As if the security personnel at the airports did not have enough to stress them out and stretch them to the limits! Now they are being asked to make psychological observations about the constant flow of human traffic that goes through their airports every day. I know that part of their job is to be vigilant, but this is ridiculous.

I understand the need for security in our airports, but I feel that some of the measures taken have been overkill and not very useful. I would like to know that when I am traveling somewhere that good precautions are being taken to ensure the safety of all who travel, but when you ask a TSA officer to "examine" the faces of each individual that comes through their area, that is asking too much. What if they make a wrong call? Wouldn't this detract from their regular duties and cause another distraction? What would they have to do, think "Hmmmm, that woman has a scowl on her face . . . that man is sweating too much . . ." Are they going to get a crash course in body language? This, in my opinion, is going to cause more problems, delays and frustration for everyone involved.

I am sure that there are more useful and efficient ways of going about airport security than what has been instituted of late. But, if there is a backward, weighted down, paranoid way of dealing with a problem, rest assured the Bush Administration has that covered and will happily institute the policy.

Allen's comments and the audience that he chose to air them to does not surprise me in the least. I lived in Virginia for 8 years and I can tell you that he knew EXACTLY what he was saying. In spite of most of the state being beautiful and the majority of it's citizens good people, this was a confederate state after all and a place where you can go to any "antique" store and find confederate and "Mammy" memorabilia. I will never forget driving through the Shanendoah mountains and coming across a lovely little gift shop only to be horrified to find confederate flags of all sizes on the outside and mammys on the inside. Disgusted, I promptly walked out and reminded myself that while I loved my adopted state, there were many areas that were still deeply devoted to and proud of their confederate and racist history.

So, again, it did not surprise me that Allen made those comments. He was in an area of Virginia, and in front of the type of audience, where comments like that would be welcomed without any kind of reprisal (or so he thought). Allen is a useless toad of a politician that appeals to worst of Virginia's citizens and voters IMO.