Free Republic

When Chelsea Clinton wanted to make a low-key visit to the hurricane-stricken Rockaways last fall, she arranged to take a trip with her close friend Huma Abedin, a longtime aide to Hillary Rodham Clinton. -snip- But the reality, it turns out, is just the opposite: Those close to the couple say that Ms. Abedin, a seasoned operative well versed in the politics of redemption, has been a main architect of her husband’s rehabilitative journey, shaping his calculated comeback and drawing on her close ties with one of the country’s most powerful families to lay the groundwork for his return. A...

Anothny Weiner, NYC's muppet former congressman, and as we reported yesterday, the man who following his disgraceful fall from grace announced his mayoral campaign on YouTube, continues to be the gift that keeps on giving... if mostly naked pictures of his anatomy to various women. As the WaPo reports, "Former congressman and newly announced New York mayoral candidate Anthony Weiner (D) said in an interview Thursday morning with WNYC-FM that there could be women coming forward with more e-mails or photos from the inappropriate digital conversations that led to his resignation in 2011." In other words, where there was one...

The embattled mayor of Pennsylvania's financially crippled capital of Harrisburg was ousted on Tuesday when she lost the Democratic primary to the owner of an independent bookstore. Mayor Linda Thompson's loss to Eric Papenfuse comes after a tumultuous term in which her outbursts and statements caused a loss of confidence in her administration. Papenfuse is likely to win the general election in this heavily Democratic city in November, but he must still face off against independent candidate Nevin Mindlin.

Hey, if Mark Sanford can find redemption at the polls after having an affair, why can’t Anthony Weiner after, er, exposing himself? Let the campaign of a thousand double entendres begin! Weiner inexplicably provides the first in his video, talking about the plight of the middle class and the lack of traditional upward mobility — saying that “it’s getting harder and harder every day.” No, I’m not kidding:http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=x92OWufIWcU#!Difficult, Anthony, difficult. Someone get this man a thesaurus, please.Nonetheless, Weiner is finding some sympathy for his big comeback. According to a new poll in the Big Apple from Quinnipiac, Weiner enters the...

The State Department, under Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton, created an arrangement for her longtime aide and confidante Huma Abedin to work for private clients as a consultant while serving as a top adviser in the department. Connect with NYTMetro Follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook for news and conversation. Ms. Abedin did not disclose the arrangement — or how much income she earned — on her financial report. It requires officials to make public any significant sources of income. The disclosure of the agreement that Ms. Abedin made with the State Department comes as her husband, former...

After a tumultuous four years overseeing a city long riddled with blight, corruption, crime, and historic financial issues, mayor David Bing has had enough, telling a stunned audience at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African-American History Tuesday that he’d leave when his term ends in December. The 69-year-old Bing, a hall-of-fame NBA player who spent most of his career with the Pistons and then was a successful businessman in Detroit had never ran for office before narrowly winning the 2009 race to replace Kwame Kilpatrick, who in less than a term in office had gone from rising Democratic star...

Jean Stothert made it look easy. The Republican City Councilwoman made history tonight as the first woman ever elected Omaha mayor. "Oh, what a ride this has been," Stothert told supporters Tuesday night. She thanked Suttle and said he'd pledged his help during the transition. "Campaigns are very competitive and ours was no exception," she said. "And yet I've always thought of him as an incredibly hard worker." Stothert entered the race as the frontrunner and never ceded her woman-to-beat status. She held a commanding vote lead even in early returns released from the Douglas County Election Commissioner.

Detroit Mayor Dave Bing, the 69-year-old former NBA star and Hall of Famer, says he will not seek another term in office. Instead, he will explore a bid for Wayne County executive. His decision not to seek re-election is not a huge surprise, given that the struggling city is currently being run by a state-appointed emergency financial manager who is considering a municipal bankruptcy. The announcement leaves former Detroit Medical Center chief Mike Duggan and Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon as the two frontrunners for the four-year term. Five other candidates are in the running. The top two vote-getters on...

Bill and Hillary Clinton will not support Anthony Weiner in his dream of becoming mayor even though they love his wife, Huma Abedin, sources say. “The Clintons wish Weiner would just disappear. Every time he pops up, it’s a reminder of Bill’s scandal with Monica Lewinsky, and it isn’t helpful to Hillary’s hopes for 2016,” one Democrat told Page Six.

Anthony Weiner admitted in an interview Wednesday that there might be other embarrassing photos of him out there that have yet to surface.

After reading the 16-page New York Times magazine piece on former U.S. Congressman Anthony Weiner and his Muslim wife, Huma Abedin, one thing is clear. Weiner is giving serious thought (and money) to exploring the possibility of running for mayor of the city that was hit by Al-Qaeda on 9/11/01. Based on what is known about Huma, something else becomes clear. A woman with significant familial ties to the group that spawned Al-Qaeda would become first lady of the city that was hit by Al-Qaeda on 9/11/01. Make no mistake, whether Abedin has Brotherhood sympathies or not, her mother –Saleha...

Boston Mayor Tom Menino said on Sunday authorities may never be able to question the Boston Marathon bombing suspect, who lies seriously injured and unable to speak after eluding police for 24 hours.

The bad news? Between this and what’s going on in South Carolina, American voters seem to have finally jettisoned any pretense of standards for their political leaders.The good news? We’re still on track for a Sanford-versus-Weiner presidential election in 2028. Cross those fingers. According to the poll, if Weiner entered the Democratic primary today, his 15 percent would put him behind Quinn’s 26 percent but ahead of City Comptroller John Liu (12 percent), de Blasio (11 percent), Thompson (11 percent) and former City Councilman Sal Albanese (2 percent).By comparison, without Weiner, Quinn would receive 30 percent of Democratic votes and...

Rival campaigns’ plan of attack for Anthony Weiner: Hit him where it hurts The city’s mayoral hopefuls are sharpening their knives — and Anthony Weiner better be ready to answer the hard questions about his sexting scandal. Sources in the camps of several campaigns said they have been in dirt-digging overdrive ever since the shamed former congressman hinted he was eyeing a mayoral run that would pit him against an already crowded field, including Christine Quinn, Joe Lhota, Bill de Blasio and Bill Thompson. Potential rivals are aggressively compiling dossiers and detailed lists of questions about the Democrat’s three-year foray...

There's no question that Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle had a rough primary election last week. But despite his weak showing, Suttle still has a chance to catch up to front-runner Jean Stothert. A World-Herald analysis of the primary numbers as well as results from the 2009 mayoral elections and the 2011 recall vote suggest that Suttle still has a path to retaining the Mayor's Office. But the same analysis shows that Suttle's margin for error is slim. And it's also possible that differences between 2009 and 2013 will allow Stothert to hold off any late Suttle charge to the finish...

AUSTIN, Texas (CBS Houston) – In response to perceived threats against the city from the North Korean government, officials in Austin have said they are willing to do whatever federal officials feel may be necessary to protect civilians. -- Austin city officials are keeping an eye on the situation. “Our regional intelligence center has been staying apprised of the current situation,” City Manager Marc A. Ott told CBS Houston in a statement.

PITTSBURGH —A self-described community activist running an underdog campaign for mayor may be an even longer shot now that he's been charged with driving under the influence. A.J. Richardson, 36, was arrested early Wednesday in Pittsburgh's West End. Police say they found him slumped over the wheel of his green minivan that was stopped on Steuben Street with the engine still running at about 3 a.m. According to the criminal complaint, Richardson refused a blood test and "became verbally hostile stating that he was going to be mayor repeatedly." --snip-- Richardson, whose full name is Abdula Jamal Richardson, is running...

Mayors Against Illegal Guns member and Democratic Gainesville, Fla., Mayor Craig Lowe was arrested on charges of driving under the influence and property damage after police found him asleep in his car at the scene of a crash last Thursday. Police said Lowe appeared intoxicated and his Honda Civic was badly damaged, according to WKMG in Orlando. “I regret that my actions Thursday morning have disappointed so many friends, supporters, and citizens of Gainesville,” Lowe said in a statement. “I hope that in the future I will again prove worthy of the public’s trust and confidence.” The Gainesville Democrat faces...

Heckler Upstages Kansas City Mayor Sly James During Speech Read more: http://www.ktrh.com/pages/michaelberry.html?article=11087244#ixzz2O73IfYmt Video at link

The Philadelphia Human Relations Commission has launched an investigation at the request of the mayor after a well-known magazine published an essay that explored perspectives of white citizens on the issue of race relations. Mayor Michael Nutter called on the commission to consider rebuking both Philadelphia Magazine and writer Bob Huber noting that “the First Amendment, like other constitutional rights, is not an unfettered right.” Nutter’s fury was directed at a cover story titled, “Being White in Philly.” The story included conversations with mostly anonymous white residents who detailed race relations in the City of Brotherly Love. “In a city...