1115.org

As I’ve mentioned several times here, I’ve never been a fan of my Congressman Tom Lantos (D-CA 12), but this is sad news:

Lantos, stricken with cancer, to retire at the end of the year - SF Chronicle (1/2/08):

San Mateo Rep. Tom Lantos, the 79-year-old Holocaust survivor who became House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman last year, announced today he will retire at the end of this year after learning that he has cancer of the esophagus.

I wish him the best.

In the heated election of 2006. Lantos sat on $1.4 million dollars that would have almost certainly bought a few more wins in the House had he given it to the DCCC, DNC, or individual candidates. I just checked again, and as of Q3 2007, he still has give or take $1.4 million. I expect those funds will go to important Congressional races this year.

Former State Senator Jackie Speier had been making noises about a possible primary challenge to war hawk Lantos, and now she should be in for sure. Here’s hoping.