Protestor Probably Picked Wrong Way To Voice Opinion

An old adage says you should pick your battles. We'd like to add to that you should probably pick your venue as well.

When Ryan Bird decided he needed to make a political statement,  did he grab a picket and a bull horn? Nope. He wrote a note on a plastic baggie.

That plastic baggie, which he placed in his carry-on bag, contained all his toiletries.

The note said, "Kip Hawley is an idiot."

Bird told CNN, "My level of frustration with the TSA and their idiotic policies has grown over 2 1/2 years. I'm frustrated that poorly trained TSA people can pull random passengers out of line and pat them down like common criminals. The average traveler has no recourse."

The note on the baggie was a protest Bird says he intended TSA screeners to see. Guess what? It worked! CNN says a screener took the baggie to a supervisor who confronted Bird.

A TSA spokeswoman likened the stunt to joking about a bomb, something that can get you a criminal prosecution these days.

TSA personnel detained Bird while a sheriff's deputy ran a quick check for warrants. He was sent on his way with an admonition to be more careful where he expresses his opinion.

Bird says he filed a complaint, but TSA couldn't confirm that.

FMI: www.tsa.gov