31.   After all, the mayor is a Rice, not a ham.

32.   After that, ever since we went to the strong-mayor system, mayors are unbeatable.

33.   After all, the mayor is on the verge of declaring his candidacy for the Senate and needs stability.

34.   All that said, we have to admit that the mayor is right to regard crossing the street in New York City as a public-health issue.

35.   Brown graciously conceded his superiority over his challengers, while admitting he underestimated how hard being mayor is.

36.   Brown countered that the mayor was nothing more or less than a bumbling incompetent.

37.   But as a Northeastern Republican, the mayor will always be under pressure to prove himself to the right.

38.   But being mayor is another matter.

39.   But Garvey said the mayor was no more guilty of undermining support for officers than Hillary Rodham Clinton, or Comptroller Alan Hevesi or any number of other politicians.

40.   But his transportation aide, Jaime de la Vega, said the mayor is hopeful the MTA can work out a compromise satisfactory to the council.