at airports on the East Coast five times in March because his name appeared on the government's secret "no-fly" list.

Federal air security officials said the initial error that led to scrutiny of the Massachusetts Democrat should not have happened even though they recognize that the no-fly list is imperfect. But privately they acknowledged being embarrassed that it took the senator and his staff more than three weeks to get his name removed.

A senior administration official, who spoke on condition he not be identified, said Kennedy was stopped because the name "T. Kennedy" has been used as an alias by someone on the list of terrorist suspects.

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,021 posts
Posted by tree68 on Tuesday, December 13, 2016 12:37 PM

wanswheel
A senior administration official, who spoke on condition he not be identified, said Kennedy was stopped because the name "T. Kennedy" has been used as an alias by someone on the list of terrorist suspects.

And therein lies a significant part of the problem.  While it's certainly necessary to keep the list secret, sometimes common sense is lacking in its application.

Seems as though I've read of several toddlers having similar problems. Who knew that when the (editorial) Kennedy's decided to name their kid Thomas when he was born a couple of years ago that he was already on the watch list...

LarryWhistling
Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) 
Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you
My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date
Come ride the rails with me!
There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...

  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Georgia USA SW of Atlanta
  • 11,919 posts
Posted by blue streak 1 on Tuesday, December 13, 2016 12:49 PM

Dakguy201

I'm very uncomfortable with these various watch lists.  The potential for abuse through either bureaucratic stupidity or old fashioned malice is great, and there does not seem to be any efficient mechanism to appeal a listing nor a routine opportunity for judicial review.

We should be very uncomfortable with these lists.  Anyone read the history of the 1950s black list ?

  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Southeast Michigan
  • 2,983 posts
Posted by Norm48327 on Tuesday, December 13, 2016 1:43 PM

blue streak 1
Dakguy201

I'm very uncomfortable with these various watch lists.  The potential for abuse through either bureaucratic stupidity or old fashioned malice is great, and there does not seem to be any efficient mechanism to appeal a listing nor a routine opportunity for judicial review.

 

We should be very uncomfortable with these lists.  Anyone read the history of the 1950s black list ?

Or The Third Reich?

Norm


  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,021 posts
Posted by tree68 on Tuesday, December 13, 2016 1:55 PM

Norm48327
Or The Third Reich?

Godwin lives!

LarryWhistling
Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) 
Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you
My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date
Come ride the rails with me!
There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...

  • Member since
    September 2010
  • 2,515 posts
Posted by Electroliner 1935 on Tuesday, December 13, 2016 3:41 PM

But the NRA won't let the lists be used for screening of Gun Buyers.

  • Member since
    July 2008
  • 2,325 posts
Posted by rdamon on Tuesday, December 13, 2016 4:08 PM

I know some folks who have used this to get off the list ...

https://www.dhs.gov/dhs-trip

  • Member since
    October 2015
  • 21 posts
Posted by MemphisBlue on Tuesday, December 13, 2016 4:47 PM

[quote user="Electroliner 1935"]

But the NRA won't let the lists be used for screening of Gun Buyers.

The NRA is like a union trying to protect jobs, but they defend the 2nd Amendment.  They can't stop anything.  Politicians are the ones not making that leap and for good reason, since it sets up a scenario where people lose a constitional right due to some govt official's judgment call.  How about this-- if someone is too dangerous to fly, or too dangerous to exercise their Second Amendment rights, why should they get to vote?  Or drive a car?  Or heck, why are they still walking the streets?

On the other hand, what Schumer wants is different.  If someone is a govt/city employee and there is a requirement for a background check or having a security clearance, they have to do it and pass it.  If the requirement is cross checking them with the no fly list, that's the requirement.   There is no constitutional right to have a mass transit job.   The question is whether the checking is necessary or not.  I don't recall a lot of terrorist employees being caught sabotaging the rails since 9/11. 

  • Member since
    August 2006
  • From: South Dakota
  • 1,592 posts
Posted by Dakguy201 on Wednesday, December 14, 2016 7:45 AM

wanswheel

Excerpt from Washington Post, Aug. 20, 2004

(snip)

A senior administration official, who spoke on condition he not be identified, said Kennedy was stopped because the name "T. Kennedy" has been used as an alias by someone on the list of terrorist suspects.

I wonder how many people are named "T. Kennedy".  There has to be thousands among us; my phone book has 3.  I suspect if we had access to that list we would find many examples of such useless identifications.   

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

Newsletter Sign-Up

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy