POL: SKIP TIMES SQUARE

New York Post ^ | 12/31/03 | BILL SANDERSON and ED ROBINSON

[kattracks]

December 31, 2003 -- Count on one less out-of-towner at tonight's New Year's Eve celebration in Times Square. Rep. Christopher Shays (R-Conn.) offered his regrets yesterday, telling The Post that he'd avoid the Times Square crowd because it's a "tempting target" for terrorists.

[texasflower]

Someone should offer the congressman a valium.

[nygoose]

The congressman is exhibiting simple common sense.

[texasflower]

I disagree. He is on a terrorism committee, working for us. He should not be out there creating a sense of panic.

If he choses not to go to a party or fly overseas, that's fine. But to deliberately voice an opinion in direct conflict to what others, in more of a position to judge the terror threat seems a bit irresponsible to me.

I'm not saying that I believe everything the government says or does. I do think this threat is extremely serious and we may well get hit. But if our government officials can't stay on message, the ensuing panic could take us a very long time to overcome.

Big win for the terrorists if they actually manage to incite terror.

[Conservative4Ever]

Not a problem...out here on the left coast. We are patiently waiting for the big one.

Red

[Junior_G]

Big win for the terrorists if they actually manage to incite terror.

It is not a "win" for the terrorists if people avoid Times Square. It is a win for the terrorists when they kill us. Anyone choosing to celebrate New Years in Times Square---of all places---is an idiot.

[thoughtomator]

This is a typical showing of courage by Rep. Shays, who, after viewing extensive and graphic evidence of Slick Willy's rape exploits, was content to let it slide.

[thoughtomator]

Even before terror was an issue I thought that

[Dog]

I just heard this mentioned on Fox.....damn Shay needs to buck up or pop a nerve pill and chill.

Talk about lacking leadership.

[raybbr]

"I wouldn't go to Times Square. That is my opinion....

It's mine, too. I wouldn't go there for any reason anyway. A couple of hundred thousand drunks, pickpockets, muggers, etc. NO WAY!!!!

[PBRSTREETGANG]

It is not a "win" for the terrorists if people avoid Times Square.

Really? Times Square on New Year's Eve is a big tourist event for NYC. Granted it's not my cup of tea, but if you don't think it's a "win" on some level for terrorists to disrupt our economic activity (even activities that you don't particularly enjoy), think again.

Will Congressman Shays tell people to avoid the Super Bowl? Would the cancellation of that event count as a "win" for the terrorists?

[Huck]

It is not a "win" for the terrorists if people avoid Times Square. It is a win for the terrorists when they kill us. Anyone choosing to celebrate New Years in Times Square---of all places---is an idiot.

I am sorry but I have to disagree. My view, fwiw, is that we are at WAR and that all of us citizens have a part to play in it. One thing we MUST do is go on with our lives. Yes, we should be vigilent, yes we should be on the lookout, yes we should be prepared. But if we followed this risk averse mode of thinking, we would be paralyzed and that would be a big win for terrorism.

My sister LIVES in Manhattan. Should everyone evacuate Manhattan Island forever? It's a juicy target, and not just on New Year's Eve. I went to visit her during the heightened alert. For a party. Am I insane? Should I not visit my sister?

I worked in Manhattan on 9-11-01. I remember well when we all went back to work on 9-17. It was like a victory for our side! None of us did a lick of work. It was enough of an achievement just to come back. But we did. Men and women, young and old, and it WAS a victory for our side. When I got back from my sister's place the other night, I felt like I had stuck it to the terrorists, because I did not let fear stop me.

I think Times Square is a bad place to be period. That's just my taste. But I hope it's crowded with people. I hope it goes off without a hitch. That will be another victory for our side, imo. Now, if Shays has some specific info beyond what we already know, he can share it or shut up, but he's not helping by being a coward.

[TonyRo76]

Tagline Censored by Admin Moderator

That's a shame Huck; I'll bet yours was a good one ;)

[mewzilla]

Steve Doocy characterized the statement as Shays crawling under the bed and hiding.

I agree with Doocy.

[Huck]

It wasn't anything creative, but it was apropos of this thread:

F the terrorists! We are winning!

I was inspired to create it (my first ever tagline--censored! LOL) by my trip to NYC to see my sister. I came home feeling good about having made the trip. I enjoyed the opportunity to stick in the face of the terrorists. But, I guess "F" is not clean enough for FR. Fair enough. I'll come up with a new tagline at some point.

[angcat]

Growing up in Yonkers we never went into the city for New Years, it is for tourists!

[leadpenny]

Bloomberg v. Shays

When RINOs collide!

[Quilla]

This is a typical showing of courage by Rep. Shays, who, after viewing extensive and graphic evidence of Slick Willy's rape exploits, was content to let it slide.

Man, I wish I had said that!

[Peach]

The feds decide to tell people because:

1. if they just told law enforcement and something happened, civilians would sue;

2. law enforcement would tell their wives and families and someone would tell the media anyway;

3. because civilians have helped in the war on terror when they have reported suspicious activity.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

Terrorists win when they cause terror, hence the name terrorists.

[panaxanax]

"The congressman is exhibiting simple common sense."

I agree with you 100%. At least he has the cojones to come out and state the obvious.

Anyone who would subject their family to potential and well documented threats is a fool.

Look at it like this. If a convicted child molester notified the neighborhood that he wanted to kidnap and kill children and was threatening to be at a certain park at a certain time, would you drop your kids off at that park to play?

Get real! There is a REAL threat and there is REAL danger. Those that continue to think that “it can’t happen here” must have already forgotten about 9-11. Apathy and denial are the terrorists most deadly ally.

Kudo’s to Rep. Shay.

[panaxanax]

"Man, I wish I had said that!"

And that goes for the entire Congress who let Clinton remain in office after impeaching him. Look at the damage Clinton did after his so-called impeachment. You can’t pin that on Shays alone.

[yoe]

Rep. Christopher Shays clearly understands what we're up against and the "don't go to war crowd" apparently doesn't. We are at war today.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

We are at war today.

We most certainly are. And would cancelling all major gatherings during a Code Orange constutute a step towards winning or losing that war.

[TonyRo76]

But, I guess "F" is not clean enough for FR

He heh... at least not since John "Effing" Kerry commandeered it for his campaign.

At any rate, I hear ya about sticking to those murderous islamonazi cowards.

A few weeks after 9/11, while there were still some popular jitters about flying, two of my buddies and I boarded a big ol' plane and jetted out to Las Vegas for 4 days. It was surreal to be there and see the marquee in front of Caesar's sporting the message "GOD BLESS AMERICA" in giant, 10' tall(?) letters. Also while we were there, word came over the news of Pres. Bush ordering the first air strikes on Afghanistan.

Even as we flew back home to Ohio, I felt flush with a sense of pride that we hadn't let that creepy caveman UBL or his walking al Qaeda cockroaches intimidate us out of flying or enjoying our vacation.

[Corin Stormhands]

"Fight" the terrorists is a problem?

[Petronski]

The congressman is exhibiting simple common sense.

It's tough to say for sure, in my opinion. If the congressman's words are all that there is to know, I think he's a fool--for speaking from a position of authority in a manner he has to know could foster a sense of panic without cause for such specific concern.

On the other hand, if he has special knowledge of intel that singles out Times Square, this could be his way of trying to drop a hint, and I wouldn't have any problem with that.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

On the other hand, if he has special knowledge of intel that singles out Times Square, this could be his way of trying to drop a hint, and I wouldn't have any problem with that.

Now THAT I would have a serious problem with. Special intel that singles out Times Square for an attack this evening should not be delivered via a "hint" from Congressman Shays.

[alisasny]

And no place to go to the bathroom..LOL...

it always amazed me how people would stand packed like that for hours for no apparent reason....

Someone needs to tell SHAYS that NYC has been on orange alert ever since 911.

[Charlotte Corday]

If we keep raising and lowering the threat level with no specific information being released about specific threats (whether anticipated or thwarted), we will soon get to the point where "code orange" gets about as much attention as a random car alarm going off in a parking garage. Would that be a Good Thing or not???

[Huck]

Even as we flew back home to Ohio, I felt flush with a sense of pride that we hadn't let that creepy caveman UBL or his walking al Qaeda cockroaches intimidate us out of flying or enjoying our vacation.

That is the feeling. Right on. I was so proud of everyone who went back to work in lower Manhattan on 9-17. And definitely the fliers. I recall Todd Beamer's wife took a much publicized flight. She was right on too.

[lormand]

RINO - adjective
1) Republican In Name Only
2) Coward

[lormand]

Your post reeks with inaccuracies and inconsistencies.

Would you like to revise your statements, or do you actually stand by these?

[freeperfromnj]

Shays was under fire once before when he was on Sean Hannity's show and stated that we were vulnerable to an attack via suitcase nukes.

[TonyRo76]

Amen, Huck. A blessed and happy New Year to you and your family!

Best,
T-Ro :)

[Huck]

Thanks TonyRo76. I been grumpy the last couple of days, and a little disgruntled about some Bush policies, including even Iraq, and so it's nice to refocus on something more positive and sure. You helped draw my attention to something more positive and away from my recent anxieties. Thanks for that. And thank you for the well wishes. Same to you and your family :-)

[LN2Campy]

I'd say avoid Times Sq. just to avoid feeling like a fenced-in federal inmate.

[raybbr]

Someone needs to tell SHAYS that NYC has been on orange alert ever since 911.

Wow! It's been on aler for 1092 years. They are way ahead of the the curve.

BTW I thought about the bathrooms afterward. They got rid of all the public toilets years ago and noplace will let you use one unless you are a customer. Lots of plastic urine-filled jugs tonight.

Happy New Year to you.

[wtc911]

Leadership should be responsible above all else.

Encouraging folks to crowd into a confined space with near-zero exit capacity when you think so strongly that the area is a target that you brag about the snipers on the roofs, the helicopters, the intense police presence is not responsible. It is akin to the mayor in JAWS swearing the water is safe.

There is a heightened alert, no way out, we've been hit before...send your kids. That is not leadership, that is revenue-stream-aware cheerleading.

[wtc911]

A post script....

The odds are nothing will happen. But if something should and people die how fast do you think folks here will start giving out Darwin awards?