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 President Joe Biden’s low approval ratings in light of the recent presidential election victory by the equally unpopular Emmanuel Macron in France last month. Al and Craig trade thoughts on how some politicians can still survive even if disliked by a majority of voters.
This video podcast is approximately sixteen 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.
Rick Skinner says
Mr Fuller is spot on: 40-45% approval or popularity of anyone in a major leadership post is about as good as it’s going to get these days, so looking for a presidential candidate shoo-in among the current crop of aspirants (including the incumbent) and aspirants is akin to “waiting for Godot” and Godot didn’t show. Perhaps both parties would be better off seeking out candidates from among a more disinterested sort, say, Oprah Renfry, for the Democrats and James Lankford, Oklahoma’s junior senator. Ms Renfry has no need to run for or serve as president and Senator Lankford is conservative enough for the GOP and may have found that being one of 100 senators in a legislature not altogether functioning is less fun than anticipated. In short, perhaps we need to operate on a Marxist principle (Groucho, not Karl) and seek out candidates who declare they want no part of a job or an organization that would have them as an occupant. We do not seem to be doing all that well electing (all) men thus far who would do anything to be president.
Arlene Wolff RN says
Doesn’t have anything to do with being liked?? Joe is just to confused and his handlers are pushing him to Socialism even we Americans don’t want the radical left changes. Don’t let him wreck this country. vote Republican.
Barbara Denton says
Amen. Obama is the puppeteer and he is sending our wonderful Country down the tubes. We need to clean house and get rid of the leftist Democrats and the RINOs who are there to make money and promote themselves rather than serving their constituents.