Remember when Arnold took the governor's seat, how many Freepers were talking about how great that was. While they hoped it was because he was a strong conservative, it was really because he was a celebrity, and everyone hoped that a conservative celebrity would be able to promote conservatism.
I withheld judgment.
We need to stand behind representatives who have supported conservatism, who have been tried under fire, and who have stood by the basic principles of conservatism.
Getting behind someone because they are a minority (and will bring in the minority vote, foolish assumption) or because they are a celebrity (and will make conservatism cool, foolish assumption) is a wasted and self-defeating effort.
We need intelligent conservatives who have stood behind their principles and who can also promote conservatism.
Many social issues (abortion, gay rights, minority representation) were cooked up by extreme leftists in order to split this country apart. The principles of our Founding Fathers are for the best of all, and in THAT, there is unity and strength. To jump on their bandwagon is to accept their premises (America is corrupt and oppressive and needs to be set straight by central management) and thus defeat our own argument.
And these same social issues are being used by Republicans to keep conservatives in bondage while the goobermint gets bigger. Why don't you guys cut taxes and leave people alone, for crying out loud? Stop trying to be people's daddy and reduce the size and power of the government, and people will take the initiative to advance social issue. I'm not saying abandon social issues, but in CA's case now's not the time for bible-thumping.