They actually brag on their blog about stopping some dumb schmuck from bringing a can of soup on the plane:
Chicken Soup for Your Pants? – Officers found a can of soup in a Las Vegas passenger’s carry-on bag. When told that it couldn’t go through because of the liquids rule (it was more than 3.4 ounces), the passenger said they would put the soup in their checked baggage. But when the passenger returned to the checkpoint, officers saw that the passenger had tried to hide the soup in their pants. No soup for them.
First, just to get it out of the way, there's the tortured grammar: "officers saw that the passenger had tried to hide the soup in their pants." Good catch; it's hard to notice somebody when he's trying to stuff soup into your pants.
Second: really? REALLY? You're bragging about this? I almost wonder if this "blogger Bob" (if that is his real name) is maybe an anti-TSA mole.
Third: I love the cutesy tone and pop-culture references. Makes you guys seem almost human. Until you scroll down a bit:
People Say the Darndest Things: Here is an example of what not to say at the airport. Statements like this not only delayed the people who said them, they can also inconvenience lots of other passengers if the checkpoint has to be evacuated: An officer at Minneapolis (MSP) was searching a bag for liquids when the passenger stated: “Those are my explosives.”
Did you know that it's been scientifically proven, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that people with weapons and/or explosives they're trying to smuggle onto a plane, with the intent of using them, go out of their way to draw attention to themselves?
“Activism is a way for useless people to feel important, even if the consequences of their activism are counterproductive for those they claim to be helping and damaging to the fabric of society as a whole.” - Dr Thomas Sowell
Ah, but maybe it's reverse psychology. So if you SAY you have a weapon, obviously you must not have one, since you don't want to draw attention to yourself. So that means they don't scrutinize you as close, and you can actually get away with it!
Do you know cops spot drug runners on expressways?
They drive expensive cars, but go the speed limit.
“Activism is a way for useless people to feel important, even if the consequences of their activism are counterproductive for those they claim to be helping and damaging to the fabric of society as a whole.” - Dr Thomas Sowell
People committing crimes or who are planning to don't want attention. They want to blend into the background.
The TSA reacting to people complaining or making a joke about the stupidity of the process is not about security. It's about power. They want that person to know that they have the power and there's nothing we can do about it.
“Activism is a way for useless people to feel important, even if the consequences of their activism are counterproductive for those they claim to be helping and damaging to the fabric of society as a whole.” - Dr Thomas Sowell
I tried to follow these principles as the head of the TSA, and I believe that the agency made strides during my tenure.
BullSHIT! There has been no progress. Either he wasn't trying hard enough, or he didn't have the strength of character it takes to get things done against resistance.
"ATTENTION: Customers browsing porn must hold magazines with both hands at all times!"