[4:45pm UPDATE: Schwarzenegger emerged after a 1 hour private meeting with leaders of the California GOP to say that Republicans were "one big family." And he reitereated his intentions to keep his administration moving "in the same direction" as before Kennedy's hiring.

"The Susan Kennedy issue is over," said GOP Chairman Duf Sundheim. But underscoring the importance of the issue, Sundheim also told reporters that Republicans had been assured there would be a path for the party to talk to the governor in 2006 with Kennedy "out of the loop."]

Are you a political junkie who's breathlessly following the saga of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and his relationship with fellow California Republicans in the wake of the governor hiring Democrat Susan Kennedy as his chief of staff?

If so... feel free to read what you will into his comments today on the brouhaha (all answers to questions posed at a late morning news conference on a totally different subject):

"My message to them is don't judge me by who I hire, but judge me by my actions, and that's the bottom line."

"I respect my Republican base, my Republican colleagues, and this is just a time to let off some steam right now, and I think that's good. That's healthy. And we have all had relationships like that, where people need to let off some steam, so I think this is all good. And then we will work together."

"Everyone should express themselves, and let out their disappointments, whatever. My message is clear: don't judge me by who I hire."