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 mounting pressure on Vice President Harris by the media to articulate her policy positions and whether or not it matters with low-information voters. Al and Craig trade thoughts on why so few never-Trump Republicans are endorsing the Harris-Walz ticket and the end of RFK Jr’s presidential campaign and endorsement of Donald Trump.
This video podcast is approximately 21 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.
Holly Geddes says
This covers the Left side of the isle very well. What team is covering the Right side? Or is the Spy only for those who think Left?
James Dissette says
Holly Geddes: We would welcome an article or Letter to the Editor from you or anyone in our community.
Chris Goedon says
Al is center left. Craig is center right. I’m sure you can find the extreme right elsewhere.
Holly Geddes says
I was left until I had to change to right. I don’t do extreme or conspiracies.
I do not think Mrs. Harris has a firm grip on economics. She seems to think the government has an unlimited source of money. I am a retired teacher with limited income. So I am not sure I can thrive on the policies that have been in force for the last 3 years. Giving tax credits for every baby and financial benefits to illegal immigrants is fine if we have the savings account to pay for it. But, last I heard, we as a country are in debt. Any additional money has to come from somewhere. I think she is eyeing my pocket for that money. My taxes are high enough. The cost of eggs, milk and bread are higher than 3.5 years ago, before Covid.
My first inclination was to vote for one of the other Republicans. I was much better off just before Covid during the last time Republicans were in charge than I am now.
David A Turner says
Nutcases? Al? Is that what you think of us “still undecideds”? Is it what you think of anyone who won’t gravitate immediately to your candidate for president? Was that snide charge beneath you in this discussion?
On a more open-minded point, what is the name of your book in which you point out the importance of policy over slick messaging in a presidential campaign? I’ll buy a copy. Do your statements on the show today betray the view your own book promoted a few years ago? The interview by Dana Bash bashed the importance of ideas and policies. Tonight’s CNN interview with Harris and Tim Waltz resolved the Vice President’s dilemma. She favors slick messaging. Victory over truth.
The CNN interview with liberal-oriented reporter Dana Bash was a dream come true for diehard Harris supporters. It started with a 5-minute lead about Harris that could easily run as a freestanding ad paid for by the Harris campaign. Please, take a gander at that lead. Journalism?
Her softball questioning continued right up to her last question in which Bash demands to know: “Madam Vice President what was your reaction to seeing the Convention photograph of your young niece boldly listening to your acceptance speech? And Governor, what did it really mean to you when your son expressed his feelings about your nomination?” Who needs Fox when CNN displays such bias?
Dana did ask about the two topics Republicans have, for weeks, pointed out regarding Harris’ switcharoos on the Mexican Border and opposing fracking. Bash dutifully asked both questions, how could she not? Bash tried to ask Harris those tricky follow up questions but Harris either dodged or refused to provide actual answers. When pressed, Harris just told Dana she didn’t want to answer. When Dana Bash “but, butted” Harris, Harris interrupted her and said she wouldn’t answer any more. So ended the long-expected interview. Is Harris possibly an empty suit who offers “messaging” over “policies”?
UNDECIDEDS WILL SAVE OUR NATION BY
VOTING FOR DIVIDED GOVERNMENT
Over cocktails this evening my good neighbor (name not provided) told me he has a formula for casting his vote in November. Tell me what you think of it. Should I endorse it? He’s the kind of voter who says that paying off the national debt is his top criterion. You know — the serious type of voter. Not someone who calls his opponents “nutcases.”
Craig, my neighbor’s vote on election day is going to be a risk. Unavoidable, pick your poison. On election day my neighbor will discern as best as he can which party will win the Congress. He will then vote for president according to which party carries Congress. For example, if Democrats are to win Congress he will vote Trump. What say you Craig? It’s no less cynical than the path you’re taking. But it’s more sophisticated than yours. Not to butter you up, eh, yeah it is, but you are a sophisticated political observer. You might rebut that I’m endorsing a recipe that ensures ungovernable federal domestic and foreign policies? So what’s new? We’ve functioned like that for the last couple of terms. It means a continuation of government that limps along. Is that ideal? No. But that’s a predicament that sure beats the nightmare we undecideds’ have of either extremists team’s winning a blowout.
Craig, Republican moderates like you — who are threatening to vote Harris, do or die — have lost track. Americans’ goal is ensuring SUFFICENT governance.
Our objective is not getting rid of Trump in order to expedite a new Republican Party. You forget America’s bigger picture. I don’t mean to challenge your patriotism, but please, think it through.
When I was hired to be Liddy Dole’s speechwriter in the Reagan White House, Lyn Nofziger’s wicked band of true conservatives snuck me off campus one evening to discern whether I was a true proven conservative OR a homosexual. Turns out I am both and had passed muster. Good on Mrs. Dole. Perhaps your anti-Nofziger team in the White House, also known as “the Californians,” had ducked this entire discussion. Seems y’all were particularly anxious about the gay conservative issue. Reply if you care to, don’t worry about the opinions of minyans like me.
My point is that we all gotta live in the USA. We need to seek compromise, endure insults and limp ahead for the duration.
That ain’t Churchill, but it’s enough.