You are quite right. I don't care much for Arnold, but there are two things, at least, that can be said for him:
One, he is pro-business, though not necessarily pro-taxpayer. Two, as you say, he improves the GOP's image among certain kinds of voters. Concretely, he makes people like McClintock and Poochigian slightly more electable -- for the offices they're running for now (lt. gov. and attorney general) and eventually, I hope for even higher office.
"Concretely, he makes people like McClintock and Poochigian slightly more electable -- for the offices they're running for now (lt. gov. and attorney general) and eventually, I hope for even higher office."
I think the reason it is easy for me to accept his moderation ( I've never seen a candidate conservative enough for me), is that I respect him as a man, and I believe he is truly a Republican, I believe his differences with conservatives are to be fought under the umbrella of Republican, this isn't a guy that just grabbed a party and ran with it.
He is a loyal, legitimate Republican and I think if McClintock were here he would explain a lot to us about working with honest, dedicated members of his party that disagree with him on many issues.
I want to win elections, keep the left from power, when we can take big chunks we should grab with both hands, but when we can only grab a biscuit , grab it and plan the next step forward.
I would like to see the conservative movement become a Borg like machine, always moving forward in some degree.
By the way the anti Arnolds do remember he can't become President don't they, whereas his assistance may move McClintock into California politics in a way we have dreamed about for years.