BY BILL O'REILLY
A new Zogby poll says President Obama's approval rating is now 39 percent, the first time the president has fallen below the dreaded 40 percent line. And there's no question the current airport security mess is hurting the president.
According to a new ABC News poll, 64 percent of Americans do support the use of body scanning machines, but 50 percent of Americans say the pat-down option goes too far.
The poll aside, people who fly often are furious, and once again, a national problem is vexing the Obama administration.
Scenes showing a 3-year-old being patted down by a federal security agent are whipping up a frenzy of indignation, especially in the conservative community. Now, you'd think the opposite, that right-wingers would want stringent security and left-wingers would be opposed, but it's the opposite, with many left-wing pundits defending the airport chaos:
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL CROWLEY, TIME: There's this minor inconvenience that people are having to go through. It's not ideal, we should fix it. But I just -- I think that people getting very upset about something that's not that big of deal.
MIKA BRZEZINSKI, MSNBC: I mean, this has to be done. I mean, I'm sorry that it's intrusive and I'm very sorry that people are insulted. But, you know, the alternative is that we risk something.
MIKE BARNICLE, BOSTON HERALD: What does it say about us as a culture that we get more bent out of shape about this issue than we do about massive unemployment?
MATT LAUER, NBC NEWS: I hate to even think of what happens if the government caves in on this and relaxes these procedures and someone manages to get something on board a plane.
(END VIDEO CLIPS)
That's interesting, isn't it? So why is the left on board with the intrusive security?
"Talking Points" does not like to speculate, but I think it has to do with defending President Obama. I just can't think of anything else.
Remember: The left opposed nearly all the Bush anti-terror programs -- everything -- and now they're OK with body scanning and pat-downs? A few years ago, liberals were screaming - screaming - about the New York City police randomly checking packages on the subways. So this is an amazing turn of events, is it not?
As we said Monday, the solution to the problem is random selection, putting some passengers through the body scanners. But not Opie and Aunt Bee. They are no threat. While some will scream profiling, this is about efficiency.
Remember: Since the airport security systems have been installed after 9/11, not one terrorist has been apprehended inside a U.S. airport. Not one.
So three cheers for random. Let's get rid of the universal intrusion.
And that's "The Memo."
Pinheads & Patriots
It's lost on me, but the upcoming royal wedding is apparently a big deal:
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Breaking news. Mark your calendars. April 29, Westminster Abbey. That is the official date and location of Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding, just announced by the royal family.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now, ABC News has confirmed Kate Middleton and Prince William will marry Friday, April 29 at Westminster Abbey. We have the brand-new details.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Breaking news: royal announcement. Save the date: Prince William and Kate Middleton will marry on Friday, April 29 at Westminster Abbey. We'll go live to Buckingham Palace for all the royal details and the latest on what's being called the wedding of the century.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
So is all this royal wedding business pinheaded or patriotic? Please vote on BillOReilly.com.
Monday night we showed you a new product from Office Max where you can turn anybody into an elf. Sixty-eight percent of you believe this gift is pinheaded, 32 percent patriotic.
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