George Orwell Bush

April 9, 2007, 9:20 am
The Professor’s Lost Luggage

Tags: Human Rights, National Security

Can you be placed on the government’s “terrorist watch list” for delivering an anti-Bush lecture? Walter F. Murphy, emeritus professor of law at Princeton, thinks that’s what happened to him. “On 1 March 07, I was scheduled to fly on American Airlines to Newark, N.J., to attend an academic conference at Princeton University, designed to focus on my latest scholarly book, “Constitutional Democracy,” published by Johns Hopkins University Press this past Thanksgiving,” Murphy writes at the group legal blog Balkinization. “When I tried to use the curb-side check in at the Sunport, I was denied a boarding pass because I was on the Terrorist Watch list.” Murphy adds:

I presented my credentials from the Marine Corps to a very polite clerk for American Airlines. One of the two people to whom I talked asked a question and offered a frightening comment: “Have you been in any peace marches? We ban a lot of people from flying because of that.” I explained that I had not so marched but had, in September, 2006, given a lecture at Princeton, televised and put on the Web, highly critical of George Bush for his many violations of the Constitution. “That’ll do it,” the man said.

After carefully examining my credentials, the clerk asked if he could take them to TSA officials. I agreed. He returned about ten minutes later and said I could have a boarding pass, but added: “I must warn you, they=re [sic] going to ransack your luggage.” On my return flight, I had no problem with obtaining a boarding pass, but my luggage was “lost.” Airlines do lose a lot of luggage and this “loss” could have been a mere coincidence. In light of previous events, however, I’m a tad skeptical.

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22 comments so far...

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1.
April 9th,
2007
9:40 am

Welcome to the New World Order. Hail to the Chief, George Orwell Bush.

— Posted by Thomas
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2.
April 9th,
2007
11:17 am

So we see that the Enemies List is still alive and well in Washington. Shouldn’t an investigation be made to trace who in the bureaucracy was responsible for adding Professor Murphy’s name to the No-Fly List, if not to discharge them immediately then to make them take compulsory civics courses?

— Posted by Noah from New Jersey
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3.
April 9th,
2007
12:44 pm

Ultimately, I think you are distraught that they searched a professor who was on his way to give a lecture at Princeton.

If it had been a professor planning to give a lecture at Virginia Commonwealth University or at Howard University, … frankly, my dear, you wouldn’t have given a da*n.

— Posted by bowtie
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4.
April 9th,
2007
12:46 pm

Be afraid, be very afraid!

— Posted by Bradley
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5.
April 9th,
2007
12:56 pm

How ironic.

Sam Alito’s mentor at Princeton.

Well, well, well……

— Posted by Paul '52
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6.
April 9th,
2007
1:10 pm

I agree with Noah from New Jersey that there should be an investigation to find out who else is on the No-Fly List because of peace activities and/or criticism of the current administration’s attempts to subvert the Constitution. The investigation should be open-ended, so that the investigators can look into whether other categories of non-terrorists have had problems.

— Posted by Connie
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7.
April 9th,
2007
1:12 pm

Nothing is a surprise anymore. If it isn’t moronic policy, it’s gross incompetence - usually both. I suppose that calling for an investigation of how these no-fly lists are compiled would be stonewalled on the grounds that it would tip our hand to the terrorists.

— Posted by Bob Escutia
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8.
April 9th,
2007
1:33 pm

I guess it’s no idea to plan a week in New York, visiting art museums/galleries and going to the MET?

— Posted by Bensimon7
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9.
April 9th,
2007
1:36 pm

I believe it was the airline staffers words “That’ll do it” that I find the most chilling here. Noah from NJ is bang on…. find this person or persons in DC but never mind the civics course, they wouldn’t understand it anyway. Time in a federal institution might help them and if that proved to be Gitmo, might even awaken them to the horror of their actions.

— Posted by David Smith
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10.
April 9th,
2007
1:53 pm

Are the good citizens of this great country asleep? Is anyone really paying attention? Or do just sit back and say oh well, I will continue to shop circuit City..is it not problem.
Then one day we will all be Professor Murphys.

— Posted by Janeta Brown
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11.
April 9th,
2007
1:53 pm

Has there been any journalistic investigation or reporting into this, or has this just been passed throughout the blogosphere? I am not doubting something like this could happen, just more the fact that no legitimate group has reported on this yet. This needs to be investigated.

— Posted by Thom
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12.
April 9th,
2007
1:58 pm

Too bad this outrageous incident is buried in Times Select - it ought to be front page news!

— Posted by Deborah
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13.
April 9th,
2007
3:02 pm

What happened to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly? Does the Bush Administration really think that terrorists would be marching in an anti-war protest and giving college lectures? Someone, please sue Bush.

— Posted by Helen NYC
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14.
April 9th,
2007
3:05 pm

Power takes as ingratitude the writhing of its victims.
-Rabindranath Tagore

— Posted by Alex
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15.
April 9th,
2007
3:15 pm

Now I’m afraid my name will be added to the No-Fly List because I’m adding a comment to this subversive blog!

— Posted by anonymous
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16.
April 9th,
2007
4:07 pm

“Those who give up their freedoms for security, deserve neither!” Benjamin Franklin When are we going to take our country back and hold these power-hungry, fear-catalyzing, war-mongering (is there anything we don’t solve by ‘declaring war - drugs, poverty, immigration, terrorism,etc.) freedom-robbing, diversity-intollerant, economy-wrecking criminals accountable for how they’ve flushed what’s precious and worth fighting for down the toilet!

— Posted by Randy-mon
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17.
April 9th,
2007
4:41 pm

“When they came to get me, there was no one left to defend me, or hear my plea………”

— Posted by Jim
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18.
April 9th,
2007
4:47 pm

IMPEACH BUSH!

— Posted by DIANE Reed
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19.
April 9th,
2007
5:00 pm

There is a very serious First Amendment problem here. The chilling effect of being put on a terrorist watch list for that reason and of the consequences thereof work clearly to impede criticism of the constitutional error and breaches of this administration and other free speech as well. I suggest Mr. Murphy seek counsel.

— Posted by Kimball Corson
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20.
April 9th,
2007
5:20 pm

For the sake of future presidents and future generations of Americans, Impeach Bush and Cheney. We’ll never be able to hold our heads up in an international meeting again if we let these two get away with all they’ve done.

— Posted by Gerald R. Slaney
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21.
April 9th,
2007
5:31 pm

I have written G.W. Bush at least once a month since he hinted at going to war in Iraq. I told him a little of the British history in the 1920’s and called him what he is, an incipient fascist who lacksl curiosity and knowledge. However, I am not as of now on any no fly list, probably because I’m just a retired high school teacher instead of a renowned professor from Princeton.
I never thought I’d get more preferred treatment than the author.

— Posted by P.Abrams
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22.
April 9th,
2007
5:58 pm

I am flabbergasted by Professor Murphy’s story. If true, it deserves the most widespread possible attention and a full Congressional investigation. But it first needs some backup to ensure that it is not “simply” an understandable misinterpretation.

— Posted by Barry Stein