| Congressional Approval Falls to Single Digits for First Time Ever - Why is that?
Posted: 7/8/2008 8:21:13 AM | The absolute WORST approval rating in HISTORY.
9% Approval
Congressional Performance
Congressional Approval Falls to Single Digits for First Time Ever
The percentage of voters who give Congress good or excellent ratings has fallen to single digits for the first time in Rasmussen Reports tracking history. This month, just 9% say Congress is doing a good or excellent job. Most voters (52%) say Congress is doing a poor job, which ties the record high in that dubious category.
Last month, 11% of voters gave the legislature good or excellent ratings. Congress has not received higher than a 15% approval rating since the beginning of 2008.
The percentage of Democrats who give Congress positive ratings fell from 17% last month to 13% this month. The number of Democrats who give Congress a poor rating remained unchanged. Among Republicans, 8% give Congress good or excellent ratings, up just a point from last month. Sixty-five percent (65%) of GOP voters say Congress is doing a poor job, down a single point from last month.
Voters not affiliated with either party are the most critical of Congressional performance. Just 3% of those voters give Congress positive ratings, down from 6% last month. Sixty-three percent (63%) believe Congress is doing a poor job, up from 57% last month.
Just 12% of voters think Congress has passed any legislation to improve life in this country over the past six months. That number has ranged from 11% to 13% throughout 2008. The majority of voters (62%) say Congress has not passed any legislation to improve life in America.
Voters hold little positive sentiment about the future. Just 41% find it at least somewhat likely that Congress will address important problems facing our nation in the near future, while 55% find this unlikely.
http://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/mood_of_america/congressional_performance/congressional_performance
I am wondering what people think here.
Is the worst approval rating in history, due to them not attacking Bush enough?
Is it due to them not actually working WITH the president?
Or is it because people disagree with the general Liberal Policies of the Democratically Controlled Congress?
Or why do you think the approval is the worst in the History of Congress?
Thoughts people!!! Just opinions only, Please try to refrain from Flaming. | |
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| Congressional Approval Falls to Single Digits for First Time Ever - Why is that?
Posted: 7/8/2008 8:43:42 AM | | It's possibly because the minds of the American people are turning towards thoughts of 'Change we can believe in' and starting to wonder what they might be. One thing for sure is that everyone agrees that there has to be change. No-one seems happy with much of what is going on now at home or abroad and thats reflected in the numbers. | |
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| Congressional Approval Falls to Single Digits for First Time Ever - Why is that?
Posted: 7/8/2008 8:51:47 AM | The problem with "Change" that is coming, is that no body knows what "Change" means.
Sure it's repeated constantly, it's a campaign slogan. But so far, it's only been defined as, Anti-Bush.
9% approval doesn't come from people looking to the future. It comes from disappointment with the current leadership.
Why do you think people are disappointed?
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| Congressional Approval Falls to Single Digits for First Time Ever - Why is that?
Posted: 7/8/2008 9:06:08 AM | Record fillibusters preventing anything from getting done at all. They broke the record... December 2007. Think about that, in the history of your country, no congress has filibustered this many bills, not even the contentious civil rights bills, and they did it with an entire year to spare.
Essentially, the Republican party have broken congress, in an effort to cause disolusionment with congress in the hope they can somehow capitalize on it politically. It's hard for me to come to any conclusion but that the Republicans care far more about holding power than they do good governance of the United States.
http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/13977.html for their record breaking statistics. | |
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| Congressional Approval Falls to Single Digits for First Time Ever - Why is that?
Posted: 7/8/2008 2:48:04 PM | Whether or not Republicans are filibustering more depends on the PERCENTAGE of bills being filibustered, not just the numerical amount of bills being filibustered. I suspect what's happening is that when Republicans were in charge, less bills were proposed because conservatives believe in small government conservatism and therefore there would be less bills to regulate how we should live our lives and less bills to spend money.
But now that the Democrats are in charge, liberals are proposing much more bills to control our lives and more big government liberal spending (like minimum wage, stem cell, and regulating bank loans to students) so of course there would be more filibusters because many more bills are being proposed in Congress.
Maybe people don't want Congress meddling so much in their lives, which is why Congress has a 9% approval rating. | |
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| Congressional Approval Falls to Single Digits for First Time Ever - Why is that?
Posted: 7/8/2008 3:07:17 PM | I think people are disappointed that congress is not attacking Bush enough. No investigations, no accountability. Plus the housing market and fuel prices. For dem voters, I think they see a lack of vision and leadership. For the rep voters, they probably believe that there is way more to being a rep than simply siding with Bush on everything.
Interesting study on the subject:
http://pewresearch.org/pubs/858/democratic-favorables
Proof? Expect a big power shift to the Democrats this year. | |
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| Congressional Approval Falls to Single Digits for First Time Ever - Why is that?
Posted: 7/8/2008 3:25:31 PM | I love some of the responses!
In a nutshell, "People are severely disappointed with a Democrat controlled congress but it's the Republicans' fault."
Sounds like something from the front page of the New York Times.
Proof? Expect a big power shift to the Democrats this year.
Let's hope not. My wallet just told me it's getting tired of being butt-raped. :=) | |
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| Congressional Approval Falls to Single Digits for First Time Ever - Why is that?
Posted: 7/8/2008 5:33:56 PM |
In a nutshell, "People are severely disappointed with a Democrat controlled congress but it's the Republicans' fault."
LOL refute it then, are you arguing that the Republicans haven't blocked more legislation in one year than any other congress in history? or that they shouldn't be considered responsible for their actions?
Apparently they feel the need to sabotage things SO badly that...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/08/AR2008050802999_pf.html
Republicans Vote Against Moms; No Word Yet on Puppies, Kittens
By Dana Milbank
Friday, May 9, 2008; A03
It was already shaping up to be a difficult year for congressional Republicans. Now, on the cusp of Mother's Day, comes this: A majority of the House GOP has voted against motherhood.
On Wednesday afternoon, the House had just voted, 412 to 0, to pass H. Res. 1113, "Celebrating the role of mothers in the United States and supporting the goals and ideals of Mother's Day," when Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-Kan.), rose in protest.
"Mr. Speaker, I move to reconsider the vote," he announced.
Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Fla.), who has two young daughters, moved to table Tiahrt's request, setting up a revote. This time, 178 Republicans cast their votes against mothers.
It has long been the custom to compare a popular piece of legislation to motherhood and apple pie. Evidently, that is no longer the standard. Worse, Republicans are now confronted with a John Kerry-esque predicament: They actually voted for motherhood before they voted against it.
Republicans, unhappy with the Democratic majority, have been using such procedural tactics as this all week to bring the House to a standstill, but the assault on mothers may have gone too far. House Minority Leader John Boehner, asked yesterday to explain why he and 177 of his colleagues switched their votes, answered: "Oh, we just wanted to make sure that everyone was on record in support of Mother's Day."
By voting against it?
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| Congressional Approval Falls to Single Digits for First Time Ever - Why is that?
Posted: 7/8/2008 7:45:35 PM | It interesting that a Dem moved suspend the rules
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/record.xpd?id=110-h20080505-25&bill=hr110-1113
Rep. William Clay [D-MO]: Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1113) celebrating the role of mothers in the United States and supporting the goals and ideals of Mother's Day.
It interesting that a Dem moved to table Tiahrt's request. Which set up the table motion.
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=hr110-1113
H. Res. 1113, "Celebrating the role of mothers in the United States and supporting the goals and ideals of Mother's Day,"
ntroduced by
Rep. Jeffrey Fortenberry [R-NE]
cosponsors (54) About 10 D 44 R
Votes on Passage
May 7, 2008: This bill passed in the House of Representatives by roll call vote. The vote was held under a suspension of the rules to cut debate short and pass the bill, needing a two-thirds majority. The totals were 412 Ayes, 0 Nays, 21 Present/Not Voting.
http://www.senate.gov/reference/glossary_term/reconsider.htm
reconsider - Senate rules permit one motion to reconsider any question decided by vote, if offered by a Senator who voted on the winning side. Normally a supporter of the outcome immediately moves to reconsider the vote, and the same Senator or another immediately moves to table this motion, thus securing the outcome of the vote.
table, motion to - A Senator may move to table any pending question. The motion is not debatable, and agreement to the motion is equivalent to defeating the question tabled. The motion is used to dispose quickly of questions the Senate does not wish to consider further.
What the second vote was
Table Motion to Reconsider: H RES 1113 Celebrating the role of mothers in the United States and supporting the goals and ideals of Mother’s Day.
The Republican voted against the motion to reconsider motion. Not the actual bill.
http://thomas.loc.gov/home/votes/reconsider.html
A motion to reconsider is a parliamentary practice that gives the House (or Senate) one opportunity to review its action on a motion, amendment, or measure.
Motions to reconsider are routinely laid on the table -- or killed. If a motion to reconsider is adopted, it requires a vote be held again on whatever the House has voted to reconsider. Only Members who voted on the winning side may move to reconsider a vote.
The democrates did not want to reconsider their actions on the bill. the Republicans did
Maybe the Democrates are trying to push a lot of stuff through. That would not be good for the USA. The Republicans are stopping them with all the filibustering | |
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| Congressional Approval Falls to Single Digits for First Time Ever - Why is that?
Posted: 7/8/2008 7:51:46 PM | I'd be more inclined to think it has something to do with not forcing issues that the executive has been pushing to a head. But When you president has the option of a "pocket veto" then it really isn't a democracy and the lack of action is understandable.
Wait 6 months after McCain loses and see what has changed. | |
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| Congressional Approval Falls to Single Digits for First Time Ever - Why is that?
Posted: 7/8/2008 10:59:31 PM |
May 7, 2008: This bill passed in the House of Representatives by roll call vote. The vote was held under a suspension of the rules to cut debate short and pass the bill, needing a two-thirds majority. The totals were 412 Ayes, 0 Nays, 21 Present/Not Voting.
Geeze, why did they table debate? I don't know, because nobody wanted to debate against it?
The democrates did not want to reconsider their actions on the bill. the Republicans did
ok, maybe. except...
"Oh, we just wanted to make sure that everyone was on record in support of Mother's Day."
Thats not what he said, he said that he wanted to be on record as supporting it ( even though oddly enough he voted against it.
Maybe the Democrates are trying to push a lot of stuff through. That would not be good for the USA. The Republicans are stopping them with all the filibustering
The president has a Veto. You don't even need to fillibuster in this situation unless you're trying to stifle the entire process. | |
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| Congressional Approval Falls to Single Digits for First Time Ever - Why is that?
Posted: 7/9/2008 1:14:00 AM | The man on the street does not keep track of most bills that come up for a vote or how much filibustering is going on. The reason for the low approval rating is simple.
It’s because they were voted in to stop the war.
And they didn’t
It’s because they were voted in to stop Bush’s abuses of power
And they didn’t
But hey this is the view of someone who thinks Bush is a war criminal and should be dragged out of office and hung for treason so clearly I’m just some dumb radical.
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| Congressional Approval Falls to Single Digits for First Time Ever - Why is that?
Posted: 7/9/2008 6:56:13 AM | I think if you will look at most of the members of Congress that were running for re-election in 2006 you will find that many of them ran on a platform of change.
When they arrived in Washington they were educated about the consequences of the changes they thought were appropriate and decided it was worse than what we had.
Then there are fuel prices.I can't tell you how many people have said we need to stop the rising cost of fuel. We need a price freeze.The problem with that is that producers will ship to markets that pay their price and we will have shortages.
People want change but they aren't getting it.Change has to be well thought out and the general public doesn't have time for prudent change. | |
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| Congressional Approval Falls to Single Digits for First Time Ever - Why is that?
Posted: 7/9/2008 7:20:01 AM | Because they haven't done anything. They've played the game politically safe 'till it hurts , all in the hopes of making the way to the White House easier for the party's nominee in the fall.
They don't want serious sh!t -- like, you've impeached a president "during wartime", you've changed this and that in Iraq and now look what's happened down there, etc etc -- thrown at the party or the candidate in debates before Nov.08.
They wanted to leave it all on the GOP's plate; their war (certainly perceived as such by most, since the Bush White House started it after all), their president, their economy (again, widely perceived as such).. etc.
Politically it's a good strategy, and frankly I think Repubs were hoping the Dems , once elected to a majority (however slight) in Congress , would do more to "take ownership" so to speak of the Iraq situation and so on......and then have it go badly. But they didn't bite on that.
And people here are just generally fed up of course with everything from the housing market to mass layoffs (the auto industry, for example), the economy in general, gas prices, and so forth, and so they're just p!ssed at all the gov't now basically. In Sunday's Chicago Sun-Times, the poll they cited said currently less than 17% of Americans feel the country is "headed in the right direction"....a record low. And of course the presidential approval rating is at nearly a record low as well. As I said, many people are feeling fed up with the whole gov't.
IMO I wouldn't be entirely opposed to the idea of a complete purge in November. Elect a new president (preferably a newcomer to DC , wink wink, from a different party than has been in there for 8 yrs), and be rid of nearly every Congressperson as well and get all new ones in there, from both sides of the aisle. A complete "blood transfusion", so to speak, in DC. | |
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| Congressional Approval Falls to Single Digits for First Time Ever - Why is that?
Posted: 7/9/2008 9:07:34 AM |
This subject has ALREADY been covered in another thread in the "Politics" section: Confidence in "Congress at record low", started on June 20. 12% Approval
Yes that thread was started on June 20.
THAT RECORD LOW WAS BROKEN!!! 9% approval
It's even lower now. So, NOW it's at a NEW LOW.
The Democratically Controlled congress has reach a new bench mark. Lowest in history.
Of course it's all Bush's fault.
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| Congressional Approval Falls to Single Digits for First Time Ever - Why is that?
Posted: 7/9/2008 1:39:46 PM | I think the reason it's at an all time low is because nobody got what they elected and we are sick of not having a choice in the matter.
Dems wanted the war to end, but got a political platform to try and help win in november
Conservatives wanted small government, but got an immensely larger one
Religious nutter wanted more Jesus, but got ummm, ID shot down? Whatever it was, it wasn't more Jesus
Economicly focused people wanted less government spending and the economy to not suck, they got that... but for China, not the US
Social Welfare focused people wanted more social programs, but got budget cuts for the war
People against America trying to destroy the world wanted to get out of ridiculous foreign matters, but got the war and a president looking for more
People from other countries (although they couldn't vote) wanted a benevolent super power, but got some form of terrifying nightmare.
Neocons wanted to take over Iraq (and the rest of the middle east) to make the world safer, but got a quagmire that has resulted in less saftey.
Hell, the only people who actually got what they wanted out of the past election cycle are Bush, the disilusioned, those who hate America and want it to destroy itself, and of course the late Prescott Bush. | |
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