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.

[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.

[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.

[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?