A "real" conservative will never, ever, be elected again in California. I don't like it much either but that's the way it is. That's the most important statement of the thread. I'm torn (though I'm also lucky to NOT be living in California). I like many aspects of Arnold - he is very schrewd, bright, and has a very strong business sense. Economically, if he can work with the legislature, he has as good a chance of repairing the state budget as anybody and he can carry the supporting legislators upwards with him.
But there's a dark side to Arnold. He's not pro-life and, more importantly, he's not pro-second amendment. Why do I say "more importantly"? Because the second amendment provides the only teeth that 'we the people' have to enforce the constitution. Without it, all other constitutional rights are meaningless in the long run.
My take - as an outsider, I'm not going to offer my support unless Arnold backs off on the second amendment - that's my final litmus test.
Understood... hey, I wish everybody were as conservative as me but that just ain't case.
With regard to the abortion issue and California Governors, it makes for interesting discussion but it isn't relevant to the job of governor. A governor has zero input for how many abortions are performed. It's too bad, but it just doesn't matter. He could be virulently anti-abortion but the governor's office doesn't have the power to ban it.
With regard to 2nd amendment issues, this one gets a little more traction. California is already pretty well screwed up for gun owners (are the any left?) but it's a fair point. But be careful here: Which democrat running is more favorably disposed toward gun ownership? That's the actual question. Will Larry Flynt be better? Maybe the Lt Gov? Nope. This one is really too bad, but it doesn't matter either.