Obviously not. You're committing an elementary logical fallacy. (Or assuming it of me, which is equally incorrect.)

“it seems to me that a person can be honest and principled regardless of their point of view [the point of view is independent]“

Yes. Many liberals want action on “the environment” (including greenhouse gas political-circus buffoonery) and they like what the governor there is doing. This is not surprising, as California has a “Massachusetts Lite” political complexion and even culture (the Democrats have ruled Sacramento for ages; Willie Brown was no fluke there; there are also notoriously liberal-news-making locations such as Hollywood, San Francisco with its deliberately criminal and purposefully controversial government, the People's Republic of Santa Monica, Berkeley, Marin County, etc.). They may not be foamy-mouthed panting Bush-haters as there are in New England, but California (as are Eugene, Portland, and Puget Sound farther north on the West Coast) is definitely left of the overall US mainstream and public.

It shows, by the way, with the numerous problems that state has had for some time now.

Maybe “Ahnuld” wants to get in good with Obama to get a big bailout of California home owners or even money to cover California's latest broken-budget problems before the state hits an eventual debt trap or even approaches New York City's conditions. (federal receivership and demotion to territorial status would be in order)

McCain's flirting at times with being a Dem Lite are well known. McCain could work with Obama, too (as long as McCain got the attention he craves).

“You say RINO as if it's a dirty word.”

It certainly is critical. If he's a so-called Republican he should be conservative, not liberal. (Same goes for liberals' darling over-hyped Bloomberg in New York City.) Some places have developed a culture so liberal that this is what passes for a Republican and it's not the real thing at all. He is a Republican in name only. If he were honest (same for the others I mentioned, in the Northeast) they would register and profess themselves to be Democrats (and liberals).

“If it is, I'd say you're living in an awfully small tent.”

No, it's an honest and principled as well as correct and precise tent, and the real issue is why honesty and principle would be considered “smelly” (except among many Democrats, heh, heh).

That's pretty much the point, isn't it? He'd also be at home working for McCain. You say RINO as if it's a dirty word. If it is, I'd say you're living in an awfully small tent.

Among liberals, yes. This helps the many who voted for Clinton because they had reservations about Obama to have their concerns allayed.

The governor is a RINO who would be at home working for Clinton as well as Obama.

They are all Obama supporters for the same reason: they want McCain to win. Seems weird that a group of influential democrats would want McCain to win? Just think “entrenched” and you'll begin to see why.. *wink*

They know an Obama nomination means a McCain win. Don't ask me why, but I think “everyone in journalism” could maybe tell us why this is “in play”?