I am a conservative by nature, by intellect, and by desire. I believe in the four foundations of the conservative movement which I believe most Americans would agree with, fundamentally. Those four cornerstones are: Liberty, Tradition and Order, Rule of Law, and Moral Government. How are these under threat given today’s Republican Party and Donald J. Trump? I believe they are under dire threat.

Liberty means political liberty being able to freely speak your mind on matters of public interest. Liberty means religious liberty to worship as you believe or to not worship at all. Liberty means economic liberty in the pursuit of your own property and participation in a free market society. And Liberty most importantly means freedom from government oppression and arbitrary use of force. However, this also means, as the Founders of our Nation understood, for the common good individuals give some of their “rights” to their government.

Tradition and Order, simply means Conservatives believe society has evolved values over history that have led to an orderly society. These values have been based on human nature, belief that societies have been built that respect human rights and that can repel attacks on these rights. Conservatives’ believe that society changes through evolution over time, not revolutionary actions.

The Rule of Law provides a means to preserve life, liberty, and property. The Rule of Law also evolves over time but provides society with an ordered approach in how to support Liberty, Tradition and Order, and a Moral government. The Rule of Law puts no one above the law, no group, and no individual.

Moral government means for a government to exist it must – to be just, to be valid – the government must be based on a moral foundation. These morals are not unique to any religion but are part of human nature and reflected by cultures around the world. Our Founders spoke of “natural laws”, not religion and certainly not a specific religion. These morals provide guidance in the actions of government – whether that is in the form of legislatures, courts, or executive offices.

Today, the Republican party in many ways fundamentally does not reflect these foundations of Conservatism.

Take each of these cornerstones of modern Conservative thought.

Liberty – today’s Republican party has, and is, censuring any Republican who speaks freely, who speaks truth to power. It is no longer the party of freedom of thought, freedom of speech. Look at the lengthy list of current and former Republicans who have been driven out of the party and out of their roles because they had the temerity to speak their minds. And the one singular thread of being driven out? Their right, their duty to speak their minds on Donald J. Trump and present their critical thoughts on his actions, his words, and his policies. Think of Liz Cheney, one of the most conservative Representatives in the House, number 3 leadership role within the Republican House caucus – driven out of her leadership role and censured from the Republican Party. Think of Adam Kinzinger – a rising star within the Republican Party, Lt. Colonel in the Air Force Reserve – driven out of the Republican party due to his opposition of Trump’s role contributing to the attack January 6 on our Capitol and his participation in the House committee investigation of January 6th. Think of the ten Republican Representatives that voted to impeach Trump after January 6 – Reps. Liz Cheney, David G. Valadao, Adam Kinzinger, Anthony Gonzalez, Peter Meijer, Reps. John Katko, Dan Newhouse, Jaime Herrera Beutler, Fred Upton, Tom Rice. Eight of the ten left their offices, either by losing their primaries, or retiring from office. Only two remain in the House. And look with concern, perhaps more rightfully fear with what is being proposed in Project 2025, and being supported by the just now released 2024 Republican Platform – civil servants must pass a “loyalty” test, pledging their loyalty, essentially to a empowered President, who under the proposals within Project 2025 will take direct control of all of the Civil Service and Federal agencies. Fear that Liberty going forward will not mean “freedom from government oppression and arbitrary use of force.” Under Project 2025, the President’s role rises supreme over the other branches of the government with complete autonomy. Think Liberty is under threat? Yes, the November election represents a threat to Liberty should Donald J. Trump be elected.

Tradition and Order – the foundation is the respect for human rights, that society has evolved over time to support human rights. Yet, within Project 2025 – echoed again by the Republican 2024 Platform – are plans to dismantle civil rights laws and protections. These are focused on removing protections for women and minorities. Title VII protects against discrimination and harassment
based on race, color, national origin, and religion, as well
as sex, while Title IX becomes more specific in prohibiting discrimination based on sex in education programs and activities. Think this concern is overblown? Know that Donald J. Trump has lost many civil suits concerning racial discrimination. That Donald J. Trump to this day still does not condemn, let alone even criticize, white supremacist and neo-Nazi groups. Just this week a march was conducted in Nashville by a group -Patriot Front – who Trump in 2016 called “good people” – shouting “Sieg Heil” (Hail Victory) used by the Nazi’s in Nazi Germany. If Trump is elected society will de-evolve, through extremist, reactionary actions stripping away civil rights that have evolved over decades or longer within our country.

Rule of Law – simply to protect us all, equal under the law with no group or individual above the law. Yet look no further than the Supreme Court ruling on Presidential immunity separating immunity under “official acts” versus no immunity for “private” acts. Immediately, Trump and his attorney-initiated pleas that all his actions from 2016 through early 2021 fell under the definition of “official acts”. His attempt to hide his “hush money” payment to a porn star, his actions on January 6th, his attempts to overthrow the election results with the fake electors across numerous states, and his refusal to return government property in the documents case – are now all being plead as “official acts”. Given the Presidential authority and autonomy should Project 2025 proposals be acted on – the President virtually and in reality becomes above the law. The role would have the authority to claim every and any action taken by a President would be “official acts”, not “private acts”. Even assassinating a political opponent could be justified as an “official” act under the Constitution, with the President protecting the country in his role as the head of the military – being Commander in Chief. Think this is farfetched? Think again!

Moral government – the tenant is simple……for a government to be legitimate it must be moral, morals that are grounded across societies and across religions. Not specific to any one religion. How can a government be moral if an immoral, amoral individual is leading it? An individual who is a non-repentant sinner, an individual who believes he has done no wrong. Yet is proven to be a serial adulterer, a serial liar, a philanderer, and womanizer, even found guilty in civil court of sexual abuse (just short of rape), a convicted felon of thirty-four cases of business fraud. I believe given the autonomy and authority under Project 2025 proposals, Donald J. Trump would have the ability to corrupt our Federal government into his own image a government bent on revenge and retribution, a government focused on benefitting only those loyal to Donald J. Trump.

The Republican party, this current version – is no longer a conservative party – it is extremist and reactionary and being corrupted by an individual who would see himself be “king” – who has proven over his lifetime to be immoral and corrupt. Come November, this country has a choice, a clear choice to continue to strive to be as Ronald Reagan said “that shining city on the hill” or do we slide into an critically divided society unable to work for the common good as dreamed by our country’s Founders, driven there by an individual who only seeks to profit himself and his brand, and those pledging total loyalty to him.