Free Republic

Russell Harding....... son of former Liberal Party boss ----a key ally of ex-NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani---tried to keep his sick internet fantasies about sex with children under wraps but a judge ruled they were never placed under seal. Harding served 63-months for downloading kiddie porn and stealing $400,000 from the city as Giuliani's Housing Development Corp appointee. Harding's blog, rudyveritas.com accused the government of violating rules of criminal procedure.

A few years back, a man named Russell Harding held a City Hall patronage job that came with a government credit card, which he used to steal more than $250,000. Crooks happen. What kept Mr. Harding in thievery for three years was that the city government, led by his patron, Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, slammed the door on the one person who sought the Harding credit card records, a reporter with The Village Voice who filed freedom of information requests. These requests were stalled until the next mayor took office and released the documents. Before long, Mr. Harding was packed...

Candidate whisperer: The ex-bartender who's got the ear of the GOP's top contender The most enduring lesson that Karl Rove taught the American people during his term as George W. Bush's top adviser was to always find out who the candidate's brain is before you elect him or her. For instance, if voters had fully understood that the swaggering, brush-cutting cowboy they elected was under the total sway of a dumpy balding guy with glasses who dropped out of college and believed William McKinley was America's greatest president, they might have thought twice. Had voters been more attentive, they'd have...