Sacramento Bee: (h/t Nate)

Rep. John Doolittle defiantly declared Friday that he will not retire from Congress despite increasing Republican concern that if he runs for a 10th term next year, the seat could fall to Democratic challenger Charlie Brown.

"I will not step aside," Doolittle said in a telephone news conference. "I am running again. Period."

Doolittle was upbeat , even jubilant in the 20-minute session despite a week in which Republican pollster Chris Wilson said the Roseville congressman was trailing Brown by double-digit numbers months before the November 2008 general election. Also, a federal grand jury heard testimony this week from three of Doolittle's aides subpoenaed in connection with the investigation of his connection to jailed lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

But Doolittle dismissed his Republican doubters - three of whom have said they either will or think they might run against him in the Republican primary next June - as "weasels."

Thankfully, for all of us who actually care about Congress (instead of, you know, use it to feed their grandiose egos), Charlie Brown officially declared his candidacy today. He is donating 5% of his donations to charities serving local veterans and victims of the recent Angora Fire in Lake Tahoe, something he plans to do for the rest of the campaign. You can support Charlie through Blue America.