November 2, 2012

"For some reason, the uplifting value of the New York City Marathon, however, is so off the charts in Bloomberg World..."

"... that nothing trumps diverting countless police and sanitation resources to marathon duty, even when parts of the metropolitan area lie in ruins and the city is mired in transportation hell."

AND: "They should make all of these runners bring food and water to people's houses who need it. They should bring all of these generators to buildings where old people live and give them power." 

UPDATE: Bloomberg caves to criticism, cancels the Marathon.

146 comments:

gerry said...

...and where is FEMA on Staten Island? They aren't there because...

...Obama hates white people!

SteveR said...

Talk about bad optics

Matt Sablan said...

If only this were a re-election year for Bloomberg, think how much better his response would be. Maybe I've been wrong and we need MORE frequent elections.

Pianoman said...

I saw this story this morning, and it's jaw-dropping. I was in NYC once on the day of the Marathon, and my wife and I had to walk back to 46th street from Central Park because the subways were too crowded to ride after the Marathon was over. I can't imagine what Sunday is going to be like.

If Hurricane Sandy doesn't lead to the cancellation of the marathon, I guess nothing can.

I'm eagerly looking forward to Bloomberg's next nanny state proclamation. He's not much good at anything else, apparently.

damikesc said...

Well, they did vote for the inept goober. There were lots of warning signs that he couldn't manage a farr after a hearty meal.

ricpic said...

But no big gulps allowed! Not if you're bending over dehydrated at the 24 mile mark. No. Big. Gulps!!!

TWM said...

A perfect example of why the blue model is failing. Liberals are fools both those elected and the ones electing them.

Original Mike said...

Bread and circuses.

Without the bread.

Wince said...

Obama must really appreciate that Bloomberg endorsement right about now.

Bloomberg endorses Obama for a second term, climate change a focus

(Reuters) - New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg on Thursday endorsed President Barack Obama for a second term, citing the importance of his record on climate change, particularly in the aftermath of the devastating blow dealt to the New York area by storm Sandy.

Bloomberg said Obama has taken significant steps to reduce carbon consumption, whereas Republican challenger Mitt Romney has backtracked on earlier positions he had taken as governor of Massachusetts to battle climate change.

ricpic said...

Afar a farr did bound did sound
Where heavy fart would go to ground.

TMink said...

Here in Nashville, there was very little relief presence for the first 72 hours after the flood. I have since heard a slogan, "The first 72 are up to you." Simple logistics as far as I can tell.

People who got to us first were private citizens, local churches, and the Samaritan's Purse. FEMA and Red Cross came later.

That is the problem with the whole "big problems take a big government" thinking. Because big government is slow. Neighbors are fast though.

Trey

furious_a said...

Every generator powering the NY Marathon media tent, every public safety worker, Marathon volunteer and Porta-Potty lining the route, every Sanitation worker gathering Marathon litter or Park&Rec worker tidying Central Park, every city vehicle detailed for pedestrian barrier setup/removal, every hotel room held for marathon attendees, every street and bridge closed to accommodate the race, every bottle of water handed out during the race...is one generator / emergency responder / relief volunteer / sanitary facility / debris-collector / transport resource /shelter / relief route / staple denied the storm victims in lower Manhattan, Staten Island, etc.

Priorities.

Cosmic Conservative said...

People have incredibly short memories. The first few days after Katrina were not what led to the reputation of Katrina being a relief effort failure.

That occurred as the lack of power, lack of food and water, and lack of control overwhelmed the relief efforts. That situation is still a possibility in the wake of Sandy. The difficulty of organizing the actual logistics alone are daunting. Managing the narrative is an entirely different thing. Of course the media will do everything they can to promote this as an Obama "Presidential Moment" as they desperately try to drag President Ladyparts over the finish line, but stories of suffering in many areas are still getting out.

This Marathon story provides an angle for the desired media narrative to be sidestepped. If there are more such stories in the next day or so while Bloomberg does photo-ops for the Marathon and Obama ignores the situation to deal with the far more important (to him) issues of potentially losing Ohio, Iowa and Minnesota...

Well that narrative could still change.

Michael K said...

Bloomberg is certainly doing what he can to make people think twice about Obama.

Katrina, anyone ?

X said...

Bloomberg's an ass. do the runners have no decency?

Rliyen said...

Shocking lack of priorities on the Mayor. That would have been like Nagin redirecting resources to the Crescent City Classic post Katrina. That's, of course, if the Classic was run in August instead of April.

PatCA said...

The marathoners themselves are already revolting against this revolting mayor.

http://gothamist.com/2012/11/02/marathon_runner_starts_protest_grou.php

The Tea Party lives!

garage mahal said...

I blame Obama!

TWM said...

"Here in Nashville, there was very little relief presence for the first 72 hours after the flood. I have since heard a slogan, "The first 72 are up to you." Simple logistics as far as I can tell.

People who got to us first were private citizens, local churches, and the Samaritan's Purse. FEMA and Red Cross came later.

That is the problem with the whole "big problems take a big government" thinking. Because big government is slow. Neighbors are fast though.

Trey"

From Nashville, too, and Trey's right on. Local officials were there but they were heavily supported by churches, charities, and thousands of good people who weren't affected and so went to work helping those who were. Those people made the difference in Nashville as they do in most disasters in the more rural states. The same thing happened on the Mississippi Gulf Coast while New Orleans - more dependent on government - literally floundered under Katrina.

The blue states just don't have the same attitude I'm afraid.

Expat(ish) said...

I just ran the Marine Corp Marathon in DC. And I hope i would have been wise enough to not run if they'd been hit like NYC was.

But it's also hard to see beyond yourself if you've trained for something so hard.

I hope I would have been able to figure it out real-time, as it were.

_XC

TWM said...

"I blame Obama."

But, but, but, I thought he improved the infrastructure with that stimulus. You said so just a few posts ago.

Saint Croix said...

Suggested headline for New York Daily News...

MAYOR TO STATEN ISLAND:

DROP DEAD

Icepick said...

I blame Obama!

Why not? You blamed Bush when Nagin and Landrieu were being asses.

ricpic said...

...and where is FEMA on Staten Island? They aren't there because...

...Obama hates white people!


Congratulations, gerry, you finally stumbled into the truth.

coketown said...

These are the same people who want to run the country's death panels.

"We are diverting helium reserves away from cooling the MRI machines because there is a balloon shortage in the maternity wing."

I can't be the only one seeing the irony here: The nation's foremost apologist for the superiority of central planning authorities is making the most potent argument against the superiority of central planning authorities.

"We've got very limited resources here. So it's either heat the homes of the elderly and feed the people of Staten Island, or cancel the NYC Marathon--and we don't see the wisdom in canceling the NYC marathon. Some of these people flew in from Kenya for God's sake!"

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

I'm sorry but I'm with Bloomberg on this one.

If you keep the focus on the complainants, you will get more of it.

As Soros would say... Move On.

Oso Negro said...

Sorry Palladian, nothing personal, but just another opportunity to say fuck you to NYC. I wonder if there is a chance of people in Staten Island rioting at the start of the race? That would make for a great day in photojournalism.

Mitch H. said...

I had not been aware that he ordered the cancellation of an NBA game in Brooklyn. Cancel an underclass urbanite game like basketball, but move heaven and earth for Sport White People Like? Way to go, Mayor Charlie!

The Democrats can *have* Bloomsberg, hell, we'll throw in a utility-player congressman of their choice to sweeten the deal.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

The Show Must Go On!

dreams said...

Over the years it has become obvious to me that Republicans are almost always more serious and competent than the Dems. Remember Bloomberg was a lifelong Democrat before he ran for mayor.


Walter Russell Mead from Via Meadia

"New York has rarely needed strong leadership more than it does now; unfortunately, our Mayor keeps shrinking.

What would the world have thought of Mayor Nagin if he’d diverted resources from Katrina relief efforts to holding a Mardi Gras parade? Mayor Bloomberg may be about to find out. As the NYT reports, the Mayor has vowed to go ahead with the NYC marathon, which will inevitably draw resources away from the Sandy recovery and irritate people whose homes are still underwater, who still don’t have food or power, and who need help, not a sport to watch. Widespread reports that generators are being diverted to power tents for race officials are stoking a populist rage that a billionaire mayor doesn’t need."

http://blogs.the-american-interest.com/wrm/2012/11/02/new-yorks-incredible-shrinking-mayor/

Michael K said...

" ricpic said...
...and where is FEMA on Staten Island? They aren't there because...

...Obama hates white people!"

Of course, it couldn't be that Staten Island has a GOP Congressman.

furious_a said...

Mayor Naginberg.

gerry said...

That occurred as the lack of power, lack of food and water, and lack of control overwhelmed the relief efforts.

I think that's already happening. There are highrises in NYC that have no power and no water pressure (so, no toilets), inhabited by young and old who cannot walk down, for example.

Now, maybe the MSM is prepping a meme, where the president whooshes back in and starts ordering FEMA about, or something.

I think Obama is in over his head here, already.

Cosmic Conservative said...

The reality that Bloomberg (and by extension President Ladyparts) has decided to divert food, water, electricity and fuel resources to the Marathon and away from cold, hungry and homeless people in Staten Island is execrable in itself.

However, in terms of a media narrative, the combination of Democrats in power and the suffering being in large part for blue-collar middle-class white people will ensure that we will not see any more coverage of the suffering than the media can possibly get away with.

Still, the media does not have the control of the narrative that they enjoyed even during Katrina.

People see the suffering in Staten Island. They see the burning houses in New Jersey. They know that the media tent alone for the marathon could provide 400 HOMES with power...

How much of that will leak past the media firewall is hard to say. Hopefully enough to wake the people in Ohio, Iowa, Colorado and Minnesota up...

MadisonMan said...

I guess my question is: Why is Bloomberg deciding if the Marathon can go on? Is it really run by the city and public employees? Even in liberal Madison, the Marathon is run by a private company (I think) -- and it would certainly know enough to cancel the marathon.

wyo sis said...

Icepick
I was going to say it, but you beat me to it.
It's going to be interesting to watch the libs who blamed Bush for the entire Katrina debacle try to squirm out of blaming Obama for this. They'll try and it will be one of the few humorous things to come out of it.
Except for the human toll, it reads like an item in the Onion.

The Cracker Emcee Refulgent said...

What Trey and TWM said about Nahville also applied here in SW Washington. I volunteered at a United Way distribution center after the big 2007 flood and was amazed at the generosity of individuals and churches.

ricpic said...

I didn't say that, Michael K, gerry said it. Sheesh.

The Cracker Emcee Refulgent said...

What Trey and TWM said about Nahville also applied here in SW Washington. I volunteered at a United Way distribution center after the big 2007 flood and was amazed at the generosity of individuals and churches.

test said...

garage mahal said...
I blame Obama!


You should. According to Obama's logic all discomforts caused by natural disasters to those of a different race than the current President are due to the current President's racial animus. So according to Obama not only is Obama to blame it's because he hates white people. And since you have yet in your life to form an idea not pre-approved by the Democratic Party it seems you should agree.

Left Bank of the Charles said...

The Sandy Zombie Apocalypse Marathon will bring one desperately needed thing to NYC, TV coverage. You won't want to watch, but you will.

Cosmic Conservative said...

For those wondering why Christie (and Bloomberg) have been so publicly praising Obama, that's purely to provide them coverage for any developing narrative about lack of response to Sandy. The more they can get photos of them with their arms around Obama as they walk around the Sandy-devastated areas, the less the media will try to pin the blame on them, for fear of some of that blame bleeding over to President Ladyparts.

It's brilliant, really.

ricpic said...

The genius of Bloomberg is that he's placing those generators in the center of Central Park. If he put them way downtown Manhattan would tip over.

Tim said...

Bloomberg should be ashamed of himself.

Since he's too stupid to do the proper, honorable thing, the race organizers should man up and pull the plug.

They run the race every year.

Missing one year won't kill anyone.

Tank said...

Thank you ricpic for a bit of intentional humor.

There has been a great deal of unintentional humor here at Althouseland today.

Amartel said...

The GOP should take out a full page ad in the NYT, WSJ, and NY Post inviting Mayor Bloomberg to pack his running shoes and leave the Republican Party. He's not even a RINO, he's full-blown I've-got-mine-fuck-you statist crapweasel posing as a Republican for the crony capitalism and/or diversity points. If NYC insists on being liberal, they should get a lib that isn't falsely posing as a member of the grown-up party.

Dr Weevil said...

Isn't Staten Island where a disproportionate number of NYC's police and firemen live? I wonder if they can just tell Bloomberg to screw himself. Not a strike, per se, since they'd still be at work (and for longer than usual hours), but couldn't they just tell him they refuse to stand on street corners guarding a stupid marathon because they're going to be busy rescuing people in S. Manhattan and the seaside boroughs? If would help if the police chief and fire chief and city council led the way, of course.

furious_a said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Cosmic Conservative said...

No serious analyst ever considered Bloomberg to anything but a RINO.

rcommal said...

Some registered runners are planning to volunteer & etc.

robinintn said...

Snowplows.

Tari said...

As a Houstonian whose been through some nasty storms (Ike, Alison), this sickens me. My city and county may have more than its fair share of Democrats running things, but no one would ever make insane decisions like this. Oh look: reason #547 why I left the Northeast for Texas 20 years ago...

Scott M said...

Well, they did vote for the inept goober. There were lots of warning signs that he couldn't manage a farr after a hearty meal.

Jamie could not be reached for comment.


Dr Weevil said...

There's something Obama could do, if he thought of it, but apparently he doesn't have any engineers available. Navy ships can supply power to shore, and have done so in the past. This page is a little vague on the details, but says that one ship can provide 2.5 to 21 MW of power. If this page is correct, that means one ship could power between 2,500 and 21,000 homes. Presumably, it depends whether it's a destroyer or an aircraft carrier. Knowing Obama, if he did this he'd divert an aircraft carrier just to look good, even if we had tenders and other ships that could do the job better and quicker.

Cosmic Conservative said...

Dr. Weevil:

It is usually aircraft carriers that are able to provide power onshore in that manner. They have done so many times. The problem is that Aircraft Carriers are not very fast, and most are deployed far away from New York.

Still it's a good thought, but one I doubt President Ladyparts is thinking about. I doubt he spends five minutes each day thinking about New York. After all, NY is in the bag for him already. He's got more important states to worry about this weekend.

Maybe he'll think about NY again on Wed...

Dr Weevil said...

To amplify my previous, I meant if Obama had any actual engineer types in his inner circle, instead of lawyers and ad-men and Communications majors, maybe they would have thought of something practical like sending the Navy to provide ship-to-shore power. That's something the Feds can provide that even governors don't have. It wouldn't work in a lot of natural disasters, but here the devastated areas are mostly right on the shore, so there should be plenty of places to moor a ship very close to where power is needed.

Anonymous said...

This is manifestation of the new disparate treatment.

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a city where they will not be judged by the ratio of their body fat but by the content of their character."

Michael K said...



11/2/12 12:17 PM
Blogger ricpic said...

" I didn't say that, Michael K, gerry said it. Sheesh."

Sorry about that. Although I think you agreed. My point was unrelated and I was agreeing too.

Cosmic Conservative said...

Dr. Weevil, I concur with your comment for the most part.

However, there are other ways to get power to those places that are a bit easier than bringing in massive Navy ships. There are major portable generator shortages in the area, but not in California or much of the rest of the country. A massive airlift of generators to the area could be accomplished simply by announcing a Presidential directive to get generators to the closest military base, then airlift them into New York. A convoy of fuel trucks could also be arranged. Within days the stricken areas could have power and fuel. This would be easier and faster than trying to get an Aircraft Carrier there.

In fact, this is exactly the sort of effort that "big government" can do that states and private efforts cannot.

But you won't see it happen.

TWM said...

Reference the discussions on power. While I'm not sure I believe it's more of an issue of lines down than stations down. Ships off shore could certainly help with supplies and medical assistance, but without the lines up going to the houses, all the power in the world on a ship isn't going to help much.

Cosmic Conservative said...

TWM, just one reason portable generators would be useful.

tim said...

Rush just made a very smart point. Bloomberg and obama worship at the alter of climate change and the chorus you hear is "sea level rise, sea level rise." Bloomberg has been in charge for ten years, what has he done to prepare his city for the encroaching seas, NOTHING. NYC is one of obamas biggest base of support, what has he done for them to help with the encroaching seas? NOTHING

To paraphrase a law prof or something, "I will start believing in global climate warming change disruption when those who tell me it is happening start acting like it is."

Eric said...

Of course, it couldn't be that Staten Island has a GOP Congressman.

I wonder if Obama would even declare NY a disaster area if it were a red state. The Texas wildfires didn't seem to bother him much.

Patrick said...

My Prediction: By the end of the day, the Marathon will have been canceled.

Not even Bloomberg is that stupid.

furious_a said...

Not even Bloomberg is that stupid.

You say so...

"But if I'm right, and we can stop this thing...Mikey...you will have rescued the marathon for thousands of out-of-town runners."

Stephen Baraban said...

"A perfect example of why the blue model is failing. Liberals are fools both those elected and the ones electing them." Bloomberg is a "liberal"?--this billionaire who said that it's so "ungrateful" to reveal that people from the financial firm you worked for sometimes spoke of clients as "muppets" to be cheated? Who wouldn't allow an anti-Iraq war demonstration in Central Park because the grass is so delicate, but does allow fairly large gatherings there to listen to opera? I don't think either liberals or conservatives need feel responsible for that guy--he's just a hard to unclassy egotist and bully (when he decided he wanted to change the term limit law that he himself had championed so he could run for mayor a third time, he pressured non-profit organizations that the city, or he personally, had funded, to argue for his position).

tim in vermont said...

Frau Bloomberg just gave a press conference where he ridiculed the idea of any shortage of generators, "Anybody who wants can rent one." and their usefulness.

Anonymous said...

Well i know someone running the marathon. And they do a tremendous amount of charity work and good for people. One persons charitable methods are another person totalitarianism. Charity evolves th person by letting them choose their individual reactions and watching their results compared to others. ASk for help, but don't get panties in a twist if some people do have more important things to do.

Bob Ellison said...

"They should bring all of these generators to buildings where old people live and give them power."

And then they can turn them into Soylent Green. It's the circle of energy.

Stephen Baraban said...

meant "hard to classify"

Bob Ellison said...

psst...Stephen Baraban...Bloomberg's a liberal.

BarrySanders20 said...

"Bloomberg's an ass. do the runners have no decency?"

Good to see a few of the entrants have the sense not to run given the situation facing many other NYCers. It will be interesting to see how many follow the entrants who refuse to run and volunteer instead.

The tri athletes and marathon distance runners I know, though very driven, are also extremely self-centered when it comes to their obsession and can rationalize away factors that might prevent them from their addiction. Not a problem for the single (gee, think that factored into the divorce?), but the married ones whose spouses are not equally obsessed amaze me. Frankly, I don't know why spouses put up with some of these assholes.

Althouse should have a tag of "Me Me Me"

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

Wait. Didn't Obama's words solve everything? The media told me so.

kjbe said...

Going ahead with this will prove to be Bloomberg's "heckuva job" moment in this disaster.

KCFleming said...

NYC should change it to a triathlon, with a Staten Island leg.

furious_a said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
DADvocate said...

All these survivors are so out of touch. Bloomberg knows what's best for all of us. Gun control by his standards, dietary control by his standards, soft drink contral by his standards, hurricane recovery by his standards.

The rest of you low life, loser idiots need to get with the program. Bloomberg knows best. Give him control over everything.

Paul said...

Ah, and all you Obama lovers in NYC, at least you don't have to worry about fattening food and Big Gulp drinks (although I bet you could use some now!)

You liberals voted for him and Bloomberg, so just shut up and go to the back of the bus and let them drive.

You have a choice, FOUR MORE YEARS or FOUR MORE DAYS. Choice is yours and choices have consequences.

Patrick said...

furious a FTW.

Martin L. Shoemaker said...

They're living in Tim Burton's Batman film, in which they mayor of Gotham City demanded they hold their anniversary party even as chaos engulfed his city.

When Mayor Bloomberg finally cancels the marathon, I expect the Joker to break into his TV announcement, declare the marathon is back on, promise the people free money, and challenge the Batman to a final duel, mano a mano.

Hmmm... Which prominent politician was once photoshopped as the Joker and has a penchant for giving away other people's money as he tears down the system. And the Batman is secretly a rich guy. Hmmm...

Patrick said...

Didn't the Professor post something about how smart it was for Christie to embrace the President, and make it appear that he wasn't making this a political thing?

Why yes, she did. And she was correct. Compared to Bloomberg (this was caused by global warming, I'm endorsing Barack Obama) who is screwing up and showing himself to be completely clueless, Christie looks great.

yashu said...

""Anybody who wants can rent one."

"Let them eat cake!"

furious_a said...

...where [Mayor Naginberg] ridiculed the idea of any shortage of generators, "Anybody who wants can rent one." and their usefulness...

...and then go wait in line for fuel.

Assuming, of course, one's automobile is still in working order and the tunnels are clear.

Anonymous said...

Anyone with Bloomberg's connections can rent a generator, 80 year old ladies in SI are out of luck, not that they could get gas....

While I believe some of the able bodied residents should have evacuated and gotten water and food ahead of time, the elderly and people who are not mobile are sitting ducks.

The fact Bloomberg is not using generators for relief efforts and is diverting police and other resources is unthinkable.

How many billions were wasted on Obama crony green energy initiatives instead of shoring up the current infrastructure? The stimulus might have mad some sense if it were spent on infrastructure, not political payoffs.

Cedarford said...

Bloomberg said Obama has taken significant steps to reduce carbon consumption, whereas Republican challenger Mitt Romney has backtracked on earlier positions he had taken as governor of Massachusetts to battle climate change

In a sense, I have little sympathy for the people of CT, NJ, and NY that elect the pols and serve as a prime source of money for pols and groups that want all drilling and coal mining banned....who now are whining up a storm about being good Greens now out of gas and freezing in the dark.
But yes, thanks to people like Bloomie - their carbon consumption has been reduced dramatically.

And I think Obama sees that as wonderful - though he wouldn't admit it.

Maybe after the election we will hear the biggest lesson is that Metro NYC needs more solar panels and windmills.

Tyrone Slothrop said...

Here's something I just don't get. Why don't gas stations have backup generators? The investment required is probably less than $2000. Standby generators can run on natural gas or propane. The first time there was an extended power outage it would pay for itself, and never mind the good will it would generate towards the station owner.

Freeman Hunt said...

My husband and I were just arguing about this. He says the marathon should be cancelled or moved. I say it should go on as scheduled.

The NYC Marathon is a world class athletic event. Do they move the Olympics if there's a disaster nearby? (Maybe they do. I'm assuming they don't, but I could be wrong.) People travel from all over the world to compete in this event.

There aren't going to be millions of spectators this year, obviously.

Entering a marathon is expensive. I assume all of those entrance fees will be paying for the event. It might even be a net gain. They'd have to refund the money if they cancelled. This way, they can have the event, use the money to buy generators and other useful things, and then use those useful things to help the city.

Just have a pared back event with less fanfare.

Icepick said...

I'm starting to think New Yorkers would be better off with the Duke of New York ("You're A number one!") being in charge. The Duke's bread and circuses routine was more entertaining, for one thing. Plus, you can always count on Donald Pleasance and Kurt Russell to save you. Or leave you trapped there. Whatever.

DCS said...

I ran 30 or so marathons in my life,including New York in 1988. I had the running bug bad and were it not for some running caused orthopedic issues I'd be out there still. I can't for the life of me undrstand why the race has to go on when the city has suffered so much. Amateur long distance runners are among the most narcissistic people in the world. That Bloomberg has sacrificed city resources for thousands of people to slog 26.2 miles is criminal. Put the 100 or so elite runners in Central Park to race for the prize. The rest of the crew, whose average time in 2009 was 4 hours 24 minutes, would do well to help with the recovery process in the NY area, or better yet, just stay the hell out of the way. 4 hours 24 minutes is an average speed of 6 mph, only half as fast as the winner of the men's race. And there will be plenty of "runners", half in fact, going slower. Maybe they believe if they complete the distance at 4 mph they have run it, but they are delusional. Want to run a marathon? Measure a course in a local park, station your family and friends at intervals to cheer for you. Don't waste valuable city emergency resources on the illusion that you have completed anything at all like an athletic event.

Patrick said...

I assume all of those entrance fees will be paying for the event. It might even be a net gain.

I really have no idea of course, but I'd assume just the opposite. No matter what, it would divert a lot of resources from areas that need them, and bring them to an area where it is just fun to have.

tim in vermont said...

Wow these Marathoners are tone deaf.

Patrick said...

Maybe I'd change my mind if Paul Ryan were running. To see if he could do a sub 3 hour.

Can't believe that joke hasn't come up yet! Garage, you're slacking!

Brennan said...

It's serious delusion to think Hurricane Sandy is the result of anthropogenic global warming. Mayor Bloomberg should be raked over the coals for making this claim while he ignores New Yorkers in need.

Seeing Red said...

It's like The Hunger Games in real life.

dbp said...

It is all optics: Yeah, it looks bad to have a big event when people are suffering. But hardly any of what is needed in Staten Island will be used by the NYC Marathon. What they need are utility workers primarily. After that, there may be some areas social order break-down. If there are not enough police, call-up the National Guard, that is what they are for.

gerry said...

It doesn't matter if it's a world-class event and 19 people are dead and more may die. The resources to support the marathon should be used to rescue the city's citizens.

Is the liberal mind so damaged that it cannot forego sports to reduce suffering?

I suppose we should be grateful that the World Trade Center attack didn't occur on the same weekend as the marathon, eh? Oops! That would have been handled differently since Guliani was mayor and Bush was president!

Sorry. I forgot.

Michael K said...

"How many billions were wasted on Obama crony green energy initiatives instead of shoring up the current infrastructure? The stimulus might have mad some sense if it were spent on infrastructure, not political payoffs."

I have had the same thought. Democrats talk about "rotting bridges" when they want to spend money and Republicans don't. Then, if they get the money, they spend it on rat holes like Solyndra. California is even worse.

gerry said...

But hardly any of what is needed in Staten Island will be used by the NYC Marathon.

Let see: food, water, portable toilets, overworked first responders, generators...not too important, I suppose.

dbp said...

The Marathon was run in 2001 as well.

tim in vermont said...

" If there are not enough police, call-up the National Guard, that is what they are for."

"NYPD are the only people we need in NYC carrying guns" - Frau Bloomberg.

So I guess that is out then.

Anonymous said...

Hooray! We have power at our house in SE Pennsylvania again! Now I can catch up on all that I missed when I couldn't read Althouse at home.

The marathon should be cancelled. There is no excuse to divert public resources away from Lower Manhattan and the Outer Boroughs that desperately need them.

dbp said...

People keep saying "first responders" WTF? I ran it a few years ago and didn't see a single fireman. There were possibly a dozen or so ambulances along the way. Are ambulances and firemen in short supply on SI? Are people still being rescued? Yeah right.

tim in vermont said...

uh, most people consider police first responders, to things like, you know, looting?

test said...

gerry said...
Is the liberal mind so damaged that it cannot forego sports to reduce suffering?


To them this isn't a sport, like art it's a demonstration of the greatness of NYC. Sports are Stuff Other White People Like.

tim in vermont said...

" Are people still being rescued? Yeah right"

Frau Bloomberg from today's press conference:

"we lost a few more houses today to fire as we turned on the power."

edutcher said...

Benghazi and Staten Island the weekend before an election.

Payback, as they say...

And many thanks to furious_a for his invocation of Venckman's Law.

Freeman Hunt said...

People are assuming that the marathon would divert resources away from where they are needed, but is that true? I would imagine that lots of things are or can be brought in from outside NYC.

tim in vermont said...

I just can't get over the power of these yuppie marathoners.

dbp said...

"NYPD are the only people we need in NYC carrying guns" - Frau Bloomberg.

I think Bloomberg is an idiot. He should accept Nat. Guard in NYC.

Methadras said...

Original Mike said...

Bread and circuses.

Without the bread.


And 16 oz. or less of soda.

tim in vermont said...

"lots of things are or can be brought in from outside NYC"

Like cops? Remember that Bloomberg ruled out the National Guard, not that humoring a few spoiled yuppies would be a valid reason to deploy them.

dbp said...

"we lost a few more houses today to fire as we turned on the power."

Firemen are not in high demand at marathons. Except when I run--then they have to put out all the fires in my wake. You know, from the blazing speed and all.

Methadras said...

I wonder of Michelle Obama is applauding this effort to put the healthy lifestyle of SWPL's on display. GO ARUGALA!!! EAT YOUR PEAS!!!

The utter cognitive dissonance on display here is a complete symptom of the diseased mentality of the leftist mind. Leftists are insane. They truly are. This is a perfect example of it.

tim in vermont said...

That's beautiful, dpb.

Freeman Hunt said...

I don't think the race matters much as far as it concerns amateurs (except those who have been training for over a year for the event and are planning to use this race to qualify for another, such as Boston.) But professional runners do the NYC marathon. It's not some random, local race. It's a race that brings in professional runners from around the world.

They're not planning to divert city workers; they're planning to hire more private contractors.

The question is whether or not having the marathon really would hamper relief efforts. I don't know the answer to that. There's a lot of emotional, "Yes!" But is that true?

Freeman Hunt said...

(I write all of this as someone who despises Bloomberg's political agenda and has no plans to ever run a marathon.)

AF said...

Ridiculous decision by Bloomberg. The last thing we need is more things shut down. I'm not looking forward to my commute on Sunday.

Michelle Dulak Thomson said...

Freeman Hunt,

People are assuming that the marathon would divert resources away from where they are needed, but is that true? I would imagine that lots of things are or can be brought in from outside NYC.

IIRC, the marathon starts in Staten Island, to which there is (also IIRC) only one bridge, which obviously will have to be at least partially shut down.

I can't believe you think this is a good idea, Freeman. I was glad to see that a group of runners are planning to start the race, but peel off at various points and spend the next few hours running up stairs with trivial stuff like, oh, food and water to people too infirm to get up and down 30 or so floors of stairs every time they need something to eat or drink. That is a sensible use of major legpower in a situation like this.

gerry said...

People keep saying "first responders" WTF?

The point is, the hurricane caused most first responders to work a lot of extra hours, and, in spite of being unconscious of their existence, one must realize that very large crowds require increased states of readiness. That means more long hours for already-fatigued first responders (whose own families may need them, as well).

KCFleming said...

It will take twice as long to bail out Staten island, since they have to use 16 oz. cups, and not 32 oz .

Michelle Dulak Thomson said...

Freeman,

As someone said upthread, just make a new route round Central Park or something for the pros, like a criterium in cycling. It won't feel the same, but if all you want to know is which of the pros come in fastest when all are running the same marathon-length course, where's the problem?

Michelle Dulak Thomson said...

Freeman Hunt,

People are assuming that the marathon would divert resources away from where they are needed, but is that true? I would imagine that lots of things are or can be brought in from outside NYC.

IIRC, the marathon starts in Staten Island, to which there is (also IIRC) only one bridge, which obviously will have to be at least partially shut down.

I can't believe you think this is a good idea, Freeman. I was glad to see that a group of runners are planning to start the race, but peel off at various points and spend the next few hours running up stairs with trivial stuff like, oh, food and water to people too infirm to get up and down 30 or so floors of stairs every time they need something to eat or drink. That is a sensible use of major legpower in a situation like this.

Shanna said...

The fact Bloomberg is not using generators for relief efforts and is diverting police and other resources is unthinkable.

Indeed. It's absolute insanity. I get the whole idea that it's good to bring money and business into the city after a tragedy, and that works great once things have been nominally fixed. But we still have search and rescue going on, people without power and resources, etc...It's completely INSANE to divert police, generators and other resources away from the people who need them (not to mention hotels.). Ask all the runners to wait and let this thing be rescheduled or ask for volunteers.

My cousin's husband in NJ outside of nyc was able to, after many hours, get about 30 dollars worth of gas. None of that really needs to go to out of towners right now who aren't helping.

Seeing Red said...

--They're not planning to divert city workers; they're planning to hire more private contractors.---

And have the taxpayers pay for this, too, since they want a blank check?

Tax the rich for the upgrades.

I will never understand why the NYSE closed, they haven't diversified yet? 9/11 didn't teach them anything?

dbp said...

By the way. The course starts in Staten Island, but doesn't travel at all through that area: You go from the park by the bridge to the bridge and are in (mostly unaffected Brooklyn) by the end of the first mile.

Unknown said...

Good Lord. AFAIK, there are two privately funded generators powering some sort of tent thing for the marathoners to use to carbo-load ahead of the race. Would that even power a single high-rise? I doubt it.

DCS had it right. Pros race in Central Park like a bicycle criterium-style race. The rest of the runners, too bad, so sad. It really would be impressive if the amateurs could trot some food and clothing to those in the most desperate circumstances - elderly, those with young children. Not as much fun(?) as a marathon, but ultimately more satisfying.

Chip Ahoy said...

In hospital my room had glass for its central interior wall. Visitors walking by would all turn their heads to look while still walking forward. Every visitor did that. It occurred to me it's irresistible to look in the room when you're walking by because curiosity demands you check out to see how bad the person is in there. You have to look. I would. Very proper people, very properly somberly visiting someone in intensive care, and they cannot help but turn their heads to look at suffering. It's human.

But back and forth all day with the looking. The alternative is to have the blinds shut but that's worse.

So I'm sitting up in bed, tied into it and unable to even shift, and being looked at as curiosity in a zoo.

So the next person to walk by gets it! -- the exasperated what? look. Like one second of Steve Martin.

It was a very mean thing to do. A family filed past my open window room and each person looked in at me that way with compassion and with hurt in their hearts, but as a curiosity. It went ping someone's father, ping someone' little brother, ping someone's mother and what?

Thirty minutes later the same family filed past in the opposite direction in a row, one after the other, each looking sternly rigidly, disciplined-ly ahead and I laughed so hard laying there I that liquid squished into a bag hanging on the side of the bed and ripped tape off something from an arm, but it was so worth the funny.

And the moral of the story is,

I don't know what, it's quite unlike a NY disaster but similar somehow. There is no moral. Sorry.

Eric said...

It will take twice as long to bail out Staten island, since they have to use 16 oz. cups, and not 32 oz .

Hahahahahahahaha.

MarkD said...

This is the same mayor who finally was embarrassed into acting to get the snow plow drivers to clear the roads after several days of inaction. You expected "this time, it'll be different?"

MarkD said...

This is the same mayor who finally was embarrassed into acting to get the snow plow drivers to clear the roads after several days of inaction. You expected "this time, it'll be different?"

Eric said...

So I'm sitting up in bed, tied into it and unable to even shift, and being looked at as curiosity in a zoo.

Did you get the urge to fling feces at the window? Because that's what happens whenever I see primates in the zoo.

Bob K said...

Bloomberg is making what appears an irrational decision. Maybe it isn't. Could it be he has numerous businesses which will return him a tidy profit if the race isn't postponed or canceled?

furious_a said...

Freeman: They're not planning to divert city workers;

Freeman, among other diversions they're diverting NYPD flatbed trucks and personnel from cleanup operations to setting up pededstrian barriers along the race route.

Thorley Winston said...


I’m not a fan of Mayor Bloomberg who has become the poster-child for Nanny Statism but it occurred to me that this might be a good decision. I imagine that the organizers of the event have already paid a lot of money to set up the event and both the city and local businesses expected to bring in a lot of additional revenue. Cancelling the event might not make much of a difference in terms of the hurricane relief effort but it could cost the city and local businesses millions of much needed revenue (especially if they have to refund any of the deposits and such). As cold as it sounds, when you’re running a city that is strapped financially and took a huge hit with the hurricane damage, you want to keep as much money coming in as possible to get back on your feet.

edutcher said...

Off Drudge:

Bloomie just cancelled the run.

Too late?

SteveR said...

David Axelrod gets off his knees

PatCA said...

Patrick, you win the thread. Nanny B just canceled the run, with a whiny statement about how he wanted it for the purposes of inspiration and determination, blah blah.

As if people already are sitting around their comfy living rooms reminiscing about the Big Storm Sandy!

Methadras said...

edutcher said...

Off Drudge:

Bloomie just cancelled the run.

Too late?


The guy is a fucking putz and why he doesn't have a burning tire around his neck right about now is amazing. First he waves off Urkel for a visit and then gets backlash, so what does he do, he endorses Urkel for president to get the heat off. Then he goes forward with the marathon, then get's criticized for being a callous cock sucker then what does he do? His spine breaks in half under the load of criticism and he cancels it. What a cock-knocker.

How anyone lives in that proverbial fuck-hole of a city is mystifying with the veil now being lifted at how utterly fucked up and corrupt it is and has been.

Bob Ellison said...

The cancellation is disappointing. I knew Bloomberg was foolish, but I thought he was also tough.

Bob Ellison said...

Methadras, maybe you have not experienced how great the work ethic in NYC can be. I'll take that city and its citizens any day.

Methadras said...

Bob Ellison said...

Methadras, maybe you have not experienced how great the work ethic in NYC can be. I'll take that city and its citizens any day.


I lived there. Upper west side and would bike, dear god, into midtown or lower Manhattan. Believe me, I know the place. The rats are still bigger than dogs, the homeless are even zombified than ever before (I used to fight them off daily from trying to steal my bike). And the successive line of mayors has sucked since Koch onwards. I have no love for that city. It has it's own energy, but it's a frenetic mix of desperation, agitation, anxiety, and insomnia all rolled up into one. The only redeeming qualities are the places to eat, parts of Harlem, Queens, the midnight runs into Jersey City to hang with friends.

The work ethic in NYC is not my issue. People are looking to scratch a living wherever they can. There are good people in that city to be sure. It's how the place is run. It's like being a rat in a maze and the decay is something you can't ignore. I know Gulliani and his broken windows initiative had a big hand in revitalizing parts of the city, but the underbelly of urban decay is and will always be there and gets worse.

furious_a said...

"The NYC Marathon is a world class athletic event. Do they move the Olympics if there's a disaster nearby? (Maybe they do. I'm assuming they don't, but I could be wrong.) People travel from all over the world to compete in this event."

They partied on in '72 Munich after the Israeli athletes were massacred.

furious_a said...

"The cancellation is disappointing. I knew Bloomberg was foolish, but I thought he was also tough."

Incompetence and stubbornness are a deadly combination in a public official.

Rusty said...

Methadras said...
edutcher said...

Off Drudge:

Bloomie just cancelled the run.

Too late?

The guy is a fucking putz and why he doesn't have a burning tire around his neck right about now is amazing. First he waves off Urkel for a visit and then gets backlash, so what does he do, he endorses Urkel for president to get the heat off. Then he goes forward with the marathon, then get's criticized for being a callous cock sucker then what does he do? His spine breaks in half under the load of criticism and he cancels it. What a cock-knocker.

How anyone lives in that proverbial fuck-hole of a city is mystifying with the veil now being lifted at how utterly fucked up and corrupt it is and has been.


You sound like Bill Murray in "Quick Change"

dbp said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
dbp said...

Given my general opposition to everything else Bloomberg stands for: I feel more confident than ever that I am right in thinking that the marathon should have been run as scheduled.