Anthony Weiner

[ UPDATE 11:33 a.m.: Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) has announced his resignation from Congress, ending a saga that became public when he mistakenly posted a lewd photo to his Twitter feed on Memorial Day weekend.] Bowing to pressure from his party, Rep. Anthony Weiner plans to resign on Thursday, according to Democratic sources. The New York congressman shared his decision with House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday evening while she and other members of Congress were attending a picnic at the White House.

To anyone who does not make a living peddling leadership courses, it might seem unsurprising to be told the whole leadership industry is nonsense. Whoever took seriously all those professors cruising the corporate training circuit promising leadership magic? Of all the dubious subjects chosen by academics, leadership may well be the most dubious. Barbara Kellerman, the James MacGregor Burns lecturer in public leadership at Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government, is an academic leadership all-star.

The chairman of the Republican National Committee on Tuesday called for Rep. Anthony Weiner to resign from Congress, saying no investigation was necessary "to know he lied and acted inappropriately. " Following Weiner's dramatic news conference Monday afternoon, during which he admitted to sending explicit online communications to women over the course of several years, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi called for the Ethics Committee to look into whether the New York congressman had violated House rules.

Andrew Breitbart, already an increasingly prominent player in the political and media influence game, never had a moment quite like the one on June 6, 2011. One of his websites, BigGovernment.com, had caused a sensation when it posted lewd photos of a man that appeared to be U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner , a firebrand liberal congressman from New York. Breitbart's move came after a suggestive photo of Weiner had been posted on the Democrat's Twitter account, which the congressman repeatedly said was the work of hackers, though he had not offered any evidence.

Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) admitted Monday that he had sent explicit photographs of himself to women online and apologized to his family and constituents for what he called a "hugely regrettable mistake. " "I haven't told the truth. And I've done things I deeply regret. I've brought pain to people I care about the most and people who believe in me. And for that, I'm deeply sorry," an emotional Weiner said at a New York news conference. Weiner said that "over the past few years I have engaged in several inappropriate conversations" online.

New York's 9th Congressional District should be a seat that Democrats hold in the face of any disaster, man-made or natural -- but that political wisdom will be sorely tested next week when voters choose a replacement for Anthony Weiner, forced to resign in disgrace amid a sexting scandal. What should be a safe seat has turned into a toss-up,  the Rothenberg Political Report announced Thursday, citing new media buys by Democrats fearing a loss of the seat once held by Sen. Charles Schumer.

Add Sen. Harry Reid to the list of prominent Democrats who aren’t rushing to Rep. Anthony Weiner’s side. Asked at his weekly news conference about the Twitter-tarred congressman, Reid replied, “I know Congressman Weiner. I wish there was some way I can defend him, but I can't. The Senate majority leader, a Democrat from Nevada, demurred when asked if the New Yorker should resign, saying, “I'm not here to defend Weiner.” Reid was asked what advice he would give Weiner.

Anthony Weiner announced his resignation from Congress on Thursday, apologizing for the "embarrassment" his personal behavior caused to his family and colleagues. Standing without his wife but before a horde of media at a senior center in his Brooklyn district, Weiner said he had hoped to continue his work in the House but "unfortunately, the distraction that I created has made that impossible. " Resigning, Weiner said, will allow him to "continue to heal from the damage that I have caused.

The White House declined Wednesday to weigh in on the scandal involving Democratic congressman Anthony Weiner, amid new pressure for him to step down. Tim Kaine, the former chair of the Democratic National Committee who is now running for a U.S. Senate seat in Virginia, told a local television station earlier that "lying publicly" about his behavior was "unforgivable and he should resign. " He was the first prominent Democrat to expressly call for him to do so. Asked for President Obama's position, press secretary Jay Carney said at his daily briefing that he had "no comment on that story.

One of the women Rep. Anthony Weiner pursued over the Internet didn’t understand how the married New York congressman could take as many chances as he did by sending compromising photos of himself, ones that clearly identified who he was. At first, 26-year-old Meagan Broussard “didn’t think it was him. I thought, for sure, why would someone in that position be doing this?” According to an interview with ABC News, Broussard asked him for proof. Weiner quickly responded by sending her a photo of him holding a piece of paper with the word “me” written on it. Photos: A decade of D.C. sex scandals That was followed by more scandalous shots, one that featured Weiner’s bare torso, with photos of him clearly identifiable in the background, including ones with Weiner’s wife, Huma Abedin, an aide to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, and former President Clinton.

It saddens and pains me to say it, but the granddaddy of all Halloween theme park events has gotten tired, old and complacent. After 39 years, Halloween Haunt at Knott's Berry Farm looks like a creaky, middle-aged zombie that's lost its will to rise from the grave every night. > Halloween Haunt 2011 preview: Mazes | Shows | Photos I'm not sure whether to blame the malaise on contemptuous familiarity, increased competition or just a slow night on an opening weekend, but the Buena Park theme park that set the bar for haunted attraction excellence has become overrun with interchangeable mazes full of indistinguishable monsters.

The Republican candidate has taken a surprising six-point lead over the Democrat in the closely watched special election to fill the congressional seat vacated by Anthony Weiner, who was forced to quit amid a sexting scandal, according to a Siena (College) Research Institute poll released on Friday. Republican Robert Turner is ahead of Democrat David Weprin, 50% to 44%, in the latest survey of likely voters in the congressional district that covers parts of Brooklyn and Queens. In an Aug. 10 poll, Siena found that Weprin led Turner 48% to 42%. The latest poll confirms fears in some Democratic circles that the party could lose the seat, once considered safely the Democratic column.

New York's 9th Congressional District should be a seat that Democrats hold in the face of any disaster, man-made or natural -- but that political wisdom will be sorely tested next week when voters choose a replacement for Anthony Weiner, forced to resign in disgrace amid a sexting scandal. What should be a safe seat has turned into a toss-up,  the Rothenberg Political Report announced Thursday, citing new media buys by Democrats fearing a loss of the seat once held by Sen. Charles Schumer.

Democrats scored a surprise win on Republican turf in a May special congressional election in upstate New York. Now, a new poll suggests the GOP could be closing in on an upset in the race to succeed disgraced former Rep. Anthony Weiner in New York City. A Siena Research Institute poll released Wednesday shows Democratic candidate David Weprin with a 48-42 lead over Republican Robert Turner in the 9th District, which includes parts of Queens and Brooklyn. The election is scheduled for Sept.

Democratic Rep. David Wu of Oregon announced Tuesday that he would resign from Congress, following allegations of sexual misconduct with a young woman. The resignation announcement came in the wake of a report last week that the daughter of a longtime friend and campaign donor called the congressman's office this year to accuse him of an unwanted sexual encounter on Thanksgiving. Wu, 56, acknowledged the incident to his aides but said it was consensual, the Oregonian newspaper reported.

Rep. David Wu (D-Ore.) announced Tuesday he would resign from Congress, following allegations of sexual misconduct with a teenager. Last week, the Oregonian newspaper reported that the teenage daughter of a Wu associate called the congressman's office earlier this year to accuse him of an “unwanted sexual encounter” over Thanksgiving. Wu, 56, acknowledged the incident but said it was consensual, the paper reported. After the story broke, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.)

Facing the most intense calls yet for his resignation, Rep. Anthony Weiner said Saturday that he will seek professional help in the wake of a still-raging scandal over his online sexual liaisons with at least six women. After House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and other top Democrats declared that the New York Democrat should quit, Weiner's office instead said that he will take a leave of absence to seek treatment. "Congressman Weiner departed this morning to seek professional treatment to focus on becoming a better husband and healthier person," said a spokeswoman for Weiner.

New York Rep. Anthony Weiner has submitted his letter of resignation, ending -- he hopes -- the sexting scandal that put the brakes on the Democrat's career. Weiner's letter was received by House leaders Monday, four days after he announced he would step down. The missive was addressed to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New York Secretary of State Cesar Perales. House Speaker John Boehner and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi were copied. Photos: Rep. Weiner sexting scandal The usually long-winded Weiner kept it short: "I hereby resign as a member of the House of Representatives for the New York's Ninth Congressional District effective midnight Tuesday, June 21, 2011.

From Truckee, Calif. When it comes to a holiday, no one writes tearjerkers better than Plaschke . But I thought I might give it a try this Father's Day. I know I cried when the Grocery Store Bagger said he would join me on my golfing getaway to Lake Tahoe. The Bagger might be in good health and have all his arms and legs, but the Bagger has so much more to overcome. And talk about a sad story. I never had a son. Or grandson. Finally got a male dog, but he squats like a female dog. I have six fish in a pond, but in the last five years they have made no attempt to mate.