New York Post.

Headline of the Day: "Sheldon-come-lately"

Assembly Speaker Shelly Silver‘s late-night call to expel disgraced Assemblymen Vito Lopez from office hasn't helped to temper calls for his head. But most Democratic leaders seem unlikely to push for disciplinary action against the speaker. Gov. Andrew Cu0mo told reporters yesterday he didn't think it was his place "to say who the speaker is and who the speaker should be." He added: “I don’t see any comparison between what Vito Lopez and what Shelly Silver did ... There is a magnitude of difference.”

On an unrelated note, the governor seems to be raking in the green. His most recent finance disclosure statement, made public Thursday, shows he made between $1.75 million and $2 million. The bulk of his assets are reportedly managed by a blind trust at AMG National Trust Bank.

NBC 4 New York spotted Anthony Weiner and his wife Huma Abedin filming what appeared to be a campaign-style video yesterday on the stoop of Mr. Weiner’s childhood Park Slope home--the same place he kicked off his 2005 campaign. Sources told the Daily News Mr.Weiner is planning to launch his candidacy in a video instead of in person to avoid the potential embarrassment of hecklers. "A video is an easy, focused and safe option, opposed to an event rollout where not every single thing can be controlled," said one former aide.

Meanwhile, the Weiners' finances are coming under added scrutiny. Politico reported that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton created a special arrangement for Ms. Abedin that allowed her to do private consulting work for clients while serving as a top adviser to the State Department—an arrangement that Ms. Abedin failed to report in disclosure statements.

Endorsement season is underway, but some are choosing to sit out the game. Manhattan Democratic Party leaders decided last night not to endorse any candidate in the race to succeed Mayor Michael Bloomberg, according to the Daily News. Party Chair Keith Wright told the paper the move was not intended as a slight against either City Council Speaker Christie Quinn or former Comptroller Bill Thompson, who both live in the borough. "We thought it wise that we do not endorse as a county because a lot of our clubs throughout the borough have already decided to endorse candidates," he reportedly said. The group is also choosing to stay out of the public advocate and borough president races.

If you're one of those people still lamenting the mayoral choices: Take solace. It could be worse. Gawker reported last night that it had viewed a video allegedly showing Toronto's Mayor Rob Ford smoking crack cocaine. The video is being shopped around by a group of Somali drug dealers looking for a six figure payout, according to the Toronto Star.

Meanwhile, State Senator Eric Adams, one of the lawmakers secretly recorded by ex-State Sen. Shirley Huntley, is trying to clear his name as he soldiers on with his campaign for Brooklyn borough president. “There’s nothing on those tapes that’s detrimental to me. Nothing. Nothing,” he told the Brooklyn Young Democrats earlier this week, warning scheming colleagues to steer clear. “If you come and talk to me about breaking the law, you’re gonna find my handcuffs," he said. "I’m not here to break the law. I’m here to serve the people of the state and I’m consistent about that.” See the rest of his remarks here:

Anthony Weiner at a Brooklyn Nets game a few months ago. (Photo: Getty)

Early this morning, The New York Times Magazine published an extensive, 8,400-word profile of former Congressman Anthony Weiner, his wife Huma Abedin and their life since an infamous social media-induced scandal destroyed his political career. The piece directly addressed the topic most political observers are interested in: "Weiner quickly put all the speculation to rest: he is eyeing the mayor’s race."

“I don’t have this burning, overriding desire to go out and run for office,” Mr. Weiner told the publication. “It’s not the single animating force in my life as it was for quite some time. But I do recognize, to some degree, it’s now or maybe never for me, in terms of running for something."

Mr. Weiner seemed genuinely unsure whether or not he should pull the trigger on another political campaign. Part of it, he explained, was based on whether the public was willing to give him "a second chance" after he admitted several digital affairs and resigned in disgrace in 2011. He conducted polling earlier this year and found the voters were willing to forgive him but not necessarily willing to vote for him, especially with a number of qualified competitors. Mr. Weiner did take a jab at the front-runner Council Speaker Christine Quinn, however, for extending term limits in 2009 and enabling Michael Bloomberg to run for a third term atop City Hall.

“I know them all. I like them all,” he said of his hypothetical opponents. “The term-limits thing, as an issue, was a deal breaker for me. But, I think the polls are right: Chris Quinn is leading, and then someone will get into a runoff with her. I don’t like runoffs.”

Mr. Weiner was also open to running for another office instead, but there aren't a lot of options with only three citywide offices. He had "privately dismissed at least public advocate," leaving only the comptroller's race apparently on the table.

“Maybe," he said as to whether he'd consider another position as a stepping stone towards Gracie Mansion. "I’m definitely not making eight-year bank-shot plans.”

Fundamentally, Mr. Weiner is sure to be gauging the reaction to The Times' profile--which goes into print next Sunday--as he makes the decision, which, thanks to his pre-scandal campaign cash stockpiling and the media's interest in his post-scandal political brand, would all-but-guarantee shaking up the race. The former congressman, once an outspoken firebrand in Washington but now a relative recluse in Manhattan, said there were other factors worth considering as well.

"I’m trying to gauge not only what’s right and what feels comfortable right this second, but I’m also thinking, How will I feel in a year or two years or five years?" he asked himself. "Is this the time that I should be doing it? And then there’s the other side of the coin, which is . . . am I still the same person who I thought would make a good mayor?”

Mitt Romney (Photo: Getty)

Congresswoman Michele Bachmann's efforts to tie Huma Abedin, an aide to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the wife of former Congressman Anthony Weiner, to the Muslim Brotherhood have drawn rebukes from several of her fellow Republicans. However, Mitt Romney said he didn't want to tell Ms. Bachmann what she can and can't say when a reporter asked him about the controversy following an event in Nevada today. 

The reporter asked Mr. Romney about both the controversy over Ms. Bachmann's accusations against Ms. Abedin and the president of the fried chicken chain Chick-Fil-A expressing his opposition to gay marriage.

"There have been two,sort of, culture fights that have sprung up in your party recently, a battle about Chick-Fil-A recently and one about Huma and the Muslim Brotherhood," the reporter asked. "Could you comment on both of those issues,and whether or not you would think of these as important things for your party to be talking about right now?"

Mr. Romney declined to address either issue, but said he wouldn't discourage others from discussing Ms. Abedin or the fast food flap.

"I’m not going to tell the people what things to talk about. Those are not things that are part of my campaign," he said.

Ms. Bachmann's push to investigate Ms. Abedin and other members of the federal government for links to the Muslim Brotherhood has been condemned by John Boehner and John McCain, among others.

Anthony Weiner (Getty)

One of the women who claims to have exchanged sexy text messages with former Congressman Anthony Weiner said he asked her about letting another man join in on their fun. Details of Mr. Weiner's indecent proposal leaked after RadarOnline obtained excerpts of a book proposal written by Traci Nobles, a gym teacher who's shopping a tell-all book about being subjected to Mr. Weiner's advances. "I'm not really talking about other chicks... How about with another guy?" Mr. Weiner is quoted as asking.

After Mr. Weiner made his move for a menage a trois, Ms. Nobles said she replied that she hadn't been with multiple men at the same time before.

"It can be hot," Mr. Weiner supposedly said.

"Are you turned on by other guys?" Nobles asked.

"Well it depends on the guy, but generally yes," Mr. Weiner allegedly replied.

Mr. Weiner resigned from his seat in the House of Representatives in June after he accidentally published a photo of his crotch on Twitter leading to weeks of revelations about his illicit online messages to various women. Though he lost his political career, Mr. Weiner managed to hang on to his wife, Huma Abedin, a top aide to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Ms. Abedin gave birth to a son one week ago. He may have escaped the doghouse with Ms. Abedin, but according to The Daily, his digital dalliances soured his once close relationship with the Clintons.

But the demand to hear from Huma appears to be escalating.

Politico reports:

Photographers snapped paparazzi-like shots of Abedin as she trailed behind Clinton at a hotel in Abu Dhabi Thursday. Known for her fashion sense, Abedin looked calm and put-together, wearing a bright blue blazer and a red belt. Weiner's wife left the U.S. on Wednesday to accompany the secretary of state on the trip to the Persian Gulf and Africa.

A State Department spokesman told the AP, "She is on the trip because it's her job, and she hasn't missed a beat throughout.

The AP meanwhile has this video of Abedin being trailed by its videographer, at least, as she makes her way through Abu Dhabi hotel.

Huma Abedin, with Anthony Weiner's family, in 2009. (photo credit: azi paybarah / observer)

Digging In: Weiner told a donor "Everything is going to be fine." [Michael Barbaro and David Chen / NY Times]

Warnings: Weiner reacted to warning shots fired from conservatives monitoring his behavior with women in Twitter. [Jennifer Preston / NY Times]

Reactions: Roger Simon puts Weiner and Spitzer in same category; says he needs therapy but can't say it and win election. [Charlie Rose / Hulu]

Tenure: Sheinkopf says "it's ultimately his decision what to do." [Erik Ortiz / amNew York]

Resignation Demanded: "By lying, apparently without compunction, he demolished his credibility." [Newsday]

Resignation Demand: "his refusal to resign already illustrates the depths of his depravity." [Michael Goodwin / NY Post]

Lies: Editors not he lied about attempts to cover up correspondence. [NY Daily News]

Cover Up: Raises questions about the "striking sophistication of the prepared statement fed to another newspaper." [NY Post]

Cover Up: Weiner reportedly tried coaching porn star to downplay their exchanges.

[Alison Gendar and Celeste Katz / NY Daily News]

Opponents: Mosque opponent backed by Tea Party says "I'm looking for the Reagan Democrats" in Weiner's district. [Adam Lisberg / CHN]

Confessions: Weiner once said "the bar for impropriety is so high I could never reach it." [Mike Amon / Newsday]

Trends: Sex scandals a plenty here. [AP]

Marriage: "An influential Muslim leader advised Abedin stick with her husband." [Carly Baldwin / Metro]

Marriage: Huma stays, say sources. [Erica Orden / WSJ]

Marriage: Huma "working overtime to help salvage" his career. [Jennifer Keil and Jennifer Fermino / NY Post]

2013: No one emerges from Dem crowd, with wounded Weiner. [Erin Einhorn / NY Daily News]

2013: Koch says Bloomberg is "leaning towards" Quinn. [Michael Saul / WSJ]

Legislation: Cuomo's ethic bill really is a disclosure bill. [Jimmy Vielkind / Times Union]

Legislation: Potential legal challenge to Cuomo's bill; what about Third Parties? [Jacob Gershman / WSJ]

Legislation: "questions about whether the reforms would be weaker than expected." [Danny Hakim / NY Times]

Corruption: Schneiderman appoints two people to focus on Long Island. [Kery Murakami / Newsday]

Banks: Schneiderman is a hardliner against banks, as AGs across the country negotiate a settlement. [Brady Dennis / Washington Post]

Trips: Quinn and Liu among NYC pols who took trips paid for by JCRC's private donors. [Richard Autry / WSJ]

Civil War: Republicans Molinari and Lanza don't' communicate well; splitting Staten Island organization. [Tom Wrobleski / SI Advance]

Huma Abedin, far left, and Rep. Anthony Weiner. (photo credit: azi paybarah / observer)

I thought it was for all his straight talkiness.

From the New York Times magazine:

FAVORITE DEMOCRAT: I like Anthony Weiner, the congressman from New York. He has YouTube moments I find entertaining, and he’s married to Huma Abedin, who works for Secretary of State Clinton. I have to tip my hat to him for landing such a hot woman.

[h/t Reid Pillifant]

Update: Weiner tells me, "Some thing Democrats and Republicans agree on : Huma's amazing."