by Frank James
Congress's free fall in public approval has apparently stopped, for now.
Gallup reported today that Congress has recovered from a low of 18 percent public approval to 24 percent in its most recent survey.
But for Democrats who control Congress, it's far from "Happy Days are Here Again." Gallup found that much of the increase came from Republican respondents who said were giving Congress higher marks, not Democrats.
Nearly all of the recent increase is due to improved ratings of Congress among Republicans. The percentage of Republicans approving of the job Congress is doing rose from 18% in August to 37% in September. At the same time, there was only a two-point increase in approval among Democrats, and a three-point decline among independents (neither of which is statistically significant).
Gallup's researchers think the improvement may have been related to two things: Congress was in recess in August so no news from Congress was good news. Also, the public's positive feelings toward Gen. David Petraeus may've rubbed off on Congress.
Here's how Gallup put it:
The Sept. 14-16, 2007 poll was conducted just days after Gen. David Petraeus, the commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, testified before Congress on the war in Iraq. It is notable that the House and Senate were in recess for most of August, and thus Petraeus' testimony on Sept. 10 represents the only significant news out of Congress for the period between Gallup's mid-August and mid-September surveys.Although Democrats did their share of grilling Petraeus during his testimony -- and some questioned the general's independence from the Bush administration -- the very specter of Congress listening to Petraeus deliver his fairly upbeat report on the situation in Iraq may have warmed some Republicans toward Congress.
The Petraeus theory is questionable. Why would Republican voters watching the hearings warm to seeing Democrats skeptically questioning Petraeus?
It certainly wasn't the Sen. Larry Craig story responsible for the remarkable 19 point jump among Republicans. So what was it? What acccounts for the rise in Republican approval of Congress?
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Comments
There are over 20+ Republican seats up for grab in 2008, more than double the amount that are up for election on the Dem side.
The Rethugs are going to pay a heavy price for their obstruction.
"The strategy of being obstructionist can work or fail...and so far it's working for us. Democrats are taking the blame for not getting anything done."
(R) Trent Lott
Roll Call - April 18, 2007
Posted by: John E | September 20, 2007 12:42 PM
Can we please here from John E. and the rest who said Americans were only grading republicans when they started giving congress these record low support numbers now?
Guess that theory is shot full of holes, eh?
Hey John, any word on why Nancy Pelosi won't let the house debate the Bush-Obama bill that would raise the fuel-economy regulations for American cars? Could it be because she wants to say "Republicans did nothing about saving the environment" in 2008? Despite the fact that the Senate and president have expressed support for the bill. I think we know who the real obstructionists are.
Now remember that little phrase, "the House has yet to act." Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who boasts about how she will take the bold steps the president will not, won't allow a floor vote on any mileage provision! Even though Bush and Obama have proposed practically identical bills to increase the CAFE standards!
Pelosi says new mpg rules can be negotiated in conference committee -- that is, in secret, with no public disclosure. And she hasn't even scheduled a conference. George W. Bush proposed a strong, binding program of immediate mpg increases, and Democrats in the House refuse to allow an up-or-down public vote. The calculus is that Pelosi wants to prevent any kind of reform from passing so that, in the 2008 presidential election, Democrats can denounce Republicans for lack of progress on mpg. Wouldn't it be nice if House Democrats acted as though they cared about national security!
Posted by: Anonymous | September 20, 2007 2:36 PM
Why are Republicans happier with Congress?
Because they're stupid???
Posted by: Logic Prisoner | September 20, 2007 3:23 PM
Democrats can denounce Republicans for lack of progress on mpg. Wouldn't it be nice if House Democrats acted as though they cared about national security!
Posted by: Anonymous | September 20, 2007 2:36 PM
You'll find out what everyone thinks about the obstructionist Republicans in Congress in 08, you twit.
Posted by: heartburn | September 20, 2007 3:44 PM
Frank James wonders "why are Republicans happier with Congress".
He could of course ask a Republican for the answer. But that simple thought wouldn't occur to a Swamp reporter.
Posted by: Bruce | September 20, 2007 4:07 PM
Ooh, I'm a twit. You wound me to the quick, you clever, clever writer. Got an argument with substance? Didn't think so.
Posted by: Anonymous | September 20, 2007 5:29 PM
Republicans ought to be happy about the Congress now controlled by my party. They aren't doing what we elected them to do, which is to put an end to Republican stupidity and Bush's illegal, immoral war. They aren't doing shit, and we will remember them in 08 and beyond.
Posted by: Rick/Sneads Ferry, NC | September 20, 2007 6:02 PM
Republicans ought to be happy about the Congress now controlled by my party. They aren't doing what we elected them to do, which is to put an end to Republican stupidity and Bush's illegal, immoral war. They aren't doing shit, and we will remember them in 08 and beyond.
Posted by: Rick/Sneads Ferry, NC | September 20, 2007 6:02 PM
Bipartisan lawmakers seek Iraq common ground
by Matthew Hay Brown
With congressional Democrats unable to muster the veto-proof margins needed to change the direction of U.S. policy in Iraq, and Republicans increasingly concerned about the impact of the war on next year’s elections, a group of House members from both parties have begun searching together for a middle way.
Rick/Sneads. I thought I'd pass this along from the Swamp.
I do agree with you about Republican stupidity and Bush's illegal, immoral war.
Posted by: Former Brainwashed Republican | September 20, 2007 6:24 PM
I thought this was the Congress that was supposed to be conducting an impeachment hearing or two. And if, the President and/or vice-president have committed impeachable offenses, then why have the leaders of the democratic/move-on controlled Congress doen their constitutional duty and filed these charges?
Posted by: Terry | September 20, 2007 10:41 PM
Ah, another misleading caption. It should say why are some (read few) Republicans happy with Congress?
I mean, get serious folks, if Congress has about an 11% approval rating, that hardly says that Republicans are happy with them? I mean, what are you trying to say? Do you genuinely belive the number of Republicans only represents 11% of the voting public? Get real.
Posted by: John W. | September 21, 2007 1:31 AM