TSA Saving Nude Pictures

Remember when the Obama administration was telling Americans that the TSA body scanners did not save images of people naked? They were lying. A lawsuit by the Electronic Privacy Information Center sued the Department of Homeland Security for access to 2,000 copies of images from TSA body scanners.

Judge Ricardo Urbina ruled that the Homeland Security Department is not obliged to provide the images under the Freedom of Information Act because disclosure of the images may provide terrorists and other groups with higher ability to prevent detection by TSA and bring into aircraft prohibited materials.

I don't take the security issues lightly. However, I'm sure terrorists are aware that TSA uses machines that scan through clothing. Federal courts usually rule with the government on security issues. The ruling is not surprising. It does make me wonder why TSA is saving these pictures.

Rapiscan is one of the companies that makes the scanning machines for TSA. The CEO of Rapiscan is Deepak Chopra. It is a troubling potential conflict of interest when Chopra accompanies President Obama on a trip to India. On the trip, Obama announced a $1.7 billion deal between India and Boeing. The Wikileaks revealed the Obama administration has used legally shady behavior to secure contracts for Boeing.

Thom Hartman has a good commentary on how President Obama has blurred the line between lobbyists and government Hartman discusses Obama's India trip with Chopra.

Tom Hartman On Obama's Neoliberalism

Tom Hartman delivers a good breakdown on how President Barack Obama is a neoliberal. Hartman doesn't actually use the word neoliberal. Hartman describes Obama as being aligned with the Democratic Leadership Council. Obama told corporatist Democrats and declared, "I Am A New Democrat." The term "New Democrat" is code for neoliberal. Harold Ford, Evan Bayh and Joe Lieberman have served as DLC chairs. When those names are mentioned the word "change" doesn't suddenly come to mind.

Hartman makes an excellent point about how corporatist Obama really is. Can anyone imagine FDR mandating people buy private insurance.