by Mark Silva
Fully two-thirds of Americans surveyed say they disapprove of the job that Congress is doing, with just 27 percent voicing approval in the latest Gallup Poll -- and it is Republicans in particular who appear most unhappy about the Democratic-run Congress.
"Congressional job approval is low among both Republicans and Democrats, but Republicans' ratings have now fallen to the lowest point since President George W. Bush took office in 2001, dropping six points over the past month to 18 percent,'' Gallup reports. About one in three Democrats and independents approve of the job that Congress is doing.
The latest survey, conducted July 12-15, shows a lower public approval rating for Congress than Gallup measured at the start of the year, when the Democrats took control.
Nevertheless, the Democratic-run Congress has maintained a slightly higher standing than the Republican-run Congress before it last year.
So far this year, Gallup reports, congressional job approval ratings have averaged 30%.
This is up from an average of 25 percent in 2006.
"Since Gallup first started tracking this measure in 1974, the highest yearly average approval rating of Congress occurred in 2001, at 56 percent, and the lowest was 1992, with an average 18 percent approval rating,'' Gallup reports.
"Democrats are more positive than Republicans in their current assessment of Congress,'' the report notes, "although a solid majority of both groups say they disapprove of the job Congress is doing. Roughly one in three Democrats (32 percent) say they approve of Congress, compared with 18 percent of Republicans. Independents' approval rating is 30 percent.''
The survey of 1,001 adults carries a possible margin of error of three percentage points.
For more on the poll, see the Gallup report.
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Comments
It's time for an alternative party. Both Democrats and Republicans are out for themselves. They put their political careers and ambitions ahead of the country and its citizens.
Posted by: Stewart | July 24, 2007 12:09 PM
Since Mark Silva is spending time looking at the Gallup poll, one wonders how Mr. Silva managed to avoid seeing the latest Gallup Poll which shows Republican Rudy Giuliani beating the leading Democrats, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.
The numbers the "Swamp" doesn't want you to see, but which anybody can find, are:
Giuliani 49%, Clinton 46%
Giuliani 49%, Obama 45%
Posted by: Bruce | July 24, 2007 12:26 PM
You have to love the Media's GOP spin on Congress. Where is the poll ratings on the last Congress or House. What did that Congress do for the American People? No really ask yourself that.
This Congress pole ratings are 82% Effective. There is a saying, "It doesn't matter who votes," "It's who counts the votes that make it matter."
So who is counting the votes. The American People aren't that disatisfied, just dismayed with the GOP now we are going to Filibuster everything you want to do, can do, have to do, should do for the American People. "Can the last Congress Spare a Man a Dime please."
Congress with its 18% approval rating cannot wait for the GOP to say we have to "Filibuster" the Childrens Health Care Bill. The Energy Bill, The Insurance Bill, and The Student Loan Bill.
The GOP will show their hand over the next few weeks. They have to be a "Lame Duck" Party as their Commander in Chief Dick Cheney has told them all to go "F" themselves on the Senate floor in the last Congress.
I'm still trying to figure out what is the "Augmentation to a War." Can the GOP answer that. Call Condi she said it, you confirmed her.
Why are you upset? Did you not get what you wanted in the last Congress. The Supreme Court gave you Bush, who gave you Ashcroft, who in turn gave you the Patriot Act. Gonzales gave you "Wireless Warrant Taping" even if he had to take it in the night. That alone gave you control of over every American. Now can be held as an enemy combatant, and not be. What more can a Government want or ask for other than some absolute control.
"Assimilation"
"IS"
"Futile"
So, stop whining about all that spurious arguments and get a clue on your "Separation of Powers" the "Constitution of the United States that you all swore to uphold and "DEFEND." Help us "We the People" defeat our own erred ability when it comes to multiculturalism, educational,manufacturing, fears and put a stop the frustracting setbacks to the American People that you installed in the last Congress.
DO YOUR JOB AND STOP CRYING and gives us an EXIT STRATEGY not on in the war you STARTED, but the war in AMERICA you Started also.
YOU DID HAVE ONE DIDN'T YOU?
Posted by: Roger Morris | July 24, 2007 1:10 PM
Bruce, I'm guessing that the reason Mark didn't post one of your phony polls is because Rudy Gigoloiani isn't even leading in the "polls" for the Republican nomination, the leader for the Republican nomination is: "None Of The Above".
Do you think Rudy can beat that guy?
Posted by: John E | July 24, 2007 1:10 PM
http://www.pollingreport.com/wh08gen.htm
Posted by: Bubba | July 24, 2007 1:20 PM
With stirring, motivating "leaders" like Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi, what is the matter with those people who were polled? Must be another right-winged conspiracy.
Posted by: Addison | July 24, 2007 1:21 PM
Hey Bruce, you ever here of the margin of error?
If it's 3%, then we have a dead heat, Giullani hasn't beat anyone yet. Not mention he still needs to get all the social conservatives to endorse him.
November 08 is still a long way off for anyone to be touting they are winning!
Posted by: Scott in The South Loop | July 24, 2007 1:32 PM
since Bruce likes polls that aren't mentioned in The Swamp, here's one for him:
An AP/Ipsos poll of Republicans released last week revealed that their current faves for the presidential nod stack up like this:
Mitt Romney: 11%
John McCain: 15%
Fred Thompson: 19%
Rudy Giuliani: 21%
None of the above: 25%
That's right - a plurality of REPUBLICAN voters prefer NONE OF THEIR CANDIDATES for president!
source: http://www.ipsos-na.com/news/client/act_dsp_pdf.cfm?name=mr070716-2topline.pdf&id=3578
Posted by: BC | July 24, 2007 2:00 PM
BC,
We need to keep posting that everytime RNC Bruce throws up one of his phony polls.
I sooooooooo hope the Wingnuts nominate Rudy!!!
Posted by: John E | July 24, 2007 2:58 PM
..."The numbers the "Swamp" doesn't want you to see, but which anybody can find, are:
Giuliani 49%, Clinton 46%
Giuliani 49%, Obama 45%"...
...yea, right...tell that to President Dewey...
Posted by: The Original BZ | July 24, 2007 3:01 PM
The low ratings are a direct result of Congress not impeaching Cheney and Bush. That's what they were elected to do. But the little morons can't figure out how to handle the big morons.
Posted by: tom | July 24, 2007 3:39 PM
Actually BC, the poll you linked to says only 8% responded "None of the above". You just added the 15% that responded "Don't know/not sure" and the 2% "Other" to get your 25% as if all three meant the same thing.
Posted by: Chris | July 24, 2007 4:02 PM
Regarding presidential polls: What some here fail to appreciate is that if ANY Republican can poll ahead of the 2 Democrat rock stars (even if it is within the margin of error, Scott) then the Democrats are in trouble.
After the last eight years, the Democrats should be wiping up the floor with any Republican contender. The fact that they can't illustrates that the electorate sees them as just more of the same.
Specifically about congressional approval rating: The sea change in the make up of Congress netted no real change. That is (in part) coloring the Presidential race, IMO.
Posted by: [INSERT CLEVER POST NAME HERE] | July 24, 2007 5:07 PM
Continues to be overlooked is the fact that in our antiquated tyranny by the minority Electoral College system, national polls don't mean squat.
Also, in a country with about 302 million people a poll of 1 or 2,000 respondents is just ridiculous.
Posted by: Doug Zook | July 25, 2007 8:27 AM