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 Spy columnist J.E. Dean’s opinion piece on Wednesday about the sobering reality that the United States is heading toward another Biden vs. Trump race. Al and Craig share possible scenarios with both parties where the aging current president and the recently indicted former president are not on the ballot.
This video podcast is approximately 18 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.
Paul Rybon says
I think a rematch is exactly what we need.
Anne Stalfort says
Lots of people must want Biden to run again. His second quarter numbers are at 72 million!
Bob Parker says
While Mr.s From and Fuller are correct in noting that this is early in this election cycle, and that name recognition ordinarily plays an important role in stated voter preference, this is NOT a typical election scenario because both candidates are well known to voters AND because of our highly polarized political environment. Polls report a majority of voters express negative opinions about each candidate, but for materially different reasons. While Dems largely do not want Biden to run because of his age, those Republicans who do not want trump identify his personal/ethical flaws as the reason. These reasons for not wanting the leading candidate of one’s to run are very different and the polling data must be interpreted in this context. I do agree with both Mr.s From and Fuller in wishing for different candidates and agree with Mr. From that there are several younger Dems, particularly Governors, who would make strong candidates and Presidents. The problem on the GOP side is complicated by the refusal of most declared candidates to point out trump’s failings which in the opinion of many disqualifies them as options. To date, only former Gov.s Christie and Hutchinson and former Rep. Hurd have clearly identified trump as an unacceptable candidate. Until other Republicans step forward, these 3 represent the universe of GOP candidates willing to move the GOP in a direction away from its current path.
Yes, it is early, but many voters who express support for trump will likely continue to support him no matter what, while most Biden supporters will generally be comfortable with another candidate who offers a coherent policy platform and can show broad support throughout the party. Let’s hope that both parties identify alternate candidates who can Garner the broad support of American voters.