God's Own Party

The attention to the religious right isn't deserved, she says, because her army hasn't really accomplished anything yet. Most bills introduced by Arrington, Congrove and Paschall have gone nowhere this session, particularly their controversial measures to censor pornography, stop abortions and change Colorado's no-fault divorce law.

They have managed to make their presence known, however. When Representative Ron Tupa, a Boulder Democrat, wanted to name a pair of college scholarships after former lawmakers Meiklejohn and Wayne Knox, Arrington and Colorado Springs conservative Doug Dean successfully killed the proposal. Asked if Meiklejohn's attitude toward religious conservatives had anything to do with it, Arrington told reporters, "I won't ever lie to you, and so I just won't comment."

Like Arrington, Miller has a low flash point, and she can't help but be annoyed at the GOP moderates, the press and anyone else she perceives as a critic.

"There are 65 people in the House, and three of them--three of them--have been put in office by this huge outpouring of religiosity or whatever," she says sarcastically. "The moderates cry and they whine, and I just want to say, 'Baby, baby, baby.' I mean, where's this big conservative takeover? I don't see it."

But she wants to, and like-minded people are now coming to Miller for her help in getting into office. "I know how to run campaigns and I know how to network; I know grassroots work, I know how to raise money now, and I'm going to look for good candidates just like me," she says.

That's why Meiklejohn and other moderates fear a big change in the 1998 legislature.

"Good," says Miller. "I hope they fear it. Because I intend to go out and work very hard. I'm getting tired of losing."

Visit www.westword.com to read related Westword stories.