Gothamist: The Politics of Terror

Jayson

Sat, 10 Jul 2004 16:25:46 -0500

Hey, anyone know what's going on at Union Square? I see National Guard sometimes, sometimes police at all odd hours. Then they disappear. Are these drills too?

Bobbie

Fri, 09 Jul 2004 23:45:42 -0500

Everyone should see Fahrenheit 911 if they haven't already. There's a (Democratic) Congressman who is trained as a psychiatrist. He talks about how the constant use of fear (by Bush) sows confusion and makes the populace easy to control.

GJR

Fri, 09 Jul 2004 18:53:59 -0500

Ah HA! Now I know what that was this afternoon on 42nd St between 5th & 6th. I didn't know what the hell was going on-- a bunch of cop cars parking on the side of the street for about 20 minutes, then all driving off.

cb/CityRag

Fri, 09 Jul 2004 14:38:02 -0500

HOLY S! just caught this on WhatISee.com - thyey have a HUGE spread of the drill running through Columbus Circle!! check it out - http://whatisee.org/

me

Fri, 09 Jul 2004 14:35:48 -0500

really funny quicktime movie: http://www.ebaumsworld.com/presaddress2.shtml

Yojimbot

Fri, 09 Jul 2004 14:30:50 -0500

cb your site is cool...great story about you little doggy! also, i've tried to photograph those heavily armed robo-cops but they keep telling me no and making threatening postures.

cb/CityRag

Fri, 09 Jul 2004 14:17:42 -0500

love to post those photos! (splitting town for weekend now but will put up on Monday if anyone wants to follow) thanks Y.

Allison

Fri, 09 Jul 2004 14:14:17 -0500

my terror drill pics: http://www.livejournal.com/users/brooklyngirl/147474.html

Yojimbot

Fri, 09 Jul 2004 14:08:06 -0500

hey city rag, i have some photos of these activities...if you'd like i can email you some...they'd make a nice compliment to you street level shots.(mine are birdseye views taken from up on high).

cb/cityrag

Fri, 09 Jul 2004 13:54:54 -0500

Yojimbot - the comment on the parallel parking is hilarious (and true!) the suddenness of this roll out of drills all over the city proves it's absolutely related to the GOP convention (come on, we've been having high level terror alerts in TS for a couple years now) saw over 200 cars at both drills, and there was one single motorcycle. they're not as intimating enough to potential protestors. (thanks for the shout out on the pic hy)

Yojimbot

Fri, 09 Jul 2004 13:36:07 -0500

i've been watching there preparedness drills at various nyc buildings for the past couple of weeks. they are getting really good at parallel parking on the curb! i feel safer already. also, why dont they have motorcycle/bike cops in on these exercises, they can cut through the traffic much faster than those tinted suvs.

Dirk

Fri, 09 Jul 2004 13:21:43 -0500

By the way, I'm not a left-wing consipracy nut, either. It just seems to me that every time there is something bad in the news for Bush (prison scandal, Edwards joins ticket, etc), that a new terror alert is issued...

Dirk

Fri, 09 Jul 2004 13:16:14 -0500

Wow! What a coincidence. The week that Kerry/Edwards get a boost in ratings, Homeland Security decides to issue a terror alert. Must distract general populace... must distract general populace... I can't wait until we "capture" Bin Laden...

hy

Fri, 09 Jul 2004 13:03:58 -0500

Gotta love that photo--the "Smack down!" marquee over four and an eight NYPD police cruisers. Though, you really have to wonder if any of these exercises really help "preparedness." Or may be it's just a big city government show for the Republicans.