I think our opinions differ only in how we define "Republican." While your's acknowledges recent phenomena within the Party, I am a bit more optimistic believing it is not a fatal epidemic but, instead, a temporary illness that can be eradicated. (Granted, your definititon strikes me as a bit more realistic.)
An institution may at first be defined by its leadership, but for success it depends on persons within that institution to carry out the proposed mission. When people do not believe in that mission and choose not to follow, the institution will fail. Continuted pursuit of unsavory missions may cause them to abandon that institution permanently, also causing failure.
So, does one accept failure as inevitable or do they try to eradicate the disease?
As to future monuments in So Cal, will those be located along new toll roads for maximum observance by followers?
The CAGOP is what it is, at the moment of definition. A snap shot. A moment in time captured. The CAGOP is not defined by what happened in the past and not by what may happen in the future. It is defined by what is happening now.
As the leadership acts or speaks the definition changes. Usually those changes are evolutionary, Occasionally they are erratic and only rarely a devolution. The changes that occurred in the CAGOP from August to November of 2003 were neither evolutionary nor, strictly speaking, devolutionary. They were simply radical. On a quantum level.
Whether the Austrian is considered an anomaly or a temporary illness the analysis is comparatory and does not define the party in it's present form. The party is what it is at the moment of definition.
Statements such as "He is not acting like a traditional Republican would act" or "He is not acting as I would expect a Republican to act" are both accurate but his actions define the term Republican and he must therefore, by default, be acting like a Republican.
For proof of the contemporary model of political parties, one only needs to look to the CAGOP's response to the radical changes that Pete Wilson, backed by the generosity of the New Majority, introduced. Were the Austrian a temporary illness he would now be enjoying the last few months of his 15 minutes of fame. There would be a new champion and the party would be moving back toward familiar and comfortable territory. Back to its traditions and historic values. But the CAGOP isn't. The party is comfortable with their new liberal leader, supports his Fascist dabbling and is working to disenfranchise it's traditional base to smooth the corporate waters.
Yes, Schwarzenegger is acting like a Republican. It's just not your definition of Republican. It's why the CAGOP is working overtime to be rid of you. Your consistent devotion to conservatism, traditions and the solemnity of our political system is a hindrance to their new persona.
The new CAGOP is lean and mean. They are ready to shift gears, if need be, from socialism to fascism to maintain power and enrich their benefactors. They are acting Republican.
As for myself, I do believe it is possible to achieve a "devolution" (to borrow a term from Amerigomag) within the CAGOP although it will take a lot of time and work. And it probably cannot be done without some corresponding changes at the national level (RNC/NRCC/NRSC, et al). In fact, it will be necessary to just about destroy the present Big Tent GOP before we can restore order. Won't be easy--wasn't it Andrew Card that said something like "screw the conservatives--they have no place else to go"?
At present, the outlook does not look good and I must confess that I am not optimistic. Theoretically possible to be sure, but realistically so difficult as to be well nigh unachievable.