189 Comments
User's avatar
Kathleen Oliver's avatar

I have always thought that as a legislature, if you deny pay for government workers, you should not get payed as well. Specifically if you actually vote to defund. It is the legislature's job to keep the lights on, so to speak. And if after a certain period of time, since you obviously can't do your job, special elections should happen to replace you. Especially those who vote down to fund the government. In my perfect world, that is how it would work.

🌱Nard🙏's avatar

And wait in airport security lines. No escorts. No fast passes to the front of the line. TSA pre check and CLEAR revoked until the shutdown ends. Welcome to the real world, b*thes.

nancylee's avatar

Abolish tsa which only exists to condition us to martial law

kittynana's avatar

@Nancylee- I don't agree. They don't like it either but there are asshats in this world that make it necessary.

Mehitabel's avatar

Did anyone else look at that first picture of the huge crowd in the airport terminal and think how all it would take is one of those asshats with deadly intent and a yearning to take advantage of his promised 72 heavenly virgins to make a huge mess in that crowd?

Kathleen Oliver's avatar

Yep.. 9/11 was not that long ago in the grand scheme of things.

kittynana's avatar

@Mehitabel- it was the first thing I said to my husband.

Tonya's avatar

But this is merely security theater, not ACTUAL security.

Lance Leonard's avatar

You are right Tonya! But TSA does serve a purpose, it’s perfect for making false flag events appear more legit! 🤣

Keith Jajko's avatar

Spot on, as usual. 👍

Richard schoenenberger's avatar

So those who write policy should be subject to same policy…and these are the same folks who only agree when they vote themselves a raise? You’re right that would be part of a perfect world.

kittynana's avatar

@Richard- a congresswoman has put forth a bill that would force those in Congress and the Senate to have to stand in line with the unwashed.

Mehitabel's avatar

They’d just take that as a standing invitation to only take private flights until things go back to normal.

Richard schoenenberger's avatar

We’ll see how far that goes.

KC & the Sunshine's avatar

I think Congress should at least have to pay the mortgage/rent for these people, and keep their lights and heat going, one way or another. (Let’s not forget, many of these people live in areas that are still quite frozen.) If they hold their money hostage for 5+ weeks at a time, they should be paid quadruple the interest they’d have made if they had that $$ in the bank or a fund.

Congress shouldn’t get a check until they do— not that it would matter as much, but it would make me feel better abt the situation.

If they don’t allow Elon to keep them afloat one way, I hope Elon finds a work around.

Silver lining— it is somehow delicious that ICE may be patting people down at the airport. 😂

nancylee's avatar

Yes congress should have to pay but out of their personal funds

Tonee norman's avatar

I bet THAT would hurry things up,a bit!

Mehitabel's avatar

Could they stop Elon from simply gifting them with cash?

KC & the Sunshine's avatar

I have no idea. I don’t see how they could.

Mary Ann Caton's avatar

Not only is Congress being paid for their incompetence, but when they show up at the airport, they are escorted to the head of the line.

From the Beach...🌞🇧🇷🏖️🌊🐬🌎😎's avatar

Members of Congress should be required to attire in clown costume.

Pat Wetzel's avatar

Nascar suits, clearly identifying who funds them.

Pat Wetzel's avatar

I've said this for at least 20 years! May the idea catch on.

kittynana's avatar

@From- you win the interwebs for the day!!! I love it!

Jeanne Dukes's avatar

I believe a bill was just introduced to stop that nonsense. Finally. This is what happens when they get to make their own rules. The people should make the rules and they need a bill for that too!

Mike Myhre's avatar

"if after a certain period of time, since you obviously can't do your job, special elections should happen to replace you" - Nailed it. This one is a no brainer.

They enjoy having these destructive standoffs.

Jpeach's avatar

Between the DHS shutdown and not being able to pass the SAVE Act, Congress is officially a dysfunctional Branch of the Federal Government. Is there a way to defund Congress?

Brian M's avatar

Yes, you can defund the individuals that comprise Congress in November. Deny them access to our tax $$ in the Federal Treasury by electing someone else.

Maureen's avatar

Or don’t give them your tax dollars in the first place. Things are only going to reset if there are some monetary consequences. Not funding them at all is the only way to cut them off.

Tonee norman's avatar

I wish there was some way to get everyone onboard with that. It is the only way it would work.

Jpeach's avatar

I was hoping Scott Bessent could find a legal but creative way to cut off Congressional funding. Just hoping.

kittynana's avatar

@Peach- I love Bessent. He's such a quiet velociraptor.

Jim Moore's avatar

Who remembers that time about 5 years ago when not a single government employee (won’t call them “workers” because, well, you know …) at the local, state, or federal level missed a paycheck or lost their job (unless you said nada to the jab) during forced shutdowns and the demeaning labeling of millions of private citizens as “nonessential” job holders? Remember? Remember?

I can think of at least 60 Senators whose entire taxpayer-funded payrolls should be immediately frozen until they get their collective ship together.

Graphite's avatar

I thought that Congress passed the SAVE act? - and that the senate would pass it, if it wasn't for the ludicrous 'filibuster' rule? But I'm just a Brit living in Canada 🇨🇦 🤣 what do i know!

Meddling Kid's avatar

Unfortunately, ICE handling THIS means that ICE ISN’T handling what they should be, which is to drive the Soylent green scooper truck through dem cities, scooping up invaders, and dumping them back over the wall…the big beautiful wall.

John Wright's avatar

I almost spit out my tea laughing at this. Jenna isn't the only one capable of producing a humorous phrase.

CraigN's avatar

IMG. The link you supplied even makes this more belly laughing funny. TY so very much!

John Wright's avatar

I had to answer "other" as I've said before, we should get rid of (domestic) TSA. Massive waste of time, money and extremely annoying.

This applies to Congress too... massive waste of time, money and extremely annoying.

🌱Nard🙏's avatar

💯. TSA doesn’t prevent terror attacks. Never has. It’s an illusion that makes us feel safe but, as you said, wastes our time, taxes our patience, and drains our resources. For your viewing pleasure (Adam Tunis EVERYTHING): https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-LDzOi1dyAA

Juju's avatar

That was hilarious 😆 🤣It was made 10 years ago and I never saw it until today! Boy was I living in the dark … under a rock … buried in the sand … since 9/11, until three years ago. 🤦🏼‍♀️

Warrior Mom's avatar

last October, TSA detained my bf, (coming from the UK no less! white, English-speaking... political allies!) for 2.5 hours, with ridiculous random bullshit. asking all sorts of personal questions about money/income, the nature of OUR relationship, MY money/income/travel history... My guy said the man was RUDE as all hell too! all this after a 10 hour flight, during which he had a nose bleed and caught a nasty cold!! so yeah, of course people need to be paid for their jobs but what in the hell IS that job, actually?!

Tonee norman's avatar

What was the concern about him? How rediculous..

Something similar happened to my pregnant sister,years ago because she had the same name as someone on the “no fly list”.

Warrior Mom's avatar

there was NO concern whatsoever, as far as he/we could tell!! it seemed completely random! 12 people, all Brits, completely unrelated to each other, all with different reasons for being here (business, personal, tourist...) were pulled from the line. they were first put in a room all together, then taken individually to a different room to be 'questioned'. my fella waited alone in that room for over 40 minutes! he kept asking every person he encountered, 'what the hell is this about?' and NEVER received ANY answer. he was ignored. PLUS the agent who ended up questioning him, appeared to have photos from our PRIVATE messages here on Substack!

at least they never took his phone from him (the only electronics he brought) and we were able to message back & forth the whole time. I made sure he had a complete, printed itinerary with names, dates, addresses of everywhere we planned to be while he was in the States, including contact info for my son (who's a cop!) who drove me to pick him up!! it was infuriating, to say the least! my guy's first experience in the States! what a welcome! :( :(

Tonee norman's avatar

Wow! And,I thought that was only happening in HIS part of the world. You know,getting busted for things posted on social…

How bizarre and frightening and pathetic.

Thank you.

Warrior Mom's avatar

tell ya what, Tonee, I am concerned about the next time he comes over, since DJT's new 'rules' for the visitor's visa. they will be looking at my fella's social media (of course he's a dissident!) and demanding contact info of all HIS family (with whom he is not close at all!) and business clients, etc. Plus you now have to reapply for the visitor visa every 10 days and pay the fee again! ($40). yup, you have to PAY for the privilege of ASKING to come here for vacation!! I shit you not! as if our tourist industry isn't already in the toilet since the convid. sheesh! (sorry, rant over ;) )

Graphite's avatar

Brilliant video - thanks for posting 🤣

Teresa Thibodeaux's avatar

Seriously, has TSA ever knowingly stopped a terrorist?

KC & the Sunshine's avatar

We have an extended family member who was CIA until he got tired of moving and wanted to set down roots and start a family. He can’t tell us much at all but he said we’d be flipped out if we heard some of the things they’ve stopped in their tracks. He had one incident where his wife was flying that day and there was “an issue of significance”. They aren’t supposed to tell anyone— including their own family. He called and told her to fly another day. She asked zero questions, knowing …

John Wright's avatar

That's advance intelligence information, not TSA. Some TSA agent scanning passengers isn't going to detect a serious threat that may occur "later".

Security is important. TSA isn't.

Teresa Thibodeaux's avatar

Good to know. Thanks for the reply.

John Wright's avatar

I'd seriously doubt it. TSA is all show. Essentially useless.

CindyArizona's avatar

Have you ever taken a good look at who TSA hires? Certainly not the top of their class. They’re folks who like the idea of sucking up a government job and ensuring themselves a pension at the other end. Period. TSA is useless. If it weren’t for TSA they’d all be flipping burgers at McDonalds.

John Wright's avatar

It's not "skilled labor". Elon should sell them some robots. 🤣 The robots could issue a warning message very five minutes: "If you bring a bomb onboard the aircraft, I will shut down your bank account and cancel your credit cards."

Tonee norman's avatar

Anyone bringing a bomb doesn’t care about their bank account,I’m guessing..

John Wright's avatar

😇 Nobody said AI was *intelligent*. {grin}

MaryAnn's avatar

@CindyAZ: This makes clear why they are working w/o pay. The other option of flipping burgers is not an option. 😳

nancylee's avatar

My solution exactly

FREED0ML0VER's avatar

TSA workers should be employed (or at least paid) by the airlines, not the government. Problem solved.

The Great Santini's avatar

The way it used to be before 9/11/01 when the G (led by the Democrats, if I remember correctly) took over because they ‘could do a better job’.

Tonee norman's avatar

In San Francisco it IS privately owned. It was a breeze getting through last week! But,it has been private for many years and it has NOT always been “a breeze “…

Janet's avatar

I’ll never be able to fly again then because of $.

Dr. Molly Rutherford's avatar

It won't be long before we have to pass a biometric screen to travel anyway. Nobody who reads this Substack will be able to fly, because we know better than to comply.

Janet's avatar

You already do at TSA. When you fly. Milwaukee and LaGuardia at Christmas for me. You stand in front of a camera every time and it does a biometric picture or compares it to your ID. Every flight. You can refuse, but the sign saying that you can has become smaller and smaller. I have a few times. Good luck because that is going to be unavoidable eventually. Don’t worry, it’s already somewhere you don’t know about. I read that from a security expert. My town police can pretty much pick up every cell phone, I’m thinking, with a program called Forefront. Business use it to keep track of their assets—called employees or cattle. Now police can. Or always could.

Tonee norman's avatar

I didn’t see a sign with that option. Since we stand like criminals,arms out,legs spread,for the full body scan, I didn’t think refusing was possible. I didn’t expect the face recognition, and it happened so fast I didn’t have time to think about it. I’m often getting in trouble with my family for “rocking the boat “, when out and probably not forgiven if I had delayed our long planned holiday…,but,now I know and I can warn my family to expect it.

Janet's avatar

It’s on the kiosk the TSA agent sits at. Before the X-ray and scanning area. You hand th3m your id and they tell you to step over to the right and snap the picture. A screen is right there. It was going on in 2025. There was a sign around that spot at Christmas but you have to be looking for it. I used Milwaukee and LaGuardia airports.

MaryAnn's avatar

I have TSA precheck so anything they want to know about me is right there. It only cost me $80 for this continual surveillance. 😬😬

ViaVeritasVita's avatar

Had to do that Nov. '22, in Dublin Airport. So creepy. Leidos machines.

The Great Santini's avatar

The Democrats are corrupt and stupid. They are trying to stop the deportation the worst people because they want to keep illegal immigrant criminals voting for them. The nation is at war with a murderous terrorist regime (and has been for 47 years) who have sent terrorist cells into our country and the people who are supposed to be protecting us are working without pay (TSA, Coast Guard, FEMA, etc.). Roughly 15 miles SW of Capitol Hill an illegal arrested 30 times in a ‘sanctuary’ jurisdiction stabbed to death a mother on her daily commute to work. This is what the Democrats want. They are happy to see murders and rapes and theft just so long as they get to keep their illegal voters.

Carla Howell's avatar

What's totally missing from this conversation - here and everywhere - is WHY DON"T WE END THE TSA and LET TRAVELERS WALK TO THEIR GATE UNHASSLED like in the good ol' days?

The TSA is a time and money wasting pile of bull crap. Studies have shown that 95% of banned materials can get through TSA no problem. Let the airlines and passengers take responsibility for airline security. No government boondoggles needed.

DJL's avatar

Agreed 100% and while we’re at it, let’s apply that to every aspect of government. Shrink the hell out of the government because there is so much bullshit going on everywhere. It’s ridiculous. The American people are done with this.

Heather B's avatar

but who would steal you nail clippers and jars of face cream that are over 4 oz???

Crixcyon's avatar

Yes...make Pluto a planet again. But it still is despite what the idiots say. TSA workers? I bet 2/3 of them could be jettisoned if the government stopped its silly privacy invasions, especially at airports.

Then again, this disruption is playing into the hands of the deep state mongrels who want to ban all air flights unless you have $100 million in wealth and your own plane. Both sides of the isle are intent on destroying the country while picking it apart clean.

John Wright's avatar

Poor Pluto. Out there on the fringe of the solar system, mostly ignored, colder than... well you know...

As Jenna points out (repeatedly), our government doesn't attract the "best and brightest" and is downright idiotic in how it operates. So essential that we'll force you to work, but won't pay you while we have an unlimited amount of "money" to create so more inflation is generated so only the rich get richer and everyone else watches their standard of living drop.

Mary Ann Caton's avatar

Talk about Congress not attracting the best and brightest, Rand Paul turned Markwayne Mullins' committee hearing into an 8th grade cafeteria food fight. I agree with Josh Holmes from the Ruthless podcast: Paul and Mullins should have privately hashed out their personal problems over a bottle of expensive bourbon.

John Wright's avatar

🤣 But we complain about "backroom deals".

All this public fighting is embarrassing. Our "leaders" are immature elementary school children incapable of even balancing a budget.

Mary Ann Caton's avatar

I wish the Constitution provided for a means by which we could recall the entire Congress and start over. But they'd find a way to game that too.

John Wright's avatar

The only practical solution is for everyone to wake up, stop voting by "party" and vote *against* the incumbent. Flush them all out and start fresh.

Mary Ann Caton's avatar

One difficulty that's becoming increasingly apparent especially since the election of Spanberger in Virginia is Democrats running as moderates but governing as socialists. But it's true that American voters must become more astute about propaganda and voting.

Janet's avatar

Yup, but I want that suspicious character down the line checked out thoroughly before I get on. 🤔😊. I can leave my shoes on now (or did that change) because of age. Sadly not too long ago the TSA child didn’t even ask my age. Sigh.

Karen Bandy's avatar

The hat for you… MPGA but it needs a little cartoon loony tunes Pluto stitched on the back.

Marlene Swann's avatar

Random comment, appropo of nothing: my senior elective in college was astronomy, because I didn’t think I could hack the biology/science requirement (c’mon, who’s with me?!) Anyhoo, it turned out that Clyde Tombaugh, the man who discovered the PLANET Pluto was a distant relative on my ex-husbands side, who were all born in Kansas. So I actually got to telephone interview him in the early ’80’s for my senior science project. Which I aced.

Jenna McCarthy's avatar

LingOL! That's awesome. :)

Marlene Swann's avatar

Who knew that going to college in Ks (I’m a born and bred western New Yorker) would have reaped such a great story!! All true, too!

Roberta Stack's avatar

It seems that Congress is more intent on being “right” than solving this issue by doing the right thing. The Congress needs to put the people first and pay these government employees. It’s a never ending pissing contest in Washington. It seems that common sense is not so common.

Brian M's avatar

In this case, it is only the Democrats who are trying to undermine the TSA and other DHS agencies. They are blackmailing the American People so they can continue their Open Borders policy to stuff as many Democrat voters into America as they can. The Dems also want to defund the Border Patrol (CBP) as well as ICE who are really cops by another name. The Dems hate law enforcement because they hate abiding by the law.

Abuelo Doug's avatar

Such arrogance: awhile ago they boasted that elections have consequences but now deciding that they can ignore the consequences of election outcomes they don't like.

Juju's avatar
Mar 23Edited

The democrats willingly cause people to hurt and suffer because they believe it’s the only way to get the People to rise up and demand what the left wants. But now we ALL see that doesn’t work, after watching the past few months around the SAVE Act, where the American people HAVE risen up and let their voices be heard - and 2/3 of Congress is ignoring them completely - including every stinking democrat

Democrats are basically bullying the public to get their way rather than doing their jobs with true debate, negotiation, and compromise .

Richard schoenenberger's avatar

Did you see the video of Schumer from a few years back sounding more like Trump than Trump

I find Chuckie a despicable and disgusting human being.

Sheila's avatar

We the people want every single member of congress to get no pay every day the government is shut down. And they get no back pay either! These are supposed to be adults who are MORE mature and responsible than the average person, not less. I'm so sick of democrat temper tantrums...

AMZNGRZ's avatar

Can't vote. Eliminating TSA was not on the ballot. Traveling was fun and educational. Now it is a session behind the woodshed with daddy and a black belt.

John Wright's avatar

Yes, I *used* to actually enjoy traveling.

🌱Nard🙏's avatar

The good old days…when you could walk your sweetie to their gate and give them a kiss goodbye…

Warrior Mom's avatar

Right?!!! having to drop my fella literally 'at the curb' at Chicago O'Hare is so inhumane and just plain crazy.

Vee's avatar

How about we just get rid of the TSA and go back to the old school times where the airport experience was as pleasant as going into Starbucks? The TSA is absolutely useless and a complete waste of money. It's hard to believe that people still put up with those cancerous body scanners where complete strangers can see your junk. Opt out of it all!

Momcat's avatar

Yes! When people dressed up to fly & put on their best manners!!

Now it's like riding a bus..

Tim Pallies's avatar

You would do that--to heroes?

Dr. Molly Rutherford's avatar

I am in favor of eliminating TSA. It's all theater. I do empathize with the unpaid Federal employees. If they are "essential," they need to be paid.

Congresspeople don't care about us. Maybe Massie cares. I've met him, and he seems to legitimately care.

John Wright's avatar

"sprinkled with virgin unicorn tears" - once again... hilarious morning entertainment!

Teresa Parmenter's avatar

I love this too! It’s so true

Brian M's avatar

Remember this abuse of the public by the Democrats come November. The Democrat party, NONE OF THEM, deserve to be elected to serve this country. They have no concept of SERVICE, except the kind prefixed by "SELF". If Democrats want to debate their agenda, they can do so without blackmailing the People to get their way

John Baker's avatar

We had the coolest observatory on top of the physics building at the old Main Street campus at SUNY- Buffalo