Election Politics

" No man who knows a lot about politics eating them marginal son's name is Juan Williams and he's in studio what is the services. The exact prediction what's gonna happen tonight welcome welcome to the ratings on one."

" Tom good to be with you this is a fun day for Obama to say something you know you go back to last year there was you know -- that around the big election -- but today what I'm finding is where an off year election you know not a mid term not a presidential race is a surprising amount of interest."

" Are a blood that was my first question is is this something that gives those of you who who've talked and breathe and eat politics some of the do."

" Oh yeah well you know it's good I'm I'm I'm glad that you guys are able to keep me in the in and work apparently. Actually health and that's good that but I it's interesting is that who was excited who's not excited because the people that backed Obama. Don't seem to be very excited it's the opposition to Obama. That's pretty much ginned up today."

" He brought a lot of people out he'd brought him to these through the election doesn't of the voting booths a lot of people that otherwise would not go. Lot of young people came out just he just got everybody all excited last year. And that is the number one question about it is that the court -- question or is it just the fact that. People voted for him and they really don't care about politics they just liked him."

" You know what I think. When I look at look back at the exit polls from 08. Is that people were excited about him to some extent. But I think it was a function of anger at the bad economy which is will bring number one issue still is but not as large is actually -- Worse even though we're starting to see -- were actually people think it's them better. Wryly yes in other words something like. It used to be 60% said number one issue with the economy last all of this votes down 40%. But. So when we have we have the meltdown on Wall Street in September yes it's that was -- really like hot for the election that that's really did that just. John McCain muzzled dispatched today to that's when he got surfing the remember you know I'll turn things around he got -- was -- so. The economy is still hot ticket but remember I think people were voting. And their discontent with the economy discontent with the wars. Lot of anti bush President Bush's numbers were in the 20% range do you believe they'll. I think a lot there was a lot of you know change in the air there was a lot of that you know people just in time to wipe the slate clean this time around. Those people especially the minorities young people I don't see them as engaged as the opposition to Obama especially in terms -- let's say health --"

" Well we break it died about November 2010. And and all of a sudden we started waking up with a New Jersey race in Virginia race New York 23. And there's a couple of mayor's races and there's. John Garamendi -- known for a long time he's season race on California but it's not really all that. Getting much attention they're the real the real thing is about this business about the independence -- asked you Brit -- was in last hour but I it. I'm fascinated by more of the independents and I am about the coattails of Barack Obama because he got this guy in New Jersey. Who is throwing a wrench into the works and whether or not wins. This is so interesting to me is so much is how much of an impact this is independent gets there. And then if you're Republican -- new upstate New York who'd you vote for -- as a Republican on the ballot."

" Well you know what's interesting here is obviously now -- Upstate New York where I was a conservative on the ballot user -- bright and but what happened is that the Republican nominee of the beast as a father baba. Threw her support to the Democrat ski but I don't know how it plays out there. The the bets are that the conservative candidate wins. Loosely."

" So we been talking about it. Over the years and we had a caller called talk about John Anderson and some of these independents and Iran over the years for the four Ross Perot were naming your your -- They run for president and they've beaten the best ones only get a handful of votes. But is there a movement in this country is I hear hear on talk radio all the time one. About the fact that I'm tired of a throw the whole bunch I don't like Republicans alike Democrats. -- out and the independents are getting more and more registrations. Are we going to see will be start putting in kind of like parliament and some European countries more more. Non Democrat non Republicans and independents that are that are in the halls of congress that eventually will lead to a legitimate third party."

" It's early. But what you can see in terms of polling is that there is just as you described. And antipathy towards both political parties. People saying you know what I'm tired of this I don't like that the partisan divide in the bickering I want someone that's pragmatic and I want some body that stands for something. Now what's interesting about this is -- you get people of varying. Positions. Obviously you get people like you know for you know Bernie Sanders. From Vermont. He's a socialist yeah I'm not saying that that happened -- I think that's what he literally and proud of you vote so it's yeah all right. So then you get he is very different than Joe Lieberman. The senator from Connecticut who is technically an independent although he's lines up with the Democrats. In terms of party affiliation when it comes to organizing assessment. So these different people and now you throw in there. -- Hoffman from New York 23 let's say that the conservative wins. You see that there's there's that that's a wide array of people so how do they organize themselves now. The thing about someone like Ross Perot. Is that Ross Perot retton and 18% of the vote to monitor memory of that before him John Anderson. These people were standing up I think they had a sense that. Voters were looking for something different. But it wasn't the case that they were organizing beyond themselves right now and with distinctive I think what you're picking up on talk radio. Is that the anger at the political parties is so deep so expansive. That there is a chance. And I think you're starting to see the possibility that people would say come together but who is -- who is that if the far right. The far right member Republican Party is down pretty low -- in terms of self identification -- 2324%. But there's so many people who are independent. Who had previously been with the Republicans who feel like you know way. I'm looking for something but I'm not sure -- wanna go back in it if there was an independent or third party effort my suspicion is given what I've seen of focus groups and and and polling. That it would come from the independents who feel disaffected but are pretty much warmer Republicans."

" And the register as independents and that number's growing and growing and groan before leaving memories par is a decent most Republicans. Registry and later as an independent but -- Newt Gingrich was on this program cup week and a half ago some -- and that's. Now. He's been asked to Brazilian question there's nothing new and that's that somebody like myself can ask him where -- for a loop but her idea where to ask well I said you know I said in 1994. I said there was. There you weren't in there of the of the contract with America and then you came in and you took over the House of Representatives. And I said so people are really discussed it with the Democrats but I said the problem with the Republican Party decides he it is. There's no new out there's nobody like you. Toronto there's no leader that's like a Newt Gingrich 1994. And he went up."

" And our respect and you know is that just the same thing time I tell you what you're you're setting the pace around here Rush Limbaugh. Rush Limbaugh on his interview on FOX News Sunday news this week. Say -- when he was asked you know why aren't people turning to the Republican Party in greater numbers. Said well there's no leader. You need a leader. You need somebody who's a galvanizing. -- you know like Gingrich. You know the contract. The energy board is Gingrich had energy ideas you know you need somebody like that and at the moment this is not any way to disparage. John Boehner or. McDonnell McConnell any of those guys are Michael Steele but your best stuff. But I."

" I don't know the menu bar I'm probably know very well Mitch McConnell -- can into the microphone I just start ice ice are getting --"

" Well you know way in fact he's smart man and a good legislator parties not a he's not Britney Spears. --"

" And it gets it the other thing well well while we're talking about leadership. One of the things that fascinated me was. Was senator Crist was one on the Republican side when the Republicans were empower. And here's old Harry Reid run in the minorities. We read from my viewpoint. On far away seemed to run circles around. Around avid Assam as a minority party leaders seem to get a lot of stuff done for the Democrats. He's one sharp cookie even though I disagree with 99% of what he has to say. He is he. That cool would. Of a legislative leader where he's gonna be able to get things done for the Democrats that they haven't been able to do before."

" I don't know that he's gonna be able to get. -- like health care I think that you know way it though it's it's the White House it's Rahm Emanuel who truly is a master of parliamentary procedure. And Harry Reid is also a master parliamentary procedure. Remember Harry Reid. You've had some health problems recently and all that he seems to have got to overcome them. And just the other day when Joe Lieberman announced that he couldn't support health care as it's being formulated. He says something really interest me that it comes to mind determined response to what you're thinking. He -- you know where it. Joe Lieberman is not my biggest worry right now I got other things but once we get down the line I think Joe Lieberman's going to be with us. And I thought to myself for -- and and you start to think while you know what. When Joe Lieberman. "

" Who ran as an independent member he left the Democrats is that the Democrats did not give him a nomination. And finally won the race it was Harry Reid who engineered the fact that he would be able to retain committee leadership. Yeah. So Joe Lieberman polls Harry Reid today. You know -- and that's the kind of of strategy and play -- Harry Reid has always amazed just like on this healthcare bill. Where people talk about are they gonna use the nuclear option. Well guess what Harry Reid has engineers so it's sitting there in his pocket. I don't know people noticed this. But it is there in the way that the legislation has been -- coming out of -- two committees he retains the right. To simply have an up or down vote fifty votes not to use the sixty vote. That would work I would -- that would preclude a filibuster."

" Which brings up the question of the public option he brought it back in right and the question. Everybody was asking was. Was this just him saying to the left. See I've I tried I don't have the sixty votes so I'm not gonna get this through now you tell me something different on on the procedure. But was that just was such -- plane into the left. Its."

" It is playing to the left but remember most Americans according to a poll support the public option. So at this point the public option is on the table the question is are people so disappointed if it's if it's taken away. And I think the answer especially from the left busiest people especially the unions. The unions would be very disappointed. You know if -- it if -- if it appeared that the Democrats did not make an effort. To push for public not to."

" The new -- trumka the head of the AFL CIO he's been very big on them all there -- gigabyte you quit your statements so about the I've heard this the polls say people and they're Republican option I saw BBC one where they said yes and but the other somebody enters its its. Not it's like 4744. Somewhere around in the."

" Every time that's all that's a huge number yeah that's a huge you know it is that's clearly a plurality. Of the American people. The question becomes. About. The other issues is this thing going to become a matter of rationing health care is -- gonna become a matter of higher taxes are gonna drive up the deficit. Then you start to see people sort sort of waiver. But if you simply asked them about the public option it's surprisingly consistent. It's in the forties as you just describe it -- the fifties."

" Is some yes the well busy night free tonight will seal on fox is."

" A second wait -- second hold on you gotta give me your predictions I wanna look at -- my comeback I'm gonna cardiac oh I see all right so I wanna know. America's waiting to."

" Deeds will lose in Virginia. -- I acts. That we're gonna work yes we started. Let's see yeah this yankees win the Yankees yes yes yes and a lawyer tonight and all -- You want tonight it. I don't know I don't know old. I don't know what's gonna happen New Jersey and the reason why I say that is because everybody says it was -- in the audience lesser of with a wink immigrant about the corruption and -- or we're gonna grant nobody on and partly as a terror. Bulb -- attorney probably corrupt and New Jersey but I. Any case so that that bull for probable league gold chorus line I'm gonna go dying and -- he cores on -- with a squeaker brokered simply because of the fact that you've got you into standard over the it is going through Chris Christie. Under the bus."

" And what do you think -- New York torn during the conservative will win a what do you think given the hurting Israel and 1800 -- Republicans and they're gonna go that route. And the mayor's race here -- Bloomberg by a mile Bloomberg by a mile. Quarterback gay rights reprimand. It'll process. So it'll -- year they will continue to have gay marriage and yes via. -- that's a big. You -- I think gay marriages like -- one of that's coming is currently estimate or one. Look if you're gay and get high. Then you could vote and you didn't have any."

" That's like it's our relevance I grain and -- not just the notepad and and you. Try and diesel Angela Juan Williams are always great thing for your time my -- news channel are are there and I."