New York has a safe New Year's celebration and quiets naysayers
By Bill Schneider
CNN Political Unit
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A heavily armed policeman looks on during the New Year's Eve party in New York's Times Square.
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(CNN) -- Throwing a party is not usually the way to take a political stand.
But this week was New Year's. And one New Year's Eve party earned the political Play of the Week.
A political party is one thing. But a party that makes a political statement -- that's something else.
It all started when a Republican congressman and chairman of the subcommittee on terrorism made this remark on a local news broadcast.
"You gotta be a fool, frankly, to go on New Year's night to Times Square," exclaimed Rep. Christopher Shays, R-Connecticut. "I mean, I can't understand why people do that. Just one hand grenade thrown in the air and people panicking. It's just too tempting a target."
What does he know? He's an out-of-towner, rom Connecticut, wherever that is, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg replied. You come to New York, buddy, like former Iraq prisoner of war Shoshana Johnson, and we'll show you how to party.
"If anybody who is a congressman from Connecticut wants to hop on a train and come to New York, he or she is certainly welcome to stand on the stage with me and Shoshana and welcome the new year," Bloomberg said on New Year's Eve.
But was it safe? The homeland security secretary thought so.
"I don't think there's a city that has done more and sustained a higher level of security and protection than New York City," Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said Tuesday.
You nervous? Fuhgeddaboutit, the mayor said.
"You are safer here tonight than you would be on the streets of any other city in the world," Bloomberg said.
You trying to cause trouble? Gedouttahere, New Yorkers said.
"I do not think the responsible thing to do, as this congressman is doing, is to try and put out a mass panic," Democratic president hopeful the Rev. Al Sharpton said.
On Wednesday night in New York, the revelers reveled ... the ball descended ... the confetti flew ... and tradition was upheld.
Trouble? New Yorkers shrugged. Whatamattawitchew?
"Last night was just a typical New York event. -- your average 750,000 people getting together on Wednesday night to enjoy themselves." said Bloomberg on New Year's Day.
You want to stay in Connecticut New Year's Eve and hide under your bed, go right ahead. But don't worry about us. Because this is New York, buddy. And we get the political Play of the Week.
Maybe Rep. Shays was just trying to get people in his district to stay in Connecticut. Nothing like New Year's Eve in Bridgeport, is there?
