# Sen. Kennedy on the Watch List **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 20, 2004, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-kennedy-on-the-watch-list/260720 "2004-08-20T14:50:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-kennedy-on-the-watch-list/260720/1 "2004-08-20T14:50:27Z")
Vast right-wing conspiracy? Terrorist prank? Simple screw-up in how we process plane passengers? [Any way you look at it, this is both stupid _and_ scary](http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/20/national/20flight.html?ex=1250654400&en=f0c8707234bed6fb&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland): > [@The New York Times](#): > > WASHINGTON, Aug. 19 - The meeting had all the hallmarks of an ordinary Congressional hearing. There was Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Democrat of Massachusetts, discussing the problems faced by ordinary citizens mistakenly placed on terrorist watch lists. Then, to the astonishment of the crowd attending a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Thursday, Mr. Kennedy offered himself up as Exhibit A. > > **Between March 1 and April 6, airline agents tried to block Mr. Kennedy from boarding airplanes on five occasions because his name resembled an alias used by a suspected terrorist** who had been barred from flying on airlines in the United States, his aides and government officials said. Emphasis mine. So, what the fuck is going on? Are airline people so stupid they can’t manage to recognize a famous politican? Don’t answer that. They are massive, massive putzes, and well deserving a famous smilie: :wally I hope this gets some things changed. Airline security is simply moronic these days, in comparison to the actual threat posed to our flights. If this shit continues, we may as well give up on airlines completely: None of us will have the security clearance to fly anyway. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-kennedy-on-the-watch-list/260720/2 "2004-08-20T15:02:18Z")
A terrorist chose “Edward M. Kennedy” as an alias? I’d like to know more about the elements of that thought process. ---
**Author:** ![BJMoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@BJMoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BJMoose)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-kennedy-on-the-watch-list/260720/3 "2004-08-20T15:05:43Z")
Yeah. I saw this this morning and didn’t quite know what to make of it. Sure, there are folks in airline security who aren’t any brighter than most folks, but to keep doing this for _six weeks_? It sounds like someone in the beauracracy is having some fun at Teddy’s expense. ---
**Author:** ![BJMoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@BJMoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BJMoose)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-kennedy-on-the-watch-list/260720/4 "2004-08-20T15:11:22Z")
Stray thought - did Kennedy ever take a junket to Afghanistan or somesuch? Maybe the anti-terrorist software (_Sammy Snake 18.0_) flagged _him_. ---
**Author:** ![Early\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Early\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Early_Out)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-kennedy-on-the-watch-list/260720/5 "2004-08-20T15:13:47Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > A terrorist chose “Edward M. Kennedy” as an alias? Actually, the name on the list was “T. Kennedy.” Nice to know the TSA is homing in on those dangerous terrorists with laser-like accuracy, ain’t it? Truth be told, I think it’s perfectly appropriate that Ted Kennedy’s name appears on a “do not fly” list. After all, haven’t aeronautical engineers proven that Kennedy can’t possibly fly? He’s gotten pretty heavy, so I’m sure he can’t flap his arms fast enough to take off. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-kennedy-on-the-watch-list/260720/6 "2004-08-20T15:16:24Z")
I think the whole thing stinks, but at least they stopped him each and every time to make sure things was kosher. I also don’t give a shit about how well known someone is, everyone gets checked the same, that goes for Tom Cruise and the Pope too. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/41988e/32.png) [@El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Cid_Viscoso)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-kennedy-on-the-watch-list/260720/7 "2004-08-20T15:24:17Z")
> [@](#): > > _by Early Out_ > > Truth be told, I think it’s perfectly appropriate that Ted Kennedy’s name appears on a “do not fly” list. After all, haven’t aeronautical engineers proven that Kennedy can’t possibly fly? He’s gotten pretty heavy, so I’m sure he can’t flap his arms fast enough to take off. Besides, he’s reeeeeally flammable. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-kennedy-on-the-watch-list/260720/8 "2004-08-20T15:33:24Z")
If the plane crashes, though, he has experience escaping through windows. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-kennedy-on-the-watch-list/260720/9 "2004-08-20T15:38:01Z")
Maybe there’s a rule that passengers can’t drink more than the pilots. ---
**Author:** ![esquimalt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/4af34b/32.png) [@esquimalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/esquimalt)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-kennedy-on-the-watch-list/260720/10 "2004-08-20T15:40:26Z")
They just got the watch list for the airport pub mixed up with the terrorist watch list. ---
**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-kennedy-on-the-watch-list/260720/11 "2004-08-20T15:46:23Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > Vast right-wing conspiracy? Terrorist prank? Simple screw-up in how we process plane passengers? The bar car wasn’t fully stocked & US Air feared his wrath. The 1st class seats weren’t wide enough to fit his fat ass, bulbous nose and swollen head. The ticket agent couldn’t understand him when he slurred his name. The majority of other passengers weren’t comfortable flying with a ‘cursed’ man. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-kennedy-on-the-watch-list/260720/12 "2004-08-20T15:49:46Z")
> [@World Eater](#): > > I think the whole thing stinks, but at least they stopped him each and every time to make sure things was kosher. I also don’t give a shit about how well known someone is, everyone gets checked the same, that goes for Tom Cruise and the Pope too. They didn’t pat him down or do a full-cavity (urk). They told him he couldn’t board any plane he tried to enter, and they wouldn’t tell him why. Requiring that everyone go through the same level of checks is something I agree with. Refusing all service to people based on a miscompiled and misconstrued Watch List is simple inanity, and a very dark foreshadow of future events. ---
**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-kennedy-on-the-watch-list/260720/13 "2004-08-20T15:51:41Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > …So, what the fuck is going on? Are airline people so stupid they can’t manage to recognize a famous politican? Don’t answer that… Not answering, asking: did you mean _famous politician_ or _infamous felon_? ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-kennedy-on-the-watch-list/260720/14 "2004-08-20T15:58:05Z")
Here’s a guy that for a time had more experience launching vehicles than NASA, yet the TSA would put him back on the road “in the interests of public safety.” Megaboner. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-kennedy-on-the-watch-list/260720/15 "2004-08-20T16:05:19Z")
> [@JohnBckWLD](#): > > Not answering, asking: did you mean _famous politician_ or _infamous felon_? Ummm, has Ted Kennedy actually ever been convicted of a felony? ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-kennedy-on-the-watch-list/260720/16 "2004-08-20T16:06:53Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > They didn’t pat him down or do a full-cavity (urk). They told him he couldn’t board any plane he tried to enter, and they wouldn’t tell him why. > > Requiring that everyone go through the same level of checks is something I agree with. Refusing all service to people based on a miscompiled and misconstrued Watch List is simple inanity, and a very dark foreshadow of future events. Yeah I agree 100% ---
**Author:** ![Saltire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saltire/32/553_2.png) [@Saltire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saltire)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-kennedy-on-the-watch-list/260720/17 "2004-08-20T16:39:05Z")
I heard about this on the radio. According to that report, the first three times it happened, Kennedy called Tom Ridge himself. Still, it took three calls to get taken off the list. Even after that, some airports still stopped him–because they were still using the old list. That’s the scary part. If they update the list, I want everyone in the system to know about it immediately. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-kennedy-on-the-watch-list/260720/18 "2004-08-20T16:39:57Z")
\*Buh buh buh buh ba buh dah Buh buh buh buh ba buh dah Then, tomorrow was another day The morning found me miles away With still a million things to say Now, when twilight dims the sky above Recalling thrills of our love There’s one thing I’m certain of Return I will to old Brazil Buh buh buh buh ba buh dah Buh buh buh buh ba buh dah\* ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-kennedy-on-the-watch-list/260720/19 "2004-08-20T16:45:47Z")
The terrorists should just start using aliases like “R. Smith”. I know a bunch of R. Smiths. If they use all the most popular names as aliases, they’ll eventually have an effect on the economy. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/41988e/32.png) [@El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Cid_Viscoso)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-kennedy-on-the-watch-list/260720/20 "2004-08-20T17:03:23Z")
> [@](#): > > _by NurseCarmen_ > > The terrorists should just start using aliases like “R. Smith”. I know a bunch of R. Smiths. I can see it now: **Cure Front Man Receives TSA Beat-Down** [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-kennedy-on-the-watch-list/260720.md?page=2)