Surviving a California Republican Party convention is really not so difficult. Give the right wing a cookie, pat them on the head and they will behave.
Governor Schwarzenegger has the technique down pretty well and now he doesn't need to worry about the lunatics ever again.
The California Republican Party may be the largest collection of right wing lunatics in the country. Its a dazzling array of xenophobes, homophobes, Christian zealots and other assorted right wing activists.
Every Republican candidate for California Governor has wrung his hands over surviving an entire weekend with the inmates of the insane asylum.
At the February convention of the CRP, Schwarzenegger proclaimed that Tom McClintock, the right wing candidate for Lt. Governor would be his "running mate". The zealots, envisioning an escape from their little echo chamber, gladly embraced Schwarzenegger.
McClintock, giddy with the thought of riding with the big guy, instructed his CRP troops to forgive the Governor's liberal gestures and become his cheering section.
Check out the Governor's website:
www.joinarnold.com
I can't find McClintock's name anywhere. And nothing about Arnold on McClintock's website either: tommcclintock.net
Last weekend was the final CRP convention. Arnold needed something new. He announced the hiring of Ben Lopez, the chief lobbyist and spokesman for the Traditional Values Coalition. The conservatives were very pleased as it showed that the Governor was really concerned about their viewpoints and eagerly sought their support.
On Monday, having survived another CRP convention, Schwarzenegger fired Ben Lopez.
The conservatives in the CRP have, if nothing else, faith. It is the original faith-based community. Schwarzenegger, wonderful fellow that he is, has no problem saying anything to get through the night and then doing something completely different.
Of course, McClintock needed to be set adrift and Ben Lopez needed to be fired (before he was hired). But it is a clear example of the kind of person Schwarzenegger really is. Nothing that he says means anything.