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June 21, 2025

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3 Top Story Point of View Craig

Remaining the United States by Craig Fuller

November 7, 2022 by Craig Fuller

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Closing days of nationwide elections always fascinate me. This year, the intensity of calling citizens to the voting booth seems greater.

It’s the division, I think. The idea of bringing people together in a common cause seems workable only on a bifurcated basis. Republicans hold one set of views and Democrats another on Biden’s performance, abortion, education, the environment, crime and a whole range of other issues. At least, this seems to be the case.

Over the weekend, I heard President Obama ask a crowd in Pittsburgh, “….who will fight for you.” It’s a good question to ask, but the answer varies considerably between members of the two major parties and independents.

No more clear evidence of this presented itself to me than in a recent national survey measuring the approval rating of President Biden. In this poll, the overall approval number was 43%. However, looking inside that number tells the story. 83% of Democrats approved of Biden’s performance. 35% of Independents approved, but think that the economy and crime are the most important issues mirroring Republican sentiments. And, only 9% of Republicans approved of Biden’s performance.

So, the President who announced after his election he would bring us together, seems to have traveled a path that has us further apart than ever.

It is very difficult to see how this week’s election will alter the current reality very much. In fact, a White House lead by one party with the Congress lead by the other party seems a formula for only greater division.

Indeed, in the House, the likely-to-be-next Speaker, Kevin McCarthy, is laying plans for investigations and legislation to rollback what President Biden has tried to do. Few Republican legislative initiatives running counter to the views of leading Democrats will survive the veto pen in the Oval Office; but, few initiatives from the Administration are likely to be accepted by the new Congress.

So, is there a better path forward?

Spoiler alert: Al From and I spoke about this in our From & Fuller predictions in The Spy commentary last week.

From my perspective, we need leaders to emerge and vitriol to be submerged.

One way to get there would be for President Biden, following the final results of the 2022 election, to determine whether or not he can successfully govern in the final two years of his term if he faces Republican majorities in the House or the Senate or both while simultaneously launching a national re-election campaign for the presidency.

I, for one, think it cannot be done. If, however, President Biden would withdraw from campaigning he would no longer be the largest target of Republican leaders. And, new leaders would need to step forward among Democrats who would be less likely to challenge a sitting President of their own party.

A set of new faces among Democrats would surely increase the number of Republican leaders stepping up challenging a return to the past (something that many of us would truly like to move away from).

Lastly, the number of voters who express dissatisfaction with both major parties may well be larger than in decades, maybe ever. There are quiet discussions about finding leaders of both parties to lead a national ticket; or, perhaps a leader who is less partisan.

There are paths forward if individuals step up. What will not soon get us to a better place is doing the same things over and over again, hoping for a different set of results (thank you Einstein).

I do remain optimistic that leaders are out there and they can rally people around them. Indeed, Maryland has stood for that. The outgoing governor, Larry Hogan, remains a popular Republican across the state. And, the likely incoming governor, Wes Moore, a Democrat, enjoys strong bipartisan support. I suspect both will play their own important roles in finding a better way forward.

One can only hope!

Craig Fuller served four years in the White House as assistant to President Reagan for Cabinet Affairs, followed by four years as chief of staff to Vice President George H.W. Bush. Having been engaged in five presidential campaigns and run public affairs firms and associations in Washington, D.C., he now resides on the Eastern Shore.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: 3 Top Story, Craig

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Letters to Editor

  1. Deirdre LaMotte says

    November 7, 2022 at 9:12 AM

    There will be no hope until Republicans love their country more than they hate Democrats.

    • Mike Allison says

      November 7, 2022 at 4:35 PM

      And that won’t happen until the Democrats realize the United States is a Constitutional Republic, not a straight democracy. Where all laws are to apply equally to everyone, not just the laws they choose to enforce and who they choose should have to follow our laws. Our Constitution is meant to limit the size and powers of the Federal Government not limit freedoms of The People.

      • Deirdre LaMotte says

        November 7, 2022 at 8:03 PM

        No, you are mistaken. The “freedoms of the People” have nothing to do with attempting a
        takeover of an elected government, limiting voting by minorities through election interference and
        gerrymandering, rampant lying and wholesale propagation of untruths in order to gain power.
        This is not what our Republic stands for. It is what our Republic has fought wars over and won.

        On a side note, Mr. Personal Freedom Republican: 50% of American voters have had their bodily autonomy taken away. You and your clueless compatriots wonderfully demonstrate what “tone deaf” means.

        • Eric Ploeg says

          November 7, 2022 at 9:50 PM

          Whoa. Judging by your comments, seems there’s nothing anyone can say that will de-program your thinking. Still, if you search ” gerrymandering” there is no better example than Maryland. Election interference? Lying and wholesale propagation? Am I missing something?

          • Deirdre LaMotte says

            November 8, 2022 at 8:59 AM

            So funny, this projection by you.. Free thinkers who believe facts and seek news that is unaltered are not the ones who
            are horribly programmed. But, of course you know that.

  2. J.T. Smith says

    November 7, 2022 at 4:09 PM

    My friend Craig omits mention of Donald Trump, whose election denial and aggressive appeal to baser instincts continue to stoke the flames of divisiveness. Until leaders of the Republican Party stand up to Trump, our national political prognosis will remain dire.

  3. Jerry McConnell says

    November 7, 2022 at 4:28 PM

    If Democrats are to successfully counter Republican efforts to further destabilize our democracy and foment Trump-encouraged fascism, someone besides Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are going to have to lead the way. Biden is unelectable; Harris can’t be taken seriously. Both should bow out right now.
    Waiting until primary time to find the best alternatives will be too late. The issue is urgent and party leaders need to identify and unite behind the best Democratic talent the country has to offer, even if that team is presently not headliners.
    Trump will announce his candidacy before Thanksgiving, and will have two years to exaggerate economic problems, crime and fictional racial crises and other issues, and to conduct right wing extremist—themed circuses across the country.

    If the Dems aren’t proactive and focused on their top priority—getting good, solid electable candidates identified and prepared [automatically eliminating Pete, Bernie, Elizabeth, et al] we’ll be dealing with years of religious zealot Republicans cancelling social programs, environmental initiatives, Medicare, Social Security, and undoing years of progress.

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