Patriot Act

I am sitting here on a runway at La Guardia airport, looking out the window and seeing about 5 other airplanes idling on the tarmac. I am in American Airlines flight 313 allegedly en route to Chicago. I emphasize the word *allegedly* due to the fact that our being sequestered here comes after a one hour delay at the gate. So we were one hour late when we boarded, have been waiting for an hour and now comes word that we will be sitting here for another 2 hours.

With no food.

With no beverages.

With no way out.

To say I am furious it is to put it mildly.

There are people here who woke up at 3AM to make it in time for the pre-boarding harassment that passes as a security check. I woke up at 5AM, got in a bit before 7AM and was forced to check my carry-on after a about half-an-hour of standing in the mess that American Airlines calls "the service counter".

After that mess, I had to wait in line for another 15 minutes to get to the gate. Not to actually go through it but to get to the gate. Once there, a Latino woman found it in her heart to question the validity of not just my passport but also my New York City issued driver's license. Yes. She didn't believe either was real --and boy do I have tons to say in another post about Latinos and African Americans working as security personnel in airports.

Once in the gate I had to wait another 30 minutes or so to go through it. Me and my 2 bags, computer and terrorist loving sneakers.

What is worse than the assassination of George W. Bush? Having to talk about President Cheney. Especially since he wouldn't be term limited. Let's say that Laura Bush's loss would be one hell of a gain for The Dick. That's the scariest image to come out of this movie.

I am so glad I was given the opportunity by Newmarket Films to watch it. I actually was thisclose to leaving the theater after seeing the first 15 minutes. The way everything was set up, with "activists" being painted as freakazoid Bush haters really pissed me off. Then, the movie throws us an interesting monkey wrench : the honest FBI agent.

Given this is a fictional documentary, all the characters address the camera a-la Frontline. Meaning, the acting is low key, restrained and as "objective" as possible. This may be why the movie rubs people the wrong way. The possible actions laid out in the aftermath of this fake assassination are as credible as the material evidence of history has shown us. Can you see Dick Cheney ... I mean, President Dick Cheney rallying the hawks to go after Syria? Yup. How about stoking the chilling flames of fear and terror to get a newer and tougher Patriot Act? You betcha.

This impassive portrayal of the possible outcomes is what makes the movie so chilling. The subject may be sensationalistic but the movie, as an end result, is a cautionary tale.