Think the Presidential election is important?

[JasonInAugusta]

From Gallup
PRINCETON, NJ -- A new Gallup Poll finds Congress' approval rating the lowest it has been since Gallup first tracked public opinion of Congress with this measure in 1974. Just 18% of Americans approve of the job Congress is doing, while 76% disapprove, according to the August 13-16, 2007, Gallup Poll.

That 18% job approval rating matches the low recorded in March 1992, when a check-bouncing scandal was one of several scandals besetting Congress, leading many states to pass term limits measures for U.S. representatives (which the Supreme Court later declared unconstitutional). Congress had a similarly low 19% approval rating during the energy crisis in the summer of 1979.

For what it's worth, the 1979, 1992, and today's Congresses...Democrats held/hold the majority. Look it up. 96th Congress and 102nd Congress and then there's our current Congress.

But if you'd like to say "That poll was from 2007" let's look at a more current one.

G.W. Bush has a higher approval rating at 29%

Interesting, eh?

[redbaron]

Originally Posted by JasonInAugusta

Interesting, eh?

Too say the least!!

[JeremyH]

I wonder if this has anything to do with their ratings:
http://www.slate.com/id/2201250/
??

I understand the need to celebrate your religious traditions, however, if the economic stability of our country (and the rest of the world) is at stake, then they can wait a few days...

[yarddog35]

Scary if you ask me. What scares me the most is the amount of people who don't realize this. In their ignorance they blame everything on George Bush and couple McCain along with him like he's his twin brother Imagine having a democrat for a president to agree with all of congress's mistakes they are going to make!

[Robb]

Given a long enough time line, Congressional approval pretty much follows, while lagging, overall governmental/Presidential approval. A graph from one of JIA's links actually shows this for the past couple of years:


The low Congressional approval level right now has more to do with Bush than it does of the actual members of Congress, or their performance.


Now, the 1992 deposit scandal was a definite f'up of many members of Congress, involving both major parties, but definitely more D'crats.

[JasonInAugusta]

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/...ef=mpstoryview

[4xFord]

Originally Posted by JasonInAugusta

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/...ef=mpstoryview

Damn you, now I'm going to have nightmares tonight.

[montana.matt]

Originally Posted by JasonInAugusta

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/...ef=mpstoryview

That's a scary thought......

[binaryterror]

2006 Senate Count:
Democrats: 50
Republicans: 48
Independents: 2

Not really a majority, because those independents can really F'up both parties.

[JasonInAugusta]

I'm seeing a trend of a large amount of people being completely unhappy with the Federal government as a whole.

And, judging by the polls, it's a dislike for both Republicans and Democrats.

Some of the local guys keep saying "The next Revolution is just around the corner".

[binaryterror]

Agreed as we get deeper and deeper into problems things are going to have to change. You'd think smart politicians would do something about it quick to stay elected.

Sadly they seem happy to sit on their rumps, be over paid, and get the best of the best.

Where do I sign up to be a politician?

[JasonInAugusta]

Don't even get me started on their retirement pay.

[binaryterror]

Or their health care insurance that makes even great CEO's plans look weak.

Or their many weeks of vacations...

On June 23 2008, the Senate Republicans went on summer vacation. They are still on summer vacation, with no plans to go back to work until after the elections.

In the three months preceding the June 23 recess date, the price of gasoline rose more than $1 per gallon, along with the prices of staple foods. I wrote to my opponent and to the former Senate Majority Leader to ask them to forego their summer vacations and to get to work on the critical issues of the day. I received no response.

By Sept. 9, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac went into conservatorship at price tags of $100 billion each. The Senate Republicans stayed on vacation.

On Sept. 16, AIG received an $85 billion loan from the U.S. Treasury. The Senate Republicans stayed on vacation.

On Sept. 23, Congress began sessions on a request for a $700 billion bailout, while the FBI and the SEC announced criminal investigations were pending into Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, AIG and Lehman Brothers. The Senate Republicans stayed on vacation.

Immediate legislation is called for in the areas of home mortgages, credit cards, property taxes and health insurance. The average middle class family will be unable to withstand any increase in mortgage rates, property taxes, health insurance, transportation or education. All of these bills already crowd what is left of net income, and few families have meaningful savings or liquidity.

Isn't it time that we, the voters, sent Senate Republicans on a permanent vacation?

Editor's Note: The writer is running for the 54th District seat in the New York State Senate.

[Rockpiledriver]

I thought you said you were done posting extreme left wing propaganda?

[binaryterror]

Originally Posted by Rockpiledriver

I thought you said you were done posting extreme left wing propaganda?

Never.

I can't find the Democratic vacation schedule, that's all or I would have posted theirs too. Likely they are as bad anyway.

Neither party does good at helping out us common citizens, I think thats something we can all agree on.