GOP's last action hero?

With all the talk about who will rise up to lead the Republican Party out of the desert, there's been one large figure conspicuously absent. Yes, he's constitutionally forbidden to run for president (that can be changed) and yes, he was on CNN last night talking about how he never envisioned himself as a party leader. But I'm somewhat surprised that I haven't heard Arnold Schwarzenegger's name bandied about at all as a potential GOP standard bearer.

The biggest reason, I think, is that the GOP's coalition of Wal Mart social conservatives and country club fiscal conservatives fell apart this election. And, with the economy in the tank for the foreseeable future, I wouldn't be surprised if it doesn't come back together again any time soon. Sarah Palin could represent the Wal Mart Republicans, and, should the economy continue to slide, could make a move if consensus grows for more economic populism. Someone like Mitt Romney, on the other hand (while still claiming the mantle of social conservatism) would have a tough time with his background as a strict, although competent, capitalist.

So where does that leave Arnold, and other moderates like McCain (well, he used to be moderate) and former Republican Michael Bloomberg? It depends how much a leftward swing the country has really taken. In states like California and New York, moderates like Arnold and Bloomberg were the only non-Democrats that stood a chance. But nationally, the country is still much more conservative. There's a tough choice facing Obama and the Democrats: should they try to co-opt moderates like Schwarzenegger and bring them into the fold? Or should they empower them as a palatable opposition, a much better choice to a radical conservative foe?

If the Republicans are smart, they'd recognize the country's centrist turn and look to someone like Schwarzenegger to sell the GOP brand. I'd much rather see a push for a constitutional amendment to allow a foreign-born citizen to run for president, instead of something divisive like banning gay marriage or abortion. After all, how could Democrats, with their president with the foreign-sounding name, say no? Then again, I wouldn't hold my breath for Republicans to do the smart thing.