I can only guess Juan Williams must view himself as being some sort of political Nostradamus, but the reality of it is that he’s actually someone who bears a much closer resemblance to what might be a political equivalent of The Great Carnac. And if we’re being honest here, he’s someone who has very little credibility when discussing just about anything that falls under the topic of politics if for no other reason that because he’s another one those who views those in the Tea Party as racist. Because according to Williams, the only reason one can have for opposing Barry is because he’s black. Not because he’s a socialist,
But anyway, as the midterm elections rapidly approach, Williams makes the claim that there are three key trends that we should all keep an eye on. The first of those three key things is public opinion, along with what Williams refers to as the "civil war" within the Republican Party, and the finally, Democrat efforts to stop what he calls GOP gerrymandering. Now in his choosing to make a reference to GOP gerrymandering he makes it very clear that he has truly slipped a proverbial cog. Because if it’s anyone who can be said to be guilty of gerrymandering, it would Juan’s very own Democrat Party.
Williams made his case in what was described as being an ‘opinion piece that appeared in The Hill, just today. He wrote that there are many races across the country, but what he sees as being the key race is the one in Louisiana between Democrat incumbent Sen. Mary Landrieu and her Republican challenger, Rep. Bill Cassidy. He also made mention of the "relatively minor" third candidate, Rob Maness, who is favored by Tea Party supporters and who could affect the vote because in Louisiana, a candidate must have more than 50 percent of the vote to win, and polls predict a likely runoff between Landrieu and Cassidy.
But, Williams said, there are also many races the outcome of which could be dependent upon the "mystery factor" of an unprecedented level of public disapproval. And in so doing he pointed to a Washington Post poll that shows most Americans disapprove of their state's representation. Williams writes, in addition, nearly 80 percent of Americans are dissatisfied with the whole political system, and then adds, almost gleefully, that polls are putting "the Republican brand in Congress at an unprecedented low." And does that really come as much of surprise when you factor in how it is that our state-controlled media constantly paints the GOP as the enemy?
Williams said that history points to losses for Democrats because the party holding the White House in a second term loses seats, especially when the president has low public ratings, like Barry's. He pointed out that the often-quoted Wall Street Journal/NBC poll released last week showing Barry's disappointment rating at 54 percent also showed that 54 percent of the voters view congressional Republicans negatively. And Williams also made it a point to mention what he referred to as the war inside the GOP as also leading to uncertainty. Williams, and I’m not sure where he gets his information, clamed that Speaker John Boehner is hoping to gain enough seats to bypass the Tea Party-backed 15 or so members who, to use Juan’s words, "undercut his efforts."
On the subject of gerrymandering, Williams tries to make the case that as changes in district maps have solidified the GOP's advantage in the House despite the fact that 1.4 million more voters favored Democrats in the 2012 House elections. Williams made the claim that Democrats do have grounds for optimism on the state level, where Republican governors are becoming unpopular in some states. But I think he overstates the chances regarding the Democrat being able to make any sort of substantive gains in governorships.
According to Williams there are three races at the top of Democrats' wish list. Pennsylvania Republican Gov. Tom Corbett was elected in 2010 as part of a Tea Party wave that also brought a Republican majority in the state legislature. But, again according to Williams, Corbett's policies on education and abortion have proven unpopular with many Pennsylvanians. Apparently such issues are far more important than is the fact that Democrats are working to put many coal miners out of work. But still this one does appear, at least at this point in time, to one that is likely to end up as a win for Democrats.
Florida incumbent Republican Gov. Rick Scott is also in a dead heat with flip-flopper Charlie Crist, his Republican-turned-Independent-turned Democrat predecessor. Scott has come under fire for voter identification law policies and for his own anti-abortion agenda, claimed Williams. Kansas is also a key target, Republican Gov. Sam Brownback fighting off a challenge by Democrat Paul Davis. The polls are bouncing back and forth, and while Brownback follows a Tea Party agenda, other current and former Republican officials have publicly supported Davis.
"Democrats might not be able to keep the GOP from winning back the Senate," Williams concluded. "Their consolation prize just might be winning the governors’ mansions and putting themselves in a strong position heading into the next round of redistricting." But that too might be nothing more than wishful thinking on the part of old Juan, because from some of the polls that I’ve seen, the GOP may yet end up even gaining a couple more governorships. Now granted, the election is still a ways off and I suppose a lot can still change. And I expect that between now and then we will continue to hear from folks like Williams doing their best to downplay that which may experts are declaring is a foregone conclusion.
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