Once Conservative?

Ben Everidge for Thomas

impassioned voices …

The airwaves and World Wide Web are full of distancing from the Donald Trump presidency, naturally enough.  This is, after all, a challenging election year, perhaps unlike any other since the American Civil War.

But a group of accomplished conservatives is gaining our attention these days because of their very vocal opposition to what the President of the United States is charged with doing to our Constitution, the rule of law, and the Grand Old Party.

Their work shows up in highly creative opposition ads from groups like The Lincoln Project and Republican Voters Against Trump.

Are these folks opposing the 45th President just former conservatives? Disgruntled faux conservatives, several of whom have officially left the GOP?  Or, are they an old brand of patriot who should be treasured for being willing to speak truth to power regardless of party on behalf of their stressed nation?

Are these uncompromising voices of opposition, in other words, the last remaining true Conservatives that once represented the party of Lincoln and Reagan?  Of Bush and Bush?  Maybe even of Washington, Adams, Jefferson, and Monroe?

Who are they, these voices of impassioned pleading?

George Conway III

Attorney with a law degree from Yale University and an undergraduate degree from Harvard. They represented a high-profile lawsuit against President Bill Clinton. Was a U.S. Solicitor General potential nominee in 2017 and a Republican until 2018: co-founder of The Lincoln Project 2019.

Thomas Rank: A

David Jolly

A former Florida Congressman who graduated from Emory University and George Mason University Scalia Law School. A lobbyist and now Independent since 2018. New Executive Chairman of Serve America Movement.

Thomas Rank: A

Elise Jordan

A Republican and graduate of Yale University, Jordan was a speechwriter in various roles in the George W. Bush Administration. She is currently a contributor to Time Magazine and appears on MSNBC.

Thomas Rank: A

bill Kristol

A Harvard University Ph.D. and life-long Republican, Bill Kristol served in the George H. W. Bush Administration as Vice President Dan Quayle’s Chief of Staff. He was the Founder of The Weekly Standard and is a Co-Founder of Republican Voters Against Trump.

Thomas Rank: A

Mike madrid

A Californian, Mike Madrid is a Republican consultant specializing in Latino communications and voter outreach. A graduate of Georgetown University, Madrid is an adjunct lecturer at the University of Southern California and co-founder of The Lincoln Project.

Thomas Rank: A

mike murphy

A long-time Republican political consultant who graduated from Georgetown University, Mike Murphy has counseled candidates like John McCain, Mitt Romney, Tommy Thompson, and Jeb Bush. Today, Murphy is a senior partner at the Revolution Agency, headquartered in Washington, DC. He is a California resident.

Thomas Rank: A

Joe Scarborough

A former Republican Congressman from Florida, Scarborough earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Alabama and his law degree from the University of Florida. An Independent since 2017, he is Co-Host of Morning Joe on MSNBC.

Thomas Rank: A

Steve Schmidt

Steve Schmidt is a public affairs strategist with an undergraduate degree from the University of Delaware. He is a former Vice Chair of Edelman Public Relations and served as a campaign official for George W. Bush and Senator John McCain. A Republican until 2018, Schmidt is now an Independent and Co-Founder of The Lincoln Project.

Thomas Rank: A

Nicolle Wallace

The Host of MSNBC’s Deadline White House, Nicolle Wallace, was press secretary to former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, White House Communications Director to President George W. Bush, and a campaign official for Republican presidential nominee John McCain. She has an undergraduate degree from the University of California Berkeley and a Master’s in Journalism from Northwestern University. Wallace is also a published political novelist.

Thomas Rank: A

George will

Conservative Washington Post columnist George Will confirmed to USA Today that he will vote for former Vice President Joe Biden, his first vote for a Democrat for president.

Thomas Rank: A

Rick Wilson

A long-time Republican political strategist from Florida and graduate of George Washington University, Rick Wilson worked on Connie Mack’s Senate race. He was on staff to President George H.W. Bush’s then-Defense Secretary, Dick Cheney. He is the Co-Founder of The Lincoln Project.

Thomas Rank: A