This stuff about Congress's low approval ratings is a complete joke

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

"Bush is unpopular, but the Democratic Congress is even more unpopular. Blah, blah, blah"

That line of argument is a borderline lie because congress is ALWAYS unpopular. The weird thing is that changing from republican to Democratic didn't make much difference either way. People hate Congress as an institution.

http://pollingreport.com/CongJob.htm

(The single highest congressional approval rating in the last three years was.... drumroll.... 44%! I doubt they held a party.)

[John Q. Citizen]

1. And the lowest was,,,,,,14% right?

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

7. something like that, but check this out...

It's the most meaningless poll question in the world. Check out these two polls taken within a few days of each other. One is 16% (the lowest ever among this group of polls), and the other is 31%

ABC/Washington Post 10/19-22/06: 31 65 4
NBC/Wall Street Journal RV 10/13-16/06: 16 75 9


One poll will say congress is at 18% or 14% or whatever, and pundits repeat the figure for months, dismissing all the other polls. For instance, Fox News had congress at 32% in September, but all their talking heads keep quoting a figure in the teens.

http://pollingreport.com/CongJob.htm

[bluestateguy]

2. People like their own Rep.

They don't get to vote on the other 434 House members and the other 98 Senators. Even in 2006, over 90 of members standing for reelection won.

[rusty quoin]

3. It's all spin. If this congress had the votes to do what

70% want them to do, I'm thinking they might be close to 70%.

[OHdem10]

4. The fact that the Newspeop[;e everyday emphasize the

failing Democratic Congress subtly plants a
message that gives a very negative view of
Democrats.

[DJ MEW]

8. I love how everyones says Democratic Congress with out mentioning

how weak their hold of congress is. The Repugs had a stronger majority then we do now so calling it the democratic congress is really a cop-out for republicans that are stalling congress and watering down everything that they try to pass. Not mention that this congress has done some great things, including passing minimum wage increases, and SCHIP, even though Bush killed SCHIP.

[daninthemoon]

5. There is an easy fix for congress. Do the job they were elected for.

End the war. Impeach the chimperor and the dark lord. Instant popularity. They would be welcomed as liberators.:party: :patriot:

[Odin2005]

14. That's not what they were elected for.

"Dems were put in power to end the war" is a right-wing meme created to hurt the image of Congressional Dems. The top issues in the '06 election was the economy and the various Republican scandals, Iraq was 4th on the list. Quit parroting right-wing memes.

[mondo joe]

15. Which Dems in office ran on ending the war? Or impeaching?

?

[Benhurst]

6. The Democratic Congress is unpopular for not ending the war and

for not ridding us of Bush/Cheney -- hardly good news for the Republicans.

[Eagle_Eye]

13. We need to keep hammering away at this hideous bush administration

and extend our lead in 2008.

little george is a millstone around the neck of the republican party, and Democrats must use him to drag the repugs down.

[Leftisalwaysright]

9. Fox News Spin

You're absolutely right; it's all just more Fox News spin! Before them, everyone would have realized it's a meaningless poll question. Now, they're all over it.

[superkia]

10. I think congress is very successful in their own personal agendas.

I doubt they are at home upset at the job they are doing. The people don't matter, as long as they take care of the ones that keep them in power, everything is ok. Now when the majority of Americans wake up to the game they are playing right in front of us, then we may get them out of office. Well that is if we still have elections and a constitution at that point.

[ThoughtCriminal]

11. HERES HOW TO ANSWER!

Sorry for shouting, but I'm sick of this LAME TALKING POINT.

http://pollingreport.com/cong_dem.htm
http://pollingreport.com/cong_rep.htm

Approval/Disapproval of Congress
ABC:
Republicans - Approve 29% Disapprove 67%
Democrats - Approve 38% Disapprove 57%

Harris:
Republicans - Approve 22% Disapprove 73%
Democrats - Approve 24% Disapprove 70%

FOX!
Republicans - Approve 30% Disapprove 56%
Democrats - Approve 36% Disapprove 49%

USA/GALLUP
Republicans - Approve 33% Disapprove 59%
Democrats - Approve 41% Disapprove 50%


The Republicans are dragging down the approval rating!

[Ravy]

12. What the Republicans don't realize...

is that they are members of Congress, too. The low numbers apply to them, too. Their obstructionism is why many are giving Congress poor ratings.

They point it out with glee and try to insinuate that the low numbers are only for the Democratic leadership. We will find out November '08 as we did in '06 who the voters are really dissatisfied with.