You just made my point for me: the ONLY way a candidate can get elected in CA statewide, if he appeals to OTHER voters ( Dems and Independents), IN ADDITION TO Republicans.
The discussion was about the Republicans nominating someone so conservative, who wouldn't even get all the Republican votes, and would get NO Dem or Independent votes -- hence he is clearly UNELECTABLE.
The kind of Republicans, such as Wilson and Schwarzenegger, who actually can get elected in CA, because they can get some independent and Dem votes, are being constantly bashed by people claiming to be conservatives.
WRONG! Schwarzenegger campaigned and gained popularity on a CONSERVATIVE platform of CUTTING SPENDING, getting Special Interests out of Sacramento, cutting the size of Government (blowing up boxes), etc.
Instead of actually doing this, he has morphed into a liberal to the point it is hard to distinguish him from his supposed opponents. Deukmejian and Reagan did not do this and they won by bigger percentages than either Wilson or Schwarzenegger.
Again: Give people something to vote FOR and you'll have a better chance. Abandoning the Republican platform for the big-spend, big-borrow, pro-gun-control, pro-GLBT, pro-abort, liberal judicial appointments, big-green agenda is NOT the way to reform California. He may win, but conservatives and Republicans gain little.