Winsome Newsom

[Corlyss_D]

Winsome Newsom

San Francisco's politics have always been a colorful soap opera, but never more so than now with the city's 39-year-old mayor, Gavin Newsom, having admitted that he conducted an affair with the wife of his own campaign manager -- who has since resigned in disgust.

Many people are distressed by the mayor's behavior, although there is no indication he will resign from office or not seek a second term this November. But hard-bitten Democratic operatives say the scandal has probably ended Mr. Newsom's hopes of higher office. "What happens in San Francisco tends to mean politicians there stay in San Francisco," is how one of them puts it.

Indeed, Democratic leaders aren't nearly as upset by Mayor Newsom's affair as they were last September when the new divorcee was seen squiring about a fashion model named Brittanie Mountz, who was only 19 at the time. Democratic leaders could barely deal with the age difference but were truly horrified to learn that the young lady was -- gasp! -- a registered Republican. The relationship quickly cooled after eagle-eyed politicos spotted Ms. Mountz holding a wine glass at an event where the two appeared. When reporters asked if Ms. Mountz was imbibing alcohol even though she was not of legal drinking age, Mayor Newsom lashed out: "I've got to deal with all kinds of terrible calls from reporters doing horrible things that are mean-spirited."

It looks as if Mayor Newsom, who once made international headlines by authorizing gay couples to marry in defiance of California law, is going to have to put up with a lot more of those phone calls now. But this time, he has only himself to blame.
-- John Fund

[Ralph]

Big deal.

[living_stradivarius]

It's San Francisco after all

[BWV 1080]

Winsome Newsom

San Francisco's politics have always been a colorful soap opera, but never more so than now with the city's 39-year-old mayor, Gavin Newsom, having admitted that he conducted an affair with the wife of his own campaign manager -- who has since resigned in disgust.

I am personally convinced that reinstating the practice of dueling is the only way to restore civility and honor to politics.

[Ralph]

Here we go again!

*****

Mayor who had affair says he'll enter alcohol counseling

Story Highlights
• San Francisco mayor says alcohol no excuse for "lapses in judgment"


SAN FRANCISCO, California (AP) -- Mayor Gavin Newsom said Monday that he plans to seek counseling for alcohol use, following the disclosure that he had an affair with the wife of a trusted aide.

Newsom, 39, said that although "my problems with alcohol are not an excuse for my personal lapses in judgment," he had stopped drinking and wanted professional help staying sober.

"Upon reflection with friends and family this weekend, I have come to the conclusion that I will be a better person without alcohol in my life," Newsom said in a statement.

Newsom said that he would get treatment from the Delancey Street Foundation in San Francisco and that it would not affect his duties as mayor. He is running for a second term in November.

Before taking office in 2004, he founded a wine store, a string of highly successful restaurants and the Plump Jack Winery in Napa County.

Newsom on Thursday admitted to having had an affair with the wife of his campaign manager.

"I want to make it clear that everything you've heard and read is true and that I'm deeply sorry about that," Mayor Gavin Newsom said Thursday at City Hall. He went on to apologize to the aide, his staff, his family and San Franciscans. (Watch the mayor admit his affairVideo)

Newsom's former deputy chief of staff, Alex Tourk, 39, resigned as manager of the mayor's re-election campaign Wednesday after approaching Newsom about his relationship with his wife, Ruby Rippey-Tourk, 34, who worked as the mayor's appointments secretary until last spring.

The brief relationship took place a year and a half ago while the mayor was getting divorced from his wife, local television host Kimberly Guilfoyle, a former prosecutor and lingerie model.

Tourk, who had worked at City Hall since Newsom's 2003 election, was one of Newsom's top advisers and became manager of the mayor's re-election campaign in September.

Before the affair became public, the mayor's office released a statement in which Tourk said it had been "an honor and a privilege to serve the Newsom campaigns and the city of San Francisco and its residents."

When he was elected in November 2003, Newsom was considered a rising star of the Democratic Party, but he was criticized within weeks of taking office after directing his staff to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

Since his divorce became final last March, Newsom has sometimes lamented his appearances in gossip columns, where his active love life has been frequent fodder and included associations with a 20-year-old model and two actresses.

[Corlyss_D]

Big deal.

Slow news day while we are all waiting for Gasbags-R-Us to deliver on the vaunted anti-war resolution that will cover the legislature with glory.

[Corlyss_D]

Here we go again!

*****

Mayor who had affair says he'll enter alcohol counseling

Soon to be followed by abject apologies, a run at the abuse excuse, and a general prayer for forgivenss.

Thanks, Ralph. I needed that!

[Corlyss_D]

[I am personally convinced that reinstating the practice of dueling is the only way to restore civility and honor to politics.

I'm addicted to the theatre of it all, or I would agree. In the unlikely chance that one of them is killed, it would be more difficult for him to entertain us.

[Ralph]

[I am personally convinced that reinstating the practice of dueling is the only way to restore civility and honor to politics.

I'm addicted to the theatre of it all, or I would agree. In the unlikely chance that one of them is killed, it would be more difficult for him to entertain us.

*****

Well, just who would the duelers be in this case?

[BWV 1080]

[I am personally convinced that reinstating the practice of dueling is the only way to restore civility and honor to politics.

I'm addicted to the theatre of it all, or I would agree. In the unlikely chance that one of them is killed, it would be more difficult for him to entertain us.

*****

Well, just who would the duelers be in this case?

Newsom and the husband of the woman of course.