Giuliani Takes On Cat In The Hat, Barney

After high winds wreaked havoc with giant balloons along the Thanksgiving Day parade route, New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani on Friday appointed a panel to make sure the Cat in the Hat, Barney and the Pink Panther don’t cause serious accidents in the future.

Thursday, with wind gusts up to 40 mph, the Cat in the Hat swiped at a lamppost, knocking it into a crowd and injuring four spectators, one critically.

Then some of the million-plus parade-goers cheered when police repeatedly stabbed and stomped a wind-driven Barney, crushing the helium out of him when they thought he threatened the crowd.