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Well, now you're halfway there. Would, on general grounds, it have been better for conservatives for New York to have a Democrat governor, of the sort of Democrat that would get elected in New York ? I think even you would say no.

You shouldn't speak for me until you understand my perspective. I would say Yes. See this isn't a game, Conservatism trumps Liberalism every time. But as you are demonstrating, Republicanism and Conservatism are mutually exclusive. It actually hurts Conservatism to have it coupled with Republicanism when it uses failed Moderate economic policy.

I say Yes because by the very map we are talking about, history would show that Bush could have won with a lousy Governor like Indiana's D-OBannon. (now deceased) You have to honestly ask yourselves, long term, what is best for Conservatism rather than Republicanism because as much as I did fight the prevailing wisdom during my recall battles of getting it qualified, they might have been right, having a Demo sink with my ship would be better than having a recall because of the sinking ship, then have a dumb moderate blow holes in the hull and get the entire blame.

Not every politician is a Reagan; Reagans can't be ordered by catalog. You have to decide on those that present themselves, however defective.

I agree, I gave (R)nold a chance to prove that he was more than Prop49, and I have stamped a big "Reject" on his forehead. That is my decision.

You wrote:
"But as you are demonstrating, Republicanism and Conservatism are mutually exclusive. It actually hurts Conservatism to have it coupled with Republicanism when it uses failed Moderate economic policy."

Although you are on the right track, you overstate the case.

There is a vast distinction between conservatism and the Republican Party.

Conservatism is a political philosophy (actually three overlapping philosophies, but that's a different story).
Its goal is to get its views adopted.

The Republican party is a coalition of various groups, many of which have elements of the three conservatist philosphies. Its goal is to elect republicans.

BIG DIFFERENCE! So, we have a conflict, exemplified quite well at present with the Tom/Arnold divide. Does one vote for the conservative who has but a small chance of getting elected, or does one vote for the republican who has a significant chance of getting elected???

The conflict for the doctrinaire conservative is that the Republican Party is not completely conservative, but has conservative elements.

different Freepers come down on different sides on the Tom/Arnold issue, because some will only vote for a "true" conservative, while others will vote for the Republican because that will help advance conservative views at least incrementally.