That was Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s message to conservative talk radio host Rush Limbaugh during a spirited, but largely predictable, 15 minute on-air discussion this morning.

For those who haven’t breathlessly followed how we got here: in an NBC interview this week, Schwarzenegger was asked about criticism from conservatives like Limbaugh. The governor called Limbaugh “irrelevant.” Limbaugh later fired back, calling Schwarzenegger a “sellout”.

This morning, the governor…extending the shelf life of this story… spent 15 minutes on Limbaugh’s show engaging in a verbal jousting match that seemed to end in a draw.

Schwarzenegger began by trying to squelch talk of a fight, explaining that as governor he has to seek compromise, even with those he disagrees with.

“When you have a radio show,” said the governor, “your objective is different than mine.” Later, he added: “It’s not selling out. It’s doing the work of the people.”

But when the talk turned to issues, it was clear that the two men weren’t going to get anywhere. Take the governor’s decision late last year to sign a bill boosting the minimum wage. Schwarzenegger agreed to a $1 hike, but also rejected a mechanism that would have allowed automatic wage increases in the future.

Limbaugh was unimpressed, arguing the increase itself was the problem. “You compromised on the price, but you still accepted the premise,” he told the governor.

Schwarzenegger shot back: “I think those things [minimum wage] do improve people’s lives.”

From there, they debated the governor’s health care reform plan, where Schwarzenegger used his now familiar defense of the proposed tax/fee increase for businesses. That defense focuses on what he calls the “hidden tax” of costs for the uninsured being added to the costs for everyone else.

Limbaugh dismissed such differentiations, telling Schwarzenegger that a “hidden tax, or a visible tax, is still a tax.”

There also seemed to be a subtle air of one-upsmanship during the interview. Limbaugh, in a very matter-of-fact- tone, proclaimed that the governor’s base is unhappy with his performance. “They see a lot of about-faces,” he said.

Not to be outdone, Schwarzenegger reminded the talk show host that 91% of California Republicans voted last November to give him a second term in office. And he dismissed any notion that GOP lawmakers on Capitol Hill are a good role model, saying that they are “fighting over nothing” in Washington.

In the end, though, it all was hugs and kisses. “I’ve always liked you,” gushed Limbaugh. “We’re going to smoke a stogie together,” said Schwarzenegger.

[update 12:05pm - Further deeming this a non-story story, the governor told a reporter during a Fresno event at midday that even though he was on the Limbaugh show this morning, “There was nothing to smooth over.”]