Congresswoman has no-fly list troubles

[Judi Lynn]

Oct. 30, 2006, 10:48PM
Congresswoman has no-fly list troubles

By GILLIAN FLACCUS Associated Press Writer
© 2006 The Associated Press

SANTA ANA, Calif. — A California congresswoman said she was briefly denied access to a United Airlines flight last week because her name appeared on a "no fly list" set up after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Rep. Loretta Sanchez, a Democrat who has been a critic of the no-fly list, said her staff had booked her a one-way ticket from Boise, Idaho, to Cincinnati through Denver. But they were prevented from printing her boarding pass online and at an airport kiosk.

Sanchez said she was instructed to check in with a United employee, who told her she was on the terrorist watch list. The employee asked her for identification, Sanchez said.

"I handed over my congressional ID and he started laughing and said, 'I'm going to need an ID that has your birthday on it,'" Sanchez said in a phone interview with The Associated Press.
(snip/...)

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/nation/4298741.html

[bullimiami]

1. how did i KNOW it would be a democrat? getting a little scared yet?

[Tesha]

9. (Democrats have names like "Sanchez".) (NT)

[Hepburn]

11. My two best gal pals and I were talking about this the other day...

...and of the three of us, one has a first and last name which are sort of common and we were all sure that there had to be a few people ~~ if not a lot ~~ who had this name and possibly someone with her name could be on that no-fly list.

All my life I have HATED that my parents gave me an odd first name and our other friend has a very odd spelling of a kind of uncommon first name. The two of us with the odd names discussed that all through our lives when others could go to some rack and get things with their names on them pre-printed, we never could do this. However, with the current climate in the US with things like the no-fly list, maybe that was not such a bad deal after all having an unusual name.

So, after all the years of holding a bit of a grudge against my parents for my "icky" first name, at the moment, I am rather glad that my name is unusual. Such a mess for people who have a name that appears on that list and that person is someone other than themselves.

This list has to go. It serves no purpose. Like some "terrorist" is gonna book a flight in his/her own name. GMAFB. How dumb is that??? :shrug:

[sarcasmo]

28. I have this problem too with the common name and it is true.

I know have my wife take the carry on and I laugh at them when they scan me and my wallet, keys and cell phone.

[aquart]

2. The No-Fly list needs to meet a shredder.

[FormerOstrich]

3. Seriously, it does...

lucky for the Senator, she had a congressional ID to flash. The rest of us aren't so lucky. I don't have to fly often for my job and, as far as I know, I'm not on any list. But imagine trying to explain to your boss that you didn't make it to the client site because you are on the terrorist watch list. I would think there are some jobs that would be jeopardized if you can't get from point a to b.

Exactly what benefit has the "no-fly", "terrorist watch" lists provided since their inception after 9/11? Have they really helped solve a problem? Prevented something bad? Has there been one instance of something useful? I think not.

What criteria gets you placed on this list? What other "lists" are you on if you are on a "no-fly" list? I find it hard to believe if you are on a terrorist watch list the ONLY place they want to watch for you is on an airplane. Maybe you shouldn't be allowed to attend sporting events or go to malls. Perhaps you shouldn't be able to rent a car or buy fertilizer? Honestly, I want to know. What else are they used for?

If a person is a terrorist then arrest them. If they have good reason to suspect a person of terrorism surveillance them, but leave the rest of us alone.

[B3Nut]

5. It is a harassment tool, nothing more.

It has zero effectiveness at its stated goal. For that matter, so does the rest of the security theater (as Bruce Schneier calls it) that hapless travelers must undergo.

The whole Kafka-esque mess needs to be shitcanned. They can put you on a list but can't and won't tell you why? Bullshit. :grr:

Todd in Beerbratistan

[daleo]

12. Agreed, it is extra-judicial harassment

We used to criticize the Soviets over this sort of thing.

[aggiesal]

8. Your question ...

What criteria gets you placed on this list?

Maybe you should be asking 2 other questions:
1) How can I find out if I'm on the "no-fly" list?
2) Once your on it, how can you have your name removed?

This administration has literally made both these questions un-answerable.
The only way to find out is to try to check in for a flight.
If they let you on, your name is not on the list.

If you have the same problem the Congresswoman Sanchez had, then you are
on the list, and absolutely no way to have your name removed.

Ever since 9/11, every flight I've taken, except 1, I've been secondary
searched. So, I feel my name is on some list, and some indicator is placed
on my boarding pass to notify the inspectors at the metal detector, to
have me searched again.

[hang a left]

13. Ted Kennedy got his name off the no fly list.

I am sure Loretta will do the same. It is always a Dem. It is just pure harrassment.

[LiberalFighter]

22. Along with the people creating the list (Shred them too)

[onehandle]

4. Another Boise bomber stopped before leveling Cincinnati!

What does Idaho have against Ohio anyway?

[kestrel91316]

6. What happens when they start doing this to EVERY Dem in Congress

right before they return to DC before important votes???

They CAN, you know. And I predict they WILL.

[Supersedeas]

21. maybe then Dems will get the message--anthrax warnings next?

[ckramer]

7. Terrorists can't afford a two-way ticket!

See how wonderful the anti-terrorist software is?

[The Sushi Bandit]

10. Here is a picture of me with the known terrorist!

Rep. Loretta Sanchez can fly with me anytime!!

[Haole Girl]

14. CNN: Critical congresswoman lands on no-fly list

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/10/31/congresswoman.nofly.ap/index.html

Critical congresswoman lands on no-fly list
POSTED: 11:50 a.m. EST, October 31, 2006

SANTA ANA, California (AP) -- A California congresswoman said she was briefly denied access to a United Airlines flight last week because her name appeared on a "no-fly list" set up after the September 11 terrorist attacks.

Rep. Loretta Sanchez, a Democrat who has been a critic of the no-fly list, said her staff booked her a one-way ticket from Boise, Idaho, to Cincinnati, Ohio, through Denver, Colorado. But they were prevented from printing her boarding pass online and at an airport kiosk.

Sanchez said she was instructed to check in with a United employee, who told her she was on the terrorist watch list. The employee asked her for identification, Sanchez said.

[redqueen]

15. Shocking.

I'm so very shocked that that happened to Rep. Sanchez.

:sarcasm:

[Haole Girl]

16. Yeah, really!

:-)

[Stand and Fight]

17. Funny.... Is there an instance where this happens to a Republican? n/t

[redqueen]

23. Interesting question.

I'm guessing the answer is probably no.

[slackmaster]

27. Something similar happened to the late Joe Foss

They wouldn't allow him to carry his Congressional Medal of Honor onto a plane.

[Double T]

18. The rest of 'US' are probably ALSO on the 'no-fly list'

[Haole Girl]

19. Shhh...

not so loud there... ;-)

[mikelgb]

20. I'll find out next week

I have to fly to NEw Orleans for work at the NAR convention

[mhatrw]

24. The no-fly list actually HELPS terrorists!

Any terror cell with decent funding would simply make several advance trips in several different ways in order to find out how to game the list and who would get waved through. Then they'd simply hide any contraband the terrorist who gets waved through.

This is why countries like Israel who are actually concerned with stopping terrorism would never even consider using such a bs system.

[Zodiak]

25. It is a warning

If you are put on a "list" and harassed when you try to fly, you get the message that your government doesn't like you and is watching you.

That is the purpose. Intimidation.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

26. My immediate reaction: What did the "No Fly" Loretta do to be

placed on the list. Not the Congresswoman, the supposed Loretta Sanchez she was confused for.

80,000 people on the NF list. Horseshit.