Fox News
Expand
Browse All Video
Watch Live

You're watching...

Obama 'itching' for a fight in second term?

Details

  • Description

    Sparks controversies with Congress

  • Duration 4:23
  • Date

Clips

Also in this playlist...

Powerful Politics

Auto-advance: ON

Auto-advance
View All

Transcript

This transcript is automatically generated

-- big battles with congress may be in the president's future over everything from his nominee for Defense Secretary to the debt ceiling.

Not to mention the very hot button issues of gun control and immigration reform and some say.

The president might actually be itching for the fights.

Joining us now Juan Williams a Fox News political analyst is he spoiling for a fight here want.

I think this lame duck has some bite -- and I think that he feels at the moment that he is one.

The majority American vote twice now he's at his strongest that he'll be for some time.

You think about how lame -- starts to lose political power in this town after about six to eight months.

So this is his moment of maximum.

Leverage Jack and he is gonna try to use that I think to force things -- I think that's why he's.

Decided that nomination like -- cable which is fairly controversial.

Nonetheless is short to be a winner for him.

Because he's got the power of the presidency at a moment when.

He feels you know.

It's never going to be more powerful for him in his in in the rest -- the second term.

Right I think I made that observation the other day because Chuck Hagel is not popular among some even in the Republican Party so the president gets to look bipartisan by nominating a Republican.

But it's a Republican who who doesn't enjoy widespread -- -- at least unanimous support from members of his own party.

Well you know you touched -- something Mitt among the political pros in Washington is much of a point of much conversation you know he had challenged Mitch McConnell.

Her leadership post while he within -- -- So McConnell doesn't have a whole lot of -- form and don't forget he endorsed John Kerry in that Nebraska senate -- that recently went to a Republican.

So people -- -- and of course he was opposed to the war he approached the surge in Iraq so the Bush Administration folks that again they don't have a whole lot of lot.

But Mitch McConnell has said that Chuck Hagel will get a fair hearing.

And I think it's likely he will be confirmed but again.

For the president's perspective he has nominated a Republican and he's put Republicans in the position of having to reject one of their own if they reject -- One not political website put it this way said that mr.

Obama has decided that the best way to deal with the capital is to throw rocks at it and then sending Vice President Biden to clean up the glass witnessed the gun control thing he's got Joseph Biden.

You know chairing this commissioner wants to do something about guns.

Well you got two critical issues you mention them at the top Jun two critical issues one is immigration the second gun control.

That I think could form again.

Second term legacy help this president a boy.

Second -- term failure which is so common you know for presidency if you think back to everything from Watergate to Iran Contra to Monica Lewinsky.

Second terms are big problems.

And so the idea is -- goal bold and on these two issues immigration and gun reform gun control reform.

The president hopes that he can warm up package and again working with the congress more so than fighting them though.

To get something actually passed and I think those two issues you may see him.

People are more conciliatory.

That -- not for example dealing with budget issues debt ceiling issues the issues that are coming up in the short term.

But he would also like to see a democratic majority in the house for the last two years of his term.

Correct so there -- some some political strategists around Washington think that really.

The goal here is to isolate the Republican majority in the house and hopefully get a democratic majority for the last two years of the Obama term.

Is that it may be a long term -- the Democrat obviously you guys that to say that politics is more important then you know progress for the country.

That's the crazy part I think you know do we you know we don't talk about -- president's rays are pretty good right now congress' ratings are in the toilet.

But the thing is that.

The American people do want people who govern will be people who will do such -- -- in Washington especially when it comes to the economy.

It's time to get something that I think that's the overwhelming results we see in the poll numbers and yet you see both sides still positioning -- -- they are involved in political campaign.

-- that fiscal cliff fun thing was a pretty good example 10 my goodness you know let's not get -- started on that thank you want.

You're welcome to.

Load More