[moneyrunner]

Look, I’m not going to debate Arnold’s liberalism with you. He is not the candidate of the purists. He’s no choir boy. His positions on homosexuality, guns, abortion, etc., etc. etc. are all conceded.

BUT he has an R after his name so he must have a conservative impulse somewhere in that mass of muscle. Second, this is a very short campaign and McClintock is an obscure pol who has neither the resources nor the perceived ability to win. He may be the Second Coming, but unless he’s got a secret weapon, he will not win.

In World War 2 we allied with Stalin to defeat Hitler. After the war was won we changed our position. After someone with an R after his name wins in California we can begin the big debate about ideological purity and getting “our” guys into positions of power. To do that, we have to win, not make a virtue of losing well. Right now, that person is Arnold. I may wish it were otherwise, but as someone once said “if wishes were horses, beggars would ride.”

[nwrep]

BUT he has an R after his name so he must have a conservative impulse somewhere in that mass of muscle.

Point taken. I will wait and see how things unfold over the next 2 months.

[KMAJ2]

I have to agree with you, money. Though it appears AS is not what any of us would call a conservative purist, he does represent the best chance for the republicans to gain California's governor's mansion.

Political reality needs to overide ideological entrenchment. Do we want someone who shares our views lockstep, with no chance to win, and thus ensuring another dem ends up as governor, or someone who shares some of our values with a good chance to win ? So we have to hope/trust AS' own words, that he is a fiscal conservative, are true. Socially, we are stuck with a mixed bag, but we have to keep in mind we are dealing with the voters of the state of California. The one thing we can all be sure of, is that he will not continue the failed policies of G. Davis, and that can only be good.

[Once-Ler]

I wish you could have identified "a conservative impulse somewhere in that mass of muscle," but it was a very good post regardless. I'm glad I don't live in CA. Even though you correctly state that the only Republican that can win is Arnold. I'm still not persuaded the state is better off with Arnold over Lt Gov Bustamove.

CA is totally screwed financially. The latest budget only makes the problem worse. Maybe winning the title of Captain of the Titanic AFTER hitting the iceberg is not really a win for Republicans.