Every Thursday, the Spy hosts a conversation with Al From and Craig Fuller on the most topical political news of the moment.
In this special edition, From and Fuller discuss Kamala Harris’s acceptance speech on the last night of the Democratic Party Convention in Chicago. Al and Craig also trade thoughts on what moderate Republicans will do in November as the Democrats successfully claim the political center.
Watch full Harris acceptance speech here.
This video podcast is approximately 19 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 eight years, where he now chairs the board of the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum and is a former board member of the Academy Art Museum and Benedictine. He also serves on the Spy’s Board of Visitors and writes an e-newsletter available by clicking on DECADE SEVEN.
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.
Chris Gordon says
Trump watched the entire Democratic Convention. Why? Because he loves hearing anyone talk about him – no matter what they say.
I wonder what Trump’s donor are making of the news that millions of their donoations are being transferred to his failing businesses.
David A Turner says
Like most listeners of Craig’s, Al’s, and Dave’s show, I watched the entire Democratic convention. President Biden made the most telling, poignant and authentic statement of the week. He delivered it under his breathe as he began his speech:
“I just lost part of my soul.”
I’m not surprised that liberal commentators buried Biden’s remark. It was neither flattering nor happy. And “flattering” was the theme in Chicago. Happy and hopeful was the name of the game for Democratic Party speechwriters and program scripters. I’ve never witnessed a convention that so successfully achieved its objective and with such natural discipline.
Undecided voters like me sought out any scraps of policy to chew on — any policies. We had to content ourselves with fare dominated by cheerleading and joyful predictions. The most skillfully crafted speeches were delivered by President and Mrs. Obama. They reminded me of two popular kids shoveling high praise upon a lesser-light candidate in student elections. Two elegant but thin broths.
Undecided observers now turn to the upcoming televised debate and then to some frank candidate interviews with journalists. An almost neurotic former president will face off against a possibly empty-suited Kamala Harris. Some choice.
John Smith says
Don’t wait to see any actual details of the Harris/Walz policies unless they’ve been cut and pasted from Trump’s web page. They’ve already attempted to co-opt “No Tax On Tips” ,”Build The Wall”, “Fix The Economy” and “Pro Fracking”. She’s been in position for the past 3 1/2 years to have done something about these issues and DID NOT A THING. And, following the basement campaign of 2020, Harris will remain there and not grant a single legitimate interview. She’s already sabotaging the debate that was scheduled and confirmed with agreed upon criteria. Now, she demanding changes which were not part of the original AGREED TO plan in hopes that it all falls apart. Then it’ll be back to blame Trump on MSM. Sheesh…