Other Columns by Paul M. Weyrich
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Governor Bill Owens of Colorado looked like the golden boy of conservative politics before: a) the Democrats swept the State gaining a Senate seat and a House seat, and winning control of both houses of the State Legislature; b) Owens sought to repeal the very tax limitations he praised only a couple of years ago; and c) marital problems caused a separation and a host of unseemly rumors.

There is Governor Mitt Romney of Massachusetts. He distinguished himself by opposing gay marriage but who favors so called civil unions, which are unpopular with his own people, let alone values voters in the country.

Governor Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota, although not well known, seems to have dealt with a Democratic State Senate without selling out his principles. If he were re-elected in 2006 he just might be a dark horse.

And then there is Newt Gingrich. Newt has a new book out and is spending time in Iowa and New Hampshire. Newt had the vision which enabled the GOP to take control of the House for the first time in 40 years. As Speaker he had problems and eventually was done in by members of his own party. Newt is charismatic and can hold an audience. Like Henry Kissinger, he is better when out of office then when holding office. It remains to be seen if he runs.

The Governor of California, Arnold they call him, remains highly popular but it would take a Constitutional Amendment to qualify him to run for the presidency. So he will be out of play.

No doubt there are other senators and governors and even ex office holders who will be out there. Some conservatives will want to be "Mr. Big Shot" for a candidate who has few of our number. There will be conservatives who attach themselves to the Giuliani camp, for example. That will hurt us. If there is moral equivalency among the several senators and maybe a governor or two and no one emerges as a real star, then the chances are great that conservatives will split five ways from Sunday and that will hurt the country.

The question now confronting the movement is whether we actively intervene and try to make someone the conservative candidate. That approach has its advantages, as its downsides. It is the movement which helped make Newt Gingrich. We put him on the cover of every magazine. We had him keynote every convention. We helped to bring him a national following which he shrewdly used in ascending the leadership ladder of the GOP in the House.

The 2008 conservative choice is a subject which, while three years away, deserves immediate attention. I wonder if this movement has matured enough to do it right this time?

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Paul M. Weyrich is Chairman and CEO of the Free Congress Foundation.

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Note -- The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, views, and/or philosophy of GOPUSA.

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