Congressional approval hits another all-time low

As Congress heads toward another possible stalemate over extending the payroll tax cut, a new Gallup poll shows that congress' approval rating is at a new all-time low of 10 percent.

According to the poll, 86 percent of Americans disapprove of the job Congress is doing. That figure ties the all-time high in congressional disapproval set in December, according to Gallup.

The survey, conducted between Feb. 2-5, reflects a growing sense of dissatisfaction with an often deadlocked Congress. In 2011, the average congressional approval rating in Gallup polling was 17 percent -- the lowest yearly average the polling company has ever recorded. And it got worse as the year went on: Starting in May, the figure trended downward, hitting the previous low of 11 percent in December 2011.

Last year, the highest congressional approval rating recorded was 24 percent.

The current dissatisfaction with Congress is bipartisan: Only 11 percent of Democrats and 12 percent of Republicans approved of the job Congress was doing in the new Gallup poll. Among independents, Congressional approval was just 8 percent.

President Obama, meanwhile, saw a slight uptick in the Gallup poll: The new survey showed him at 50 percent approval.

[clcmm36]

When the US going communist has a higher approval rating (11%) than the democratically elected officials in the House and Senate (10%) there's a problem.

[noloyalisti]

Actually since the Congress is mostly owned and run by the giant corporations and the Top 1%, this is actually a comment on our dysfunctional, inequitable, corporations-are-people, you can break the law if you are rich, anti-worker, anti-poor anti-middle class country.

America, where money rules and corruption is mandated by law.

[noloyalisti]

So who are the 10% who approve of Congress, people who just woke up or are very stoned? The reason for this dissatisfaction is that the Wall Street corporations and the Top 1% have almost completed their takeover of the American government.

So Congress is essentially a front group for the very rich and their giant corporations. And what is good for them is what is bad for the 99%.

[credibility2]

Why hasn't the Dem controlled Senate bothered to pass a budget for about three years? The budget requirement is a law and not a whim. Is it no wonder why Repubs can't get anything accomplished with this type of stonewalling, which apparently our president is complicit with. Our president and his party are obstructionists to our Constitution, prevailing law and the needs and will of the people.

[Lindag10]

Do you KNOW how legistlation works?

[noloyalisti]

The Republiclowns have used the filibuster a record times since the Democrats took over the Senate to block legislation. They have made it so that you need 60 votes to pass anything. I hope and pray that we get that Democratic majority in November so we can get the people's work done finally.

[juminate]

This is to be expected when all that Congress can do is bicker with each other. Democrats blame Republicans (Much like their posters here on this board), Republicans blame Democrats (Again, much like the idiots on this board) and so nothing gets done. Maybe we should do something about it and stop voting in the incumbant regardless of what party they are. I mean if we show these clowns we mean business and will do something about it maybe things will change.

[Lindag10]

I have ALREADY decided long ago to vote against ANY incombent running for Congress that I can. Hope many, many others follow suit.

[FormerUSMCSergeant]

According to the poll, 86 percent of Americans disapprove of the job Congress is doing.
---
But most will vote for the incumbent at election time.

What sense does that make?

None.

[retiredgustav]

In reality too many congressinonal district are designed so that most of thetimes an incumbent can not loose. Gerrymandeing at it's best.

[involved_indi]

the dems had the house, senate & white house for 24 months from from 2007. what did they do? thy've had the senate & the WH since 2010, anything coming out of there yet except excuses?

[VictorAshesLoveChild]

George Bush had the House, Senate, and White House for SEVENTY-TWO months AND the highest approval rating in history after 9/11.

He left with ONE HALF the approval rating of Jimmy Carter.

He DOUBLED the National Debt.

He DOUBLED the unemployment rate.

What was your point, again?

[myopinionpal]

The point is VictorAshesLoveChild republicans always get amnesia when it comes to GW Bush........LOL

[myopinionpal]

Congressional approval hits another all-time low


If this is true then why do they continue to get re-elected over and over again, or is it that they know how to say the right words to fool the masses into voting for them.

[liberalmike]

just say NO to repubs for a better U.S.!

[involved_indi]

just say no to dems for a better U.S.!

[moretruthnow]

Just say no to republicans who are for the wealthy at the expense of the rest of the country. We are not a country where we should have the most outrageous liars winning elections with flip-flops and crazy ideas against women, gays, blacks, Hispanics and anyone else they can discriminate against every chance they get.

[curious2knownow]

The voters get what the voters deserve. If the voters expect rigid ideology from their representatives what can anyone expect but massive gridlock. Look to the voters, not Congress as the villain.