the new face of the party?

Something interesting is happening in California. The Governator, Arnold I, is actually doing something about one of the more significant social issues of our era--health care coverage for all. I don't know if I completely agree with his plan or strategy, but the thing is, a high profile Republican is advocating doing something rather than the usual "let the market sort it out" do-nothing-and-brag-about-it approach that is a characteristic of that party.

Forget for a moment the issue of immigrants, legal and/or illegal, it is a separate issue. The Governor is sure to be labeled by the usual media suspects as a California Socialist, and held up by certain special interest groups as being business unfriendly.

Bummer.

What I want to know is, does this portend a change in the philosophy of the party?; Is it a regognition that some things in our technically and socially advanced society should be universal, or is this a PR campaign of some sort?

The ramifications of this are far reaching. I don't expect many states to immediately jump on the healthcare bandwagon, but if he pulls this off, with a generally favorable view by his constituents, his smiling, progressive, face could provide cover for all manner of other republican pogroms, (eh, I mean, programs). (I'll say this once only, but if W had the charisma and projection that his predecessor did, many of the scandals that have rocked his party would have been noticed, but not the show stoppers that they turned out to be....).

more on this as I get bored...