WASHINGTON, July 10 (Reuters) - These are tough times for the Democratic-led U.S. Congress, where partisan battles have led to little progress on big issues and have made lawmakers collectively less popular than President George W. Bush.
Congress, typically never all that popular to begin with, starts the second half of 2007 with an anemic job approval rating of about 25 percent, down from 43 percent in January, with one Gallup poll ranking lawmakers at 14 percent.
MIND OF A LIBERAL:
When GWB's numbers are low, it is because the American people hate him and reject conservative policies.
When a Democratic congress has lower numbers than Bush, it is the fault of GWB.
I just wonder what happens in the brain of a liberal that does not allow them to admit Dems are ever wrong, that maybe at times the American people don't agree with them...
Lets sit back and watch me be proved correct...
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Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Unpopular US Congress enduring tough times
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7 comments:
A lot of people aren't look at the numbers right. You can only have really low numbers when your base is disappointed. The country is divided 40/40/20 conservative/liberal/independent. That's why the recent Rasmussen poll of Thompson versus Clinton is 45-45, the recent Gallup poll has Giuliani leading Clinton 49-47, Clinton leading Romney 46-42, etc.
For example, a lot of Democrats were expecting impeachment, troop withdrawals from Iraq, and their representatives who have majorities went along with a surge instead, when they clearly had the 40 bodies in the Senate to stop it. Kucinich and Gravel made this point at the debates. So just because people disapprove of Comrade Reid doesn't mean they love Republicans.
With the Republicans, the same holds. A lot of conservatives still are seething over amnesty, giving the socialists a prescription drug benefit, etc. etc. Just because someone is unhappy with Bush does not imply they want to make everyone dependent on government in the style of the socialist left.
I think Jason accepts Kucinich and Gravel's rather simplified view of how the Senate works, but his general point is correct. The Democratic base is quite unhappy that little has been down to alter the situation in Iraq and the polls reflect this.
Sen. Biden's point in the debates holds more water. The Democrats don't hold a filibuster-proof majority. Any attempt to cut off funding or withdraw troops, either gradual or immediately, requires more Democratic senators. The Republicans won't back these steps at this point.
anonymous--
Dem legislation can be filibustered, yes. But the Democrats aren't the ones funding the war. That is a Bush bill, and it would take 60 votes to break a filibuster of it. If you really wanted to, it would be a piece of cake, especially with wobbly Republicans like Hagel, Grahamnesty, Collins etc.
In reality, the Democrat leadership knows Iraq will become a bloodbath and a haven for terrorists if we leave precipitously. But that won't stop them from making these grand promises about bringing the troops home to the moonbat base. If they really meant it the war would have been stopped in its tracks by now.
The problem the Democrats have is that their caucus isn't 100% unified, similar to the GOP. Picking off a few members of the GOP isn't enough to make up for those elected from moderate districts or swing states who won't go along with ending the war now.
Fringe groups on both sides, Moveon and Code Pink in this case, lack the political calculus to recognize this. The art of the possible....
Holy crap...actual debate and smart thinking...I can't believe it...
I've already marked my calender! It even feels like, dare I say it, agreement, at least regarding the meaning of polling numbers.
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