I had one of those truly amazing days. I had the honor to travel with millions of fellow Americans today, a day after the 24 terrorists were arrested in the UK and a day that was supposed to be filled with mayhem at airports across the nation. Well, I am here to tell the story I saw this day, which was very different. An amazing story of Americans sending a signal to Al Qaeda that is very different from the one the media and many on the left are sending. Especially Ned Lamont. But I will get to him in a moment.

My day began by waking up in my hotel an hour plus away from LAX and seeing the news from the UK. I had attempted to move my shuttle to the airport earlier so as to have more time to sit in a security line – but no luck. So I waited on my shuttle fearing long hot lines more than an a terrorist attack – though I did keep in close touch with the family as best I could. The first thing I noticed was the news had not spread. My driver had not heard of the arrests and problems at LAX (this is 10:45 AM Pacific – well into the day’s news). The first pick up also did not know, so I informed him so he could prepare to repack before checking in (the real problem this morning since checked bags go before you hit the security lines). The next lady did know a bit, the next did as well, the last did not. But what struck me was how up beat and chatty everyone was. Everyone in the van talked about where they were going, their family, etc. A far cry from the dead silence in the vans all my other trips.

The media and some pols played a nasty role today. By the time I hit LAX arounfd 11:00 AM the traffic was backed up getting into the airport. Thankfully these shuttle drivers know some back routes and we were in the bumper to bumper flow going around the “U” of LAX. As we came to the bend in the bottom of the “U” we saw the media trucks. 5 or more before the “U” and 6 or more as we came out. But on the other side of the media truck gauntlet – nothing. The Mayor of LA had run down to the camera trucks instead of ordering them out of there (or at least down stairs to the arrival level). The media was making a lot of nothing, and in the end worsened the situation early on as their hyperventilating caused an early – and unnecessary – rush to the airports. And there trucks created a traffic back as well./p>

I was lucky. My airline (which was one of the big three and a target of the attack plan) had been able to processs the wave of people so that when I arrived I spent 10 minutes at E-check in and 10 minutes in security. Those poor folks on Delta Airlines had a double backed line that looked like it would take hours. But that was not what was amazing. The people were amazing. Everyone was curtious and helpful. You could get a smile out of the airport folks by simply saying “thanks” and “have a good day”. You could see them re-energize and step back up into the challenge.

And the TSA folks, while serious, were not being morbid. When I was passing into security the TSA guy started reminding people no liquids or gels and started listing off examples: “no water, no hair gels, no suntan lotions, no perfumes,…”. Then he got wild:”No special oils from Victoria’s Secrets”. The line started laughing. Then the TSA guy remembered something else:”and yes you can have a baby bottle with formula….if you have a baby. If you do not have a baby we may want to talk to you anyhow”.

And on and on it went. I flew a month after 9-11 to Germany and I remember that flight well. We were all determined that day – but quiet and serious. Today was really different. It went basically unsaid, but everyone knew they were sending a signal and going on with their lives despite the threats. People were just sitting around telling road warrior stories and chatting like it was a big party.

I sat next to one guy at the bar (since I cruised through the check-in and security and had 45 minutes to kill) and learned he was on my flight. He was heading to PA and had been staying right around the corner from LAX in Santa Monica. When he woke and heard the news he decided he needed to move early. He got to LAX by 8:00 AM and waited in massive lines to catch the same 1:00 PM flight to DC. I was lucky it seems. My delays helped me get by all the early morning mess caused by the media hyperventilating all morning. This guy had been in the security line for 30 minutes, creeping up on the TSA guy, who finally told him he had to check his large bag. They guy was quite rightly irate about having the TSA guy watch him for 30 minutes before telling him to go back to the beginning. When he came back after curb side check-in (he was already ticketed) the TSA guy waved him over and to the front of the line. All was well between the two it seemed.

After all this the guy had gone throught he was in great spirits. Everyone was. No delay or challenge was too much. It was a badge of honor. And I kept thinking how different this day was from the news the night before with the Democrats embracing Ned Lamont and his idea to pull out of Iraq now. To run away from Iraq and hope we don’t get noticed. To have parades for our troops who we pulled because we could not back their mission or their drive to succeed.

I knew how everyone felt when they hit the plane. They had succeeded. They had beaten the mood, the fear, the terrorists. We flew today in total disregard of Al Qaeda. While the Democrats want to run away from the big bad world, Americans by the tens of thousands flew in the face of the big bad world daring it to take a swipe at us.

Lamont and others may be ready to give up. But today in America their was a parade of optimistic, determined and united Americans flying across the sky saying “Screw You Al Qaeda!” loud and clear. Lamont wants his “surrender parades” – fine. We just told the world something totally different. And I will never forget the mood of this day and the people I shared it with. It was amazing. I have never had such an interesting, enjoyable and inspiring day flying. We did something good today. We got on with our lives.

Update: The Anchoress noted my trip report from yesterday’s flight as well as Varifrank’s similar experience at Chicago’s O’Hare. I need to put the day in clear context. Last year I flew out of LAX on the Friday before July 4th (thanks to whoever scheduled THAT meeting). The lines were long outside all the terminals and my wait through the same security lines was well over 90 minutes. Yesterday was on par with travelling on a typically crowded holiday weekend. Except the people were in a totally different kind of mood.