Our Present Congress

[Woodmonkey]

Good thing America's dissatisfied voters threw that other crowd out of control of Congress two years ago. Because since the new party took over, approval ratings have plummeted even further to tie an historical low.

Say what?

Weren't the outs supposed to fix things on Capitol Hill once they became the ins? And controlled all the investigations? And the agenda? And the committees?

A new poll shows that the percentage of U.S. voters who say Congress is doing an excellent or good job has fallen to single digits for the first time in the tracking history of Rasmussen Reports.

Nine percent say that.

Which is down from 11% in May.

Only three percent of independents say Congress is doing a good or excellent job, half the previous month's rating.

A majority of Americans (52%) say House and Senate members are doing a poor job, which ties the record high for that dubious rating.

A whopping 72% believe members of Congress are more interested in furthering their own careers than doing public good. And only 14 of every 100 Americans think senators or representatives are genuinely interested in helping real people.

Not exactly a ringing endorsement of their public service.

The big unanswered question:

If such an overwhelming percentage of voters are so dissatisfied with the congressional work of a Democratic majority they elected just two years ago, a worse rating than even the scandal-plagued Republicans had in 2006, what does this do to the conventional wisdom that 2008 is a year for substantial gains by Democrats in both houses?

Will voters buy the argument that the 2006 majority led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid didn't work. So maybe another one will?

Do GOP members appear so disspirited they don't present a realistic alternative?

Or will dissatisfied voters, for once, turn on incumbents from both party?

The Source

[leobold1]

They left out an even more enlightening statistic.

Most people say that, while they think Congress as a whole are doing a terrible job, THEIR own Congresscritter is doing a good to great job.

That's why there's no change in Congress. People think their own Congresscritter is the exception to the 9% rule.

[Woodmonkey]

Originally Posted by leobold1

They left out an even more enlightening statistic.

Most people say that, while they think Congress as a whole are doing a terrible job, THEIR own Congresscritter is doing a good to great job.

That's why there's no change in Congress. People think their own Congresscritter is the exception to the 9% rule.

How true. They'll keep re-electing them because they're satisfied with the job they're doing for their district/state. Many of them are bringing a lot of pork projects to their state.

[Manchu34]

Originally Posted by Woodmonkey

Or will dissatisfied voters, for once, turn on incumbents from both party?

Nope most will still reelect their incumbents. Heck just look at Ted kennedy.

[ptco911]

Originally Posted by leobold1

They left out an even more enlightening statistic.

Most people say that, while they think Congress as a whole are doing a terrible job, THEIR own Congresscritter is doing a good to great job.

That's why there's no change in Congress. People think their own Congresscritter is the exception to the 9% rule.

At this point I don't think any of them are doing their elected responsibilities, especially my states congress people.

We need term limits badly!!!