One more note from the weekend's travels, a particularly telling example of security theater at the Philly airport. At the entrance to the xray machine area there were two metal tables and on the shelf under each one was an array, nay a swarm (perhaps even a plethora) of water bottles. And coffee cups. And sports drink bottles. And etc. Items clearly so dangerous that they can't be allowed on a plane. But it's apparently just fine to leave them lying around, right out in the middle of where Every Single Passenger will be. Outstanding!
On a related note, Gonzo the Great resigned today. So that's one more rat off the sinking ship. However, as of right now, the planned replacement is the partially re-animated corpse of Michael Chertoff, the man who gave us security theater. Well, he may not have invented it but he's certainly been delivering it. And, of course, there was the impressive job DHS did managing the aftermath of Katrina.
You're doing a heckuva job...