[ElkGroveDan]

Be realistic. In California at the moment, a moderate Republican is electable.

Show me some evidence of that. Because I have a huge amount of evidence that RINO nominees have been losing election after election in California. We've run lots of them and they lose far worse than conservatives.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

Because I have a huge amount of evidence that RINO nominees have been losing election after election in California. We've run lots of them and they lose far worse than conservatives.

LMAO at the thickheadedness of you true believers. Here is your shriek -

"He's a RINO - don't vote/vote Libertarian/vote Reform/vote Constimatooshin".

Then you turn around and complain that the moderates lose elections worse than the "true conservatives" lose them, when you're already abandonoing the ticket.

If CA "true conservatives" would STFU once in a while and simply SUPPORT A CANDIDATE WHICH CAN DRAW THE MIDDLE. How dense can "true conservatives" be? Are you that mathematically challenged? In a state where you are outnumbered, you have to be able to appeal to moderates and some democrats in order to win an election.

[MattGarrett]

STATEWIDE? or DISTRICT WIDE?

California, sadly, is no longer Reagan country. Just look at the wacked out balance of the Assmebly and State Senate?

In this case, a conservative won't provide consensus.

But a moderate - in the vein of Arnold - WILL.

And he's ELECTABLE.

[MattGarrett]

from HUGH HEWITT:

... here are the reasons why center-right Republicans and conservative Republicans should vote for AS:

1. AS can win. The others in the race who would make acceptable governors --Bill Simon, Tom McClintock, and Peter Ueberroth-- cannot marshall enough votes to top the almost certain 25 to 30% that Cruz Bustamante will roll up. Objectivity matters a great deal here, and even if AS hadn't gotten into the race, the presence of more than one "movement" candidate dooms them all. Period. End of story. Arguing this point doesn't change the facts on the ground.

2. AS is best positioned to withstand the Graystopo, as the slime machine Gray has perfected has come to be called. Even if there was only one movement conservative in the race, he would be a target that would be mercilessly mowed down. Complaining about it doesn't stop it from happening.

3. AS does great things for the candidacy of Tony Strickland against Boxer in '04 and of course puts California in play for President Bush. So he's closer to Pataki than to Reagan, so what. A candidate who wins and governs to my satisfaction 65 to 75% of the time is better than a candidate who talks like I talk and loses.

4. Imagine you are Jim DeMint and you need to raise some money. Wouldn't you love to be able to call the Bush people and ask them to get AS on a jet to Charleston for a little $1,000 a head gathering? This is what Bill Clinton does 24/7/365. AS is a hyperdraw, matched only by the President and the Veep. Three such draws is better than two.

5. Finally, the state is in desperate shape. AS is right, businesses and talent are fleeing. Unless the bleeding stops, this economy continues to drag the national economy down, and with them both, the re-elect numbers of the President.

The purists have to get over it and get behind a winning effort.

There's your proof, Dan. Pure, realistic objective ... and electable ... analysis.