Juan Williams Predicts Obama Landslide, Calls GOP Presidential Field A “Wasteland”

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by Frances Martel | 1:04 pm, February 22nd, 2010

» 15 comments

Juan Williams has absolutely no faith in the 2012 Republican presidential field. He brought a healthy dose of “fair and balanced” to the FOX News Sunday Panel Plus online-exclusive segment yesterday, where he predicted to his bemused colleagues that, despite their high hopes, if they didn’t find a respectable candidate soon, Barack Obama would win reelection in a landslide.

While the rest of the panel – Bill Kristol and Stephen Hayes of the Weekly Standard, NPR’s Mara Liasson, and host Chris Wallace – shrugged it off with laughter, it was a pretty fearless point to make riding on the heels of one of the most successful CPACs in recent memory and in a year where dissatisfaction with the Democratic Party has fed a massive Tea Party resistance movement and launched Republican Scott Brown from Massachusetts into the Senate.

Williams seemed to have been pushed into making this argument not by the successes of Sarah Palin or propositions that Mitt Romney still has a viable shot at the presidency, but at Kristol’s suggestion that Texas governor Rick Perry, who has advocated for Texas secession in the not-so-distant past, could make a splash in the presidential pool. While Romney and Mike Huckabee have the traditional advantage of being runners-up from 2008, Kristol argued, Perry’s decade in the governor’s seat would put him in a “pretty strong position to run for President.”

After some words from Hayes and Liasson, Williams came into the conversation and rained on their presidential parade:

“To quote Alan Greenspan, the level of exuberance here is irrational. When you’re talking seriously, you hear Bill Kristol talking about Rick Perry, who was talking about having Texas secede from the union a minute ago, that he’s a serious presidential candidate? When you hear discussions about Haley Barbour, who I think is a competent and smart guy, but he has tremendous baggage in terms of his reputation of being a Washington insider and lobbyist…It looks to me like a setup for an Obama landslide…it’s like there’s nobody out there, it’s like a wasteland.”

Of conspicuous absence in this conversation was Texas Congressman Ron Paul, who both fits into the Kristol/Wallace theory that the runners-up from the last election always get an advantage and can claim a major victory among conservatives, having won the 2010 CPAC presidential straw poll. Given his feelings for Perry, however, it may be safe to assume Williams doesn’t see Paul as much of a threat, either.

Watch the Fox News Sunday segment below:

2012, 2012 elections, barack obama, Bill Kristol, Chris Wallace, CPAC, fox news, Fox News Sunday, Haley Barbour, Juan Williams, Mara Liasson, Republicans, Rick Perry, Ron Paul, Stephen Hayes

MichelleF

That’s pretty ballsy, Juan (or completely delusional, you take your pick). I guess we will wait and see about that.
ImNotBlue

It’s completely possible. However, to make such a statement at this point in time, seems irresponsible to me. We don’t know who’s running, we don’t know what the landscape will be… there’s a lot between now and then.

Although, in my experience… the folks who consistently say, “We’re gonna win,” are the ones with the most to lose, and fearful of the fight ahead.
The Real Royal King

Too early to tell with certainty, to be sure, but Williams may well be right. I can’t imagine that any of the current “probable” GOP candidates will gather much enthusiasm. My guess is the best chance is for a newer face, a real maverick. It really wouldn’t be in the Republican disposition to do that, of course.
mcf1757

I’ll take rational! Republicans dont stand a chance once the economy recovers!
http://trickletown.vox.com/ Trickletown

Juan must not have gotten the newest GOP presidential meme; that being the outrageously successful Republican candidate is real, although being treated as “He who’s name will not be mentioned”, to protect him/her from the Librul Media.
marcus.lewis

Wow—I’m glad he knows the future. 2012 is not here yet, and Obama has just 1 year in the office. I’d like to think that Americans are smart enough to vote based on 4 years not just one.
chocolatemilk05

As a conservative I would have to agree. Until the Republicans can get their act together its going to be 4 more years.

The only thing we can do is make sure he does not have control of the house and/or the senate.
Azarkhan

Mr. Williams, can you also pick my lottery number for me?
timzank

I’ll predict here and now, ANY opposition party candidate that has a pulse & a smile will beat Obama hands down. It’s absolutely preposterous to assume and/or claim there isn’t a Reublican out there that will emerge with at LEAST the experience of Obama.

We’ve recently proved to the world it takes no tangible executive experience to be elected POTUS, but rather just a “sparkling” smile, some great speech writers, and a gift of gab a used car salesman would envy. When this “Carter-esque” nightmare unwinds, it’ll be a cake walk to elect anyone NOT Obama.
ImNotBlue

marcus.lewis says:
February 22, 2010 at 4:08 pm

I’d like to think that Americans are smart enough to vote based on 4 years not just one.

I believe the current requirement is to vote for someone only based on 2 years… not 4. After all, it was only 2 years in the Senate that led Obama to the White House.
Grammie

I like Juan and think he is a straight up guy. I think his political philosophy stinks but he does say what he thinks and always in a very reasonable way and with innate respect for others.

I suspect that his druthers got in front of his analysis. He seems to have forgotten that that was the meme from Jimma Carter’s day. Remember when Ronaldus Magnificus was the Dem’s damp dream canditate b/c Carter would tear that stupid old man apart?

Of course, he may be right. But I suspect he is wrong on this one.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Bill-Adkins/1585417987 Bill Adkins

I’d say juan may very well be right – I invite any one of you, unless you’re afraid to name him/her, to put forth and wax poetic about the next GOP candidate. Palin? Naah – Scott Brown? Unlikely – so, who’ve you got? Obama ‘s a great candidate made even better by the opposition.
timzank

Hey Adkins, who ya voting for on the Dem side in 2016? Name the candidate, now!!!!!

There is no one running yet Einstein.
MichelleF

Bill,
I’ll let you know when I know who’s running and what they stand for. Isn’t that how it should be?
pyrope

I don’t like to admit it but Juan William could be right. Unless the Republican Party gets its head out of its nether regions and becomes the party of fiscal responsibility and pragmatism, they are doomed.

A long time ago there was a politician who said “there’s not a dime’s worth of difference between the Republicans and the Democrats.” I shook my head in disbelief. Today…well, I’m not so sure.