California: Jackie Speier

SAN MATEO -- Beginning at 10 a.m. today, U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier will preside over the renaming of a post office in this small peninsula city after her former boss and mentor, Congressman Leo J. Ryan.

But as she does, the newly minted congresswoman will undoubtedly reflect back on the horrible massacre that occurred 30 years ago Tuesday at the Guyana compound of the Rev. Jim Jones and his People's Temple cult.

Although she had to wait until almost the end because of her lack of seniority, Congresswoman Jackie Speier let the former chief executive officer of American International Group (AIG) have it right between the eyes Tuesday.

During a hearing on AIG's recent $85 billion federal bailout by the House Government Oversight Committee, the newly minted representative lashed into the insurance giant's two former CEOs, Martin  Sullivan and Robert Willumstad.

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. - Delegate Greg Conlon is frank about his status as a Republican congressional candidate on the Bay Area peninsula, the heart of Democratic territory: "It's lonely."

Conlon, an Atherton resident who's attending this week's Republican National Convention as a guest, is hoping to run a credible challenge in California's 12th Congressional District against recently-elected U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Hillsborough).

Around here -- from Ventura to Orange County -- the only Speier in the newspapers this week was Justin Speier, a relief pitcher for the Angels. U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier's (D-San Mateo) me-too* proposal to lower the speed limit in many urban parts of the country to 60 miles-per-hour didn't merit coverage in the Orange County Register, the Los Angeles Times or the Ventura County Star. Not that I saw, in any event.