Jesse Ventura Has No More Patriotism Left

One day after Jesse Ventura lost his legal challenge to airport
pat-downs and full-body scans, the former Minnesota governor declared
Friday that he will "never fly commercial again" and just might run for
president so he can change passenger security measures. Ventura
made his comments outside the federal courthouse in St. Paul, where in
January he sued to challenge the Transportation Security
Administration's (TSA) airport security procedures. The suit was thrown
out because Congress set up the law so that all such challenges must be
brought directly in Circuit Courts of Appeals, wrote U.S. District Judge
Susan Richard Nelson. After getting a titanium implant in his
hip in 2008, Ventura's suit said, he started lighting up airport
magnetometers. At first, screeners waved a magnetic hand wand over him
and sent him through. But last year, the TSA's enhanced screening
procedures meant he had to go through invasive full-body scans or
pat-downs, the suit added. The scans reveal too much and the
pat-downs require a security officer to grope his body, "including
private and sensitive areas," the suit read. "I will never fly
commercially again," Ventura said to reporters Friday, adding that he
hasn't flown since he was searched at the Minneapolis-St. Paul
International Airport nearly a year ago. He complained that the
federal courts are denying him constitutional rights, but said that he's
unsure whether he will appeal Thursday's dismissal. "I want a trial by jury. They tell me I can have a jury decide my fate!" Ventura said. "If given a jury, I will win." He
questioned whether he could trust a panel of three government-paid
appeals court judges. But he left open the door, noting that he hadn't
conferred with his attorneys yet. Ventura contended that the
TSA's procedures treat passengers as guilty until proven innocent. "I
will not, in a free country, be treated like a criminal," he said. Ventura
added that he and his wife, Terry, intend to apply for Mexican
citizenship and become dual citizens. The two have spent long stretches
of time living in Mexico since he left office. He then zeroed in
on longtime political reporter Pat Kessler. After pausing for effect,
Ventura said maybe the only way to change the rules at TSA is to become
president. Asked whether he was planning to run, Ventura
responded, "I'm thinking about it." That's something he's done in
previous election cycles, but he has never been a candidate for the
White House.