The San Diego Tribune has California Governor Arnold at war with conservatives. We knew the relationship was sometimes hit-and-miss, but the SD Trib reports open warfare.

“I will run as an Arnold Republican, which is I am there to govern and to serve the people of California, meaning Democrats and Republicans, even though there are some on the right wing that are not happy about that,â€? Schwarzenegger said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.â€? “They think that I should only govern for Republicans.â€?

Really. Tim Russert had asked Arnold if he were going to run for reelection this year as a “Bush Republican.” This was mild sarcasm on Russert’s part, and he wanted an answer from Arnold which would underscore the notion that he was trying to project: That everyone hates President Bush and no one can afford to be seen near him. Arnold’s answer did nothing to further Russert’s tacit contention, instead merely portraying Arnold as asserting that he’s his own man.

The “some on the right wing” comment referred to an unsuccessful move by conservatives at the California Republican Party convention in San Diego this weekend to formally condemn Arnold’s failed (liberal) policies.

The open warfare bit, of course, is an example of the MSM cherry-picking the evidence to bolster their assertion of doom-and-gloom for conservatism in the Land of Reagan. State Senator Tom McClintock, a legit California conservative, is part of Team Arnold, embraced by the governor as his nominee to be lieutenant governor. And AP reports:

Threats by activists to strip Schwarzenegger of the Republican nomination have gone nowhere. State Sen. Tom McClintock, a conservative Republican running for lieutenant governor, has tamped down unrest on the right wing despite his concern about the governor’s spending proposals.

But whatever story works, I guess.