THE TRIALS, NOT – AT 9:12 A.M. ET:  This is a building story.  There is now a groundswell growing in Congress, and just about everywhere else, against the Justice Department's decision to try the mastermind of 9-11, and some of his bedfellows, in a civilian courtroom in New York City.

Senator Lindsey Graham said he is only one vote short of the number needed to cut off funding for the trial decision, which is intensely unpopular.  Obama missed a golden opportunity last night to reverse the Justice Department's boneheaded move, but did not do so.  The same Justice Department that decided on the Manhattan trial spectacular also intervened to read the Christmas-day airline bomber his Miranda rights, long before a reasonable interrogation of the dude was completed.  Apparently, Obama's Justice team doesn't understand which country it serves.   

The only people who seem in favor of the New York trials are Attorney General Eric Holder, the leftist lawyers he brought to his department, and the usual assembly of "progressives" in Congress and around the country who never met a jihadist they didn't "understand."

Now New York's Mayor Mike Bloomberg, who approved the trials originally, has decided that the preservation of his political neck requires a change of opinion:

Responding to growing pressure from downtown residents and business leaders, Mayor Bloomberg yesterday said the trial for 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheik Mohammed and his fellow terrorists should be moved out of the city.

"It would be great if the federal government could find a site that didn't cost $1 billion, which using downtown will, and it will also impact traffic and commerce and people's lifestyles," Bloomberg said.

"And it would be great if we didn't do it."

Earth to Mayor Mike:  It isn't just lifestyles we're concerned about.  It's deathstyles.  Holding that trial in Manhattan puts a bulls-eye right on the back of every New Yorker.

Bloomberg agrees with a resolution from Community Board 1 this week calling on US Attorney General Eric Holder to move the trial out of the city.

If Eric Holder can't get the lower Manhattan ultra-libs on his side, who else is left?

The board suggested another federal site, possibly West Point, an Air National Guard base at Stewart Airport, the federal prison in upstate Otisville, or White Plains federal court.

Uh, now just wait one little moment.  The White Plains federal courthouse is right around the corner from where Urgent Agenda is written.  Maybe the fellas could pick a more appropriate location.  We get enough sirens here as they bring in the "accusees" every day.

Sen. Charles Schumer yesterday also joined the growing list of lawmakers hoping to move the trial out of the city.

COMMENT:  I doubt if these trials will ever be held in New York.  Too much opposition.  This is an issue where a number of Dems in Congress will probably bow to public opinion and refuse to back the Obamans. 

Holding the trials in New York is not only dangerous and disruptive, it gives the terror defendants the world's greatest media stage to make their case.  Why do I think some of the radicals in the Obama administration thought that would be a fine idea?

January 28, 2010