I've done organizing in Lantos' district, which extends down the Peninsula to towns like Burlingame and San Mateo -- back when Lantos was first elected, these were blue collar towns with close ties to the Bay Area's military industry. Now they're more SiliValley north. Lantos is a Bzyzinski/Pipes hawk: Hungarian, survived WWII in a concentration camp, and likes the idea of American military might. Hates "appeasement." Until he got direct grassroots pressure from Peace Action members, he was against limiting arms sales to dictators and human rights abusers, and in favor of funding the SOA. I think he will be tough to unseat, since he's a clever politician with all the usual Dem political ties. It's good, however, to see him getting real pressure for being such a militarist.

One other piece of speculation: State Sen John Burton is termed out (in 2006, I think), and I've heard he wants to run for Congress, where the Dems desperately need someone like him. He would never run against Pelosi -- could he be planning to replace Lantos on retirement?

No offense Nick, but I can't see us needing John Burton anywhere, I knwo he votes well but his complete lack of ability to counter Arnold is getting beyoind frustrating.

On another note, I hate to be the bearer of bad news but the CDC is hardly what it once was. I think in terms of people who live in CA his labor positions, resume, and purpose for running is eighteenhundred times stronger than the CDC's endorsement (though the NoCal groups are definatly more sane).

Looks like a great candidate. Good luck Ro.

I just sent $25, and told them it was because of your recommendation. His website is rather fussy; I had to disable my anti-virus for it to go through. Also they really need to allow for an "other amount" of donation--currently you have to choose the amount, which starts at $25, then goes $50, $100, etc.

Kevin T,

Is Burton really being ineffectual? I moved to New Jersey almost 5 years ago, right after Davis took office, and although I've tried to keep up on Cali politics it's obviously difficult not being on the ground. I have to admit I was surprised when the referendum went onto the ballot, but I know very few of the details of what the deal was and how it got made, though I do remember GOP legislative leaders being pissy that Ahnold was acting as the sole spokesperson for the Sacto Republicans (you can bring the monster to life, Dr. Frankenstein, but you can't necessarily control it...).

Anyway, I could certainly see Burton being a Bay Area Dem "team player" and doing whatever Pelosi wants, which isn't much. And I really do want to know if he's lost his ability to fight and win. But I would feel good knowing that there's at least one Dem with a history of leftism (or what goes for leftism in the US), ruthlessness, vengefulness, and effectiveness in DC. He cetainly didn't kowtow to Davis the last few years. I guess what I'm saying is that I'd like to sic him on Tom Delay.

Yeah having him in congress as a team player would be nice.

My bitterness stems froim his complete inability to make the Democratic case in the media compared to his opponents.

We need a challenger to Henry Waxman also. Not only did he vote for Bush's war against the wishes of 98% of his constituents, but now he has accepted a $1,000. contribution from Halliburton.