Harris Interactive poll show difference between Congressional Dems and GOP'ers.

[harlinchi]

In their poll taken between 7-6 and 7-9-07, they report that congress is viewed positively by 24%. Typically, articles would either end there or point out the fact the Democrats are the majority in the House and are either tied or up by one in the Senate and imply that the numbers reflect badly on Democratic leadership of the legislative branch. This article, though, goes on to say that Democrats are viewed positively by 31% while Gop'ers are viewed positively by 21%.

Allowing for the whiffs of betrayal emanating from their Democratic leaders smelled by many passionate Democratic supporters (which I do not smell), this report more accurately reflects the mood of the country. When congressional poll numbers are reported, the breakdown between parties must be shown. Allow folks to see that the blocking techniques used by the GOP (which, I understand, were not as available to the Democrats when they were in the minority) impact their approval numbers. Let us know that when the GOP prevents a troop supporting amendment like the one offered by Sen. Webb (D-Va) from moving forward, there are unpleasant consequences.

More importantly, let the GOP and their supporters know.


the poll: http://www.harrisinteractive.com/harris_poll/

an excerpt:
Looking at other Congressional leaders, Speaker Pelosi is not the only one who has negative ratings. Her Republican counterpart, Minority Leader John Boehner, is viewed positively by 19 percent while half of adults (49%) view his job negatively. In the Senate, one in five view both Majority Leader Harry Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell positively (20% each). Half of adults (49%) view the Senate Majority Leader in a negative light while 44 percent feel the same way about Senator McConnell’s job performance.

Opinions on Congress overall, as well as the two parties, are also low. Democrats in Congress are the "shining star", if you will as 31 percent view their job in a positive manner while almost two-thirds (64%) view it negatively. Republicans are viewed even worse as just one in five (21%) U.S. adults say their job performance is a positive one while three-quarters (76%) say it is negative. One-quarter of adults (24%) view the job performance of the overall institution of Congress in a positive light while 72 percent say it is negative.

[wyldwolf]

1. Congress approval has been dropping for 50 years.

In 1964, over 70 percent of the public said that they could trust Washington to do what was right most or all of the time; by early 1994, only 19 percent expressed similar confidence (Phillips 1994: 7). In 1964, when asked, “Would you say the government is run by a few big interests looking out for themselves or that it is run for the benefit of all people,” nearly 40 percent more people agreed with the latter than with the former. In 1992 that sentiment had reversed itself, with 60 percent more people believing that the government was run for the benefit of special interests than those who believed it was run for the benefit of all. (Stanley and Niemi: 169).

[emulatorloo]

2. All these people need to do is watch a hearing on CSPAN -- The Republicans Protect Bush

and the Status Quo. Their talking points and strategies (pointless Parliamentary Challenges, dishonest questioning of witness) are totally coordinated and designed to protect the Bush Admin at all costs.

It is a microcosm of how they are behaving in Congress.

Dems are trying to get things done, and Republicans are protecting and voting for Bush.

[The Magistrate]

3. The Fact Is, Sir

People generally regard Congress with a genial contempt, an attitude already traditional in the days of Mr. Twain, who aimed many enjoyable sallies at the institution to general laughter that endures to this day.

Congressional 'approval' ratings should always be taken with several pinches of salt.

[harlinchi]

4. Yes, I understand.

I was bothered recently by the widely publicized notion that party notwithstanding, all Congress is bad. It sounded too Nader-ish and didn't seem to speak to what actually is occurring with respect to the actions attempted by the Democratic leadership blocked by the GOP, specifically in the Senate.

[The Magistrate]

5. Your Post Is An Excellent One, Sir, And You Make A Valuable Point

I apologize for my lack of clarity, which made it seem I meant to disagree with you.

[harlinchi]

6. Here's a better link to the poll.

online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/harrispoll-07122007.pdf