Lee Rogers

Of course, when EMILY's List started their incredible work, I never thought they would turn into the anti-progressive monstrosity that have morphed into either. Franklin's List has nothing to do with them, other than the last name. Franklin's List is a brand new PAC dedicated to electing public officials with professional science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) backgrounds.

In the 2010 redistricting, some residents of Simi Valley objected when they became part of the newly drawn 25th CD, which is primarily a Los Angeles County district. They wanted to remain as part of Ventura County. Tony Strickland's part of Simi Valley stayed behind with the rest of Ventura, in CA-26 and he ran, unsuccessfully, for the open seat there against Democrat Julia Brownley. She beat him 53-47% and he immediately began his rematch campaign.

If you missed me putting Buck McKeon's resignation from Congress into context for KPFK listeners yesterday, here's a short, abbreviated version above.

Although Politico leaked the story yesterday, this morning, Buck McKeon officially-- finally-- announced he wouldn't be running for office again. If you're even a semi-regular DWT reader, you've known that for months. Buck's family has started a war industries lobbying firm and he'll be moving over there.

Over the weekend, Lee Rogers, a nationally known surgeon and the former spokesperson for the National Diabetes Association, sent out a notice to his Simi Valley, Santa Clarita, Antelope Valley neighbors that today (Monday) is the deadline to enroll in Covered California for insurance in 2014 under the Affordable Care Act. "As a doctor," he wrote "I have a strong interest in making sure everyone gets affordable health insurance.

This week the Santa Clarita Valley Republican Assembly posted a resolution they had just passed on their Facebook page. Short version: "thanks, but no thanks." Santa Clarita Republicans-- not to mention normal people in Santa Clarita, absolutely detest Tony Strickland, the carpetbagger who switched districts from CA-26 to CA-25 this month. (People in CA-26 who contributed money because they preferred him to Julia Brownley, are just out of luck. He's not giving anyone their money back.) Anyway, here's the resolution:

Although he hasn't announced it yet-- maybe because his spokesperson has other issues to deal with-- it's an open secret in Santa Clarita that Buck McKeon is retiring from congress to become a lobbyist for arms manufacturers.

Tomorrow, Monday, is the last day of Blue America's fundraiser for Keith Ellison and Mike Obermueller, two Minnesota progressive champions. You still have time to click this link, watch a little "Policy of Truth," see a photo of the prize-- a rare and collectible RIAA-certified double platinum award for the Mode's Violator-- and help us make sure Keith and Mike win next year.

A few weeks ago Zbigniew Brzezinski, responding to another anti-Iran NY Times editorial, mused to his Twitter followers, "Do our Middle East "allies" really have our best interests at heart when they clamor for us to go to war for them?" Those allies are are Israel, Saudi Arabia and it's Gulf s

Buck'n'Schmuck- California anti-Latino RepublicansCA-25 is divided into three valleys: Simi Valley in the west, the Santa Clarita Valley in the center, and the Antelope Valley in the east. Last year, Buck McKeon lost the Antelope Valley third of his district (Lancaster, Palmdale, Pearblossom). Latino voter participation has exploded in CA-25, but especially in the Antelope Valley.