Congressional approval rating lowest ever - single digits

They inherited low approval ratings and have done nothing (except passing the new G.I Bill VERY VERY excited about that!!) positive to stop the ratings to continue to drop.
 
beat me to it, i was going to post this story as well.

isnt it obvious what it means, our government sucks. all branches. all parties.
 
[quote name='RAMSTORIA']beat me to it, i was going to post this story as well.

isnt it obvious what it means, our government sucks. all branches. all parties.[/QUOTE]

Absolutely correct, sir.

I'm still in a very depressed state about our country. Our train is on the wrong tracks, headed in the wrong direction, and all we seem to care about is which person wears the conductors hat.
 
And typically journalists score lower than Congress.

The best part about these polls though is if you ask people about their own congressperson they rate them very highly.

You know why?

Because people are morons.
 
Kev is exactly right. Everyone thinks Congress sucks (but not my Congressman ;)). While the Congress is getting this horrible rating, watch to see how many of the 435 members in the House get re-elected!

Without the racist overtones, perhaps taking a test before being allowed to vote wasnt such a bad thing! :)
 
I enjoy throwing Congress's approval rating in my parents' faces when they start talking about how I support Bush (I don't)--who has one of the lowest approval ratings of any president--because I must like Bush in order to think Obama stinks.
 
[quote name='Liquid 2']I enjoy throwing Congress's approval rating in my parents' faces when they start talking about how I support Bush (I don't)--who has one of the lowest approval ratings of any president--because I must like Bush in order to think Obama stinks.[/QUOTE]

There are at least a couple of CAG's that frequent this area that have that exact same logic. One of them has me on ignore for pointing out how silly that logic is all the time.

If you don't support Barry, you are a huge Bush loving, war mongering, Republican Neo-Con.
 
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[quote name='thrustbucket']
If you don't support Barry, you are a huge Bush loving, war mongering, Republican Neo-Con.[/QUOTE]

don't forget your vote for mccain is all but a done deal
 
The problem with approval ratings is that folks think they necessarily coincide with their personal views. With Congress, for every conservative voter who's displeased with them for being, essentially, Democrats, there's a liberal voter who's displeased because all they do is roll over for the Republicans. So same as it ever was, basically.

[quote name='thrustbucket']I'm still in a very depressed state about our country. Our train is on the wrong tracks, headed in the wrong direction, and all we seem to care about is which person wears the conductors hat.[/QUOTE]

Okay, so then what's the solution?
 
[quote name='trq']


Okay, so then what's the solution?[/QUOTE]

its already available, its called the constitution. we just have to follow it again.
 
kev and hostyl are on the money. Comparing Congressional approval ratings to presidential approval ratings is like comparing apples and dragons.
 
[quote name='thrustbucket']There are at least a couple of CAG's that frequent this area that have that exact same logic. One of them has me on ignore for pointing out how silly that logic is all the time.

If you don't support Barry, you are a huge Bush loving, war mongering, Republican Neo-Con.[/quote]

Conversely if you have read anything on mediamatters in the past year or you have the audacity to think that global warming is more then a myth you must be one of those loony liberals on the radical left.
 
[quote name='RAMSTORIA']its already available, its called the constitution. we just have to follow it again.[/QUOTE]

Okay, specifically regarding ... what?
 
The headline, and following story, is total bullshit. Look at the actual survey question...

Survey of 1,000 Likely Voters
July 1, 2008

How would you rate the way Congress is doing its job?

Excellent - 2%
Good - 7%
Fair - 36%
Poor - 52%
Click to expand...

If someone is doing a fair job, that's a positive. Making the poll options three positives and one negative. Combined, the three positives give congress a 45% positive rating. This is not the first, nor the last, time this has been brought up here that the Rammussen poll articles Drudge points out are intentionally misleading.
 
[quote name='trq']
Okay, so then what's the solution?[/QUOTE]

I don't think there is one that's pretty or feasible, not to mention political will for.

I'm pretty much down to the option "Research other countries to move to".

[quote name='camoor']Conversely if you have read anything on mediamatters in the past year or you have the audacity to think that global warming is more then a myth you must be one of those loony liberals on the radical left.[/QUOTE]

Hehe. Snarky.
Nah, it could also easily mean you just love comedy and don't research all the facts for everything (but who does?).
 
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[quote name='Cheese']The headline, and following story, is total bullshit. Look at the actual survey question...



If someone is doing a fair job, that's a positive. Making the poll options three positives and one negative. Combined, the three positives give congress a 45% positive rating. This is not the first, nor the last, time this has been brought up here that the Rammussen poll articles Drudge points out are intentionally misleading.[/QUOTE]

Source for that chart?

Rassmusen is used by everyone, even dailykos (doesn't get much more left). So? Are you disputing the conclusions listed in their article then?
 
Source? Try looking directly to the left of the headline of the article your own link.

I'm saying the article is not true to the facts of the poll. Rammusen's numbers may be spot on, but the attached article is made up of fairy dust and blasting caps.
 
[quote name='Cheese']Source? Try looking directly to the left of the headline of the article your own link.

I'm saying the article is not true to the facts of the poll. Rammusen's numbers may be spot on, but the attached article is made up of fairy dust and blasting caps.[/QUOTE]

Ah, yeah my popup blocker prevented me from seeing it.

Well I think they are saying that there are higher percentages below GOOD than ever before. Since they obviously put the red line between good and fair.
 
But the person answering the question hears, "Excellent, Good, Fair, or Poor." Fair is an intended positive answer, not either a negative or a null answer.
 
Here's a better question regarding these poll numbers: Who do these people who were polled think's running Congress? Republicans or Democrats?

I was going to post this earlier today, but thought better of it. I was gonna title it "Congress Sucks", but whatever.
 
[quote name='trq']Okay, specifically regarding ... what?[/QUOTE]


i was giving a very general answer to a very complicated answer. but for example, using what most people would say is the biggest issue today, the econmy and going back to economic soverignty, getting out ot the wto, nato, nafta, etc.

the constitution doesnt allow out economic policy to be set by international standards and pressure from other countires and international organizations.
 
[quote name='mykevermin']kev and hostyl are on the money. Comparing Congressional approval ratings to presidential approval ratings is like comparing apples and dragons.[/QUOTE]

Dragons are awesome!
 
[quote name='KingBroly']Here's a better question regarding these poll numbers: Who do these people who were polled think's running Congress? Republicans or Democrats?

I was going to post this earlier today, but thought better of it. I was gonna title it "Congress Sucks", but whatever.[/QUOTE]

That's a good point. They were discussing that on a morning show on the way to work today. Something about how many retarded Amiercans likely just associate Congress with the President.
 
[quote name='thrustbucket']Ah, yeah my popup blocker prevented me from seeing it.

Well I think they are saying that there are higher percentages below GOOD than ever before. Since they obviously put the red line between good and fair.[/QUOTE]

If you use the link in the article that takes you to the previous months poll, the results are virtually the same, if you clink the previous months link in THAT article you find it again, virtually the same. May was the last time the combined three positives added up to higher then 50% (52%). They are right in saying that it's the first time that GOOD and EXCELLENT add up to less then 10%, but that still doesn't mean a whole lot when you give folks the option of FAIR.
 
[quote name='RAMSTORIA']i was giving a very general answer to a very complicated answer. but for example, using what most people would say is the biggest issue today, the econmy and going back to economic soverignty, getting out ot the wto, nato, nafta, etc.
[/QUOTE]

Don't forget the IRS, Department of Education, most of homeland security.

Also the fact that Bush/Republicans like censorship and Democrats like the fairness doctrine, more proof of where this nation is headed. Forget flag burning, why not constitution burning?
 
I don't think they're necessarily retarded as they are misinformed by the media. By listening to the media, you wouldn't know who controls Congress right now. Where I live, the Majority Leader (Can't remember his name, but from North Carolina) was sent to jail. Here's the thing. They didn't refer to him as a Democrat on the news. Even better: 2/3 of the state (in poll) thinks he's a Republican.
 
[quote name='Cheese']If you use the link in the article that takes you to the previous months poll, the results are virtually the same, if you clink the previous months link in THAT article you find it again, virtually the same. May was the last time the combined three positives added up to higher then 50% (52%). They are right in saying that it's the first time that GOOD and EXCELLENT add up to less then 10%, but that still doesn't mean a whole lot when you give folks the option of FAIR.[/QUOTE]

Ok, I concede that you make a good point.

Are the presidents approval ratings publicized the same way? (I honestly don't know)
 
[quote name='thrustbucket']Don't forget the IRS, Department of Education, most of homeland security.

Also the fact that Bush/Republicans like censorship and Democrats like the fairness doctrine, more proof of where this nation is headed. Forget flag burning, why not constitution burning?[/quote]

All politicians like censorship when they're not getting their message across as well as the other guy.
 
I don't understand why they would use that as a metric anyway. Why not a good old 5 or 7 item scale with 2 or 3 degrees of good and bad along with a neutral?
 
Because that's too broad. When it comes to statistics, you want lots of variation as it makes it easier to prove your point because the more you put into it, the less and less people will care.
 
[quote name='KingBroly']Because that's too broad. When it comes to statistics, you want lots of variation as it makes it easier to prove your point because the more you put into it, the less and less people will care.[/quote]

Well the way they have it now it's certainly easier to "prove your point" as you can accept/reject "fair" depending on what point you're trying to make, but a scale with better-defined degrees would definitely be more accurate.
 
[quote name='thrustbucket']I don't think there is one that's pretty or feasible, not to mention political will for.

I'm pretty much down to the option "Research other countries to move to".[/QUOTE]

"Pretty" and "politically uphill" are both surmountable, though "feasible" is kind of an important element to any solution to a perceived problem.

[quote name='RAMSTORIA']i was giving a very general answer to a very complicated answer. but for example, using what most people would say is the biggest issue today, the econmy and going back to economic soverignty, getting out ot the wto, nato, nafta, etc.

the constitution doesnt allow out economic policy to be set by international standards and pressure from other countires and international organizations.[/QUOTE]

Exactly the kind of response I was looking for. Thanks.
 
[quote name='trq']
Exactly the kind of response I was looking for. Thanks.[/QUOTE]

i cant tell if thats sarcasm or not, but ill go ahead and assume its not for my own benefit :cool:
 
[quote name='RAMSTORIA']
the constitution doesnt allow out economic policy to be set by international standards and pressure from other countires and international organizations.[/quote]

What about ratified treaties?
 
[quote name='thrustbucket']
I'm pretty much down to the option "Research other countries to move to".
[/quote]

I have to take you to task on this.

Since the Declaration of Independence, this land has had problems.

Many of the problems have been fixed. Other problems went away. New problems sprang up.

Some of the problems could be fixed with legislation. Others required war.

Giving up on America is juvenile, cowardly and short-sighted.

But, hey, if you want to leave the country for some mythical utopia, go ahead.

My kids will be more than happy to hand over their dry cleaning to your kids after they sneak back into this country in 30 or 40 years.
 
Maybe if this Congress had workdays that lasted more than two minutes (like January 3rd), or did more than "Mourning the passing of President Gerald R. Ford and celebrating his leadership and service to the people of the United States" (quote from the itinerary of January 11th of this year), people would think higher of them. They're doing nothing just waiting for the election while we're drying out.

G
 
[quote name='fatherofcaitlyn']I have to take you to task on this.

Since the Declaration of Independence, this land has had problems.

Many of the problems have been fixed. Other problems went away. New problems sprang up.

Some of the problems could be fixed with legislation. Others required war.

Giving up on America is juvenile, cowardly and short-sighted.

But, hey, if you want to leave the country for some mythical utopia, go ahead.

My kids will be more than happy to hand over their dry cleaning to your kids after they sneak back into this country in 30 or 40 years.[/QUOTE]

Being fed up with American politics is not the only reason I'm looking elsewhere. There are many reasons.

I know that even though I disagree with the course our country is on, it really won't affect me personally much, if it all, for quite some time to come. And I am not principled enough to leave over one candidate being elected or one decision I disagree with in foreign policy. I just don't care enough.

However, those things do contribute, I would say that it's only about 25% of why I want to leave. I certainly would not leave because "grass is greener"... I'd likely be going to one of a few countries in Central/South America I've narrowed down to.

Some other reasons:

My wife is a foreigner (She is nomadic like me, and legally immigrating in this country today is a fucking expensive nightmare, so why reward them with my tax money?)

We seek some radical changes and a different environment. Adventure, essentially.

Long to serve people in developing countries

The notion of being able to work an American job remotely in a pseudo-paradise where my dollar can stretch much much farther, is very appealing. I can buy beach front property with a fat house for pennies on the dollar.

I want to start my own business. There are certain places that it's much easier to do successfully right now than America, for much cheaper. I love the idea of employing the poor and helping them so I can maybe feel like I made a positive difference on this rock.
 
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[quote name='trq']Okay, so then what's the solution?[/QUOTE]

Political parties - kill them off.
Career politicians - kill them off.
Big government - kill it off (make it about 20% of its current size)
Deficits - kill them off.
High taxes - kill them off.
Tax breaks for those with the most influence - kill them off.
You get the idea.
 
[quote name='fatherofcaitlyn']What about ratified treaties?[/QUOTE]

Shh, you'll upset the isolationists with your relentless logic.
 
[quote name='fatherofcaitlyn']What about ratified treaties?[/QUOTE]

if by ratified treaty you mean us approval of wto membership, then yes, those should be nullified because of the constitution.

the constitution grants congress and congress alone the power to determine our economic policies (trade, tariffs, etc), allowing the wto to dictate how we our economic policy works goes against the constitution.

[quote name='elprincipe']Shh, you'll upset the isolationists with your relentless logic.[/QUOTE]

yeah... because not supporting organizations like NATO, NAFTA & WTO equates with isolationism.
:roll:
 
[quote name='RAMSTORIA']if by ratified treaty you mean us approval of wto membership, then yes, those should be nullified because of the constitution.

the constitution grants congress and congress alone the power to determine our economic policies (trade, tariffs, etc), allowing the wto to dictate how we our economic policy works goes against the constitution.
[/quote]

Were wto and other treaties you are against passed by a 2/3 majority of the Senate and later ratified by the President?
 
[quote name='fatherofcaitlyn']Were wto and other treaties you are against passed by a 2/3 majority of the Senate and later ratified by the President?[/QUOTE]

irrelevant. if anything the joining the wto is unconstitutional. the constitution doesnt grant congress the power to allow an international body to set the tone for our economic policy. it grants congress and congress alone the power to set economic policy.

it would be like congress giving the UN oversight of our military. just because congress approves it doesnt make it constitutional.
 
"Section 8 - Powers of Congress

To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;"

I'm reading this different from you. If the US joins an organization via a ratified treaty, the US has to play by that organization's rules. Which section of the Constitution is the WTO violating?
 
the way i read it is that the us cant join such an organization in the first place, because only congress has power to do set econmic policy. the mere fact that joining such an organization dimishes that power of congress makes membership unconstitutional.
 
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Define economic policy. If you mean the federal budget, Congress doesn't start the federal budget anymore, as they handed it off to the President. If you wanna talk about weakening ourselves by joining worldwide groups, it's called the UN. Look where that's got us.
 
[quote name='Cheese']The headline, and following story, is total bullshit. Look at the actual survey question...



If someone is doing a fair job, that's a positive. Making the poll options three positives and one negative. Combined, the three positives give congress a 45% positive rating. This is not the first, nor the last, time this has been brought up here that the Rammussen poll articles Drudge points out are intentionally misleading.[/quote]

Fair doesn't necessarily mean they are looking at them positively.

It is a worthless answer because we have no way of knowing in what context the people who were polled used the term.
 
[quote name='paddlefoot']Fair doesn't necessarily mean they are looking at them positively.

It is a worthless answer because we have no way of knowing in what context the people who were polled used the term.[/QUOTE]

The word "fair" has about ten definitions, 9/10 are outright positive; at it's worst it means "average." There is no degrading way to use Fair. Average isn't a negative. It's not high praise, but it's not a knock either.

They have an option to not answer, that's the null. Some 6% chose to do that.

If you ask your boss how you are doing and he tells you, "Eh, fair, I guess." You might not get that raise you were hoping for, but you're not getting fired anytime soon either.

To leave more then a third of the respondents completely out of their analysis (they aren't even mentioned in the article) is some bullshit right there.
 
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