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Are you old enough to remember the days when the RATS were still the major force in the South. The South was fiscally and socially conservative in those days, but the National RAT party was whacko left.

Southern RATS would never ever invite "national" RAT lefties down, not show up to stand by their sides when they showed up uninvited -- mostly to stump for black votes.

Bush MIGHT get similar treatment from Arnie in 04. We'll see. Californians still don't like Bush. The RATs still control both houses and every other statewide office except GOV. Californians are still predominantly RAT.

Everybody in this state --left, right, or center -- DESPISED the dull Gray for one reason or another.

Arnie seemed like a safe vote even to many rats since he is socially liberal, pro-gay, anti-gun, pro-environment. His conservatism shows up only on fiscal issues. And he never even claimed to be a big conservative on this score, as I recall. Plus he's got that Kennedy wife and the whole clan whispering in his ear.

Bottom line. associating with Bush might come to seem toxic for Arnold. So he might do the old-style southern RAT thing and keep his distance -- especially if Bush looks beleagured and beatable in the next year.

I agree with your analysis. If I remember correctly, the right-leaning southern Democrats were called the "Boll Weevils", or something like that. It's hard to believe, but it wasn't until only about ten years ago that people in the south finally decided they were fed up with the Democratic party.

Bush definitely is going to have to walk a tightrope here. California proved yesterday that it is clearly a centrist state, but a social conservative will not win there, period. But if Bush "moderates" too much, will he alientate his base on the right? Difficult questions.

Bottom line. associating with Bush might come to seem toxic for Arnold. So he might do the old-style southern RAT thing and keep his distance -- especially if Bush looks beleagured and beatable in the next year.

Arnold is already setting things up for President Bush's visit to him in California next week.
And he seemed very pleased to tell the reporters at his press conference that he had spoken to the President early this morning.