Jeff Jacoby

Welcome back this is Tom Finneran you while listening to how one number four of vigorous forum on AM 680. WRKO you know every Monday at this time we do the Boston Globe report brought to you by the Boston Globe we try to come up. Events and personalities in dress and things going on in and around not town in and around -- world. And we do that with a variety of columnist delighted today to welcome to the Boston Globe report. Confederates for a may have succeeded WRKO the one and only Jeff Jacoby good morning Jeff -- doing great Jeff weaker dual. A four hour seven are right now I would just sit and take notes at college the Jacobi tutorial based on what I read in New York paper just on yesterday's pay your credit -- great -- let me tell -- this is can be great. So the Boston Globe -- yesterday's paper after I finish shoveling my walked by the way it's a big endorsement to one for the Democrats the one and only Barack Obama and four Republicans. John McCain I can I think I can hardly think of to Bora different candidates but. Tell us Jeff a little bit about from -- our experience and observation. What goes in two. And editorial endorsement how does the globe specifically go about vetting the candidates and coming to a judgment.

Sort system at the out that we should note is that you know there may be some listeners don't I'm a columnist for the post editorial writer. So what what I read on page are -- into my own byline in my own opinion but I actually don't get -- the people want to -- the endorsement. All right had my punches but my colleagues on the editorial statement would door. I didn't actually know who worked so I hope for the paper yesterday well but that they had essentially that he Lisa that the to a lot of talking a lot of thinking -- a lot of interviewing that they you know go behind closed doors -- come -- with -- decision white -- adopted its -- the message -- sent out in Latin abatement endorsing. We have -- exactly. We have a candidate three papal decision on -- about a -- up left for the last month probably most of these presidential candidate have been have been made the trek out more people are. And columnists and then reporters aren't right it's sittin' on those leaving the world you know we we. Are a bunch of with a basically opened themselves up that would a request get fired at them around the table and then -- you know with the decision. Of the FB editorial work which is of course headed by the publisher and in the editorial page editor of the editorial writers they -- they're going to put together who they're going to throw their support to I gotta -- I was surprised we were having a little in house discussions last Friday as -- began about about who endorsements were in the -- Maya --

discussion that's theater that's fifty language for an office pool that you win or not. -- I -- I'd problem vote an idea you have to hold it.

Florio page editor Renee lock down at me you know very keeps you looking thing you know what makes -- think going to be McCain and Obama about high speed out of artillery. I get I hit that I've got -- say it's going to be don't it would current.

Hey Jeff you know I -- suffered that the -- the globe editorial page would mention by name when I was in public life but I often had that -- believe it or not I governing had the wish that I could inquire of them the way they in -- made comments about me from US sentiment is it a series is -- how Iraq pro in terms of making the decision. Our is a democratic so the publishers sitting there and of the publisher has says says -- with some emphasis. Hey I think -- Iraq and John really the two best is it says that pretty much end of discussion iris that literally each you know one person one vote in the globe editorial board.

You know I I I can't say exactly how would step plays out of the globe and in all honesty columnists are not part of that process job telling the story. From left from years you're gone by when I was -- at the Boston Herald. I can remember this for the paper the herald was still owned by news corporation which is headed by Rupert Murdoch and I can remember it was the yeah. It must've been 1992 when pat Buchanan challenged George Bush senior in the Republican primary and and work came down from on high meaning not from pat Purcell publisher but from Rupert Murdoch the owner that the Boston Herald would endorse pat Buchanan. In the New Hampshire primary will fall so you know -- hierarchical doesn't come much more or what's or vertical and that's what I call is that like that you know that's when editorial I don't think I'm going to be -- right yeah those -- that was -- editorial column very distinct process. Public volatile XP it's certainly. But exactly how many votes that these kind of endorsement -- that way.

You know what by the way speaking of columns jeopardy -- very very clear while -- and -- I think they ought to get it anyway but it's good that we add emphasis to it. Jeff is a columnist and you know last week we hit on Jones and hockey and Jeff will be on on a regular basis I'm gonna make sure -- post up by his column. Yesterday the White House menorah. Jeff writes with -- passion literally -- bring can kind of make it -- is yeah the tears well up bright arise one of the great remind as he brings of the gift of life. The challenge of children raising children to be you know have a faith and a foundation as they move through world that sometimes seems to have no moral spiritual foundation so this would be. Good good reading Jeff let's stay with the -- these endorsements from minute. Tell me your sense of Barack Obama what you've seen what you heard what you read about this guy. Is this guy ready for the White House.

You know we never know what American politics -- are -- as examples of people that we we're the most seasoned political. Veterans imaginable they got the White House and that allowed. There have been others about whom it was said that person does not ever going to be ready for prime time. And we end up looking back -- is that American heroes you know Abraham Lincoln certainly did not have a whole lot of you can political experiences and executive or -- as highly. -- political official. Yet considered how we regard him but you'd never know pursuers but I would I would I would think it's about Obama what what struck me when I met him with what I with him is that they're really and I and I you know like conservative I'm more likely to vote Republican to vote democratic. But there's something refreshing about a guy who actually be listening to you when he talked in who doesn't seem to have automatic. Can't answer number 24 speed that sticks to no matter what the question and no matter how often workers are repeated you know I think that. But there's something about an awful lot of people like appealing his politics certainly not mine but I like his matter a whole lot better than it -- with.

Look let me ask you -- Iran and Iraq in this yes -- him as a human being and his willingness to listen. I talked about this last week in my show and it's that you know it's seems to me and I'd say this is a Democrat Jeff. But frustrated Democrat more rough on the not because it seems to me is a sense of state says that is set in on -- Heidi. You don't Ian and I candidates so -- says. I am the candidate of change change -- hope opened change in uses them interchangeable. And yet I see not a dime's worth the difference between him him in any of the Democrats on issues such as health camp in the United States of America Social Security in the challenges that will confront. The next younger generation whether Social Security. Will be easier for them or whether we should make the effort as opposed the has created a situation of -- great responsibility so what will -- the beef I guess to coin a phrase our question from a previous cancer campaign.

I agreement quite don't think that would comes to policy prescriptions that they release the whole lot of difference among the democratic candidates which is why I think that at least this. It hit the democratic primary is going to turn on non policy grounds. There may be somewhere of voter says you know -- like -- when he XP -- Obama health care and better than the one that that Hillary got. But I think that for most voters for most people voting the democratic primary. This is going to combat high -- about the candidates because they're written. They all the different from the -- that they take you know when that would -- was let the -- I asked him a right proper -- come up often in the united you know by the time president was leaves office the White House will have been occupied by members of the thing to them when. For twenty years. And it Hillary Clinton is elected and reelected that would mean what eight years in which the White House occupied you can buy equipment or by the bush. Is that good for American democracies that the voters should take into account you know that it was polite it certainly didn't picked -- with any kind of rude or improperly. It basically says let you know you can switch between voting for the politics of of the eighties and nineties or you can -- that I could move on with at a politics cycle that. But I think -- that. Step two is just in the way of saying it all comes out I feel about it if -- the kind of candidate that. That you know at a sort of gut level you you react well to. You can vote for but if you've got a feeling that had enough -- the clintons in the top of the pluses and you're ready for and they you know Christ who would who you know it's -- opposite kind of feeling. That's something like probably appeal I really think it's gonna come down more to two chemistry and and political.

Let's hop across the -- we can't to John McCain this guy is an amazing guy in a lot of ways. What you sense of John McCain the person in the candidate did immigration -- him so badly that we're really talking about Dead Man Walking or is their resurrection occurring right front of our eyes.

I gotta say I like Scott McCain allotment like him or more you know the more than I see him I think it'd. There's something remarkable about a candidate who get endorsement as he did as we -- of both at all -- the via. The Moines register quite register the Boston Globe the Manchester union leader what was left and the globe and the Manchester union leader that it didn't yank of noodling with political hurdle them. -- is thought that the order that they had -- the yeah -- only Lieberman thought about it today yes senator Lieberman has endorsed that McCain as well. You know I -- gotta be strong selling. Sort force you know George W was rent for office with that statement promised he was -- uniter not a divider. But I don't republic was able to unite you know that -- element -- point of view with these.

Yeah tell me well what the Lieberman knows how how does the Lieberman -- resonate with you walk how do you see if I should say. Resonating with the public is this a kind of while moment that is may be even more serious than Oprah because -- up an entertainment figure and Lieberman is seen as a thoughtful knowledgeable articulate and principled guy and Democrat nonetheless you know at least once upon a time whose cross the aisle to embrace his friends and and and in this guy. This unique guy McCain.

Right I think the biggest issue was the war the water out on radical Islamist terrorism generally of the war in Iraq specifically east who have stood together they've traveled together you know they they endorsed sticking with the board increasing the number of troops together so are on as part any issue that concerns I think more than anything gulf Lieberman is supporting McCain because McCain has the ball. War but but because issues again I think that there's a that feeling that has more to do with your perception of some these character if with the -- it's about chemistry with McCain -- but -- is this something. I'm couldn't have been galloped about -- can. Battle with the personal history in what you're -- what was in Vietnam but the fact that you've taken -- and the reason -- or standing by at war that. You know everybody knows became extremely unpopular criticizing bush for his strategy and it's not only that we got a lot of Iraq but that even more conceded sentence. And you know at least the -- and affording lately you know he's proven it would have been on the Mark -- that. As you know there's there's something about The King and I think that. That leads people to think in -- that it would stand his position on policy you know what these two -- wires the guitar like fuel for example vocal campaign fight it.

I was just going to say McCain Feingold. I can you know I can say it as much as I admire that like the guy I'll never forgive him farm price I I think it's it's an outrage yeah.

Trampling of the First Amendment and yet. You I have to thank you like most people McCain would they even if you try to -- not a particular issue you know that this is somebody stand. Who they think through what he's doing and the beast stands on principle but there's a fine line between. Any effort or refusing to budge at the would be expelled stuff it sure as you know it is always clear exactly -- that -- If that would cut back vote and I don't think. I would add one other you know -- but I don't think would be the worst in the world for the country to have an older president we've had to get the president now last the last thing is that it's kind of what you know a little older perhaps little boys.

One of the things that improve presses -- in line with what you just said about McCain and the principal in the character they even go on for a couple positions you might be tearing your hair routes and this guy you are going to kill he he he's he just refused to Jenny reflect on the -- of ethanol out there and Iowa now everybody else's down on both knees in complete abject. That's application to the ethanol lobby out there because apparently they've been told by an advises what you gonna do McCain looks and says does the dumbest damn thing I've ever seen I don't what is.

And on this what you is that you know that it -- with a -- principal what to do he has been against these kind of pork barrel. You know outrageous subsidies and that corporate welfare for years and years out of the leading. As stalwart of the US senate against corporate welfare and you know all these kind of things but it's sneak into -- and we don't know whether it's only to trinity people --

Yes they do what he is nailed that consistently I tapped my recollection of it goes back to the late eighties early nineties he was -- and about. Corporate welfare and -- staggering sums of money Jeff that. You know you really could devote infrastructure a better attacks policy -- a million other uses including perhaps just reducing the level of expended.

I think I think it was which means that against the left for the king I think it was that the public I'd make commitments remembering this it's so what in my college correct but I think it was McCain who brought up -- about the bridge to nowhere and that have but he knows what that means now. Everybody knows that there's this quarter billion dollar breaks you know after the connected Craig I would twelve people that made it that's an example of you know of an excellent which he has always been by my late stick in the right position and as you know again I think for -- for a candidate -- to get endorsement of the Boston Globe and the Manchester union leader and that you know an independent Democrat. Like like Lieberman you know that that really suggest somebody who went -- went to.

That's a rare trifecta for sure Jeff last question I let you go you've been great with the time here. Help me understand help while listen as -- anticipate how do the Democrats at this point. He handled the issue of Iraq in the aftermath of a search which they condemned across the bullet they said it would never work. Everything that I read NC including in the New York Times Travis it does not like George Bush our our our our -- Iraq policy even the times says. The surge seems to be working beyond the claims even of George Bush.

I have been very disappointed in the -- Democrats to conduct themselves. It seems that they've really allowed themselves to become emotionally politically invested in in defeat in retreat to. Withdrawal from Iraq you know one of the things that I think will that the -- election will turn on next year's that you got one party that for the most part has embraced the idea of winning. At another party that for the most part had been embracing the idea of losing. You know it -- that you continue to get better they got they will I vote which is popularity will continue to improve as well. And you'll find democratic candidates who had been the most vehement in their denunciations of both of them gradually backing away from -- and I -- will be the top of the Republican not a -- voters forget. Said what when and it was like to stick with this forty something what it looked like the politically pot and so I think the payroll you know the Democrats of simply you know do a little bit of -- of a -- forward move themselves away from their strong -- or ruling which. Think that it you know they've been doing it over the past few weeks you know they don't it out was quite so vehemently about the worst we used to or they cast in terms of well things are going to. Better now but it wouldn't that have required all of these years have yet been that would -- the competent the first thrust itself is that. You know it'll it'll be something like that political response as opposed. At a post I have to favorite you know but the fact is as opposed to a response but based it's based on what is really the best interest united states of the values.

Well Jeff listen you've been great you know we have thousands and thousands of listeners here on Finneran for a who actually think this probably nothing finer than to see a spirited presidential contest without any -- anybody -- need to -- manages. And incumbency. Just to watch got a first this long long distance Internet and that's what's exciting and we try to bring it to them fresh and alive every -- and I have to -- have to say this -- you know -- audio -- group -- conversation this morning Israeli enough prostate on the cake for these thousands -- is because there's a lot of incite fear and you've met with these candidates and you have your own sense of what's right wrong Jeff Jacoby great great columnist for the Boston Globe thank you for joining us here in the Boston Globe report all of which has been brought to you obviously by the one and only Boston Globe so we will do that again of course next week -- special thanks to Jeff Jacoby we will also be back with you would your calls in a moment. Honey and 680 WRKO