Regarding the terrible approval rating of Congress, why is it that?

Question

those many Republicans who keep pointing out the Democratically controlled Congress has lower approval ratings than the President ignore the fact that the Republicans in Congress have a much higher disapproval rating (59%) than the Democrats (48%)? In this question today, at least seven of them answered it by noting this:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AowHsuU.qc3o9O_isF7kiZ_ty6IX?qid=20070619101158AAzALiP&show=7#profile-info-AA11615969

But yet when this is pointed out, so many say "Oh polls don't mean anything." Then turn around and use it to denigrate the Democrats in Congress.

My question is: Is this a deliberate twisting of the facts by them or do they just not bother to look into the details because it wouldn't make it possible to sling that mud anymore on this subject?

http://www.pollingreport.com/cong_rep.htm

http://www.pollingreport.com/cong_dem.htm

Yes, believe me, I know that Congress has historically had a low approval rating. It goes with the territory. Just really tired of seeing this nonsense used against the Democrats when it's the Republicans who have the lower rating.

You know the funny thing is, I agree with just about all of you responding to this question. But none of those who constantly throw the mud at the Democrats over the ratings have bothered to answer it. Gee, what a surprise.

Texas:
I do not mention their approval ratings because they are two points apart - Repubs 36 and Dems 34, well within the margin of error. The disapproval ratings are outside the margin of error and quite clear. You can go backwards all you please, but both of these polls were taken end of May beginning of June this year, not in the past. The whole point is that Republicans are disingenuously using Congressional approval ratings to throw mud at the Democrats without acknowledging their OWN low numbers. So yes, we have lies, and we have lies. And we have plenty of Republicans using these numbers as a lie to promote the dissatisfaction of America with the Democrats alone, without acknowledging how dissatified America is with them as well.

Answer 1

I agree with you.
Approval ratings mean little for congress. What matters to the parties is more of whether the people of a particular district approve of their Congressman (or Senator). In the past people have rated Congress very low, but said their Congressman was not the problem. The trend is changing in that regard however, but I do not know whether it is changing in all districts, or in particular districts with congressmen of a particular party.

Many Republicans are quick to point out that Congress has had a lower approval rating than has the President for some time now. I do not think this is much of an argument however. People do not like Bush, and his poll numbers are beyond bad.

It should also be pointed out that while what you say is true...the majority of people do not like this congress (whether Dem or Rep), and is certainly no bragging right for them either.

I do think however that if Congress passes this immigration bill....all of those ratings (for everyone) are going to drop to the floor. The Republicans especially can expect to lose their seats in the next congress if this bill passes (the only thing that will have any chance of saving them is that it accompanies a Presidential election).

Answer 2

As Samuel Clemens said, “there’s lies, damn lies, and statistics.” Polls are just a form of statistics as the questioner bias shows. Yes Reps have a lower disapproval rating than Dems, but Reps have higher approval ratings than Dems…hmmm… the questioner does not mention that… As a Republican, I will freely admit that the Reps in congress, especially the Senate, are not acting like Republicans but more like their Dem counterparts. I would say I “disapprove” of their actions. Something else that Elway does not point out is the statistical trends. The Dems, according to Elway’s own references, are losing popularity (Approval going down and disapproval going up!) where the Reps have basically had the same low numbers since last October. So Elway, you can twist the statistics however you want to make them say whatever you want, but at the end of the day, the Dems have control of both houses and they have nothing to show for it but a bad poll numbers… for what they are worth…

Answer 3

i think of the low approval scores of Congress and the President merely teach that the prevalent public is disappointed with Washington all jointly. distinctive Republicans prefer to declare, nicely Bush could be extra common because of the fact Congress has a decrease score. i don't think of it is precise. this is something to maintain in perspective. After 9/11, President Bush's approval score shot as much as ninety 5%. Congress peaked at fifty 9%. human beings never like the assumption of Washington politicians, this is merely the image that "Congress" creates in peoples' minds, no rely if circumstances are stable or undesirable, all and sundry is especially cynical on the subject of the assumption of Washington politicians. Its lots easier to have faith in somebody than the concept of a set of politicians, so because it is why the Presidents' approval score is many times greater, whoever this is.

Answer 4

Nobody cares which party, Democrats are the majority and it is there responsibility, don't blame the Republicans their not in charge. The reason that Congress has a low rating is because the people see that the democrats lied to them about stopping the war and democrats knew they had no authority to do so. And alot of Americans are beginning to see that Reid and Pelosi are not what they want leading either house. That's the truth whether you believe it or not.

Answer 5

When has the approval rating for Congress EVER been high? Telling me it's low now means nothing.

As soon as both Congress AND the Administration are willing to bargain and do what is mutally best for America, we'll be better off.

Facts don't lie, but liars figure.

Answer 6

Question really is; who is in control of the congress?

If the approval rating of the ogranization is poor...that is information that can and will be twisted by anyone with a motive.

Perhaps we should be looking at the entire process to figure out why we run a country based on polls????

Answer 7

statistics/poll numbers can be interpret to reflect anything. it seems as though Republicans and Democrats are more concern about waging a campaign against what President Bush is doing or is not doing instead of actually doing their jobs...what is best for the country.

Too many reactionaries, no visionaries....many of them have much criticism but no substantative practical/viable solution themselves.
--whether it's the 'war on terror', soldiers' care on and off the field, immigration reform, healthcare and other domestic policies.

Answer 8

When Democrats and Republican will stop to complain about each others and take a REALISTIC look at what happen in their government, then maybe, the Americans will get a better government... Now everybody is divided and claim to know all cures... It doesn't make senses at all!! Union always win over division, but in this case, the US is going nowhere...

Answer 9

The parties are so close now and big business and the lobbyists have them in their back pockets .

They laugh behind our backs when we fight over the Democrat or Republican party/candidates because they line their pockets, get the perks,get the best retirement and health care.

Nothing will happen until America starts voting out the incumbents no matter what party they are until they get the message .....

WE the AMERICAN PEOPLE are in charge not the lobbyists,not the ceo's,not the special interest groups.

Answer 10

Unfortunately, mudslinging in American politics gets more "MEDIA" attention than the real political issues.........such as does anyone besides Ron Paul have any idea how to end the Iraqi war?

Fix the economy,,,,means stop high gas prices and inflation in general,,,,again Ron Paul will give an understandable answer to this question.

Do Americans want to give up their sovereignty?
Ron Paul again has excellent answers for this and other political questions.

Lack of vocabulary lets small kids call other small kids names and insults. {ex. You Dirty Rat!}
Is that the kind of people Americans want running the country?

Thank You!