Gallup: Approval rating for Congress matches lowest ever recorded
The approval rating for Congress is now “the lowest it has been since Gallup first tracked public opinion of Congress with this measure in 1974,” Jeffrey Jones of the Gallup Poll reports today.
According to Jones: “Just 18% of Americans approve of the job Congress is doing, while 76% disapprove, according to the August 13-16, 2007, Gallup Poll. That 18% job approval rating matches the low recorded in March 1992, when a check-bouncing scandal was one of several scandals besetting Congress.”
Democrats Refocus Message on Iraq After Military Gains
Rep. Jerry McNerney (D-Calif.), who made waves when he returned from Iraq by saying he was willing to be more flexible on troop withdrawal timelines, issued a statement to constituents “setting the record straight.”
“I am firmly in favor of withdrawing troops on a timeline that includes both a definite start date and a definite end date,” he wrote on his Web site.
But in an interview yesterday, McNerney made clear his views have shifted since returning from Iraq. He said Democrats should be willing to negotiate with the generals in Iraq over just how much more time they might need. And, he said, Democrats should move beyond their confrontational approach, away from tough-minded, partisan withdrawal resolutions, to be more conciliatory with Republicans who might also be looking for a way out of the war.
“We should sit down with Republicans, see what would be acceptable to them to end the war and present it to the president, start negotiating from the beginning,” he said, adding, “I don’t know what the [Democratic] leadership is thinking. Sometimes they’ve done things that are beyond me.”
Yes, Rep. McNerney, let’s negotiate with George W. Bush and the Republicans. That has worked very well over the last six years. I’m assuming by “negotiate” you mean giving them everything you want, cutting off your testicles and handing it to them wrapped in a pretty bow. Jesus Christ, you people can be stupid.
These ideas are being pushed from the brilliant minds who, apparently frightened by success in 2006 are back to the halcyon days of the 2002 and 2004 elections where even though they were amazingly wrong, the Republicans listened to their base to the tune of almost 4,000 lives lost.
But yes, let’s negotiate with Bush. Let’s keep the war going. Let’s pretend like the surge is solving anything. What’s another 3,000+ lives in the gulf in order for Democrats to shield themselves from Rush Limbaugh & Co. saying mean things about them?
Did it ever occur to you that maybe–just maybe–the poll doesn’t simply reflect disenchantment over a single issue, and people are finally fed up with a Congress that can’t seem to get anything done because they’re always engaged in partisan sniping with each other?
Under Oliver’s scenario, Republican support of Congress would be holding steady or slightly rising as Democratics acquiese on Iraq. However, as the numbers indicate, Republican approval of Congress is sinking just as quickly.
Except the polls don’t say that at all. The polls show that the Dems loss in congress is due to independents and Democrats being pissed about the lack of activity on the war.
Of course Republicans aren’t going to support Congress. Dems run congress. Those Republicans are DeLay/Hastert supporters, what could possibly drive them to support Nancy Pelosi?
Pedro, your stupid comment says so much more about you than Democrats. Wouldn’t you be better served to look for an absolute monarchy in a country whose constitution supports it rather than the U.S.?
I’m just depressed. After the cave-in in May, I held out some hope that they’d fight again, but it looks like…….not. Wish we had Congress critters who had more sense, like the O-man.
what could possibly drive them to support Nancy Pelosi?
…”giving them everything you want, cutting off your testicles and handing it to them wrapped in a pretty bow.”
If the Democratics are capitulating as much as you claim, Republican support wouldn’t continue to erode. It would at the very least hold steady and possibly tick up a tad. There’s something else at work in these poll numbers.
The Dems have conceded on Iraq and FISA, they haven’t on minimum wage, health care, child care, unions, stem cell, etc. All stuff GOPers hate.
Republican support of Congress would be holding steady or slightly rising
I do have to wonder then– what do Republicans want? Perhaps Republicans want Congress not ot have capitulated on FISA or Iraq. Well, it’s worth at least experimenting with. Because when the Democrats give the Republicans what they want, the Republicans get even more angry at congress for it, it would seem.
Congressional approval ratings are always bullshit, and always more negative than those of the President. With the President, you’re being asked whether or not you approve of one man, for or against whom you voted. You have a vested interest in him. (Or her, as the case may well be two years from now.) With Congress, you’re being asked on whether or not you approve of 535 folks, of these 532 are folks for or against whom you did not vote. They’re the big Other, and they’re easy to hate.