According to some news reports, the naked scanners weren't being used much, if at all, at many of the airports that have them. Hence, in many instances, there was nothing to protest.
The government isn't as dumb as people make it out to be ... they thought this one through ... limited use of the scanners / fewer patdowns today to speed up the lines, and moreover, make it appear as if the protests failed...
Much of the news media and public bought it hook and sinker.
Older I get, the more realize how little has changed ... the forefathers of the USA didn't trust the masses, and for good reason. Most people have no clue; most want to be told what to do - can't think for themselves.
Bottom line is, as always been true, those with money and connections have freedom ... the rest of the population, well, with the ironic exception of those who choose to live off the land with little interaction with general society (ie. some Amish sects), are serfs with little true freedom ...
Try to take a trip to Cuba without permission by the U.S. government and see how that goes; Americans, effectively, do NOT have the freedom of movement, which gets to the crux of these scanners and patdowns ...
One is basically has to make a Hobson's Choice
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobson%27s_choice when it comes to air travel.
While driving and other modes of transportation are mostly scanner / patdown free for now, that's likely to change in the near future ... there's much discussion of using similar "enhanced" security methods at select train stations and bus terminals.
As far as those who argue that flying is a privilege, be aware that, from a legal standpoint, so is driving. So if the government can stop one who refuses to go through security from flying, the government can, potentially, just as easily stop one from driving, if they choose to. Point is that the mode of transportation doesn't take away one's rights, though most have been brainwashed to believe it does; it does not!
Ron