Photoshop credit: Oblogatory Anecdotes

First, the Beltway Republicans dress up like Barack Obama and start peddling “the change we deserve.”

Now, Arnold Schwarzenegger wants to “rebrand” the GOP and push it further to the left:

McCain comes to the Golden State this week on a campaign and fundraising swing, including a rally Thursday in Stockton being publicized with an invitation graced by a picture of a McCain hug – not with President Bush but with Schwarzenegger.

And the governor, in an interview with The Chronicle last week, had some candid advice and observations, not only about the GOP brand – but on McCain’s efforts to expand his appeal to independents and disillusioned Democrats.

“The Republican idea is a great idea, but we can’t go and get stuck with just the right wing,” Schwarzenegger said. “Let’s let the party come all the way to the center. Let those people be heard as much as the right. Let it be the big tent we’ve talked about.

“Let’s invade and let’s cross over that (political) center,” he said. “The issues that they’re talking about? Let them be our issues, and let the party be known for that.”

President Bush moved to the “center” (LEFT) on illegal immigration (shamnesty), education (No Child Left Behind expansion), health care (Medicare prescription drug benefit expansion), and campaign finance–alienating the Republican base and doing little to assuage his opponents in the Democrat party or bolster his historically rock-bottom approval rating.

As for who’s getting heard, perhaps Schwarzenegger should be reminded of the 2004 GOP convention line-up.

The problem with the GOP isn’t the packaging. It’s the product.

The problem isn’t about public relations. It’s about principle.

Schwarzenegger wants to castrate the elephant.

The question is whether the party will have any conservative balls left when Schwarzenegger and company are through?