California is primarily Democratic in the cities, fed by a constant influx of immigrants. This is not likely to change. I'll vote for Simon, for what good it will do. I knew he was the right candidate when Democrats were howling about what a horrible mistake we had made picking him in the primary. When the Democrats give you advice on winning an election, check for your wallet as you leave. And count your fingers.

Conservative candidates start to screw up when they stick their finger in the wind to see what to do, and if Simon does this, he's not going to do well.

The Republican Unity Coalition, the gay group sponsoring the fundraiser, said, "It is hugely disappointing to us to see Bill Simon bow under the pressure of a small fringe group that evidently yanked his chain hard the first time he reached out to us."

Interesting that religious conservatives are now considered a "small fringe group" while gay Republicans (!) are apparently in the mainstream in California. Did I miss something?

The media, and Simon's advisors, are doing a good job of convincing him that if only he somehow reaches out to gays, illegal immigrants, and other hardcore Democratic voters, that somehow they will change their minds and vote for him. Fat chance.

Tell me, Bowser, what could George Bush do that would get you to vote for him? The answer is probably nothing, and if there was an answer, the requirement would probably be for Bush to become an exact duplicate of a Democrat, and too many Republicans fall for this trap.

Republicans that stand on their beliefs--and I'm not saying I agree with all of them--have integrity going for them into an election. Democrats know this, which is why they do their damndest to get Republicans to waffle every chance they get.

I'm assuming most of us have noticed that George Bush is suffering from this same malady, in issues like immigration, trade, and farm subsidies.