This is not gonna be pretty. I am already pissed over what happened in Massachusetts… then this…
TSA Nominee Withdraws Name from Consideration,
ABC News January 20, 2010 9:03 AM
Criticized by some conservative Republicans, President Obama's nominee to head up the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Erroll Southers, withdrew his name from consideration, it was announced today.
Calling Southers "uniquely qualified for this job," White House spokesman Nick Shapiro said that "it is with great sadness that the President accepted Southers' withdrawal. Fortunately the acting TSA Administrator is very able and we have a solid team of professionals at TSA doing vital national security work to keep us safe."
Southers, the Los Angeles World Airports Police Department Assistant Chief for Homeland Security and Intelligence, said in a statement that though he'd been "extremely excited about the opportunity" to head the TSA, "it is apparent that this path has been obstructed by political ideology" and that his "nomination has become a lightning rod for those who have chosen to push a political agenda at the risk of the safety and security of the American people."
The reference to what Southers called an "unacceptable" and "partisan" climate was intended as a shot against Sen. Jim DeMint, R-SC, who had repeatedly questioned whether Southers would allow TSA’s security screeners to unionize.
"The safety and security of the American people are far too important to be controlled by union bosses," DeMint said last Fall. "It’s time for Mr. Southers to give an unequivocal answer: Will he give union bosses control over the safety of Americans at our airports, yes or no? “Unionizing TSA would be a homeland security disaster. TSA needs to be nimble in responding to ever-changing threats."
DeMint went so far as to say that the attempted Christmas Day bombing of Northwest Airlines flight 253 "is a perfect example of why the Obama administration should not unionize the TSA." The TSA currently has the "flexibility to make real-time decisions that allowed it to quickly improve security measures in response to this attempted attack," DeMint said, but if labor unions were involved, labor leaders could "veto or delay future security improvements at our airports."
The statements by that SC Republican, anti-worker Congressman man who some will call “the honorable” Jim DeMint really piss me off. Unfortunately, people like him stay in office because ignorant working people buy his bull shit and that of the other right wingers who pander to the workers’ misguided fears about guns, god, race, sexuality, right to work for less, universal healthcare. You name it some sumbitch is against it if it has anything to do with progressive thought. They abound.
I have been a union supporter and member for four decades ever since I shed the shackles of a cotton mill town and realized there was more to life than no rights for workers other than to pick up your last paycheck if you dared to challenge the boss man. For four decades, I have been associated with public safety and giving care to those who needed it. For four decades, I have seen all the things public safety unions do for the public as well as their members. Never has a public safety union or so called “union boss” obstructed management’s right to provide service when needed. It does not happen. It is the unions that fight to provide better service not less service. The real fight comes when management wants to reduce services to save money.
"The safety and security of the American people are far too important to be controlled by union bosses," DeMint said last Fall. "It’s time for Mr. Southers to give an unequivocal answer: Will he give union bosses control over the safety of Americans at our airports, yes or no?”
That is a “do you still beat your wife question.” If the unions did have control, the service would be greater not less. I wonder what percentage of firefighters, police officers, teachers and other public servants waste their votes and jeopardize their careers by voting for people devoted to cheating them out of what they deserve or even not voting at all.
And Oh yes, Have a nice Day?
wjc
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