Twenty-five minutes stuck in an elevator with Alfonse D’Amato and Ed Koch. Let’s repeat that: Twenty-five minutes stuck in an elevator with BOTH Alfonse D’Amato and Ed Koch. There are now twelve people in the world who know how that feels. The rest of us can wear little black lapel ribbons: Free the New York Twelve!

Here’s what happened. A half hour ago, D’Amato and his entourage were heading downstairs for his concession speech. The elevator’s capacity was eight riders. Senator Pothole, Mr. Can-do, crammed in 14 riders. And the elevator stopped between floors. For twenty-five minutes. With 14 people. Including Ed Koch. This is not D’Amato’s lucky night.