[Chancellor Palpatine]

We are the ones who built this party and own it.

No, you didn't, and no, you don't. You pretend that you did, just like the tail wagging the dog.

Do you know who your average Republican voter is? Your average GOP voters consist of guys and gals who wake up, read the paper, slam some breakfast, get the kids off to school and go to work.

Their lives consist of daily choices and little compromises, and their circle of acquaintances include blacks, hispanics, gays, liberals, and all sorts of folks - some of whom they like and empathize with in certain ways.

They're not interested in rigid ideologues, and will support some welfare programs if competently run.

The funny part is that those folks comprise a far greater number of GOP voters than the hard right folks ever dreamed of having - and if it weren't for them, the GOP would be a fringe party.

[ElkGroveDan]

Do you know who your average Republican voter is? Your average GOP voters consist of guys and gals who wake up, read the paper, slam some breakfast, get the kids off to school and go to work. Their lives consist of daily choices and little compromises, and their circle of acquaintances include blacks, hispanics, gays, liberals, and all sorts of folks - some of whom they like and empathize with in certain ways.

I agree with most of that, but you can exclude the sex-perverts. Nothing in the Republican philosophy indicates that we support special rights for people based on their chosen sexual behaviors.

Tell you what, you go run for Assembly in a solidly Republican District and see what happens.

The average guy who gets up in the morning and says "Today I will become a Republican" is not a gay abortion adovacte who wants to take away the Second Amendment and force us all to drive Yugos.

[GOP_1900AD]

I am going to burn down the big tent.

[CaptBlack]

The funny part is that those folks comprise a far greater number of GOP voters than the hard right folks ever dreamed of having - and if it weren't for them, the GOP would be a fringe party.

Can you explain what the "hard right" is?
I've seen the phrase (or variants thereof) routinely bandied about, but when I look at what McClintock stands for, I don't see anything extreme, i.e., "hard", about his views, just simple conservative values.

[Catspaw]

Because I'm pragmatic, Arnold and his supporters are giving McClintock a graceful way out and he's refusing to take it. If McClintock drops out now and supports Arnold, he can except support from Arnold and his supporters if he wants to run for a higher office (like Senate). If he doesn't drop out now, he can expect doors to be slammed in his face if Arnold loses the governorship if he tries to seek higher office. But who knows? Maybe McClintock likes being in the state senate.

That's reality.