Every Thursday, the Spy hosts a conversation with Al From and Craig Fuller on the most topical political news of the moment.
This week, From and Fuller discuss the decisive New Hampshire primary win last Tuesday for former president Donald Trump and his control over the Republican Party as his nomination seems increasingly inevitable. Al and Craig also discuss the future of former governor Nikki Haley and her strategy leading up the GOP convention in July.
This video podcast is approximately 22 minutes in length.
To listen to the audio podcast version, please use this link:
Background
While the Spy’s public affairs mission has always been hyper-local, it has never limited us from covering national, or even international issues, that impact the communities we serve. With that in mind, we were delighted that Al From and Craig Fuller, both highly respected Washington insiders, have agreed to a new Spy video project called “The Analysis of From and Fuller” over the next year.
The Spy and our region are very lucky to have such an accomplished duo volunteer for this experiment. While one is a devoted Democrat and the other a lifetime Republican, both had long careers that sought out the middle ground of the American political spectrum.
Al From, the genius behind the Democratic Leadership Council’s moderate agenda which would eventually lead to the election of Bill Clinton, has never compromised from this middle-of-the-road philosophy. This did not go unnoticed in a party that was moving quickly to the left in the 1980s. Including progressive Howard Dean saying that From’s DLC was the Republican wing of the Democratic Party.
From’s boss, Bill Clinton, had a different perspective. He said it would be hard to think of a single American citizen who, as a private citizen, has had a more positive impact on the progress of American life in the last 25 years than Al From.”
Al now lives in Annapolis and spends his semi-retirement as a board member of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University (his alma mater) and authoring New Democrats and the Return to Power. He also is an adjunct faculty member at Johns Hopkins’ Krieger School and recently agreed to serve on the Annapolis Spy’s Board of Visitors. He is the author of “New Democrats and the Return to Power.”
For Craig Fuller, his moderation in the Republican party was a rare phenomenon. With deep roots in California’s GOP culture of centralism, Fuller, starting with a long history with Ronald Reagan, leading to his appointment as Reagan’s cabinet secretary at the White House, and later as George Bush’s chief-of-staff and presidential campaign manager was known for his instincts to find the middle ground. Even more noted was his reputation of being a nice guy in Washington, a rare characteristic for a successful tenure in the White House.
Craig has called Easton his permanent home for the last five years, where now serves on the boards of the Academy Art Museum, the Benedictine School, and Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum. He also serves on the Spy’s Board of Visitors.
With their rich experience and long history of friendship, now joined by their love of the Chesapeake Bay, they have agreed through the magic of Zoom, to talk inside politics and policy with the Spy every Thursday.
David A Turner says
Craig, first let me say I feel your pain… I really feel your pain.
But Dave, this reply is basically aimed at you. Is it time for one of the three of you to step up and start asking questions about the No Labels candidacy? We know Al wants Haley to stay in the race to help reelect Biden. Craig is, bless his heart, hoping for better times in 2028, 2032 and 2036. But should those of us who don’t want Trump this year — and we four pretty much represent the gamut — keep dismissing Joe Mansion out of hand?
I know it’s fashionable at RNC and DNC (and CNN, MSNBC, plus Fox) to do so. But, in truth, we’re all waiting for Manchin’s team to spell out exactly how he will get around electoral college and congressional vote obstacles. Beyond our biases, maybe the country doesn’t need another liberal (A. From), nor conservative (C. Fuller) president. Could the national political malaise/anger be assuaged by a moderate president for four years? Like Manchin?
President Biden’s order that DOJ further open the Texas border by removing razor wire in my home state belies his false claim that he is enforcing an actual border. He has betrayed us and cannot be believed in any budget compromise re. funding for the Ukraine, Israel and our border. Might Republicans be fools to make a deal with someone this obviously disingenuous? My family’s had a ranch in Brackettville for 125 years. National media’s complacency aside, I know what’s actually happening down there. Al, I don’t think you’ll ever bring up Biden’s betrayal on this subject. You should, but you won’t. Darn it.
Furthermore, Biden and the DC Democratic machine are viciously attacking No Labels. This week, Washington Post reported that that Democrat’s ol’ hired thug, Dick Gephardt, has announced his well-financed team is going to “research, expose and punish in every way possible — professionally and personally” No Labels staffers and supporters. So, please Al, stop calling Trump the primary enemy to democracy. Democrats are fighting, in every state eligible, to keep No Labels off ballots. Just as bad, Democrats demand Trump’s name be removed from ballots for an in-the-weeds, 14th Amendment argument. You don’t say it, but you actually want to disenfranchise about 49 percent of November’s voters. Take a look at sections of the other amendments if you want to witness unenforced sections.
So Al, please (delicately) undo the nails in your hands and feet, and crawl down off your pro-democracy crucifix.
Back to Dave, as you know Chestertown has a circle of people who have gotten to know Joe Manchin and his wife Gayle. Please encourage, as the election proceeds, your readers and viewers to learn how Manchin intends to win the election. RFKII and the Pritzker family’s Democrat congressman are not serious candidates — they’re no Joe Manchin. Sure, Manchin may not run, in which case, you’ve wasted no ink by continuing to ignore him. But what if he does emerge as a compromise president — and you three have been dismissing him?
Might you please open up your discussions with Al and Craig regarding No Labels? It’ll probably be up to you, Dave, and your questions, to focus these two highly intelligent observers on Manchin’s candidacy. They’ve absolutely no incentive to do so.
Chris Gordon says
Mr. Turner,
I can only see third party candidates having any chance at all when ranked choice voting is nationwide. Then you could vote for Manchin as your first choice and Biden, Trump, or someone else as your second choice. Until then, all third party candidates will only be spoilers.
David A Turner says
Chris Gordon, you may be correct. Currently, however, most of the nation has no intention of voting for Trump or Biden/Harris.
Manchin’s telling people “he’s kicking the tires.” The No Labels group is currently developing a way to actually win with Manchin. I’m told. However, even if Manchin gets the plurality of electoral votes — which I think is likely — it could go to the Congress. Each state would get one vote, and that might put Trump in the White House. They’re working on it — more to come.