XXX Body Heat XXX – The TSA in Editorial Cartoons

(4 pm. – promoted by ek hornbeck)

Crossposted at Daily Kos and Docudharma

Nick Anderson

Grope a Dope by Nick Anderson, Comics.com, see reader comments in the Houston Chronicle

Friday night and the lights are low

Looking out for the place to go

Where they play the right music, getting in the swing

You come in to look for a king…

You are the dancing queen, young and sweet, only seventeen

Dancing queen, feel the beat from the tambourine

You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life

See that girl, watch that scene, dig in the dancing queen

Dancing Queen by ABBA (YouTube)



Freedom With Feeling by Pat Bagley, Salt Lake Tribune, Buy this cartoon

Clay Bennett

Clay Bennett, Comics.com (Chattanooga Times Free Press)



Airport Security and Liberty by Daryl Cagle, MSNBC.com, Buy this cartoon



Tom Toles, Yahoo Comics/Washington Post and Pat Oliphant, Yahoo Comics/Universal Press Syndicate

(click link to enlarge cartoon)

Gary Varvel

Gary Varvel, Comics.com (Indianapolis Star-News)



Holiday Travel by Joe Heller, Green Bay Press-Gazette, Buy this cartoon



Aggressive Patdowns by Nate Beeler, Washington Examiner, Buy this cartoon



Stuart Carlson, Washington Post/Universal Press Syndicate and Joel Pett, McLatchy Cartoons/Lexington Herald-Leader

(click link to enlarge cartoon)



TA Body Scanners by RJ Matson, St. Louis Post Dispatch, Buy this cartoon



Body Scanners by Cam Cardow, Ottawa Citizen, Buy this cartoon



Matt Bors, Comics.com (Idiot Box)

:: ::

INTRODUCTION



Clay Jones, see reader comments in the Freelance-Star (Fredericksburg, VA), Buy this cartoon

:: ::

Many Democrats are quite upset that the intrusive personal body searches by the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) at the nation’s many airports infringe upon their civil rights and as evidenced by a plethora of diaries in recent days on Daily Kos may be, in some cases, outright illegal in nature. Undoubtedly some Republicans and independents feel this way too.  

As Jones points out, however, there are probably a number of Republicans who feel outraged only because these transgressions are taking place under the authority of a federal agency accountable to a Democratic Administration.  It isn’t much more complicated than that.  Period

Don’t Touch My Junk

Everyone’s jumping on the TSA about how aggressive they are in their security measures.  I think it’s funny a lot of conservatives are complaining about it.  These are the same people who said profiling was for the safety of our nation.   I suspect if a Republican was in the White House then we wouldn’t be hearing these people complain about advanced security measures.

Funny story, kinda.  Once in line in Baltimore I was being patted down and I said to the guy “so, ya gonna call me tomorrow?”  He stopped very suddenly and said “what’s that supposed to mean?”  I was like “uh…it was a joke.”  And he said “we don’t joke with security.”  I kept  my mouth shut after that as I was afraid they might wanna “search” me further in a private room.

Personally, I’m grateful “don’t touch my junk” is now a part of American terminology.  I’m also grateful I didn’t have to explain the definition of “junk” to my editor today.

:: ::



Airport Pat-Downer by Bruce Plante, see reader comments in Tulsa World, Buy this cartoon

:: ::

1. Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places



TSA Looking for Love by J.D. Crowe, Mobile Register, Buy this cartoon

:: ::

I’ve spent a lifetime looking for you

Single bars and good time lovers, never true

Playing a fools game, hoping to win

Telling those sweet lies and losing again.

I was looking for love in all the wrong places

Looking for love in too many faces

Searching your eyes, looking for traces

Of what.. I’m dreaming of…

Hopin’ to find a friend and a lover

God bless the day I discover

Another heart, lookin’ for love

Lookin’ for Love by Johnny Lee (Another version on YouTube)

:: ::

As Johnny Lee once asked in a song, have you been looking for love in all the wrong places so far?  If so, Crowe has some advice for you.  You’ll never know where you might find the love of your life!

A Few Good Perverts

Do you keep getting turned down for jobs because you’re a little on the pervy side? Good news.  You could have a career opportunity with the Transportation Security Administration.

If you’re flying these days you could be taking your life and body into a stranger’s own hands.  The new security system at airports could expose you to a full body scan or, if you prefer, a good groping.  Hubba hubba.  If you haven’t had any action lately, you might wanna book a flight.  It ain’t as romantic as it seems. They don’t have time to take everybody out dining and dancing before-hand.  And besides, put yourselves in a TSA worker’s place.  How many people have you seen running around airports that you would really like to get all touchy and priesty with?

OK, never mind.  Wrong crowd.  You’re all thinking about that a little too seriously, you creeps.  Not everybody’s a pervert at the TSA.  Just the ones who enjoy their job. And it is a job. They’re just doing the best they can to thwart terrorist attempts.

At least the TSA fella in this cartoon is an old school romantic.  He figures if he’s gonna feel you up he should at least bring flowers and some nice bubbly to set the mood.

Unfortunately, the lady pictured here has put a higher price tag on her privates.  If you’re gonna grab Granny’s junk, you’re gonna have to bring the treasure.

Chris Britt

Airport Security Checkpoint Choices by Chris Britt, Comics.com, see reader comments in the State Journal-Register (Springfield, IL)



Patrick Chappatte, International Herald Tribune, Buy this cartoon

Marshall Ramsey

Marshall Ramsey, Comics.com (Clarion-Ledger (Jackson, MS)



John Darkow, Columbia Daily Tribune, Buy this cartoon



Chip Bok, Comics.com



Cam Cardow, Ottawa Citizen, Buy this cartoon



Bob Gorrell, Nationally Syndicated Cartoonist, Buy this cartoon

:: ::

2. Gonna Fly Now



Bob Englehart, Hartford Courant, Buy this cartoon

:: ::

Trying hard now

it’s so hard now

trying hard now

Getting strong now

won’t be long now

getting strong now

Gonna fly now

flying high now

gonna fly, fly, fly…

Gonna Fly Now by Bill Conti (YouTube)

:: ::

Many people refuse to fly not because of the humiliation they might experience while checking in at airports and undergoing outrageous security procedures.  They may be genuinely afraid to do so.  Are you afraid to fly as Englehart seems to be now?  If so, you aren’t the only one

Full-Body Scanners

Today’s cartoon was inspired in spite of the fact I haven’t flown since the full-body scanners came into play.  I used to fly to Fort Wayne, Indiana every year to play golf with my dad and visit with my brothers, but this year I drove.  It was a pleasant drive, didn’t push myself, spent a night in a nice motel with a pool, and didn’t feel violated by the TSA.  I’ll continue to do that until it becomes completely impractical to drive, such as a longer trip to the left coast.

I’ve come full circle about flying.  In the beginning, I hated it.  I was scared to death the plane would crash.  I used to pray that the plane in front of us would crash on takeoff because the odds would be impossible that two planes in a row would crash.  I’d drink myself into a stupor to get on a plane, even if it was a morning flight.

Eventually, I came to understand that when it’s your time to go, there’s nothing you can do about it.  I became aware of news stories about people doing ordinary things who died, or were killed.  I became philosophical about flying and grew to enjoy it even to the point I could sleep on the plane.

Now, I’m back to hating flying again.



Steve Kelley, New Orleans Times-Picayune, Buy this cartoon



Is That A Bomb In Your Pants? by John Darkow, Columbia Daily Tribune, Buy this cartoon

Steve Breen

Steve Breen, Comics.com (San Diego Union-Tribune)



Airport Insecurity by John Darkow, Columbia Daily Tribune, Buy this cartoon

Gary Markstein

Gary Markstein, Comics.com (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel)

Bruce Beattie

Bruce Beattie, Comics.com (Daytona Beach News-Journal)



Body Scanner Images by Jimmy Margulies, New Jersey Record, Buy this cartoon

:: ::

3. Missing You

Rob Rogers

Rob Rogers, Comics.com (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

:: ::

All my bags are packed I’m ready to go

I’m standin’ here outside your door

I hate to wake you up to say goodbye

But the dawn is breakin’ it’s early morn

The taxi’s waitin’ he’s blowin’ his horn

Already I’m so lonesome I could die

So kiss me and smile for me

Tell me that you’ll wait for me

Hold me like you’ll never let me go

Cause I’m leavin’ on a jet plane

Don’t know when I’ll be back again

Oh babe, I hate to go

Leaving On A Jet Plane, John Denver (YouTube)

:: ::

Rogers seems to be channeling Ben Franklin who famously said once, “Those who sacrifice liberty for security deserve neither”

TSA Agent

Airport security has taken on a new urgency with revealing body scans and aggressive pat-downs.  I am all for tighter security, but at what point do our personal civil liberties get tossed out along with our unapproved liquids?  Hard to say, but I hope the Transportation Security Administration can strike a balance.



Full Body Scan Centerfolds by Jim Day, Las Vegas Review-Journal, Buy this cartoon



Body Searches by Dave Granlund, Politicalcartoons.com, Buy this cartoon



Airport Body Scans by Jimmy Margulies, New Jersey Record, Buy this cartoon

Jerry Holbert

Jerry Holbert, Comics.com (Boston Herald)

Mike Luckovich

Mike Luckovich, Comics.com (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)



TSA Security Measures by Mike Keefe, Denver Post, Buy this cartoon



Turkey Security by David Fitzsimmons, Arizona Star, Buy this cartoon

:: ::

Closing Thoughts

Jack Ohman

Jack Ohman, Comics.com (Portland Oregonian)

:: ::

At first I was afraid, I was petrified

Kept thinkin’ I could never live without you by my side

But then I spent so many nights thinkin’ how you did me wrong

And I grew strong and I learned how to get along

And so you’re back from outer space

I just walked in to find you here with that sad look upon your face

I should have changed that stupid lock, I should have made you leave your key

If I’d have known for just one second you’d be back to bother me

I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor (YouTube)

:: ::

There are another 15-20 editorial cartoons posted in the comments section of this diary that I posted over at Daily Kos.  Take a look at them.

7 comments

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  1. … outgoing Florida Governor Charlie Crist is hoping to pardon Jim Morrison of The Doors for an 1969 indecency charge

    Bruce Beattie

    Bruce Beattie, Comics.com (Daytona Beach News-Journal)

    Florida Gov. Charlie Crist is leading efforts in the Sunshine State to pardon the late Doors singer Jim Morrison of indecency charges. Morrison was arrested in Miami for indecent exposure at a 1969 concert, but Governor Crist insists it’s time for lawmakers to forgive and forget.

    The Doors frontman Jim Morrison  may be in line for a postumous pardon in Florida for his 1969 obscenity conviction, but that won’t light a fire under Connecticut officials…

    Florida Gov. Charlie Crist  noted that there was a backlash after Morrison’s conviction for exposing himself during a March 1, 1969 concert in Miami.  A “Rally for Decency” drew 30,000 people to the Orange Bowl later that month.

    Have a safe Thanksgiving, everyone.    Tips and the like here.  Thanks.  

  2. Steve Sack

    Steve Sack, Comics.com (Minneapolis Star-Tribune)

  3. with this whole matter of intrusive pat downs and exposing people unnecessarily to ineffective radiation searches. First, not one of the people that were carrying explosives or the flights where explosives were found aboard the planes originated in the United States. They were international flights. Second, not one of the 9/11 hijackers was armed or carrying explosives that would have been detected by any of the so-called security devices now in use.

    We are sacrificing our freedoms and rights because of fear. My favorite patriot, Founding Father, Ben Franklin said it best,

    “He who would trade liberty for some temporary security, deserves neither liberty nor security.”

  4. loved the TSA Edition of Playboy, the new mother’s advise and bedroom role playing. I also liked everyone with the Statue of Liberty in them.

    Nothing like ineffective stimulus going to “A Few Good Perverts” for ineffective intrusions that makes Americans guilty before being proven innocent.  

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