CA Congressional Merry Go-Round

It's behind the firewall, but Republicans in John Doolittle's district are determined to get him out of the 2008 race by threatening to run a primary challenger. I would assume that even the NRCC wouldn't be too keen to mount any resistance to such a challenge. They know well that Charlie Brown is poised to beat Doolittle the second time around, but it would be a more difficult task with a fresh opponent who is less tainted by scandal. My question would be, who could they possibly find up there that has no connection to Doolittle? Even mini-Rush Tom Sullivan, a non-politician, had Doolittle on his show as recently as last week. And the other "vultures" that are circling, to borrow Sullivan's phrase, certainly have some connection to Doolittle as well.

The other report would be a bombshell if true. CMR is reporting that Maxine Waters may retire this weekend to run for a seat on the LA County Board of Supervisors. I would hope this doesn't happen, but retirements like this in favor of elections closer to home are inevitable. Waters' seat is as safe as they come, but any election for it would be a free-for-all.

Speaking of free-for-alls, 19 candidates have filed for the June 26 special election to replace the late Juanita Millender-McDonald. This is pretty much a three-way race between Sen. Jenny Oropeza, Assemblywoman Laura Richardson, and neophyte politician and Rep. Millender-McDonald's daughter, Valerie McDonald.