When the PTBs of the GOP sit down, put together the math and realize "we can do it without the hardcore right anymore", the previous influence wielded will diminish drastically for certain politicians, voting blocs, organizations and pundits.
And all of them can point to McQuixote and say "thanks a lot, pal".
You are forgetting about the conservative voters. We are the ones who built this party and own it. It's the reason Pete Wilson NEVER adressed the full Assembly of the California Republican Party in his 8 as Governor (16 chances he skipped out on). He would have been booed off state. He simply spoke at the overpriced rubber-chicken dinners and had his staff each buy up a handful of tickets.
Even if you win this fluke election comrade, the conservative grassroots will be back in the next primary, including many confused conservatives here who will be apalled by Arnold and what he says and does.
Liberal republicans are an enigma and they always will be.
This is what 'leverage' and 'deal making' is all about.
If a lot of you out there were really doctrinaire conservatives, you would say "hey. wow. we can still elect Arnold, but we get great Conservative influence in the appointment of Sacramento power elites). I'd work toward sitting down and discussing it, at least my friend.
| Buyer's market. Arnie doesn't need him anymore, and the price is going down with each passing day. When the PTBs of the GOP sit down, put together the math and realize "we can do it without the hardcore right anymore", the previous influence wielded will diminish drastically for certain politicians, voting blocs, organizations and pundits. And all of them can point to McQuixote and say "thanks a lot, pal".
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Good point. The social conservatives do themselves no good by constantly going down in blazes of glory for the sake of principle. Soon, it may become apparent that Republicans can win elections without them, at least in more liberal states. Nationally, however, I don't believe that will be the case for some time.
A more sophisticated approach for social conservatives would be to cut deals with moderate Republican candidates and move their agenda item by item. Arnold could give them several abortion restrictions, for example, but if he wins despite social conservative opposition, he may see no point in bothering.
They have a right to determine their own strategy, of course, but they shouldn't be surprized if their purist rigidity results in their being marginalized politically.
Uh, what influence would that be? McClintock is and has been under attack by TPB's since the beginning.