I couldn't DISAGREE with you more. Lungren is not and has never been a moderate. He ran against Gray Davis. Towards end of the campaign, he made a very strong stance against abortion, for example.
I thought the "real conservatives" were all about principle. Are you?
He has some seniority built up (because he was a Congressman from 79-89) but gave it up for a position (Treasurer) under Dukmejian, which was never confirmed. This has nothing to do with being a conservative and everything to do with having personal power.