There simply can't be any member of Congress who now doesn't know what's coming when they're interviewed by Stephen Colbert.
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[With me close to home these days expecting some family news, my KQED colleague Scott Shafer is covering this weekend's biannual California Republican Party convention. He's also filing a few short journal entries for CapNotes. Listen for his GOP confab coverage this afternoon on the newsmagazine edition of The California Report, starting at 4:30 p.m. on many public radio stations statewide. --JM]
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[Monday, Sept. 7: see below for new comments from initiative's author.]

Seeking to capitalize on California's creation of an independent redsitricting process for legislative and statewide tax agency districts, a new initiative has been filed that would add congressional districts to the mix. And you can bet that's going to spark some fireworks should the measure make it to the ballot.
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As the Legislature reconvenes for its final sprint on issues small and large, a new compilation of campaign finance data shows that almost $61 million was raised in the first six months of 2009 for campaigns near and distant, expenses small and large.
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The second and final day of then-versus-now comparisons by the venerable Field Poll makes it easy to see how the seeds of discontent and disagreement have flowered among partisan voters in California these last three decades.

In short: Democrats are more liberal, Republicans are more conservative, and hot button issues have little chance of striking consensus. And some of the only unanimity is found in pessimism.
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An occasional new feature... of notable quotes and reactions or explanations, which we'll call "counterquotes."

Today: Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
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Voters supporting limits on campaign contributions would do well to remember the old adage that money will always find its way into politics, the same way water finds its way through the cracks of anything holding it back.

And a new report out today confirms just that, calculating the total amount raised by politicians and candidates on the legislative and statewide level at more than $1 billion since 2001.
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There's plenty of coverage out there of President Barack Obama's southern California trip... which leaves a niche politics blog to highlight something else -- and that's what a difference a few months can make.
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Well, you won't be surprised to learn things are quiet on this day in California's statehouse, with all the political oxygen sucked out towards the east and the inauguration of the 44th President of the United States.

Many of California's leaders are bundled up and in Washington, D.C. Governor Schwarzenegger was on hand for the inauguration of President Barack Obama, as was Assembly Speaker Karen Bass, Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, Lt. Governor John Garamendi, Attorney General Jerry Brown... and the list goes on.

Budget negotiations were put on hold, allowing staffers time to flesh out some of the proposals apparently being talked about in closed door meetings (that from gubernatorial press secretary Aaron McLear, who declined to say more about those proposals). We're told the legislative leaders and Schwarzenegger are likely to regather on Thursday here at the state Capitol.

In the meantime, I encourage you to check out some of the great inaugural coverage being done by my colleagues at The California Report -- namely, host Scott Shafer and producer Suzie Racho, who have been in Washington for about a week chronicling the Golden State experience of this moment in history.

And now, a pause from our regularly scheduled program. I'm headed back east for a few days with family... here's hoping all of you have a safe and happy holiday. Except for tomorrow's podcast (which was pre-recorded), no new postings are likely until after the New Year.

Yes, there might be budget news. But for now, I've settled in for a long winter's nap. Here's hoping you get to do the same.