Congressional Approval Falls to Single Digits

Stylerod · 07-08-2008, 02:57 PM

Tuesday, July 08, 2008

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.

http://rasmussenreports.com/public_c...al_performance

To tell the truth, I'm not sure what the 9% sees to give them a good or excellent rating.

ballz2wallz · 07-08-2008, 03:00 PM

Partisanship. There are some that will say that Dems are the best no matter how bad they are. I'm sure that goes for the other side too.

WickedLou9 · 07-08-2008, 05:28 PM

Well what the hell have they done? Not a whole lot. Between republican fliibusters and Bush's veto pen, almost every democratic initiative that had a majority in the house and senate was blocked by republicans. I can point the finger here and there, but at the end of the day nothing got done. The blame, in my opininion is shared but most of it falls on the GOP and thier stonewalling tactics. The Dems didn't exactly accel at reaching compromise either but even so. I think, for that reason, we will see people giving more seats to the democrats in an attempt to stop the stonewalling. And if Obama wins the presidency, shit will start getting done finally and approval will go back up.

Charles Martel · 07-08-2008, 05:32 PM

Originally Posted by WickedLou9

And if Obama wins the presidency, shit will start getting done finally and approval will go back up.

I certainly expect my wallet to start getting done...without lubrication either.

motivez · 07-08-2008, 07:19 PM

Originally Posted by WickedLou9

Well what the hell have they done? Not a whole lot. Between republican fliibusters and Bush's veto pen, almost every democratic initiative that had a majority in the house and senate was blocked by republicans. I can point the finger here and there, but at the end of the day nothing got done. The blame, in my opininion is shared but most of it falls on the GOP and thier stonewalling tactics. The Dems didn't exactly accel at reaching compromise either but even so. I think, for that reason, we will see people giving more seats to the democrats in an attempt to stop the stonewalling. And if Obama wins the presidency, shit will start getting done finally and approval will go back up.

And let's not forget their capitulation on major Democratic issues like FISA and holding Bush accountable.. they've completely dropped the ball on the issues Americans care about on both sides of the isle, but particularly on the pro-civil liberties, rule of law crowd

Part of that is the Republicans stall / block tactics, but much of it is because the Democrats have no balls or backbone

motivez · 07-08-2008, 07:20 PM

Originally Posted by Charles Martel

I certainly expect my wallet to start getting done...without lubrication either.

I heard that's the way your wallet likes it. I'm not saying your wallet is a whore or anything.. just that it likes it rough.

TankRizzo · 07-08-2008, 11:04 PM

Originally Posted by motivez

I heard that's the way your wallet likes it. I'm not saying your wallet is a whore or anything.. just that it likes it rough.

I gave my wallet a purity ring

C4Casey · 07-09-2008, 01:07 AM

"Well what the hell have they done? Not a whole lot. Between republican fliibusters and Bush's veto pen, almost every democratic initiative that had a majority in the house and senate was blocked by republicans. I can point the finger here and there, but at the end of the day nothing got done. The blame, in my opininion is shared but most of it falls on the GOP and thier stonewalling tactics. The Dems didn't exactly accel at reaching compromise either but even so. I think, for that reason, we will see people giving more seats to the democrats in an attempt to stop the stonewalling. And if Obama wins the presidency, shit will start getting done finally and approval will go back up. "

I could just as easily blame the Democrats for using the same tactics against the Republicans when they controlled congress. The fact of the matter is that pretty much all important issues debated on in Congress are also going to be controversial issues. Unfortunatly, 90% of politicians in Washington are too scared of pissing some group of voters off, so they do nothing and piss everyone off.

motivez · 07-09-2008, 08:08 AM

Originally Posted by C4Casey

I could just as easily blame the Democrats for using the same tactics against the Republicans when they controlled congress. The fact of the matter is that pretty much all important issues debated on in Congress are also going to be controversial issues. Unfortunatly, 90% of politicians in Washington are too scared of pissing some group of voters off, so they do nothing and piss everyone off.

The difference is the Republicans stood firm on the issues and got a lot done because they were willing to take the minor punch in the press or by the Democrats if it meant they got their shit accomplished, meaning they had a much higher percentage of their base willing to continue supporting them

By contrast, the Democrats have been so utterly spineless and weak on a whole host of issues their base and civil liberty caring folks care about that it's almost not possible for very many people to think they're doing a great job

Now, a big part of that is they only 'technically' have a majority in the Senate. Lieberman is by all real measures a Republican these days and wont side with them on the issues that matter to Democrats and civil libertarians, so it's much harder for them with essentially a split than it was for the Republicans who enjoyed a much larger margin

But, the biggest thing is they aren't willing to fight for it. They're still scared of the Republican's charging them as weak on terror if they demand that our laws respect the 4th Amendment

6SpeedTA95 · 07-09-2008, 08:14 AM

Originally Posted by motivez

The difference is the Republicans stood firm on the issues and got a lot done because they were willing to take the minor punch in the press or by the Democrats if it meant they got their shit accomplished, meaning they had a much higher percentage of their base willing to continue supporting them

By contrast, the Democrats have been so utterly spineless and weak on a whole host of issues their base and civil liberty caring folks care about that it's almost not possible for very many people to think they're doing a great job

Now, a big part of that is they only 'technically' have a majority in the Senate. Lieberman is by all real measures a Republican these days and wont side with them on the issues that matter to Democrats and civil libertarians, so it's much harder for them with essentially a split than it was for the Republicans who enjoyed a much larger margin

But, the biggest thing is they aren't willing to fight for it. They're still scared of the Republican's charging them as weak on terror if they demand that our laws respect the 4th Amendment

Good post but I also think both parties are going through an identity crisis. The far left democrat base is pulling the party to the left leaving behind the mainstream democrats which is why we're seeing a resurgence of blue dog dems.

The republicans can't decide if they want to be christian hipocrites or big spending liberals while simultaneously saying they support smaller government by lowering our taxes. Basically republicans are uber screwed right now and are in a similar position as the democrats in the 1990s and early 2000s. While the dems still have major issues and a party split they didn't have power and didn't completely wreck their name over the last decade....republicans have and its going to cost them come elections in november.

motivez · 07-09-2008, 08:27 AM

Originally Posted by 6SpeedTA95

Good post but I also think both parties are going through an identity crisis. The far left democrat base is pulling the party to the left leaving behind the mainstream democrats which is why we're seeing a resurgence of blue dog dems.

I disagree, people voted "blue dog" Democrats (aka Bush Democrats) in locations where Democrats hadn't won in a long time. They weren't going to vote in further left Democrats, but they were sick enough of the Republican bullshit to not want another one representing them, and rightly so.

I don't think the far left of the party is pulling them anywhere, unless you're talking about the people who are lobbying for our 4th amendment rights on FISA and trying to preserve other civil liberties and wanting to hold the Bush Administration responsible.

Personally I don't see those as 'leftist' issues.

Originally Posted by 6SpeedTA95

The republicans can't decide if they want to be christian hipocrites or big spending liberals while simultaneously saying they support smaller government by lowering our taxes. Basically republicans are uber screwed right now and are in a similar position as the democrats in the 1990s and early 2000s. While the dems still have major issues and a party split they didn't have power and didn't completely wreck their name over the last decade....republicans have and its going to cost them come elections in november.

I don't know about that, I think they're perfectly happy combining the Christian bigoted positions and big spending, they certainly don't show any signs of wanting to change anything judging by who they nominated to continue Bush's policies

WickedLou9 · 07-09-2008, 08:39 AM

Originally Posted by motivez

The difference is the Republicans stood firm on the issues and got a lot done because they were willing to take the minor punch in the press or by the Democrats if it meant they got their shit accomplished, meaning they had a much higher percentage of their base willing to continue supporting them

By contrast, the Democrats have been so utterly spineless and weak on a whole host of issues their base and civil liberty caring folks care about that it's almost not possible for very many people to think they're doing a great job

Now, a big part of that is they only 'technically' have a majority in the Senate. Lieberman is by all real measures a Republican these days and wont side with them on the issues that matter to Democrats and civil libertarians, so it's much harder for them with essentially a split than it was for the Republicans who enjoyed a much larger margin

But, the biggest thing is they aren't willing to fight for it. They're still scared of the Republican's charging them as weak on terror if they demand that our laws respect the 4th Amendment

AND the republicans had strong support in the white house from both Bush, who signed EVERYTHING they gave him, and Cheney the tie breaker. When you know the president will back you it makes it alot easier.

Libertaire · 07-09-2008, 07:51 PM

No one's mentioned the fact that congressional approval ratings have dropped alongside Bush's. To me, this indicates an overall disapproval of the federal government. I see this as a positive thing.

kombayn · 07-09-2008, 09:45 PM

Originally Posted by WickedLou9

Well what the hell have they done? Not a whole lot. Between republican fliibusters and Bush's veto pen, almost every democratic initiative that had a majority in the house and senate was blocked by republicans. I can point the finger here and there, but at the end of the day nothing got done. The blame, in my opininion is shared but most of it falls on the GOP and thier stonewalling tactics. The Dems didn't exactly accel at reaching compromise either but even so. I think, for that reason, we will see people giving more seats to the democrats in an attempt to stop the stonewalling. And if Obama wins the presidency, shit will start getting done finally and approval will go back up.

They passed FISA...

WickedLou9 · 07-10-2008, 09:10 AM

Originally Posted by kombayn

They passed FISA...

Filthy Cowards.

Charles Martel · 07-10-2008, 09:48 AM

Originally Posted by motivez

I heard that's the way your wallet likes it. I'm not saying your wallet is a whore or anything.. just that it likes it rough.

You "heard?"

You seem to talk about me quite often.

I've got a great idea...let's change focus from me to my arguments.

Charles Martel · 07-10-2008, 09:53 AM

Originally Posted by WickedLou9

Filthy Cowards.

Obama has had enough names from fellow Democrats leveled at him this morning, don't you think?

I mean...you ARE counting Obama in this filthy coward group, he did vote for this....correct?

motivez · 07-10-2008, 09:53 AM

Originally Posted by Charles Martel

Obama has had enough names from fellow Democrats leveled at him this morning, don't you think?

I mean...you ARE counting Obama in this filthy coward group, he did vote for this....correct?

Of course. He's no better than anyone else who voted to shred the 4th Amendment.

Charles Martel · 07-10-2008, 10:13 AM

Originally Posted by motivez

Of course. He's no better than anyone else who voted to shred the 4th Amendment.

Fine. However, you're listed as a pragmatist, I believe. I was more interested in Wicked Lou's opinion on this. I may be mistakenly assuming he's an Obama supporter, he listed himself a Democrat. So, does the "filthy coward" accusation carry over to the man I assume he'll vote to put in the Oval Office.

Btw, this vote wasn't even close. It was a no brainer. Bush has been correct from the beginning, this Democratic dominated Congress voted overwhelmingly with him while at the same time being critical when they've the exact same policy position. It makes me sick.

Let's all hope this puts surveillance to bed, with Obama's yea vote, he cannot say squat and never should have been torching off to begin with. What a fraud!