[GreatOne]

I would have voted for Simon last year, and would again if this were one-on-one. But he ran such a horrendous campaign, he's just wasting his time now. Even though he's a RINO, I'd support Arnold if I were in CA just to win the damn thing for a Republican; if they'd have fared better recently I might reconsider, but they haven't won anything recently and need a victory badly. As Ann Coulter has said, there's not a lot he's going to do with the social issues, and while he may have some goofy ideas about spending, he does want lower taxes and a business-friendly environment.

It's such a disappointment to see conservatives like Simon, Fong, and Lundgren "moderate" their conservative views instead of standing up like Alabama AG Pryor and Reagan. The goal is to convince people your views are correct, not adopt your views to perceived public sentiment. Voters like candidates who are confient in their views and comfortable in their own shirts. Changing/softening your beliefs makes one appear weak.

[Salvation]

**It's such a disappointment to see conservatives like Simon, Fong, and Lundgren "moderate" their conservative views instead of standing up like Alabama AG Pryor and Reagan.**

Agree with you all the way!

[beaversmom]

I'd like someone a lot more conservative than Arnold to win in California but Arnold may be good for the Republican party at large. He can make campaign appearances, raise money for the party, bring more people to our side. He's good PR.

[summer]

Voters like candidates who are confident in their views and comfortable in their own shirts.

I agree with your entire post. Look what happened in FL, in Nov 2002, when Gov Jeb Bush was re-elected in a landslide. The Dems thought if they sent their mouthpieces down here to loudly gripe about Gov Bush's policies - like One FL (reliminating race as a factor), Service First (cutting excess jobs from the state payrolls) and Election 2000, they would beat Gov Bush no matter who they ran. But that didn't work. Over time, 65% of FL voters have come to agree with Gov Bush on his policies, and he won the election by 14 points (57% to 43%) -- in a state where there are more registered Dem than GOP voters. And, IMO, he had the independents on his side as well. Shifting views to satisfy whatever the way the wind blows is not going to get a candidate elected.

[summer]

Voters like candidates who are confident in their views and comfortable in their own shirts.

I agree with your entire post. Look what happened in FL, in Nov 2002, when Gov Jeb Bush was re-elected in a landslide. The Dems thought if they sent their mouthpieces down here to loudly gripe about Gov Bush's policies - like One FL (reliminating race as a factor), Service First (cutting excess jobs from the state payrolls) and Election 2000, they would beat Gov Bush no matter who they ran. But that didn't work. Over time, 65% of FL voters have come to agree with Gov Bush on his policies, and he won the election by 14 points (57% to 43%) -- in a state where there are more registered Dem than GOP voters. And, IMO, he had the independents on his side as well. Shifting views to satisfy whatever the way the wind blows is not going to get a candidate elected.

[summer]

I meant to say: Election 2000 (voting reform by touch screen voting), ...

[billbears]

Even though he's a RINO, I'd support Arnold if I were in CA just to win the damn thing for a Republican

And that in a nutshell is the major problem with the 'conservative' party. You could give a crap what they believe as long as they have an R beside their name. Tell me, how does that make you and every other person that believes as you do any different from yellow dog Democrats? Historians will look back one day and be able to say that it wasn't just morality, or just big deficits, or just one thing that destroyed the Republic, what little is left of it anyway. No, all these things are a symptom of the bigger problem, party over principle

[ElkGroveDan]

It's such a disappointment to see conservatives like Simon, Fong, and Lundgren "moderate" their conservative views ...

Couple problems here. Fong is a staunch moderate, never has been a conservative. But more importantly, Simon NEVER EVER moderated his conservative views. Not once. It never happened.