Gallup: Congress's rating matches historic low

To paraphrase James Carville:

It's the war, stupid!

The American people want out of Iraq. They won't be happy with either party until we are.

And just why do you think Congress' ratings are so low? (1) Do Nothing positive; (2) Initiate phony investigations from who ate the strawberries to who gets an extra slice of tomato in the White House Mess; (3) Try to block surveillance of Islamic Terrorists who want to blow up our country; (4) Fight low taxes for the public; (5) Slam American soldiers as Nazis (6) Pad every bill with pork for their districts ....oh, and then give themselves a big pay raise. What a bunch of goobers.

Americans understand that the obstructionist Republicans can keep the Congress from over-riding the Cheneybush regime's vetos for change and peace.

Cheneybush will veto all proposals for peace.

This is why the White House will go into Democratic hands next year - - so the change that 71% of the American public wants can actually happen.

The Swamp spin is: The Democrat Congress, with an 18% approval rating, is in better shape than Pres. Bush, who has a 29% approval rating.

Who can argue with that!

WOW, what a surprise. Crooks with a low approval rating.

The only reason Dems will have a chance in the next Congressional elections is that in pretty much every race, a Republican will be running against a Dem. Voters will be stuck with the (far) lesser of two evils.

Disaffection with Dems certainly does not translate to affection for the Republicants, who have proven to all but a few nutjobs (many of whom roost here) that they are lack the competence to run a country. I'd be interested to hear from our dear right wing friends exactly what successes they can point to as a result of the Republicans having controlled basically the entire government for 6 years. Consider:

Social Security Reform? Uncheck

Border Security? Uncheck

Capture OBL? "Not yet"

Balanced budget? Bwaah!

Vote Republicant in 2008 to continue the trend of abject failure. And don't forget the purple ink to show you voted!

Tony- your argument provides an easy fit for defending the do nothing congress with a Dem majority-

Its not the war- it is the USE of the war for poltical posturing that is causing this...

Americans, Dems and Reps, see thru the charade of non binding referendums and BS investigations, and realize that the majority party is more interested in their own political well being than the well being of the country. IF the DEMS really believe that we should not be in Iraq, and that last November was a mandate, then they should have the courage of their convicictions and defund the war. Neither Reid or Pelosi have this kind of backbone.

Tony - your DEM leaders have abandoned you and their supporters... sorry

RNC Bruce,

As much as I might desire a 100% veto proof Congress, last time I checked there are Republicans there too.

Yeah Bruce, your guy has one of the lowest approval ratings of any President. At this point in time during Clinton's presidency, his approval rating was in the mid 60's. Clinton would have been elected for a third term, if that were permitted. Bush will go down as the worst President in U.S. history.
And this Congress deserves low approval ratings, mostly because a handful of Republic-scum (i.e. bug eyes M.McConnell)are obstructionists. No serving politican deserves a pay raise.

Heartburn-

1. Complete defunding of the war is a horrible option. There has to be some sort of managed withdrawal. Everyone accepts that, except Republicans like you who throw it up as a straw man arguement.

2. So what am I to do in 2008 if I support your contention, vote for Republicans who will gleefully extend this war indefinitely, and probably expand it to Iran, or vote for Democrats, who while they have not done enough so far, will at the very least not expand the war, and will continue to try to find a way to end it?

That's the choice. Endless war or not.

Unless the Republicans change their position, they're on the wrong side from the American voter.

heartburn,
Unlike the Republican Party that sent our soldiers into a warzone without body armor and uparmored vehicles, the Democratic Party cares about their well-being and their safe return home to their families. That means giving them what they need to stay alive. Truth hurts sometimes. I've yet to hear you apoligize to the soldiers who had to have families send them flak jackets or dig thru scrap heaps to find metal to attach to their trucks to try and bomb proof them. We won't hear you apologize because you don't give a damn about them. They are just props for your party. We are waiting for the apology from your ilk....

While polls do show American patience with the war has run low, polls also show that most Americans still do not want an immediate withdrawal.

Anyway, I'm wondering where the LIBune Swamp item will get posted about Dem Sen.Carl Levin saying the surge is working after his visit to Iraq? Or how about Dem Congressman Brian Baird, saying the same thing and that any withdrawal soon would be a disaster? Or how about Hillary once again chirping a little different tune and now saying the surge is working?

Come on Frank, where is that Swamp post????

Heartburn, your post is right on. I think Dems are finally starting to distinguish between the rhetoric of a walking contradiction like Harry Reid, and his actual voting history. I suggest to them to ignore the former, and hold him to the latter. In the case of the Iraq War, Reid has voted in favor of the initial authorization, voted in favor of continued funding at every juncture, and joined in a unanimous vote to confirm General Petraeus knowing full well of his plans for a troop surge. That is his voting record. His rhetoric, contrarily, says that the war is lost, he is against the troop surge, and that the troops should be brought home now. Then he wonders why no one likes him.

Yeah Libune! And how about Bull Orally saying this on June 2oth?

"I'm gonna tell you that the big picture is, the Iraqis have two more months. They've got two more months. And if they don't step up and help more than they're helping on oil legislation and security, in two months, it's over. Come September and October, we're pulling back, and that's the truth."

It is time for our democratic congressmen to shine light on our country and pull the Bush administration and rest of congress’s attention towards critical issues that needs to be addressed. Issue such as global poverty needs to be address by our candidates to each and to the general public. As one of the nation that has pledge to fulfill the goals of Millennium Development Project, whose goal is the elimination of world hunger and poverty, the Bush Administration has not shown any substantial action to bring this fundamental problem to a stop. According to the Borgen Project, dedicated to fighting and ending Poverty around the world, only $19 billion dollars are needed annually to stop world wide poverty, hunger and malnutrition. However, more than $340 billion dollars has been poured into this “war on terror.” And each year, our country has a military budge of $522 billion dollars. It's time for a new leader who will be addressing an issue that affects 1.2 billion people everyday worldwide.

Oh come on, JohnD, any idiot can figure out that more boots on the ground is going to have a temporary effect. (Hey, didn't that idea come up at the start of this debacle?...More troops, better success...hhmmmm) But what happens when they're gone? The surge didn't help keep 200 people from getting blown up and yet another governor from being assassinated.

Who is this Congresscritter named Congress? What state does Mr./Ms. Congress reside in? How can I vote for or against said named Congress?

Do any of these people named Congress have (R) after their names? Or does said Congress only have (D) after their name?

blinkin
Cut tax rates spuring revenues and the economy. Two conservative Supreme Court Justices. No major terrorist actions. Libya disarmed of wmd.
We showed the world not to mess with the US.
One rarely heard additional fact, Iran has been having problems keeping some of their top military people alive. Seems the 5 planes they were in mysteriously crashed. The US denied any involvement.

Let's see what Carl Levin really had to say....

"After returning from a two-day visit to Iraq, bipartisan members of the Senate Armed Services Committee -- Carl Levin and John Warner -- say the surge has produced some results and has "provided a degree of 'breathing space' for Iraqi politicians" to make political compromises. But these senators warned they're "not optimistic about the prospects for those compromises."

They issued a joint press release today. "Given the performance of the Iraqi political leadership to date -- we remain extremely cautious in our expectations, as does our distinguished U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, Ambassador Ryan Crocker," they wrote. In several meeting with Iraqi leaders, "we witnessed a great deal of apprehension regarding the capabilities of the current Iraqi government to shed its sectarian biases and act in a unifying manner."

Wow, what a ringing endorsement Johnny Torture.

Once again, you willfully confuse military progress, with actual progress toward any sort of solution to the main Iraqi problems. There is NO progress toward that political solution, in fact, it gets farther away every passing day. Johnny Torture, how many more young American soldiers are you willing to sacrifice for Iraqi politicians who are not working to resolve their own problems? How long are you willing to put up with their complete lack of progress, while we pay the price?

It's time to hold them accountable. It's time to tell them we're kicking them out of the nice safe nest and let them fly on their own.

Set a timetable to end US combat involvement in Iraq. Set it now.

John-
Tony-
"...That's the choice. Endless war or not.

Unless the Republicans change their position, they're on the wrong side from the American voter..."

Posted by: Tony | August 21, 2007 10:54 AM

"...the Democratic Party cares about their well-being and their safe return home to their families. ..."
Posted by: john | August 21, 2007 11:08 AM

Nice try- distract the issue into a war strategy whine..
John, yours is especially contrived and pathetic..

Why are the poll #s so low-?
simple question..

The main reason for Congress low ratings is their absolute denial of the necessity to impeach Cheney and Bush. Until these cowards are removed from office their ratings will remain lower than whale waste.

Oh, I almost forgot to disprove Johnny Torture's other "fact"

"While polls do show American patience with the war has run low, polls also show that most Americans still do not want an immediate withdrawal."

The latest Gallup Poll shows that two thirds of the American public favor removing virtually all US troops from Iraq by April 1.

18. (Asked of a half sample) Do you favor or oppose removing all U.S. troops from Iraq by April 1st of next year, except for a limited number that would be involved in counter-terrorism efforts?

Favor
Oppose
No opinion

2007 Aug 3-5
66%
30
4

http://www.galluppoll.com/content/default.aspx?ci=28330&pg=2

Remember folks, never believe any of Johnny's facts without checking them out.

LONG LIVE NANCY PELOSI

LIKE BUSH SAYS FORGET THE POLLS, I'M AT 11% AND I'M NOT BEING IMPEACHED.

RICK SANTORUM HAS HEARD THE VOICES AMERICA. TERRY SCHIAVO CAME TO HIM IN THE NIGHT AND SAID YOU HAVE BEEN ORDAINED RICK, ORDAINED. NANCY DID IT TO YOU NANCY DID IT TO YOU.

JUST SMOKE IN THE HOUR GLASS SWAMP READERS, JUST MORE SMOKE FROM THE WHITE HOUSE AS THEY CONTINUE THEIR QUEST TO DESTROY THE MIDDLE CLASS AND ITS MOST POWERFULL VOTE. YOU AND ME.

ITS SEPTEMBER AND WE ALL KNOW THAT BUSH IS DOING MORE SPEECH WRITING THAN DIPLOMACY. ITS THE BLAME GAME ALL OVER, AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE NEED TO YAWN PAST CONGRESS POLL NUMBERS AS THE GOP MANIFEST AND MANDATE IS ONE OF HIDING ALL OF THE FACTS UNTIL WE ARE OUT OF HERE.

GOP SHAWDOW IS DARK AND DESTRUCTABLE.

CONGRESS MY BUTT!

THANK YOU FOR THE OVERSIGHT, THANK YOU FOR THE OVERSIGHT, THANK YOU FOR THE OVERSIGHT.

SING WITH ME DENNY, SING WITH ME. LONG LIVE NANCY PELOSI!

Why are the poll #s so low-?
simple question..

Posted by: heartburn | August 21, 2007 12:57 PM

Because the War in Iraq continues with no end in sight. That American people want the war to end.

The issue IS the war strategy, as I said originally.

blinkin
Cut tax rates spuring revenues and the economy. Two conservative Supreme Court Justices. No major terrorist actions. Libya disarmed of wmd.
We showed the world not to mess with the US.
One rarely heard additional fact, Iran has been having problems keeping some of their top military people alive. Seems the 5 planes they were in mysteriously crashed. The US denied any involvement.

Posted by: whatnow | August 21, 2007 12:45 PM

The tax cuts have resulted in huge budget deficits where we had surpluses in place. Whether it was tax cuts or increased government spending, it's inevitable the economy will improve when the government injects money into the economy. The trick is to do so responsibly, which does not seem to have panned out.

True, the Supreme Court justices are ideal if you're a fascist. If you had any interest in individual liberties, thet are a disaster. Nonetheless, the Repubs get credit for actually accomplishing something on this score.

No major terrorist attacks -- except, of course, 9/11. "Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how'd you like the play."

Libya? Now we're really scraping the barrel. Besides, Libya's actions were solely for its economic interests and had nothing to do with what Wanton Boy did or did not do.

The "world" already knew not to mess with the U.S. Everyone knew we had the power to invade anyone we chose to invade. What they didn't know is we'd have a government run by Republicant chickenhawks who would use it as a first resort.

All told, a pretty lame record by a undistinguished group of hacks, led by the worst president in U.S. history.

Still no apology heartburn? A lot of families lost loved ones because soldiers didn't have adequate protection during this war of choice. You're not going to use this opportunity to say you're sorry your party didn't make sure they had more than enough armor going into Iraq? How do you look at yourself in the mirror?

After the American public gets rid of the remaining obstructionist Republicans in Congress in this upcoming 08 election, the rest of this country will be able to finally move away from the BushCo Neocon agenda for good:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LT9kUslHfBY

Why are the poll #s so low-?
simple question..

Posted by: heartburn | August 21, 2007 12:57 PM

HB: The answer has been provided many times, many places, including on this very story and thread: Dems have not done enough to change the course in Iraq that's been set by the Republicants. As a result, we have hardcore Wingers, like you, who oppose Dems solely because of their party affiliation and we people from the middle and left who are mad at the Dems for not doing enough to end the war. Combine those two groups and the remaining 18% of the country consists of little more than Congresspeople and their families.

It's really not all that hard to figure out. You knew the answer before you asked the question.

Tony, does pulling all or most of our troops out by April 1 constitute an immediate withdrawal? Seems to be April 1 is more than seven months away.

Your and your moronic brethren want IMMEDIATE pull out.
And, Tony, please explain what "minimum number needed for counterterrorism efforts" means? 50,000 troops? 10,000 troops? 75,000 troops?
As usual, the maniacal rantings of the Loony Left fall apart.

Where the surge seems to work is through the military actually acting as a kind of occupying police force, including building relations within communities to root out insurgents. This is of course what should have been taking place since May 2003. I think of Colin Powell's "you break it you own it" statement, and I still believe we own some responsibility to trying to police the madness in Iraq and at least exit slowly in phases while stil trying to implement the surge strategies that work. I do admit that without a political solution, this may all be work gone down the drain in the end. I think its notable that last weeks attacks that kiled 200 were in Kurd areas, and I believe those areas has been among the most secure earlier. The insurgents get flushed out of hot areas and just find the holes somewhere else. Its a horrible situation we have created.

That being said, thanks Tony for sharing the facts. The truth never gets old.

Because the War in Iraq continues with no end in sight. That American people want the war to end.

The issue IS the war strategy, as I said originally.

Posted by: Tony | August 21, 2007 1:32 PM

Wrong! my confused, party line recurgitating friend!
Congressional approval ratings are low because the new congress got into office by promising something they couldnt or wouldnt be able to deliver on.. in both cases they lied and faked their way into office with the anybofy but Bush campaign..
I said it in November and I say it now-

NOW they are left with actually having to DO something-

So far DOING something to this congress includes raising the minimum wage- and harrassing anyone that ever called Bush their boss..

The American public has seen behind the curtain and is tired of the sham!

Seems to be April 1 is more than seven months away.

Your and your moronic brethren want IMMEDIATE pull out.

Posted by: John D | August 21, 2007 2:21 PM

So sad, so desperate is Johnny Torture. His arguments today amount to nothing more than ridiculous parsings and personal attacks.

The main reason for Congress low ratings is their absolute denial of the necessity to impeach Cheney and Bush. Until these cowards are removed from office their ratings will remain lower than whale waste.

Posted by: tom | August 21, 2007 1:00 PM

Tom,
They impeached Clinton, which accomplished abssolutely nothing. Instread of finger pointing, these incredible wastes need to get off their glutteous' and try doing their job. They might just be shocked by thte reaction if they actually tried to do anything. ANd yes, this applies to both sides of the aisel. They are all useless.

Still no apology heartburn? A lot of families lost loved ones because soldiers didn't have adequate protection during this war of choice. You're not going to use this opportunity to say you're sorry your party didn't make sure they had more than enough armor going into Iraq? How do you look at yourself in the mirror?

Posted by: john | August 21, 2007 1:51 PM

John-
What? My party? puuulease..you have to be kidding-get over yourself.

Here are some more equally empty points of view..

Have you apologized for YOUR party ignoring islamist threats for years while YOUR president was mentoring white house interns--

Have you apologized for Durbins Comparison of troops to NAzis?

Have you apologized for anything Ted Kennedy or Jimmy Carter have ever done?

"Your and your moronic brethren want IMMEDIATE pull out."

No we don't Johnny Torture, that's your straw man arguement.

There is no way to immediately withdraw even if we wanted to. 150,000 troops just can't hop on a flight out of Baghdad tomorrow. Even the quickest withdrawal will take months. We (and by we , I mean 66% of the US voters) want an immediate timetable, and a prompt withdrawal.

But then you and your moronic brethern want to keep our young men and women to as targets in an Iraqi civil war indefinitely.

The maniacal rantings of the blood thirsty right.

Wow, John vs. Heartburn..., I think I'll to put my money on John. heartburn goes down in the fifth.
Come on guys. You are both beginning to make your respective party members look intelligent. That is hard to do.

"...HB: The answer has been provided many times, many places, including on this very story and thread: Dems have not done enough to change the course in Iraq that's been set by the Republicants..."

Posted by: a blinkin | August 21, 2007 2:02 PM

we agreee!

Kind of- you are leaving out the best part though..

When you say "-Dems have not done enough to change the course in Iraq that's been set by the Republicants. "

You are exposing your "hard core winger" side- it not that Congress hasn't done enough, congress has done NOTHING to end this war, because to end the war now would be political suicide-don't give your guys a pass just because they are, well , your guys!

The DEMS faked you guys out -
one non binding resolution and congressional hearing at a time.

Your right- I did know the answer- I guess I just like seeing you guys squirming around trying to spin it your way..

Sooner or later heartburn was bound to reach for the bottom of the barrel and bring up Bill Clinton.

Apologize for what?
1) Trying to take Bin Laden out and failing. Your party won't even go after him if they have actionable intel because Musharraf's feelings might be hurt.

2) Dick Durbin being ashamed of soldiers sodomizing enemy combatants with broomsticks and blunt objects. Not going to be apologizing for anything he said because I think there should be a difference in the way that we treat prisoners no matter how guilty they may be.

3)I can't vote for or against Ted Kennedy and what did Carter do besides inherit a terrible economy thanks to Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford?

Got anymore red herrings you want to throw out or do you want to apologize?

What? My party? puuulease..you have to be kidding-get over yourself.

Here are some more equally empty points of view..

Have you apologized for YOUR party ignoring islamist threats for years while YOUR president was mentoring white house interns--

Have you apologized for Durbins Comparison of troops to NAzis?

Have you apologized for anything Ted Kennedy or Jimmy Carter have ever done?

Posted by: heartburn | August 21, 2007 3:06 PM

Hey Wingnut, have you and your Neocon buddies apologized to our troops for lying them into this stupid civil war?
Here's some of our US troops who have some questions just for you:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aP9kEConB8&mode=related&search=

Heartburn-

My very confused party line regurgitating friend, tell us why the 66% of the american public who want us withdraw from Iraq by April 1 would decide to vote Republican, if their disatisfaction with the Democratic Party is that they have not withdrawn us from Iraq fast enough?

And you forget one of the "nothings" that this Congress has accomplished -passing the remainder of the recommendations of the 9/11 commission. Why is the Republic party so weak on terror?

John -
and John E..

(maybe this is a "john" thing )

Hey Wingnut, have you and your Neocon buddies apologized to our troops for lying them into this stupid civil war?
Posted by: John E | August 21, 2007 3:43 PM

"Sooner or later heartburn was bound to reach for the bottom of the barrel and bring up Bill Clinton."

Posted by: john | August 21, 2007 3:43 PM

We can agree on this point- Clinton is definetly the bottom of the barrel-

great- that was fun-

now let me understand you guys requesting an apology from me-

Are you saying that YOUR party voted against initially funding the invasion, or the Patreus appointment ( which assumes a sanctioning of the surge), or the official US policy to remove Saddam Hussein from power? was that strictly along party lines ?? DON'T THINK SO!

so here we are- running around in circles, insulting each other, making ridiculous requests for apologies.. and neither of you have answered the question of why your DEM majority congress approval rating is so low..

Even Tony and A blinkin were honest enough to do that..

Even Tony and A blinkin were honest enough to do that..

Posted by: heartburn | August 21, 2007 5:39 PM

Quit crying you baby.

Headline should read - "President's approval rating 50% greater than Congress'"

Unemployed Tony:

"That's the choice. Endless war or not."

I don't want US Troops in Iraq in 2050, I want them out before "endless"

How about a third option - finish the job and then leave?

Shorter Heartburn logic: I know you are, but what am I?

You make Little Johnny look sane.

Heartburn, please don't knock those with the name of John because of the dimmest of bulbs, dumbest of the dumbest, worst of the worst like John E. happen to be called John (besides, more than likely Deranged John E is not a John but a Dagwood or Norbert or Rufus.

Terry-

It's not our job to finish, it's an Iraqi job. We've done what we can do. It's time we leave and let them get on with it.

Unemployed Tony,

LEt's re-do you "survey":

Option A - Immeditae Troop withdrawal

Option B - Gradual withdrawal and leave an unstable Iraq job to the Iraqis

Option C - Finish the job and leave a stable Iraq to the Iraqis

Option D - Stay for an indefinite period of time.

We are making progress with the surge, even Hillary said that today, why not hand over a more stable Iraq?

Perhaps you are thinking like South Carolina Democratic Congressman Clyburn - if the surge works, its bad for democrats.

Well Terry, 2 reasons:

1. We cannot make a stable Iraq. That is not in our power. Only the Iraqis can do that.

2. The use of US troops to provide internally security in Iraq actually impedes the developement of a stable Iraqi government. No government that relies on troops of a foriegn power to patrol it's streets can be looked on as anything othere than a weak, unstable, government. Every day we do their job for them, the weaker the Iraqi government gets.

Perhaps you think like George Bush, better another thousand dead american troops than admit that the present course in Iraq isn't leading anywhere.

Heartburn:

We absolutely do agree: The Dems have not done enough to end the Iraq disaster. Whether they've done nothing, as you posit, or next to it, as I believe, is a distinction without a difference.

What I think is a more important distinction is the argument that the Dems have low approval ratings because the public really would much prefer Republicans because of "issues" raised b Mahalo (2d post). The public wants Dems to reign in the Republicans. The disapproval is for their failure to do so, not because they've been too aggressive on the Repubs.

In short, the Republican Party may well be a dying breed if current public sentiment keeps apace. Today's Republican party is not the one we all grew up with (not that I liked them then either, but at least I thought they were in the same universe). Spend-and-borrow fiscal policy; interventionist foreign policy; fascist domestic policies -- all carried out with astonishing ineptitude -- these are not winning approaches to American governance.

Heartburn asks the question:

"...so here we are- running around in circles, insulting each other, making ridiculous requests for apologies.. and neither of you have answered the question of why your DEM majority congress approval rating is so low..

Posted by: heartburn | August 21, 2007 5:39 PM"

The answer, Heartburn, is that the obstructionist Republicans, acting as the Cheneybush regime's lapdogs, can and are effectively blocking any reasonable action by denying enough votes to overturn a veto. This is the primary reason the White House will also be turned over to the Democrats next year. With both the Executive & Legislative branches actually cooperating, (note* cooperating as partners, not fearing to disagree as are the Republican lapdogs today) we'll get out of this mess. Hopefully, in the next Democratic administration, we'll also return the Judicial branch of government back to their appropriate independent status, instead of the obediate servants (i.e. lapdogs) of the Chenebush regime.

What do you know: checks & balances actually working? What a novel idea.

The key is to restore our Constitutional government by reversing the disaster of the Cheneybush regime's facist pool of fear and control.

Heartburn asks the question:

"...so here we are- running around in circles, insulting each other, making ridiculous requests for apologies.. and neither of you have answered the question of why your DEM majority congress approval rating is so low..

Posted by: heartburn | August 21, 2007 5:39 PM"

The answer, Heartburn, is that the obstructionist Republicans, acting as the Cheneybush regime's lapdogs, can and are effectively blocking any reasonable action by denying enough votes to overturn a veto. This is the primary reason the White House will also be turned over to the Democrats next year. With both the Executive & Legislative branches actually cooperating, (note* cooperating as partners, not fearing to disagree as are the Republican lapdogs today) we'll get out of this mess. Hopefully, in the next Democratic administration, we'll also return the Judicial branch of government back to their appropriate independent status, instead of the obediate servants (i.e. lapdogs) of the Chenebush regime.

What do you know: checks & balances actually working? What a novel idea.

The key is to restore our Constitutional government by reversing the disaster of the Cheneybush regime's facist pool of fear and control.

Posted by: Snalg, August 22, 2007 10:45 AM