Tom Lantos Stepping Down

News from the non-Nancy Pelosi side of the San Francisco House of Representatives delegation -- Tom Lantos, the fourteen-term representative for the Sunset, along with northern San Mateo County, has announced that he will not be seeking reelection, because he's been diagnosed with esophageal cancer. Jackie "Jonestown survivor" Speier is considered the early favorite to fill Lantos's seat, and reliable object of fun Leland Yee is reported to be considering a run as well.

Lantos, who turns 80 this year, is a Holocaust survivor, chairs the House Committee on Foreign Relations (that's gotta be an interesting gig), recently attacked Yahoo for releasing user names to China, and has seventeen grandchildren. (Also, Lantos's wife is a first cousin of the Gabor sisters, which makes him some kind of relation of Paris Hilton's.) Best wishes on a full recovery, Tom.