by Robert in Monterey [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

by David Dayen [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

by Brian Leubitz [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

Yup, it's that time again. Monday at 3:30 we'll be doing one of our famed Calitics podcasts. This week we will be talking with Frank Russo of California Progress Report about the CDC Convention in Fresno, legislation in Sacramento and a few elections.

You can check it out right here.

by Lucas O'Connor [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

Perhaps not surprising, but certainly striking nonetheless, is the explosion of press and outside-the-center activity now that Bill Clinton's arrival is near at hand.  Where once the blogger riser was empty, now there's no room for everyone.  Leno/Migden and Blumenfield/Healey/Waldman will apparently be kicking things off this morning- presumably catching everyone while they're half asleep and/or hungover from last night.  Frank Russo kinda stole my headline before I could write it, but it's a good one- Migden-Leno Endorsement Fight May Overshadow Bill Clinton Speech at California Democratic Party Convention Today.  As a few of us were discussing earlier, it'll be a story for the ages if Carole Migden manages to steal the spotlight from Bill Clinton.

...and we're off.

[Update by Lucas] To clarify how this vote is going down, a "Yes" vote would be for the initial winner of yesterday's endorsement (Migden and Blumenfield) while a "No" vote would mean no endorsement of anyone.

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

As reported yesterday, Assemblymember Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) was formally elected this morning as the next Assembly speaker by the Democratic caucus, reports the LA Times. She will be the first African-American woman to serve as speaker, and only the second woman.

The Sac Bee’s Capitol Alert has compiled a list of a reactions to Bass’s election.State Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas, the chair of the Legislative Black Caucus, went as far to compare her to Barack Obama: “With Karen Bass’s election as Assembly Speaker, we are witnessing, at this historic moment, our own unique brand of ‘Golden State Change We Can Believe In’.”

Frank Russo at the California Progress Report also has kind words to say about Bass, calling her a “a Solid Progressive Who Walks the Walk.” Russo takes a look at her voting record in the Assembly, and highlights her methodical approach to getting things done (she talked to each of her eventual supporters for hours, one on one, in a private campaign).

by David Dayen [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

Cal Poly SLO's proposal to found an engineering program in Saudi Arabia is generating anger, reports the LA Times. The engineering programwould train only men in engineering, although other classes would beavailable to women. "No matter how you cut it, we're supporting theoppression of women," said Jim LoCascio, Cal Poly professor ofmechanical engineering.

Frank Russo at the California Progress Report looks at a new study that discovered that immigrants have a significantly lower crime rate than native Americans. Let's hope the facts win out over hysteria on immigration.

State Senator Tom McClintock (R-Thousand Oaks) hasn't said that he will run for Doolittle's seat,but that hasn't stopped former Representative Doug Ose from preparing a$500,000 ad campaign on his behalf.

There's more...

Image courtesy of Sacbee.com