This isn't funny. It could happen to any of us. Let's hope the new administration reverses some of this stupidity.

The reader comments allege that the woman was abusive to her children. Even if that is true, she is not a terrorist. Take away her children for child abuse if she is guilty of it-- not terrorism.

Furthermore, I doubt the other 200 cases all involved people who deserved to be put away.

notmtwain: Furthermore, I doubt the other 200 cases all involved people who deserved to be put away.

Chances are, they're including everything, even incidents like the one where the chick was dressed too slutty for the airline's delicate sensibilities. I'm guessing they include anything that caused a reported "disturbance."

But sitting on the tarmac for six hours? That's cool.

I thought the Patriot Act only took away First ammendment rights. Who knew it had anything to do with airplanes?

Tamera Jo Freeman was on a Frontier Airlines flight to Denver in 2007 when her two children began to quarrel and then spilled a Bloody Mary into her lap.

She spanked each of them on the thigh with three swats. It was a small incident, but one that in the heightened anxiety after the Sept. 11 attacks eventually would have enormous ramifications for Freeman and her children.

A flight attendant confronted Freeman, who responded by hurling a few profanities and throwing what remained of a can of tomato juice on the floor.

The incident aboard the Frontier flight ultimately led to Freeman's arrest and conviction for a federal felony defined as an act of terrorism under the Patriot Act, the controversial federal law enacted after the 2001 attacks.

Right, because that's totally logical.

Hint:

When you're on an airplane, sit down, shut up, and don't be a giant asshole.

So this is why domestic terrorism is on the rise.

Wasn't there just a greenlight about how many terror-free days that Bush gave us?

I guess Obama let all 208 of these happen during his first week.

Change indeed.

fuzzwell: When you're on an airplane, sit down, shut up, and don't be a giant asshole.

I agree that there needs to be a way to deal with self-absorbed twits to make them understand that their behavior is unacceptable, and being in a tiny enclosed space where others are trapped with you makes that even more magnified and a larger problem.

I disagree that the Patriot Act is the proper mechanism. I'd be interested to see how the voting public would classify these 200 acts individually. I'd bet almost none of them would be worthy of calling them terrorist acts.

Tr0mBoNe: So this is why domestic terrorism is on the rise.

It's easier to bring in domestic military options, and easier to convict without that pesky 4th amendment.

This is what happens when you take mall-cop caliber people and make them federal agents of the TSA. They get a little bit of power over others, which they immediately abuse. They claim "terrorist" incidents to justify their existence and preserve their "status"

/TSA = Thugs Standing Around

That's a lotta hair gel!

There has never been a law passed in this country that wasn't abused if it could be abused. Politicians are assholes, and the so-called police are even worse.

But by all means, keep voting those incumbents into office.

fuzzwell: Hint:

When you're on an airplane, sit down, shut up, and don't be a giant asshole.

We could avoid a lot of trouble if we completely surrendered all of our rights and freedoms. Let's pass more laws just like this one.

fuzzwell: Hint:

When you're on an airplane, sit down, shut up, and don't be a giant asshole.

Or, you could refuse to fly. That's what I've done following a dreadful flight from Puerto Vallarta to Chicago. No food on the flight, rude flight attendants, rude TSA people. Six hours on the tarmac. "Your connecting flight has been canceled. You'll need to go ahead and spend the night in Chicago. Sure it's -11 degrees here, good luck finding a place." Fark the airlines and fark the Patriot Act.

fuzzwell: Hint:

When you're on an airplane, sit down, shut up, and don't be a giant asshole.

Hint:

When you're on an airplane, be safe and be courteous. It's kind of like everywhere else that way. Why should we surrender all of our rights and lick some pigs boots just because we're in an airplane?

There's more to the story (^) than what's in this article. She most likely would've lost her kids pre 9/11 with her behavior that day, and I'm not one to approve of the government getting in the way of a parent and their kids.

"Sit down, shut up, don't move. Now we're all safer. Have a nice flight."

Next stop, the moving sidewalk in the heavily soundproofed corridor lined with attractive murals, leading the passenger towards the rotating knives.

Jesus H. Christ in a chicken basket.

Plane is hijacked with boxcutters prohibit all sharp doodads on planes

Terror attempt using shoe bomb make all passengers remove shoes

Terror attempt using liquids make all passengers put liquids in baggies

Mole pops head up then dissapears whack furiously at hole where mole used to be

By this logic, if one clown ever tries to smuggle a bomb in his ass, several million subsequent passengers will have to bend over for a digital rectal exam. Do you feel safer?

Radioactive Ass: There's more to the story (^) than what's in this article.

If that article is accurate, she did deserve to lose her children (at least for a while).

I do think we do need to get rid of the provisions in the Patriot Act that were already covered by other laws. This was not terrorism, it was child abuse.

Blowing someone up is murder. Planning to do it is conspiracy. Attacking with a box cutter is aggravated assault.

We didn't need more legislation to cover this.

Hey, so I guess Dubya wasn't able to protect us after all. That makes him an unmitigated, massive failure since no attacks was the reason that the Freepers here gave him for being a good president. Now your choices are admit Dubya was a failure or admit the Patriot Act sucks. I love it.

fuzzwell: Hint:

When you're on an airplane, sit down, shut up, and don't be a giant asshole.

Whatever, Comrade.

Skail: Chances are, they're including everything, even incidents like the one where the chick was dressed too slutty for the airline's delicate sensibilities. I'm guessing they include anything that caused a reported "disturbance."

hmm, no. no they didn't.

"the federal government has obtained 208 felony convictions for disrupting a flight since 2003, when data first became available."

That chick wasn't convicted of a felony, she was just not allowed to fly.

HowlingFrog: Whatever, Comrade.

Yes, behaving in a small tin can flying at 37,000 feet is Communism.

This incident was reported in an entirely inaccurate fashion and the reporting by the LA Times, Boston Globe, etc. has already been thoroughly debunked. (new window)

GAT_00: HowlingFrog: Whatever, Comrade.

Yes, behaving in a small tin can flying at 37,000 feet is Communism.

Yes, and if you have a bad day and don't behave exactly the way they want you to it's worth a *FELONY* conviction for terrorism = completely ruined life for most people.

Il Douchey
By this logic, if one clown ever tries to smuggle a bomb in his ass, several million subsequent passengers will have to bend over for a digital rectal exam. Do you feel safer?

Ass clown.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

♫ ♪ This is why The Patriot act is terrible legislation ♫ ♪

GAT_00: Hey, so I guess Dubya wasn't able to protect us after all. That makes him an unmitigated, massive failure since no attacks was the reason that the Freepers here gave him for being a good president. Now your choices are admit Dubya was a failure or admit the Patriot Act sucks. I love it.
True.

And, if, these people were terrorists, then the TSA was unable to prevent them from boarding aircraft, so they're clearly a waste of time.

GAT_00: HowlingFrog: Whatever, Comrade.

Yes, behaving in a small tin can flying at 37,000 feet is Communism.

Sorry, I used a communism metaphor because I couldn't think of an "eagerness to suck the authoritarian cock" metaphor.

drevil877: Tamera Jo Freeman was on a Frontier Airlines flight to Denver in 2007 when her two children began to quarrel and then spilled a Bloody Mary into her lap.

She spanked each of them on the thigh with three swats. It was a small incident, but one that in the heightened anxiety after the Sept. 11 attacks eventually would have enormous ramifications for Freeman and her children.

A flight attendant confronted Freeman, who responded by hurling a few profanities and throwing what remained of a can of tomato juice on the floor.

The incident aboard the Frontier flight ultimately led to Freeman's arrest and conviction for a federal felony defined as an act of terrorism under the Patriot Act, the controversial federal law enacted after the 2001 attacks.

Right, because that's totally logical.

Personally I think she gets bonus points for spanking children who misbehave on airplanes.

/flying is uncivilized enough as it is.

How many "real" acts of terrorism have they stopped?

Sorry, that 197th one was me flying out of Dulles. The GF made an onion-and-broccoli casserole the night before.

Police State.

My wife recently talked me into flying...and I just wanted to report that all the TSA people were really nice this time. Surprised the hell out of me.

40oz_A_Knight: This incident was reported in an entirely inaccurate fashion and the reporting by the LA Times, Boston Globe, etc. has already been thoroughly debunked. (new window)

The "debunking" does not say she did anything "terroristic." She may have been drunk and disorderly, but that doesn't make her a terrorist threat. Oh, wait, under USAPATRIOT, it does, apparently.

Take the power away from power tripping flight attendants. Fix this farking law.

sorr: The "debunking" does not say she did anything "terroristic." She may have been drunk and disorderly, but that doesn't make her a terrorist threat. Oh, wait, under USAPATRIOT, it does, apparently.

I see you didn't actually read the link, because you're not even attacking it from the right side of the argument.

why do they serve alcohol on a plane anyway?
seems like a rather stupid idea.

i wonder how many of these incidents involved drunk passenegers.

40oz_A_Knight: sorr: The "debunking" does not say she did anything "terroristic." She may have been drunk and disorderly, but that doesn't make her a terrorist threat. Oh, wait, under USAPATRIOT, it does, apparently.

I see you didn't actually read the link, because you're not even attacking it from the right side of the argument.

There is no right side. Unless she was trying to hijack the plane, she shouldnt be prosecuted as a terrorist.

Yet another reason I'm glad I don't fly any more.

40oz_A_Knight: sorr: The "debunking" does not say she did anything "terroristic." She may have been drunk and disorderly, but that doesn't make her a terrorist threat. Oh, wait, under USAPATRIOT, it does, apparently.

I see you didn't actually read the link, because you're not even attacking it from the right side of the argument.

What is the "right" way to argue it?

drevil877: Right, because that's totally logical.

If she can beat her own children, just think what she would be willing to do to a complete stranger. It was only a matter of time before she started swatting the thighs of people other than the brats that spilled her bloody mary.

So what this means is that there were another 200 terrorist attacks against America under Bush's term?

Interesting.

humanconditioner: why do they serve alcohol on a plane anyway?
seems like a rather stupid idea.

For those of us who enjoy flying smashed.

/party at 30,000 feet
//was never obnoxious

A friend of mine in California told me about a guy he knows who had a complete mental breakdown and freaked out on anti-depressant meds and booze. He ran out into the street screaming and threw some rocks at cars. For this simple and sad act of vandalism he was sentenced to two years in prison because his actions were of "terrorist in nature" thanks to the Patriot Act.

Thanks Dubya.
Thanks America.

MorrisBird: fuzzwell: Hint:

When you're on an airplane, sit down, shut up, and don't be a giant asshole.

Or, you could refuse to fly.

Indeed.

Most places I'd want to go are accessable in the same amount of time or less by car, once you factor in getting through security before you leave and then waiting for your luggage when you arrive (since all the asinine rules pretty much have destroyed my previous strategy of packing everything into one bag just slightly smaller than the maximum carry-on size) and my car is nicer than your average steerage-class airplane seat. I also get to choose my own traveling companions and entertainment, the only downside is that I do have to remain awake and alert through the whole trip. Plus, I don't have to pack my steel-toe boots, I can just wear them on my feet, and I don't have to worry about whether or not my laptop is going to be crushed/shaken/stolen/whatever.

/in other words, I feel ya.

She should have been given a medal for trying to control her kids on a flight

Whacking each of her crotch fruits on the leg is not abuse.............

Unknown_Poltroon: 40oz_A_Knight: sorr: The "debunking" does not say she did anything "terroristic." She may have been drunk and disorderly, but that doesn't make her a terrorist threat. Oh, wait, under USAPATRIOT, it does, apparently.

I see you didn't actually read the link, because you're not even attacking it from the right side of the argument.

There is no right side. Unless she was trying to hijack the plane, she shouldnt be prosecuted as a terrorist.


QFT. I nominate you to re-write the USAPATRIOT act so it makes sense.

/or just junk it, whichever you prefer

notmtwain: Furthermore, I doubt the other 200 cases all involved people who deserved to be put away.

I'm not suggesting blanket application (and abuse of) all of the powers granted to authorities under the Patriot Act but any incidents where power was abused can largely be blamed on some asshole with an ID badge and a necktie provided by their employer, not the legislation itself. If a hundred thousand people are detained or otherwise inconvenienced (by the idiots DHS and the TSA hires- people, for the most part, just barely brighter than mall security guards) to save one American's life, I'm OK with that.

Relax. You still have most of your legal freedom. 'Freedom' is bastardized a lot worse at the municipal level anyway.