All my housemates at the Rancho in both houses, and most of our friends who spend time out on the North Fork, have chosen to spend this week out there. They want to avoid being here in NYC during the convention. Not me. I took the late night bus back last night so I could be here this week. The way I feel is: this is my town. I'm not leaving to avoid "unpleasantness," by which people don't mean the Republicans, who after all will be spending most of their time in Madison Square Garden and the rest at Macy's, Tavern on the Green and The Lion King, so they sure won't be in my way. "Unpleasantness" means the demonstrators, the cops and the potential for anarchism and terrorism. Well, you all know my politics: the demonstrators are my people. The cops aren't by nature, but I sure know a lot about them by now. And the anarchists and terrorists? Screw 'em. This is my town and I'm not going to be thrown out of it.

And having said that, I want to say how proud I am of the demonstrators for their numbers, their fervor, and their cool, yesterday. And how impressed I am with the Police Commissioner, who at a news conference commended the organizers -- United for Peace and Justice -- for keeping their word and keeping things peaceful.

Some town, mine, huh?