Posted on 11/01/2007 6:03:34 PM PDT by ConservativeStLouisGuy
The most influential US conservatives: 41-60
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41. EDWIN FEULNER
Under Feulners leadership, the Heritage Foundation has became a world-renowned think tank after beginning as a small policy shop. A powerhouse of conservative ideas, it has had considerable influence during the Bush years. 42. KARL ROVE
A year ago, Rove would have made any top 20 list. After the 2002 election, when Republicans made historic gains, he had the world at his feet and would probably have been second only to his boss in terms of influence among conservatives. But after 2006 and now, temporarily at least, out of politics, the man dubbed "the architect" by Bush is no longer at the centre of the right-wing universe. 43. TOM COBURN
A medical doctor who is highly critical of career politicians, he was one of the leading lights of the class of 1994 in Congress who were swept into power by Newt Gingrichs Republican Revolution. A passionate opponent of "pork barrel" spending, whether by Republicans or Democrats. 44. SEAN HANNITY
The heir to Rush Limbaugh. Television talk-show host for Fox News shows "Hannity & Colmes" and "Hannitys America". His talk radio show is second only in listenership to Limbaugh. There are few better ways for a conservative politician to reach their "base" electorate than by being interviewed by Hannity. 45. RICK SANTORUM
A former Congressman and Senator from Pennsylvania, Santorum was first in a dramatic upset in 1990. Swiftly became a leader of the anti-abortion movement and later became an outspoken opponent of gay marriage and liberal judges. Once compared homosexuality to bestiality. Although Roman Catholic, he is an idol of evangelicals. 46. ROBERT NOVAK
Novak remains an accomplished shoe-leather reporter at 76, breaking stories each week. Has moved steadily to the Right since his early days at the Associated Press and Wall Street Journal. A consummate Washington insider, he cultivates sources assiduously and has boasted that those who dont play ball with him become targets. 47. JOE LIEBERMAN
The only person to make both of our lists. It is easy to forget that Lieberman could very easily have been a Democrat vice-president today if he had not lost so narrowly with Al Gore in 2000. Instead he is a pariah for many Democrats because of his full-throated support for the Iraq war and a bellicose stance against Iran. He was re-elected for a fourth term in the senate as an Independent Democrat in 2006 and holds considerable power in the chamber given the slimness of the Democrats majority. He makes the conservative list because he would be a natural Pentagon chief in any Republican administration or a key Capitol Hill ally of a President Giuiliani or a President McCain. 48. WILLIAM KRISTOL
Former chief of staff to Dan Quayle, Kristol the son of neoconservative guru Irving Kristol and the historian Gertrude Himmelfarb edits The Weekly Standard" magazine. Passionate advocate for toppling Saddam and, now, confronting Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. 49. WILLIAM F. BUCKLEY
The founder, in 1955, of National Review after writing his seminal "God and Man at Yale", Buckley remains a colossus in American conservatism if no longer, at 81, a day-to-day player. Has criticised Bush for not being a true conservative and last year pronounced the Iraq war a failure. 50. ALEX CASTELLANOS
King of the Republican media consultants, Castellanos is one of the prime movers behind the formidably disciplined and well-organised campaign of Mitt Romney, who leads in the two key early-voting states of Iowa and New Hampshire. 51. CHARLES AND SAM WYLY
The Wyly brothers or "Wyly coyotes" are billionaire Texas businessmen and major Republican donors who paid for television advertisements that blasted John McCain in 2000 but later gave money to his 2008 campaign. Are estimated to have given about $10 million to Republican causes and $90 million to charity. 52. BRIT HUME
Managing Editor of Fox New Channel, Hume is a well-known political broadcaster and commentator. Hosts "Special Report with Brit Hume" and a frequent participant on "Fox News Sunday". Highly accomplished news journalist who is never afraid to hold Republicans to account. 53. RICH LOWRY
Not yet 40 and already at the helm of "National Review" for a decade, the boyish Lowry is a major player. Has overseen the transition of the magazine to the internet world, fostering such talents as Ramesh Ponnuru, Jonah Goldberg and Kate OBeirne, each of whom could have appeared on this list in their own right. 54. FRED THOMPSON
Thompsons relatively low position is because he has been a disappointing presidential candidate who has failed to capture the imagination of conservative voters unimpressed with the existing field. Although he remains a contender, he has yet to raise his game enough to be a plausible bet for the White House. 55. JACK KEANE
Co-author of the "surge", drawn up at the American Enterprise Institute, that saw 30,000 extra US troops sent to Iraq. The early success of the strategy has enabled the president to face down opposition in Congress and guarantee US troops will stay in large numbers in Iraq until the end of his presidency and beyond. 56. GEORGE WILL
One of the pre-eminent conservative newspaper columnists. Rudy Giuliani cites Wills assessment of him as an heir to Margaret Thatcher to anyone who will listen. A committed Republican who once coached Ronald Reagan before presidential debates, he is not afraid to be critical of the party. 57. NORMAN PODHORETZ
Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by George W. Bush, the highest honour the US president can bestow on a civilian. Considered a sage among neo-conservatives and has been consulted by President Bush over what to do about Iran. 58. VICTOR DAVIS HANSON
His book Carnage and Culture appeared before the September 11 attacks, but its message that the "Western way of war" will ultimately prevail because of Western civilisations values, democracy and rationalism made it an immediate best-seller. Senior Fellow at Stanfords Hoover Institution and columnist with National Review Online. 59. LAURA BUSH
Mrs Bush has taken on an increasingly prominent role during the latter years of her husbands presidency. She has made Burma her cause celebre and spoken passionately about the need for the junta there to free opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. 60. P J OROURKE
Satirist, journalist and author, ORourkes best-selling books showed that conservatives too could have a sense of humour. His articles and essays remain essential reading for libertarians and anti-Leftists and his bons mots are still widely quoted. |
The first two lists were bad enough, but Joe Liebermann???
Interesting... who are 1-40?
BULL$HIT ! He is either leading or tied with Rudy, and they plaster that horsecrap description of him and his campaign ? Nothing but Rudy references all over the place and this liberal propaganda media garbage against Fred ? The authors clearly have not a clue about what is the reality here.
This entire ranking is horsecrap. Fundraisers and media consultants that nobody knows of ahead of Fred ? Ex-Senators ? Lieberman on a CONSERVATIVE list ? WTF ?!?
just posted the top 20
Calm down, folks .. this appears to be a British list. There are people on this list who aren’t even conservatives.
Yes, let’s start making a list of influential British leaders. Let’s start with #1, Borat.
Does someone actually want us to believe this bs?
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