While Congressman Dana Rohrabacher spends his days as a lap dog for defense-industry bosses and the local right-wing-loon crowd obsessed with Mexicans, Russians and gay folks, the region has an elected official who works to solve actual problems: Alan Lowenthal. The progressive Democrat, a highly successful former state senator, is running to represent portions of Long Beach and northern Orange County in Congress for California's newly designed 47th district. Given that Lowenthal backs government spending to improve the area's crumbling infrastructure, enjoys the backing of environmentalists and is against giving the ultra-wealthy additional tax breaks, conservatives nationwide are pouring money into the campaign of his Republican opponent, Long Beach City Councilman Gary DeLong.