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You are here: Home / Organizing & Resistance / Fables Of The Reconstruction / Basement Of The Division

Basement Of The Division

by Zandar|  October 5, 20113:12 pm| 47 Comments

This post is in: Fables Of The Reconstruction, Decline and Fall

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Congress has hit a new low in the latest WaPo/ABC poll, and there’s still 13 months for them to find new and awesome mathematical ways to get worse.

Whether Republican, Democrat or independent, more Americans disapprove of Congress than at any point in more than two decades of Washington Post-ABC News polling.

Just 14 percent of the public approves of the job Congress is doing, according to the latest poll. That is lower than just before the 1994, 2006 and 2010 elections, when the majority party was on the verge of losing power in the House.

For most it’s not just a casual dislike of Congress: Sixty-two percent say they “strongly disapprove” of congressional job performance. An additional 20 percent “somewhat” disapprove.

Only 3 percent of Americans said they “strongly approve” of the performance of lawmakers on Capitol Hill — essentially as low as possible, given the poll’s margin of error of four percentage points.

With Democrats running the Senate and Republicans in charge of the House, no group of voters is pleased. Just 18 percent of Democrats, 13 percent of independents and 13 percent of Republicans approve of Congress.

Looking at the crosstabs is a bit more revealing than “People hate Congress” (although that’s apparently completely true.)   Republicans in Congress get a 20% approval rating on the economy, 15 points under President Obama, and the President is more trusted on job creation, 49-34%.  When asked if POTUS and the GOP care more protecting the economic interests of middle-class Americans or wealthy Americans, 52% say the President cares more about the middle class to the GOP’s 32%.  Meanwhile, a whopping 70% think the GOP cares more about protecting the wealthy to Obama’s 17%.

Of the 79% of Americans unhappy with our political system, 39% blame the GOP, 25% President Obama, and 27% blame both.

On the President’s jobs plan, 52% approve of it, 58% believe it will improve the jobs situation in the US if it passes.

As far as the Clown Car goes, the interesting stuff is near the bottom: Republican voters say they would be more likely to vote for a candidate if they thought schools should teach creationism/intelligent design (34-31%), wanted to repeal the health care law (67-15%),  and supported banning same-sex marriage (38-27%).  They would be less likely to vote for a candidate that sees global warming as an issue (27-36%) but the real shocker is that they’d be far less likely to vote for a candidate that wanted to extend unemployment benefits right now (25-46%).

So yes, Americans want to see the American Jobs Act passed. but Republican voters will punish any Republican that extends unemployment benefits right now (which the AJA would do.)

Until they’re convinced that they will be punished more for not supporting the jobs bill, I doubt they will budge an inch. You can give Republicans where you live a Twitter nudge with the Tweet For Jobs page on the Obama ’12 site.

Unless you think doing nothing about the jobs situation in this country is okay, that is.

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Reader Interactions

47Comments

  1. 1.

    singfoom

    October 5, 2011 at 3:20 pm

    Because what we need right now in our schools is more bullshit religion masquerading as pseudo science. Because less critical thinking and more dogma will totally prepare our students for the future.

    Fuck, get your religion out of our government/public schools.

    I’m sure the disapproval numbers on Congress mean nothing to Congress.

  2. 2.

    Chris

    October 5, 2011 at 3:23 pm

    Eh. Disapproval of Congress means nothing unless people disapprove of their own individual congressman – until they do, we’ll keep more or less the same Congress.

    And it’s been a staple of politics for… probably as long as this country’s existed, that the people hate their Congress but love their Congressman.

  3. 3.

    lol

    October 5, 2011 at 3:25 pm

    This kind of discontent probably spells doom for Republicans in the House and the Obama re-elect can probably pull enough Senate dems over the line to retain the Senate.

  4. 4.

    JGabriel

    October 5, 2011 at 3:26 pm

    @singfoom:

    I’m sure the disapproval numbers on Congress mean nothing to Congress.

    Au contraire! The GOP interprets it as WINNING!

    In the Republican weltanschauung, the lower Congressional approval goes, the more people hate the government — which is their penultimate goal, leading to the GOP’s ultimate goal of drowning government in the bathtub.

    .

  5. 5.

    MarkJ

    October 5, 2011 at 3:27 pm

    Well, I live in the District of Columbia, so there aren’t any republicans where I live, nor are there any Congressional representatives with voting power. At least none who will listen to those of us who live in our Nation’s Great Crapital(TM).

  6. 6.

    General Stuck

    October 5, 2011 at 3:27 pm

    I was going to post these poll results earlier, when the right thread came along, and here you do it on the front page. Especially, the internals, or tabs, where America seems to get it that a pox on all your houses, with a dose of Ebola for the GOP, also too.

    It amounts to the GOP being in full campaign mode, since they won the House in 2010, and campaigning in profoundly negative ways. To create the predictable outcome of driving down their opponents approvals, but driving down their own, even more.

    This is, and has been a very risky strategy the wingnuts have deployed, although much of it is simple visceral hatred of Obama, and his success in passing laws they had felt certain they could block, like they always had, see HCR.

    If the wingers had in waiting a unifying candidate, then the chances are decent such a strategy for the white party, could work. But as it is, they seem to be just digging the hole deeper, in hopes of burying democrats under an anti incumbent wave, like they did in 2010. In a traditional good showing for the out of power party, in such mid terms. A POTUS election with a sitting democrat with still pretty high favorables, will be a different kettle of fishes.

    But now they are a player having won that election in 2010, and are responsible, and so far, the public isn’t having any of it, with the key polling numbers on who the public trusts in the zero sum game of our two party politics, being solidly in Obama’s favor. Some decent, not great job creation numbers beginning this Friday, wouldn’t hurt the dem/Obama cause about now.

  7. 7.

    Chris

    October 5, 2011 at 3:31 pm

    @JGabriel:

    In the Republican weltanschauung, the lower Congressional approval goes, the more people hate the government — which is their penultimate goal, leading to the GOP’s ultimate goal of drowning government in the bathtub.

    Not only that, but the more dysfunctional Congress appears, the more de facto power ends up in the hands of the President – which Republicans like. Not right now, but in general, the idea of a Big Daddy figure telling them what to do and controlling the government efficiently and decisively without having to run through all those pesky committees is something they’re actually quite fond of.

  8. 8.

    Villago Delenda Est

    October 5, 2011 at 3:31 pm

    The GOP base is, quite simply, insane. It’s more important for them to inflict pain on their imagined enemies than it is for them to actually win.

  9. 9.

    JGabriel

    October 5, 2011 at 3:32 pm

    Zandar @ Top:

    Republican voters say they would be more likely to vote for a candidate if they thought schools should teach creationism/intelligent design (34-31%), wanted to repeal the health care law (67-15%), and supported banning same-sex marriage (38-27%)

    Huh. I knew Republicans hated gays as much as Satan, but I had no idea they hated health care twice as much as Satan.

    We must do away with that evil evil health care!

    .

  10. 10.

    cleek

    October 5, 2011 at 3:32 pm

    @Chris:
    right-o.

  11. 11.

    Jinchi

    October 5, 2011 at 3:35 pm

    Comparing the president to Congress is very misleading. George W. Bush routinely polled higher than Congress well into his final year in office, despite his personal unpopularity. Nonetheless, Congressional Democrats had a banner year in 2008 and if George Bush had been on the ballot for president he would have lost in a rout.

    Obama won’t be running against Congress next November. He’ll be running against the Republican nominee. A better comparison would be between support for Republicans in Congress versus Democrats in Congress. Who is likely to gain or lose given the public discontent? I don’t think that has an obvious answer. Not based on that poll.

  12. 12.

    Spaghetti Lee

    October 5, 2011 at 3:35 pm

    @JGabriel:

    I bet they get universal health care in Pandaemonium, the fuckers.

  13. 13.

    Villago Delenda Est

    October 5, 2011 at 3:36 pm

    @JGabriel:

    Basically, the Republican platform now is repeal the Enlightenment.

    To include the Constitution.

    They want to return to feudalism.

  14. 14.

    aisce

    October 5, 2011 at 3:36 pm

    You can give Republicans where you live a Twitter nudge with the Tweet For Jobs page on the Obama ‘12 site.
    __
    Unless you think doing nothing about the jobs situation in this country is okay, that is.

    that’s a pretty funny juxtaposition right there. oh twenty first century, you so silly…

  15. 15.

    greenergood

    October 5, 2011 at 3:42 pm

    Sorry, o/t but please give it a read – could happen to any of us, if it hasn’t happened already. Never, ever gonna read it in the MSM

    http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article29295.htm

  16. 16.

    singfoom

    October 5, 2011 at 3:42 pm

    @JGabriel: Fair enough. Most of Congress are in the 1% (in the Senate at least), I don’t thin k that’s the case for the House across the board.

  17. 17.

    Mike in NC

    October 5, 2011 at 3:44 pm

    Republican voters will punish any Republican that extends unemployment benefits right now (which the AJA would do.)

    This is a very popular position among the teabaggers and other wingnuts, especially the retirees and independently wealthy among them. They claim cutting off unemployment benefits will force all those lazy bums to get off their dead butts and take the millions of well-paying jobs that are just waiting to be filled.

    Only don’t try asking any of those assholes where exactly these fabulous jobs might be hiding.

  18. 18.

    comrade scott's agenda of rage

    October 5, 2011 at 3:44 pm

    The 27-percenters have always been this way. Wanna bet that if the current internet and 24/7 news culture existed in 1964-65we’d be hearing all the same shit with the passage of the Civil Rights Act? Or Medicare?

    It’s deja vu all over again, and again, and again.

    I still think we should let them relocate to a select number of southern states and secede. Watch their new country go to shit in 3..2..1

  19. 19.

    Zandar

    October 5, 2011 at 3:45 pm

    @Villago Delenda Est:

    Basically, the Republican platform now is repeal the Enlightenment.

    Troof.

  20. 20.

    Zandar

    October 5, 2011 at 3:46 pm

    @Mike in NC:

    Only don’t try asking any of those assholes where exactly these fabulous jobs might be hiding.

    I believe there’s a large painted-over rock in Texas they might be under. Please inquire with one R. Perry.

  21. 21.

    RSA

    October 5, 2011 at 3:48 pm

    Thanks for the summary, Zandar. This jumped out at me:

    On the President’s jobs plan, 52% approve of it, 58% believe it will improve the jobs situation in the US if it passes.

    That is, 6% of the public believe that Obama’s plan will improve the jobs situation but don’t want that to happen. WTF?

  22. 22.

    TooManyJens

    October 5, 2011 at 3:51 pm

    @RSA:

    That is, 6% of the public believe that Obama’s plan will improve the jobs situation but don’t want that to happen. WTF?

    I hate to say this, but I’m surprised it’s as low as 6%. Blocking anything that might improve the economy is, after all, the MO of one of our two major political parties.

  23. 23.

    Linnaeus

    October 5, 2011 at 3:55 pm

    @Mike in NC:

    This is a very popular position among the teabaggers and other wingnuts, especially the retirees and independently wealthy among them. They claim cutting off unemployment benefits will force all those lazy bums to get off their dead butts and take the millions of well-paying jobs that are just waiting to be filled.

    Frankly, I don’t think they even care if those jobs are well-paying. In fact, they might prefer that they weren’t, and hence the “undeserving” can be locked into poverty.

  24. 24.

    geg6

    October 5, 2011 at 3:56 pm

    @Villago Delenda Est:

    I got proof of this very thing (as if I really needed it) today during lunch with my co-workers. Several of the administrative assistants here are wingnuts (most of the christianist stripe). And the subject of adult children getting parent health benefits came up. One knew nothing about it (granted, her kids aren’t even school age yet). A second said that it was the one thing Obama has done that is positive (she may be turning; she has a son that lost his teaching job due to education cut-backs). The third said it was just a plot to give young adults no motivation to go look for a job since they no longer have to worry about health care. For real.

    I started to argue and said I didn’t know a single young adult or former student who wouldn’t rather have a job than have their parents forced to pay for their health insurance and that only about 30% of employers even offer employer-provided health insurance, but then stopped myself
    and just said “I completely disagree with you” and walked out.

  25. 25.

    Zandar

    October 5, 2011 at 4:01 pm

    Also to the 17% of people who think POTUS cares more about protecting the interests of the wealthy than the GOP does:

    Fucking really?

  26. 26.

    Culture of Truth

    October 5, 2011 at 4:01 pm

    The Mustache of Understanding:

    “Had Christie — a moderate on gun control, climate change and immigration who has also backed Simpson-Bowles — run and won significant support, he would have forced Obama back to the center.”

    Also, PONIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  27. 27.

    geg6

    October 5, 2011 at 4:04 pm

    @geg6:

    And I forgot to add that the one who says it give kids no motivation to look for a job is one who actually took advantage of it with her son, who just got a job where his health bennies kick in after 90 days. Didn’t point out that her actual son pretty much demolishes her own argument. She’s a Teabagger, through and through. No amount of cognitive dissonance will ever get through that thick skull.

  28. 28.

    Cat Lady

    October 5, 2011 at 4:04 pm

    Also to the 17% of people who think POTUS cares more about protecting the interests of the wealthy than the GOP does:

    They all comment here, Zandar. You’re new around these parts.

  29. 29.

    KG

    October 5, 2011 at 4:07 pm

    @RSA: probably a feeling that the proposal doesn’t go far enough, so they don’t approve, but accept that something is better than nothing.

  30. 30.

    Villago Delenda Est

    October 5, 2011 at 4:17 pm

    @Culture of Truth:

    Even if the actual puppetmasters in the top 1% don’t get defenestrated, their lackies in the media deserve no quarter.

  31. 31.

    Ash Can

    October 5, 2011 at 4:38 pm

    @Chris:

    Eh. Disapproval of Congress means nothing unless people disapprove of their own individual congressman

    This, unfortunately. The legislature will stay the way it is unless and until enough people in Republican districts say “You’re an asshole/fucking lunatic” and vote their officials out, and/or enough people in conservative Dem districts say, “You’re not helping,” and vote those officials out. As it is, it’s always the other guy who’s the idiot.

  32. 32.

    Villago Delenda Est

    October 5, 2011 at 4:45 pm

    @Ash Can:

    This has been a problem for quite some time. MY congressman is not the problem…434 others are!

    (In my case, I’ve got Peter DeFazio, who, while as not perfect as every other human being is, isn’t too shabby compared to say..oh, I don’t know, Darrel Issa…)

  33. 33.

    AA+ Bonds

    October 5, 2011 at 4:47 pm

    Kickass post on the numbers here – thanks for breaking it down for us.

  34. 34.

    AA+ Bonds

    October 5, 2011 at 4:50 pm

    @Zandar:

    You almost ruined it with this comment, though, since it brought BS out of the woodwork like Cat Lady’s comment.

    Why would you bring such a subject up, out of the blue? You think it’s gonna help bring the Democratic base together in 2012?

    Keep giving us posts like the above, and nix comments like that, unless you want to be explicit you’re talking about Republicans.

  35. 35.

    Spaghetti Lee

    October 5, 2011 at 4:51 pm

    @Ash Can:

    I’ve got Peter Roskam at home and Blaine Luetkemeyer here at college. After redistricting it will probably be Walsh and Hartzler.

    My congressman is absolutely the idiot!

  36. 36.

    Southern Beale

    October 5, 2011 at 4:54 pm

    I wish these polls would also ask people what they think of their congresscritter. Seems like people tend to approve of their representative, but disapprove of the body as a whole.

    I think people are just pissed at another failed institution. But what do I know.

    And let’s ask what people think of their state legislatures, while we’re at it. Might be an interesting thought experiment, to see if people are dissatisfied with democracy in general.

  37. 37.

    Southern Beale

    October 5, 2011 at 4:54 pm

    @Spaghetti Lee:

    Well, Spaghetti Lee excepted of course … :-)

  38. 38.

    AA+ Bonds

    October 5, 2011 at 4:56 pm

    I like my Congressman and he’s left-wing and his seat is never in jeopardy :( Should I move or something?

  39. 39.

    General Stuck

    October 5, 2011 at 5:05 pm

    Unfortunately, I fear there is much more deprivation needed to ignite the average American white mind, with the light of reality, and we aren’t really even near that threshold point.

    The white wingnut is programmed only to receive, the familiar, and with an endless loopety loop soundbites of politicians telling them they can go home again. Back to 50’s style kitchen appliance marvel world, and a cozy middle class job in waiting for them and their spawn.

    They haven’t received the updates on the success of the lampreys on the national lake trout, draining all those birthright notions of the expected life of quiet desperation, but suffered with a flush bank account and all the other perks brought to them by little baby jeevus his self.

    While they were complaining about liberal largess and told it was the moochers to blame, the banksters were robbing them blind. It’s a delusion fit for small minds primed already for prejudice and fear, feeding a mountain of ignorant entitlement.

    The long con got them, and it will have to get some much worse to break that Satan’s spell, and for the tribal scales to fall from their false sense of security. Maybe too late, maybe not. But I don’t write off this country of fools and liars, just yet.

    Viva La Ocupado!!

  40. 40.

    aisce

    October 5, 2011 at 5:12 pm

    @ aa+ bonds

    cheermaster douchebag, can you go find a different pep rally? you’re act is running real stale, and it’s only october 2011.

  41. 41.

    Southern Beale

    October 5, 2011 at 5:17 pm

    @AA+ Bonds:

    Maybe. I keep telling people, don’t hate the South: infiltrate!

    Nashville could use a few more left-wingers. C’mon, I’ll leave the light on for ya!

  42. 42.

    boss bitch

    October 5, 2011 at 5:41 pm

    @geg6:

    No, no. Next time say, “you’re wrong” and then walk away. Saying you disagree makes them think that their argument is valid in some way.

  43. 43.

    Gilles de Rais

    October 5, 2011 at 5:58 pm

    Republican voters say they would be more likely to vote for a candidate if they thought schools should teach creationism/intelligent design (34-31%), wanted to repeal the health care law (67-15%)

    Why bother to help people this determined to vote against their own best interests?

  44. 44.

    ruemara

    October 5, 2011 at 5:59 pm

    @AA+ Bonds: You sound almost as moronic as those 17%. Even if those 17% are “the Left”, it’s a stupid belief.

  45. 45.

    Mino

    October 5, 2011 at 6:08 pm

    I’ve seen some polling numbers that suggest a new low for re-elects. So that old saw of “my rep is ok” may be going south.

  46. 46.

    Uriel

    October 5, 2011 at 6:14 pm

    @aisce:

    you’re act is running real stale

    Well, at least we now have firm proof irony isn’t dead.

    ETA: Although the English language might be in trouble…

  47. 47.

    Roger Moore

    October 5, 2011 at 6:21 pm

    @Mike in NC:

    Only don’t try asking any of those assholes where exactly these fabulous jobs might be hiding.

    China and India, for the most part.

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