The latest Gallup poll shows Congress with an approval rating of 29 percent. This compares unfavorably with President Bush's approval rating, which stands at 33 percent according to the same poll. Moreover, Congress' 64 percent disapproval rating is one point higher than that of the last Congress just before the 2006 elections.
Why is this Congress viewed so unfavorably? Part of the explanation lies in the inherent unpopularity of the institution as it has evolved. At the beginning of the year, Congress' approval rating was only 37 percent even though every member of the House had just won the popular vote in his or her district.
However, the poor performance of the Reid-Pelosi Congress surely helps account for the decline since that time. As I noted the other day, Congress has started to resist the ethics reform it promised voters, legislation that might help reverse prevailing perceptions of Congress and make that body less inherently unpopular.
But it's not just Democratic addiction to the "culture of corruption" that's at work here. The fact is that this Congress has failed thus far to enact any high-profile domestic legislation. As the Washington Post puts it, "not a single priority on the Democrats' agenda has been enacted, and some in the party are growing nervous that the "do nothing" tag they slapped on the Republicans last year could come back to haunt the party."
Perhaps Nancy Pelosi should discontinue her foolish outreach program to anti-American Middle Eastern dictators and focus more on enacting the reform legislation she promised the American people.
UPDATE: John Hinderaker has more on this story at Power Line.
Reader Comments ( Page 2 of 5)
16. CORRECTION: My previous blog should have used the name "Phil" rather than "Paul". In evidence of the confusion and length of Phil's "blook", I lost my mind in regard to the names. Sorry about that!
"Doc"
\\\ at 3:38PM on May 15th 2007
17. My, My there are some folks here who have learned to like eating sour grapes.
Hey phil, the poll is the poll. I don't much care for polls myself, but they are a staple of the left's ad populum machine. The poll mentioned by the author says what it says. he's under no obligation to produce a link to every poll every where simply to satisfy your need to avoid bad news.
further, pointing to the prior congress is a childish effort at deflection. The poll says what it says. If you guys believe in polls quit whining about this one fix the issues. Or better yet, accept the fact that congress sucks no matter who is in control.
As for refuseniks and obstructionists, well those arguments are just too funny. How many times have we all heard about "checks and balances"? It seems to me that the spoiled boys whining here only want those checks and balances when they make life difficult for Republicans. These same mechanisms are simply NOT supposed to stop the march of the stymied socialists I guess.
This blog is opinion. It is not surprising that the leftie whiners confuse an opinion blog with a news cast. Just too funny.
let'r rip.
skipsailing at 4:07PM on May 15th 2007
18. In response to Emily C --- this CONGRESS is actually working FOR the people - not against the people AND the country as the previous Congress did. Oversight is a key element of each branch. The previous Congress did nothing but SPEND thru the roof and rubber stamp! The corruption was only interrupted when they couldn't force the members of the Ethics committee to rewrite the rules so Tom Delay was no longer a criminal.
The trillions spent on this war have yet to fully fund body armor, armored vehicles and healthcare requirements for those serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. The current CONGRESS funded those items!!
The main difference I see it that that NEWSPAPERS do not cover what is being done - they cover the Republican view of the Democrats!
FREEDOM here in America is the main victim of the Bush agenda!
lsn07 at 4:23PM on May 15th 2007
19. hey charles, name one "high profile" reform. If you believe polls (and my experience is that most inveterate lefties swear by polls) then you must believe that the American people simply aren't impressed.
So share an impressive "high profile" piece of legislation with us.
thanks
skipsailing at 4:19PM on May 15th 2007
20. You are right a do nothing congress! We need
to get rid of all Republicans, perhaps then,
some postive legislation will be passed benefiting
the average American.
We have not seem this in several years.
Linda Momberger at 4:51PM on May 15th 2007
21. "19. In response to Emily C --- this CONGRESS is actually working FOR the people - not against the people AND the country as the previous Congress did. Oversight is a key element of each branch. The previous Congress did nothing but SPEND thru the roof and rubber stamp! The corruption was only interrupted when they couldn't force the members of the Ethics committee to rewrite the rules so Tom Delay was no longer a criminal.
The trillions spent on this war have yet to fully fund body armor, armored vehicles and healthcare requirements for those serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. The current CONGRESS funded those items!!
The main difference I see it that that NEWSPAPERS do not cover what is being done - they cover the Republican view of the Democrats!
FREEDOM here in America is the main victim of the Bush agenda!"
this is among the most uninformed comments I've seen recently.
Oversight is liberal code lingo for "Investigate everything in the hopes of manufacturing a scandal". No joy so far, but hope springs eternal, eh?
Yes, the previous congress spent too much. That's a big part of the reason why some Republicans lost their jobs. I'm still waiting to see what, if anything, the Democrats will do differently. I must say I'm not heartened by the pork they stuffed in the troop funding bill. Are you?
Is Tom Delay a criminal? Of what crime was he convicted? did you know that Mr Delay resigned based not on congressional standards but based on self imposed Republican rules? When will cold cash jefferson resign? Or Ms Boxer? How about Alcee Hastings? Now there's an upstanding guy!
I haven't seen any estimate of the cost of this war that reaches into the trillions. Perhaps you could share the source of your data?
As for body armor, well I know one marine that has had three different issues of body armor as the technology has improved. so I wonder what you are talking about. Up armored hummvees are all the rage and there is a new model that cannot reach Iraq until a funding bill is passed. But hey, don't let that halt your screed, no sir!
Was the VA a mess? apparently so. but I work at a facility that's treated some wounded doggies and Marines and those guys know how to embrace the suck.
Well I don't read NEWSPAPERS so I can't quite see your point with this. Are you claiming that the media in America is in the thrall of the conservatives? If so, can you support this contention?
finally, help us here: name on single instance wherein your personal rights are now diminished. I'm curious.
skipsailing at 4:40PM on May 15th 2007
22. Phill,
Your points are well made and largely well-backed. Doc's original attribution to Paul appears to have been more appropriate, a Freudian Slip.
However it must also be recognized that a major source of Congress' unpopularity currently is the Dem's unwillingness to extricate us from the Bush administration's terrorist invasions of other countries. For some this may be in part because a full esposure will also implicate not only GHW Bush and his administration and fellow investors, but also the Clintons. Their use of murderous military attacks based on lies to cover Monicagate made Bush junior's treasonous use of the office of the president possible!
Unless members of all parties are willing to face the clear fact that this invasion, which then-governor Bush thought would be a brilliant ploy in describing what he intended to do to prospective campaign employees years prior to 9/11, regardless of the damage to our country, each of us, and our military;s victims, is a criminal enterprise and that the only honorable act when caught in a crime is to immediately cease! In confidence, GW Bush then described his intended invasion of Iraq in terms of personal political gain with no reference to either defending the US in any way or to bringing democracy to anyone.
The argument that if we leave, things will get worse is voided by looking at the results of our quarter-century attempt to run neighboring Iran through the Shah and the always-CIA-headed terrorist SAVAK secret police. Terrorism is a kind of activity, regardless of who perpetrates it. One reason it has a bad odor is that it defeats its perpetrators.
This Congress must get Bush's legions entirely out of the Gulf quickly, or public cynicism will reach a level that further threatens our republic and its institutions -- and each and every one of us!
Zev Aelony
VeganWolf.blogspot.com
Zev Aelony at 5:45PM on May 15th 2007
23. I would say that it is time for the Congress to get off the blame game. It does appear that they are spending a lot of time digging up old bodies. The fact is, there are more bodies buried than WE THE
PEOPLE will ever know. However, WE THE PEOPLE already knew, from day one, the date of Bush's inaguration, that he was flawed, we did not know how much. WE THE PEOPLE have been stuck with a totally flawed man who brought his flawed friends with him. We get it. Lets just get on with the work to be done.
Now, Madam Speaker, you need to start fixing things, just pointing out the things that are broken without doing any thing positive is useless.
E. Doss at 5:22PM on May 15th 2007
24. The congress gets a low rating not because of the Democratic majority but because of the Republican minority which does everything in it's power to obstruct good legislation from being passed. I like the way they put Nancy Pelosi's picture next to Bush's as if they are equally to blame for the fiasco which we are faced with. She cannot get anything through and even if they do pass it it gets vetoed. The veto cannot be overridden because of the Republicans which will not vote against Bush no matter what. Let it be known it is the Republicans and the Republicans only who are taking this country down. To try and blame congress as if it is the dems fault is about as weird as still blaming everything on Clinton. The Republicans have left a lasting odor on this country and the stink will not leave for quite awhile. They have tarnished our reputation at home and abroad and what's really amazing is that so many people who are being taken to the cleaners by them vote for and defend them. Where are their heads? Is the right wing corporate media that powerful....I guess it is!
Richard Quiggle at 5:34PM on May 15th 2007
25. THE ONLY WAY THIS CONGRESS WILL GET "AHEAD" IS IF THEY HIRE A HOOKER. OTHER THEN THAT THEY MIGHT AS WELL SLEEP UNDER A ROCK.
AL GONN at 5:38PM on May 15th 2007
26. Tell us Paul, where do you obtain your information? Is it from NEWSMAX, FOX, Limbaugh, Hannity, O'Reilly, or do you just make it up as you go along? One is beginning to wonder if you even know the difference between an informational article and pure propaganda. While we appreciate "opinions" facts used should be verified and re-verified before they are stated. Such a piece should also contain some semblance of original thought and not mere regurgitation of what others have previously stated. Take at least a modicum of pride in your "blogs", it might lend you some credibility.
rlaitres at 8:08PM on May 15th 2007
27. This congress will defeat the Republican ideologies that currently are NOT WORKING! Hopefully we will not see another Republican president for a long time...do you remember the Ronald Reagan era??? I do!!! The economy took the biggest dive since the depression...look where we are headed with Bush...SCARY!!!
Bob T. at 6:10PM on May 15th 2007
28. Article sounds like another Radio Israel broadcast.
But Dems take note: the people who elected you told you what they want and have rejected the carpet-bagging Republicon jobbers. Get the message or get out of Washington.
Thomas Green at 6:25PM on May 15th 2007
29. Well here we are! I am so proud to be from New York State! We got Hilary!! At least we don't have NANCY! I may be blessing that misinformed lady in a Year or so! By making the foolish moves, even before going to Syria, she showed us the her grasp of reality is weak! When we were kids we played copsand robbers! Everyone could hold there ground until "dinner time" Wars don't stop at "dinner" time!! Democrats don't tell Republicans when they will "strike with some news item. Why do this in IRAQ!
jim foulkrod at 6:37PM on May 15th 2007
30. For years I've wondered how all those intelligent Germans defected to the Socialist Democrats under Hitler. Reading the comments of the US Socialists, Democrats, Liberals...whatever they call themselves, I find that they are well written in support of their obvious bias, but still, well written. It must be some sort of mental or genetic deficiency that thrusts these people into a such a confused hatred.
Democrats will get nothing done in the next two years unless the Grand Inquisitor Waxman can get somebody else in front of him that can't remember what he said or did 3 years ago at 6:45 pm. Fat chance he'll get anybody else to answer anything more than NR&SN after that fiasco.
Still waiting for an expample of one significant thing the curruent crop of lemming leadership has done since being elected...waiting...waiting.
scruzman at 7:48PM on May 15th 2007