St. Patrick's Day Parade With Fewer Politicians

Parades are generally times when politicians come out to march with and wave to constituents. (At last year's Gay Pride Parade, City Council Speaker Quinn and Senator Clinton marched, and Mayor Bloomberg, Governor Spitzer, and Senator Schumer were at the Puerto Rican Day Parade.) But Monday's St. Patrick's Day Parade may have few politicians, because Lieutenant Governor David Paterson is being sworn in that day, too.

The Staten Island Advance points out the swearing-in is creating notable absences from the parade, since Mayor Bloomberg will definitely be in Albany. One would imagine that Senators Clinton and Schumer will also be upstate, as will City Comptroller William Thompson. And Quinn will be upstate, but she doesn't march in the parade because of the organizers' stance on the LGBT community in the parade (they're not allowed).

City Councilman Michael McMahon of Staten Island said, "I think under normal circumstances one could expect more consideration for the importance of the St. Patrick's day parade in New York City, which is a high point in the Irish Catholic calendar. However these are extremely unusual circumstances and times in which we find ourselves so I think we have to be a little forgiving." If there's anyone to forgive, people need to forgive, it's Governor Spitzer!

It's unclear whether Police Commissioner Ray Kelly (who is Irish!) will be at the parade. He is a oft-rumored Republican candidate for Mayor in 2009, so it's a sign he's a power player. If he doesn't, he might be one of the higher ranking city officials in the parade.