Joan Vennochi

" Welcome back to while number for a theater it's forum on a cloudy cool cozy Monday it is no way to address this one up it's just a lousy -- this hope you had a good weekend however Donna and I -- to the movies guts and stuff done around the house and pale with excitement for christmas also took things to chat about not the least of which. Is that going forward every Monday at this time we're gonna do the Boston Globe report brought to by the Boston Globe every Monday at 9 O'Clock. We're going to talk to globe writers and columnists. As they join me to talk about the latest news and headlines from around the -- talking about the latest happenings issues -- newsmakers all that stuff that's -- in the Boston Globe every day EN dot Boston dot com. And as part of that we -- welcome back two favorites forum here on AM succeeding WR KOV one an only John but hockey page on how aria."

" well we you know what they say politics -- radio says makes for strange bedfellows right"

" do they have a well you know I had a pretty good sets that you and I would be talking this morning and a huge smile crossed my face yesterday. As I was reading my globe at home. This the Jones an hockey column and it course it happens it's written about Iraq in his recent visit to the editorial board. And we have the Oprah phenomenon just up north without friends and neighbors in New Hampshire. So this is coming together as as as nicely as can be and they headlined the any story about Iraq in the Barack phenomenon. Is -- hope. Is not. Enough during the parallel between Deval Patrick and Barack Obama tell us a little bit -- Moore Joan from yet time spent with candidate Barack Obama."

" That is -- at all the that they -- like that thank you -- headlines right well. Barack Obama into the globes last week -- on the globe columnist -- kind of written off it and he's a charming man impresses many. Articulate man and it when you're sitting there and listening to him you can help but think that you've heard it. A lot of that. -- you went out at the got. The language and that means that the -- is identical and it's strikingly in it was."

" Finally Fabio from -- to succumb to cynicism very very early on an -- Monday morning. But I notice in I got this information from New York column -- which is why consider it to be must reading. That they share the same. Political consultant let me ask the question. Is this a cynical. Calculated political ploy. A script that works worked once and provides very little if any specifics for right like you -- commentator elect meet to bite down on to chew. Is this what it's all about."

" Well I think you know consultant. Strategists and and why have you want you to believe that you know based that the -- Mueller of the candidates followed that. At its geniuses and the truth is that Barack Obama when he first and US that it. -- similar -- hope that he got desperate hope that the that the opening so it's kind of the chicken and egg and I don't know it. You know Obama tactical -- it's kind of you know. They're both -- that I mean I think that there is a formula here. And I don't know that it you know cynical it's certainly not the EP has to sit out there -- kind of planes to. People better instincts and hope that once you could go up against politics as usual. And -- and you know I like other people lining -- I can be susceptible they -- that it's -- that here in Massachusetts we have seen that it takes more than campaigns scene and more than eight personality and it really charming personality. To make change happen. It's -- contains. And you know the very small -- and we've seen that over the past year."

" You know -- let me let me be the cynic even though it's not typically my strong suit it's not the Gama that I put on comfortably each and every day evident going to be -- about this nonetheless just to challenge you a little bit on it. When it senses that this is nothing more. Then what I call a personal rorschach test to hear about -- hear about uniting America here about bringing us together in common in inspirational please. -- for every one of us 300 million Americans we feel in our own box we have our own little sketch. And in yet that then allows the candidate to avoid ought to sights set its it's sidestep. The specifics his -- when I think given outrages in and then gee you know -- people who are younger than us it seems to me that younger voters. Have every right to look at Social Security as nothing more than a Ponzi scheme that's been passed down on them and that they'll be little if anything that they can claim from a and I think those same younger voters might have a very legitimate interest in some type of personal retirement account over which they have control. Do you see Barack Obama ought to broaden the question a little bit. Any democratic candidate -- willing to talk intelligently with an open mind on this issue or -- they still tied in and locked in to the same old script."

" Well -- I open access agree -- and -- get together but it is it's hot but in general rod bean addict. Terms about hope and say yes it's saying those security and as far as. Obama I mean he he has not really stood where she gains in elected office. Then again go back to JFK and the model. It could get it -- where -- I'm in history and people say you know. And the Pacific I'm just looking for someone who conspire and it acts that. -- rough roads and he's got he's got -- big all right."

" No no question he has the big moment as I look he had an eyes I'd listen to his seat unity his schemes in his speeches in the like. It seems to me that he sets. You have the big -- and you can win and I suppose that is really may be ultimately. What he wants but I like to think that whether it's Deval Patrick Barack Obama or any other candidate they also have. -- vision for where they want to leave the country in if -- had not willing to break out from their respective party orthodoxy at say the same thing to Giuliani to Romney to -- beats at all cast of characters on the Republican side if you're not willing to break away from your party's orthodoxy. We will remain. Red versus blue and closely divided for the next four or eight years with an awful lot of the backbiting and the sarcasm that passes for political discussion."

" Well maybe it is in its latest that it is maybe if you had them you know transitional figure and -- and that symbolize. You know great -- in breakthrough like a Barack Obama people could set aside those differences and they okay we're not going to -- You know hit the played widget that it it's played by ideology was gonna say what it was. You know that if you could appeal to you know people that instinct say that I am the person I in the leader. -- to that point that's a pretty powerful message. And that's what is playing right now and at the moment at least with. Democrats in Iowa and it looks like insurance at Carolina you know and it's working right now."

" Yeah I have I have to agree with you on now when he is on the democratic side the candidate with momentum -- seems to be the candidate of the Republican side with momentum. John as you examined. Barack -- history in me in this Illinois State legislature as a community organizing his brief time the United States senate. In having had a chance to talk to him last week that what they have them at the meeting over there at the globe. There's anything specific that jumped out at you hear a lot of time astute observer of candidates in you know and politics is there anything we use -- what he did as a community organizer of the here this guy truly is different."

" Well he didn't talk much of that community organized you know that the globe. Bigger but it's sort hourlong sessions where basically what came across -- ill and its armed and that -- you know that's important and those kinds of small settings please elect somebody has yet that riveted on new in. Paying a lot of attention you know its use that is you know put if he could do that to every voter in America I think -- would you know. That's a real flat or the specifics I mean he's said and that into view and I try to put in the column. His agenda it is as you pointed out earlier basically the Democratic Party and he couldn't really point out he could make strong distinction between. Himself and his rivals particularly Hillary Clinton. He just said look -- and we all of the same experts is basically all that the main agenda here but I am the person who can make change happen. And and again it just convincing people we've been on that he has that he has them. Interior howler of leadership that makes -- and I liked the you know Obama -- television but she was. You know an eloquent advocate of that of that line this is the man -- the -- and bring together. I don't know against he's not in the Democrat right now pulpit and category if you worthy nominees is that the the -- Well country that elected."

" I assure you I mean and again that's with a red and blue whether it's on Social Security whether it's on taxes an economic policy whether it's on Iraq Iran Pakistan North Korea. Diplomacy verses military actions find balance the fine line between those two the issues of abortion and stem cell research I I just don't see as much as I'd like to be my natural bubbly optimistic self I just don't see anybody's going to be able to unite a country which remains -- fundamentally divided on on some pretty serious. And compelling issues of maybe one and I -- you know tomatoes cut off this out. By natural ambulance and an optimism that may be one in which eight candidate. -- and pull this country together in and around a challenge around energy independence slash. Global warming environmental sensitivity in environmental leadership in May be. That opportunity for a Marshall plan but I think the only have those chances -- an interest that it you know if you want -- can -- candidate have room take multiple swings at multiple pitches for example. Health Kia. Foreign policy energy independence and so on and so forth and have six or seven of these major initiatives is -- that what was in -- we get little traction or momentum on one because you have so many. Major ones up at the end."

" Well that at all thing makes me more skeptical cynical and that's what I wrote about the against that of you know -- argue Obama's -- he's looking at not really is looking at you know don't knocking on center and saying hey you're the baby's room. You bring a lot of baggage I'm speaking to people that don't look at the world the -- you look at the world. You know people who don't have the bad -- in the Aston and you know the idea that things just can't work. And the polling I'm no expert on polling but the you know what -- what I've read. About is that he's appealing to younger people like that generation. Divide the people would just stop -- and say hey know what their profits and the people who was still young enough but not -- they will whine not. And and why can't we. Some good solutions here he is really you know trying to engage. Younger voters and saying the baby -- just don't get it you know we don't think anything's."

" You know -- I think the transcendent transcendent opportunity for him is obviously in and around the issue of race and I do think America -- is wide open on that one Jonas -- that the globe published last week he was in the aftermath of the Romney -- speech in which it showed. Different percentages of American voters reacting to what they've -- what they were less likely to -- vote for somebody if they were our fill in the blank Mormon Moslem Catholic so on and so forth. In the two lowest numbers were women so gender was only about two ten or 11% race black was only 6% non neither one of us as baby boomers as steel idealistic baby boomers like to think that the could be any negative but those were decidedly less. That some of the religious tests that people were openly admitting we're out of the bias of -- of the affected."

" Well when people talk about elect ability right now Obama isn't that quote as saying. At a black elected president and we thought that same kind of thing play out Massachusetts at least you know accurate. A black candidate for governor win a lot of people -- but he couldn't and needs it now again and it -- is. Not in America people I think what a lot of people would be difficult. -- you know the should be you know it worked out here in Massachusetts I don't know I mean. I think what people thought about it flexibility that basically thinking about -- not out loud say yes."

" let's take a call we can't Greg's been holed an on the line why do you and I chatted I wanted to make sure got to Greg hey Greg welcome. You're listening to -- Pataki is part of the a Boston Globe report with Tom Finneran on Finneran -- go ahead Greg."

" All just like you know an image battering the conflict. With a -- per hour and she sort about the same question. She danced around it and that you know basically you know -- what we've got to do public facility is meant to reach specific things. He's done since yeah. Right and profit I mean can point to anything it -- I've never seen somebody also are often. I'm not -- it's like papers what do you do what it's accomplished."

" Questions and make you welcome it's time. Okay in the city and I was so I let alone in the room with him in the the 20 people in the room where that you didn't really have very good answer that question and you know people pushed back yet he's said that he would. Achieve them you know nuclear nonproliferation for the compromise on that. I'd I'd of the deep ilk -- he you really didn't come out with. Ethnic answers that question that that when he about everyone says is not enough experienced side. The last thing anyone needs is experience and -- and he dances around that stopped."

" Yeah that's a that's -- and I don't. Go ahead jump."

" I was up with the they on on the -- like Iraq war where he made so much is standing up and saying as -- Senator in Illinois State senator Illinois I spoke out against what it voting record. While US and I believe it's virtually identical."

" Yeah it it it's an entry it really is impressive the kind of they they this skill in terms of leaving no nothing to bite down on as -- a few minutes ago let me run cut -- John I know we're coming up on the limit. But can you read Barak who the era into that'd be helpful to me in jail."

" I am running for president of the United States. This time because I want to summon the entire nation around -- higher purpose. Rally of around a higher that they that's why are running for president of the United States."

" Wow if that is yet Joan I'm left. Looking for a sale which an -- even finds. I can't even find the cheese -- two to -- on Naia I'm looking for something to wrap my mind around to get excited about. And today -- it sounds very very much to me. Like Jimmy -- I'm not I'm not of Washington. India for that is -- enough for all of you out the -- vote for me because I am not of Washington I am I -- higher and better more idealistic purpose in my life."

" Well I think he's right and it came in the corridor -- pop pop pop pop pop pop pop. -- it doesn't sound like it you promote non."

" I -- well no he doesn't mean and I am I'm looking I'm eager to meet you let's let's stay with JFK just for a minute which JFK's says. You know while let the message go forth to friend and foe alike will be -- will pay any price blob above apply and let freedom ring and mean it was a very definitive statement at a time of great tension between the Soviet Union the United States the escalation of the Cold War. Alleged missile gaps whether they were contrivance is for campaign purposes and not at least he had something to bite down on say. Will this guy's not just gonna remembering everything to the UN for discussion and debate we're going to be in the field with enemy -- report I just don't have the same -- sense of specifics and it's not just let's not just picked on Iraq before we conclude the conversation. Com I'm looking for more specifics. From all of them and I'm just seeing same old same old Republican -- Democrat for most cut distinctive -- Scripps."

" Well I think Barack Obama and that is saying. It's and it about leadership it's about the symbolism as saying it's about his ability to you know bring parties together to bring people. America together all -- for the rest of the world it's a real feel good message and it could get these -- after. Eight years of feeling not so good. People will be willing to buy into it."

" you know I don't discount the political mileage as a college as Greg said he's got so far run papers but I have to put on my gilts because had. And say you know -- in the room Iraq cut the crap. Cut the crap what are we actually going to do. About the economy our taxes or Social Security or the environment what are we gonna do enough enough of them enough of the messaging my friend let's get down to come up with something because in the end. As to -- learning you've got to govern and you got to lead it's not always about campaigns hey John I can't thank you enough for joining us up for opera's version. Of the Boston Globe report it has been a ball and you -- yesterday what's great it's gonna be -- up by the way in the WRKO upset by the end of the show and Drew just spread the message even for them. Just want to -- everybody know. We gonna do this every Monday at nine with globe writers and columnists such as -- but rocky. They'll join me as we talked about the latest news and headlines from all around the hub with talk about the latest happenings issues trends in newsmakers governor in the Boston Globe in on Boston dot com special thanks to Joan -- hockey"