Going fishing? Pack your passport

[flashl]

Source: USA Today

Rick Ungar's charter fishing service promises a great time on Lake Erie. But there's a catch — and it's not freshwater fish. It's the Homeland Security Department's new anti-terrorism rules.

When the 2008 charter season begins next month, U.S. citizens paying to fish on Lake Erie will have to bring either a passport or two other IDs if they plan to cross the northern border's invisible watery line.

When they get back to shore in the USA, they'll have to drive to a local government reporting station and pose for pictures. They won't be posing with their fish, but for Customs officers via a videophone connection.

That's because half of Lake Erie — as it happens, the half with the deeper and cooler waters that often spawn the best fishing — is in Canada. The Homeland Security Department intends to enforce new border security rules — largely focused on those coming into the country by land and air — on fishermen re-entering the country.

USA Today

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/environment/2008-03-26-fishing_N.htm

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Soon, there will be a requirement to show your REAL-ID card to pass the toll booth on the corner.

[Hugabear]

1. This is why we cannot allow four more years of Rethuglicanism

What a bunch of complete, utter bullshit. Only rethugs would think this is a good idea.

[tuckessee]

7. Only rethugs think this is a good idea?

Then it should be simple to provide links/quotes from Dems who are 110% opposed to this.

Where are they?

[annabanana]

9. oh please..

Let's just say you were a terrorist, and decided to hop across a Great Lake. Are people watching to see exactly who "drives to a local government reporting station and poses for pictures"?

This isn't about protecting us from terrorists. It's about cowing the civilian population into unquestioning obedience to capricious regulations.

The aggressive sheepification of the American "Citizen" into the American Subject.

[tuckessee]

13. I agree totally.

Only I don't see it as solely a rethug thing.

Where are the Dems who oppose these tactics?

Has either Dem Prez candidate ever even bothered to use the term "police state"?

Where are the quotes from stump speeches where they rail against mindless control tactics and arbitrary police/security action?

The answer is they don't exist.

Outside of "extremists" and "losers" like Kucinich, Gravel and Paul the American political landscape on both sides of the fence is devoid of opposition to the alarming trend of increased NKVD/Gestapo techniques.

[Hugabear]

11. You know what - you're absolutely right

I'm sure that Lieberman is for this.

I stand corrected.

[cloudbase]

2. Well, I feel safer.

The fish probably do, too.

[electron_blue]

3. oh for crap's sake. Are they going to do this for all the great lakes?

I love the bit about the videophone connection.

[Ilsa]

4. Thank god that our wonderful

government is finally doing something about those scary terrorists in fishing gear! Those long poles and big hooks have had me frightened for ages. And those fighing guide boats must be loading up nukes on the Canadian side of the lakes! :sarcasm:

[rurallib]

5. Probably time to build a fence through the Great Lakes

Keep those terrorist mackerels where they belong!
Steve King(Insane, Iowa) please get on that!

[Kolesar]

6. Frost-backs from Canada

[kickysnana]

14. From Prairie Home Companion earlier this yea?r n/t

[Kolesar]

15. I use that joke every chance I get

I heard it many years ago on PHC :hi:

[Hugabear]

12. Sharks with friggin lasers on their heads

We can import the fresh-water sharks from Nicaragua, attach lasers to their heads, and have them patrol the Great Lakes.

[DemoTex]

8. Big Grady-Whites bristling with Fin-Nor rods & reels ..

:scared:

[saigon68]

10. LOL

Hi Capt Mac

[AnneD]

16. OK, I'll grant you that fishermen......

may be liars...but they are not terrorist, even though the oder of some bait could be classed as bioterrorist weapons.:rofl:

Are the fish considered suspect and need passports for screening. You could rig expolsives on to them. :eyes: