Bring on the Amendment

Schwarzenegger Governing Like a Democrat

Consistency police will note that I strongly opposed the recall in California last year. But sometimes a dark cloud has a silver lining.

The headline above should indicate to you what that lining is. Arnold has governed in a fashion that should give other Republicans pause. He doesn't pander to the religious right or to the gun lobby, and yet he's overwhelmingly popular with voters. Could it be that other Republicans with functioning consciences could also govern this way? Could they, too, sign legislation giving gay partners the same rights to health benefits as straight ones? Can it be that being socially moderate is more appealing to the great mass of voters than acting like Alan Keyes?

There's a danger in this, of course: The Republicans may actually learn the lesson. If they do, they'll be unbeatable, in terms of winning Congress and the presidency, unless and until the religious right finds somewhere else to turn and dilutes the G.O.P. base in Naderite fashion. But for now, it's nice to see Arnold panning out as a governor. I wouldn't have had it this way, but things could be a lot worse than a pro-gay, pro-choice Republican dragging a major party out of the Stone Age.