LAT: Democrats Battle Over Safe Seat in Congress

[Rose Siding]

In beach communities between Venice and San Pedro, a Democratic congressional primary has residents wondering: Has a sleeper race emerged right in front of them? Or are they witnessing only boisterous daydreaming by those who have polished up their peace symbols and want to move from street protest to the floor of Congress?
...
In sum, Winograd casts her opponent as a Bush Democrat who was too slow to challenge the president on the war, one who moved left only when challenged in the campaign. Winograd could only have been delighted when restless House liberals complained of the same thing in the early jockeying for position in next year's Congress, lobbying to have Harman replaced as the party's voice on the Intelligence Committee.
...
"Leadership is not about pointing fingers," says Harman, a lawyer by profession — and once a nonresident who moved to the district to run, "it's about solving problems."

"Let's put it this way," says Winograd, who has taught middle and high school and has been a curriculum coach and, before that, a radio news reporter, "it's time to build an opposition party."

....Winograd is backed by some of the leading lights of the peace movement, including vocal activist Cindy Sheehan, who lost a son in Iraq, along with Tom Hayden, novelist Gore Vidal, entertainer Ed Asner, Texas activist Jim Hightower, United Farm Workers co-founder Dolores Huerta, and others.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-harman24may24,0,3473357.story?page=2&coll=la-home-local

Harman Resists Push Off Spy Panel
WASHINGTON — Rep. Jane Harman, who has gained national prominence as the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, is fighting to hold on to the job amid indications she will be rotated off the panel next year.

The dispute pits the Venice lawmaker against House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco. Its outcome could determine what role Harman, who once ran for California governor and is one of the most quoted Democrats on intelligence matters, will play in the next Congress — if she is reelected.

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/la-na-harman18may18,1,983311.story

[KeepItReal]

1. Harmon has been M.I.A. on just about every issue of import the last 4 yrs

Winograd gets my vote for sure.

(I say 4 years because I've only lived in her district that long)