There is some good news in the midst of the Donald Trump dark cloud hanging over America.
It’s the Lincoln Project, a political organization established and run by Republicans. Not just any Republicans, but people who are staunch conservatives and were once major players in the Party.
Rick Wilson, former Republican consultant, George Conway, former Republican heavyweight who is married to Kellyanne Conway who works for Donald Trump, Steve Schmidt, a former Republican consultant who helped run the George W. Bush campaign, and John Weaver, a former Republican consultant who worked with the John McCain and John Kasich campaigns decided they had to do something to stop Trump.
They didn’t quit the Republican Party because they thought Donald Trump was a bad president. They quit because they believe he is a threat to our future as a nation.
That is why the Lincoln Project has one mission: “Defeat President Trump and Trumpism at the ballot box.”
Noting how as soon as Abraham Lincoln saw that the Union Army would be victorious, he immediately turned his attention to binding up the nation’s wounds.
That inspired the founders of the Lincoln Project to do the same thing in our time, explaining:
“Today, we find ourselves divided again – sectionalism in the country and factionalism in government has led to ever uglier examples of how our political system is failing. President Donald Trump and those who sign onto Trumpism are a clear and present danger to the Constitution and our Republic. Only defeating so polarizing a character as Trump will allow the country to heal its political and psychological wounds and allow for a new, better path forward for all Americans.”
Now let me say right here that I am a liberal Democrat. You can define that in whatever way you want to and it will likely describe me in some fashion.
Yet I believe the Lincoln Project is light in our darkness, a bright light, in fact. They give me hope for our country.
These former Republicans will no doubt become Republicans again once Trump and those members of Congress who support him are gone. Even at that, to my mind they are examples of Americans who are willing to put loyalty to the country above loyalty to a political party.
They have never supported Democratic policies and have never voted for a Democrat before now, but, given the two-party system we have, they realize that the only way Trump and Trumpism will be defeated is for Democrats to win.
Having people care enough about the nation to serve its interests first is something to be admired. It seems to happen so seldom these days, but these former Republicans are proving it can still be done.
What is more, other Republicans are doing the same thing, people like former Florida Congressman David Jolly, and journalists like Nicole Wallace, Bill Kristol, Charlie Sykes, and members of the Bush family.
I think Joe Biden could defeat Donald Trump without the Lincoln Project because of Donald Trump, but the Lincoln Project will play a major role in making sure that happens.
Their latest ad, “Mourning in America” is brilliant, and it made Trump go berserk. Make no mistakes, Steve Schmidt and Rick Wilson are brilliant at what they do.
As I said, seldom do we see anyone engage in self-sacrifice for anything as these Republicans are doing.
They are successful, wealthy, and well respected, with no reason to get into this fight at all. Like most Republicans, they could simply sit on the sidelines and let Trump be Trump and say nothing publicly about him.
But they are not willing to do that, which speaks volumes about their personal character.
Because I also believe Donald Trump is not only incompetent and unfit to be President, but is using his office to threaten the survival of our system of government, I believe the Lincoln Project is the best political news we have had in a long time.
For this reason I have already made a modest donation to the Project. I know they don’t need my money. These are Republicans, after all.
But I need to give it as my small way of thanking the Lincoln Project leaders for reminding all of us in this age of cynicism that there are still people of principle in public life.
linnposts.com 
Thank you for your posts. They give me hope.
Thank you for this response. It encourages me to keep writing.
Agree…These creative and truthful ads give me chills of patriotism and hope in these very hopeless days. I am simply terrified that DT will refuse to leave office , a repeating nightmare. If so, I am volunteering for the vaccine trials b/c there will be nothing to lose.
Dixcy, that is not anything you need to worry about because it would mean Trump has been defeated and will leave the White House in shame one way or the other. I truly believe this nightmare is coming to an end.
Jan,
Thanks for introducing me to the Lincoln Project and the key people who started it. It is refreshing to see that there are Republicans with brains and guts enough to focus a light on the despicable Donald Trump and the danger he represents to our nation and the world!!
Bill Blackwell
There are not a lot of them, Bill, but I thought we should know about the prominent ones who are showing some courage. We can even hope some ordinary Republicans support what they are doing.
Indeed a hopeful sign, Jan. I have to believe there are many more Republicans our there that feel the same way. This COVID-19 pandemic is bad in its own right. But to have a vindictive, selfish, adolescent president at the same time is gut wrenching. Certainly a organization deserving of a donation.
Thanks, Wilbur. All of us working together will defeat him in a landslide victory.
agree totally, I just contributed to them, I believe they know more than they are saying about who and what is behind trump and what their ultimate goal is. We best all take note and make sure trump and trumpism are demolished
Absolutely, bro.
Your latest post was positive at a time when being positive about the state of the presidency is more than just elusive. Trump is not only incompetent, he is evil and needs to go. Well stated Jan. The republican party abandoned me when Trump walked in the door. I gave a small donation to the Lincoln Project.
Read your book. You certainly gave me a lot to think about and confirmed to me doubts are O.K. You mentioned Scott Pecks book–I read it a couple times years ago.
Keep up the good posts. Liberal Martha enjoys them as well.
John, how wonderful to hear from you, and thank you for the affirmation of what I wrote. We all need some words of hope during this time, and I think the Lincoln Project is one of them. Thanks to you and Martha for reading my blogs, and stay safe.
Jan,
The Lincoln Project is, indeed, a bright beacon of hope. It is proof that there are people who use their minds when there are threats to the Republic. Bless them all.
Cheerz!
Gene
Gene, there was a time when people using their minds was a common occurrence in our country. Now those who do stand out as exceptions, especially among Republicans. So the Lincoln Project is a beacon of hope when in days past it would not have been necessary in the first place. Thanks for the comment.