Doug Schoen: Lessons from a Life in Politics, Learning from Clinton/Nixon, China's Threat (AUDIO)

Big Ideas with Ben Weingarten ^ | 2018-06-29 | Ben Weingarten

[fredericbastiat1]

Democrat pollster and political consultant par excellence Doug Schoen has spent over 30 years advising presidents and prime ministers. Unlike most such political animals, he also has a deep understanding of political philosophy, which has moved further "right" the more he has seen government in action. Last but not least, Doug's one of those rare few remaining JFK Democrats who has always believed in defending capitalism and America's national interest.

I had Doug on the Big Ideas podcast to draw out some of his lessons from a life well-spent as a master practitioner and student of politics, to share his insider view of government and how it has impacted his political philosophy and to discuss his strong beliefs on the threats that face us both globally in terms of China and Russia, and at home in terms of the bloat of government, rot in our institutions and our inability to share in a common vision for America.

You can listen to the interview on iTunes.

Download it here.

Or read the transcript in full here.

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[bigbob]

Schoen must be deaf to have hired Jessica Tarlov and hearing that voice day in and day out...

[AndyJackson]

So, what I have tried to do in my political work, and certainly in my writings, is to make the case for centrism, to make the case for third-party, independent candidates and most of all compromise on the major issues and challenges facing our country.

I think we can end this inquiry right here. Compromise means 1,000,000 H1B visas not 2,000,000; it means amnesty except for proven MS-13 gang members; it means we only charge 1/2 the import tariffs that other countries impose on us; it means you let ISIS have 1/2 the middle east; it means that the FBI can illegally tap 1/2 you telephone calls.

Socrates devotes the Republic to the question of what is Justice? Here we abandon that for the unprincipled undiscriminating principle of "compromise." Well, how much compromise? What if the initial request is so extreme that the compromise position is unjust. Should we have an MS-13 gang mmeber on the SC? After all compromise suggests they should be allowed one seat, at least.

[Katya]

fascinating interview, thanks for posting

[Ancesthntr]

” Last but not least, Doug’s one of those rare few remaining JFK Democrats who has always believed in defending capitalism and America’s national interest.”

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Even as I’ve disagreed with him on many issues, I’ve also admired him for being grounded as a patriot. He is the way most Dems/liberals were several decades ago - sharing similar goals with those of us on the right side of the spectrum, but strongly disagreeing as to the best way to get there. Would that more Dems/liberals were like him...but he’s among the last of the actual liberals left in that party - it is full of outright Leftists and Communists now, who despise this country, everything that it has ever stood for, and everything that did (or could in the future) make it great.