I’m not shy about being a republican. At the same time, I’m well aware of the growing divide within the party.
Republicans don’t have to share identical beliefs to be republicans. What concerns me though is the lack of intellectual honesty that has become prevalent within the GOP, particularly since 2016. It’s resulted in a divergence from the party’s core values under the guise of conservatism.
If we ignore issues of integrity within our party, it will not be lost on future generations. Already many people feel “politically homeless.” If it continues, support for conservative values will erode, putting the Party’s long-term relevance at risk.
We need the right policies for the right reasons.
As republicans, we are best positioned to right our own ship. So it’s my view that republicans should hold the Party accountable with constructive criticism relating to policy, process, and tone.
Curating our views in this way will generate far more credibility in the public square than recycling tired talking points or criticizing democrats. Or to say it another way, the best way to win the battle of ideas is not to criticize the other party’s platform, but to ensure our ideas are better.
So this website is predicated on the idea that the most effective way to make conservative views resonate with others is to spend time curating them.
Good leadership speaks truth to power and doesn’t shy away from conflict.
Along these lines, my aim is to focus on topics where I can offer a unique or differentiated view from prevailing republican sentiment.
Restoring intellectual honesty and rigor to our logic and reasoning is the first step to productive debate between the parties. As we build trust with our friends across the aisle, we can reduce cynicism and open the door to realizing better solutions.
I hope you’ll join me in this introspective exploration for honest ideas and civil discourse.
Bio
Clay was born and raised in Oklahoma. He spent five years in Washington, DC, working in the U.S. Senate with a focus on energy policy. He later worked for a large independent oil and gas company in New York before returning to Oklahoma to earn an MBA. Clay is now a research analyst in the oil & gas industry and lives in Houston with his wife, Abby, twin daughters, Rosemary and Eloise, and dog, Kevin.