SATURDAY AFTERNOON UPDATE
I spent most of today roaming the streets of Manhattan, exploring neighborhoods and eavesdropping on the locals(in the tradition of the NSA, of course). The weather's been perfect, so everyone is taking to the streets. Everywhere you go there's talk of the 9/11 anniversary, plenty of Bush complaints (hey, this is a Blue State) and grousing about the Tuesday New York Primary election. There seems to be a disproportionate number of French tourists here, too... maybe diverted from service the UN expected in Lebanon. Oui?
On TV there's Hillary Clintion again, with a fresh commercial capitalizing on the news that workers from Ground Zero are facing serious health concerns, saying "On 9/11 they told us that the air was ok to breathe...well, they were wrong". Of course the Democrat spin is that only Republicans use 9/11 for political purposes. The hot race for NY Attorney General pits perennial candidate Mark Green vs. Andrew Cuomo. Both are running pictures of them smiling with the popular, outgoing AG Eliott Spitzer who is running for Governor. The theater district is bustling with plans for a Sunday free show in Times Square, featuring songs and stars from about every hit show. The streets are full of shoppers, families, tourists from foreign lands and occasional lunatic (they'll be running for office next election). The usual popular attractions are full of visitors (I especially enjoyed the Piermont Morgan Library and the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum).
At one point I was right in the middle of the annual Labor Parade today, too. I think the unions milk the Labor Day thing a few more days to not-so-subtly remind voters how to "properly" vote... or else. I walked a couple blocks from my hotel and there they were: Thousands of of union members shuffling down Fifth Avenue in solidarity. I've never seen so many different and even obscure unions (expected to see a Belly Button Lint Removers Local group). In the middle of the mix, there were some signs saying things like "Money for education, not war". In Hell's Kitchen a sign in a shop says "Make pottery not war". I think the '60s protesters are back in force, needing fresh material... and looking a little long in the tooth.
Still there's a feeling of "it could happen again any day" here, and that's what separates New York from the rest of America... why people here tell pollsters they fear another terrorist attack and the rest of America feels more secure. The police presence is very noticable everywhere... many more on the streets than when I was here earlier in the year. But life goes on, as it should: Living each day in hope but staying vigilant in moments of fear.
Our friend Peggy Noonan captures more of this mood in her Wall Street Journal column this weekend:
http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/pnoonan/
Tomorrow we'll be preparing for our Monday program from Ground Zero, with a jam-packed line-up of guests. You won't want to miss our exclusive broadcast from Noon to 3PM Pacific, live from Ground Zero on 9/11. Hear it on NewsRadio 600 KOGO and www.kogo.com
On TV there's Hillary Clintion again, with a fresh commercial capitalizing on the news that workers from Ground Zero are facing serious health concerns, saying "On 9/11 they told us that the air was ok to breathe...well, they were wrong". Of course the Democrat spin is that only Republicans use 9/11 for political purposes. The hot race for NY Attorney General pits perennial candidate Mark Green vs. Andrew Cuomo. Both are running pictures of them smiling with the popular, outgoing AG Eliott Spitzer who is running for Governor. The theater district is bustling with plans for a Sunday free show in Times Square, featuring songs and stars from about every hit show. The streets are full of shoppers, families, tourists from foreign lands and occasional lunatic (they'll be running for office next election). The usual popular attractions are full of visitors (I especially enjoyed the Piermont Morgan Library and the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum).
At one point I was right in the middle of the annual Labor Parade today, too. I think the unions milk the Labor Day thing a few more days to not-so-subtly remind voters how to "properly" vote... or else. I walked a couple blocks from my hotel and there they were: Thousands of of union members shuffling down Fifth Avenue in solidarity. I've never seen so many different and even obscure unions (expected to see a Belly Button Lint Removers Local group). In the middle of the mix, there were some signs saying things like "Money for education, not war". In Hell's Kitchen a sign in a shop says "Make pottery not war". I think the '60s protesters are back in force, needing fresh material... and looking a little long in the tooth.
Still there's a feeling of "it could happen again any day" here, and that's what separates New York from the rest of America... why people here tell pollsters they fear another terrorist attack and the rest of America feels more secure. The police presence is very noticable everywhere... many more on the streets than when I was here earlier in the year. But life goes on, as it should: Living each day in hope but staying vigilant in moments of fear.
Our friend Peggy Noonan captures more of this mood in her Wall Street Journal column this weekend:
http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/pnoonan/
Tomorrow we'll be preparing for our Monday program from Ground Zero, with a jam-packed line-up of guests. You won't want to miss our exclusive broadcast from Noon to 3PM Pacific, live from Ground Zero on 9/11. Hear it on NewsRadio 600 KOGO and www.kogo.com
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