Evidence That Weiner Was Talking Dirty to Underage Girls?  Part 2  —  Here at patterico.com we have been covering the Weiner scandal from Day 1.  In covering that story, we soon realized that one of the most disturbing aspects of the story was the possibility that Congressman Weiner had engaged in communications with underaged girls.

The Newt Gingrich campaign implosion  —  Newt Gingrich's top staff quit en masse Thursday, throwing into question whether his already troubled presidential campaign can continue.  —  Two sources close to the situation confirmed that campaign manager Rob Johnson, strategists Sam Dawson and Dave Carney …

Weiner says he has no plans to resign following sexting scandal  —  A defiant Rep. Anthony Weiner said today that he's not resigning.  —  In an exclusive interview with The Post, Weiner, 46, said the sexting scandal that has plagued him for the past week is not reason enough to give up his House seat.

Mitt Romney: No apologies on climate change stance  —  Mitt Romney won't be doing any apology tours on climate change.  —  The early GOP presidential front-runner has broken with his party's conservative ranks to declare global warming a real threat to the planet that merits some sort of action to curb heat-trapping emissions.

Obama Team Eyes Payroll Tax Break for Employers  —  President Barack Obama's advisers have discussed seeking a temporary cut in the payroll taxes businesses pay on wages as they debate ways to spur hiring amid signs that the recovery is slowing, according to people familiar with the matter.

Jobless Claims Unexpectedly Climb in the U.S.  —  U.S. initial jobless claims unexpectedly rose last week, a sign that the labor market is struggling to gain traction.  —  Jobless claims increased by 1,000 to 427,000 in the week ended June 4, Labor Department figures showed today in Washington.

Noted during Obama visit, Chet's restaurant to close  —  Facebook Twitter Reddit Digg E-mail Print Rss  —  A small north Toledo eatery whose origins date back to 1923 will close Sunday, just days after being feted in a speech to Chrysler workers by President Obama.

Chris Christie draft stirs in South Carolina  —  Multiple South Carolina state representatives plan on holding a news conference next week to urge New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie to enter the presidential race.  —  Republican state Rep. Kris Crawford told POLITICO the goal was to entice …

Gabrielle Giffords' staffer talks about congresswoman's health  —  Pia Carusone knew the day would come when the questions about her boss, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, would become more indelicate.  —  After answering some of those questions, Carusone, Giffords' chief of staff, told me …

Herman Cain To CBS News: Homosexuality Is ‘A Sin’ And ‘A Choice’  —  In an interview Wednesday with CBS News, Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain described homosexuality as “a sin” and “a choice.”  Appearing on the CBS News web program Washington Unplugged, Cain told CBSNews.com …

You Left Out the Part About ...  Last weekend, like seemingly half the country, I took my son to see “X-Men: First Class,” the latest, and best, big-screen incarnation of the popular comic book franchise.  —  My son and I represent two generations of X-fans.

Paul Ryan Calls For The U.S. To Default On Its Obligations  —  House Republicans have been playing games with the nation's debt ceiling for months, threatening to not raise it — and thus invite all of the adverse economic consequences that would follow — unless they receive various concessions …

The ultimate NHS indignity: Body of hospital patient left to die in corridor is ignored for hours... before staff simply drag him away  — ‘He went to them for help and they left him out in the corridor to die’, says Peter Thompson's daughter  —  Nurses casually stepped over a patient as he lay dying on a hospital floor.

Massachusetts Republican: Undocumented Immigrant Rape Victims ‘Should Be Afraid To Come Forward’  —  Massachusetts GOP state Rep. Ryan Fattman has such contempt for illegal immigrants that he believes undocumented women who are raped should be afraid to go to the police.

Leona Helmsley's pampered Maltese ‘Trouble,’ one of the world's richest dogs, dies at age 12  —  Leona Helmsley's pampered pooch “Trouble,” who inherited $12 million from the real estate mogul, has died at the age of 12.  —  That's 84 in dog years.  —  Like many Americans …

Jon Huntsman's no-names strategy  —  Jon Huntsman is trying out a novel strategy: running for president without criticizing the incumbent by name.  —  Since returning from his post as ambassador to China last month, Huntsman has made scant mention of the man who appointed him in May 2009—President Barack Obama.

Ann Coulter's book gets Matt Drudge's touch  —  Coulter is promoting her book ‘Demonic: How the LIberal Mob is Endangering America.’  —  There's a flattering photo of Ann Coulter in a form-fitting white dress and pointy red shoes on the cover of her new book — the back cover, that is.

Alabama governor signs nation's toughest immigration law  —  (Reuters) - Republican Governor Robert Bentley on Thursday signed into law a crackdown on illegal immigration in Alabama that both supporters and critics consider the toughest in the nation.  —  Under the new measure …

U.S. Is Intensifying a Secret Campaign of Yemen Airstrikes  —  WASHINGTON — The Obama administration has intensified the American covert war in Yemen, exploiting a growing power vacuum in the country to strike at militant suspects with armed drones and fighter jets, according to American officials.

We're Halfway to a Lost Decade  —  Our current slump began a lot earlier than you think.  Which means that we're half way to a lost decade.  —  Many people date the financial crisis as beginning when Lehman collapsed in September 2008.  But the economy was already in recession.

How a Teachers' Rally Made Me Anti-Education  —  I write this essay with a heavy heart.  —  I've always considered myself an ardent advocate for education.  But a recent rally staged by teachers and students in favor of school funding forced me to reluctantly acknowledge an awful truth:

Alaska to Release Palin's E-Mails  —  JUNEAU, Alaska — Sarah Palin is long gone from this capital, what with the new ranch in Arizona and the is-she-running-or-not bus blitz of American heritage landmarks Outside, as Alaskans like to call the other 49 states.