Poll: High Hopes For New Congress
68% Are Optimistic About 110th Congress, But Half Doubt Democrats And Bush Will Cooperate
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Play CBS Video Video Senators Sworn In CBS News RAW: Vice President Dick Cheney swore in newly elected and re-elected U.S. senators to open the 110th Congress.
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Video Democrats' First Day In Power New House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid lead their parties in the opening session of the 110th Congress. Aleen Sirgany reports.
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Video Congress Makes History The 110th Congress made history when it convened and swore in Nancy Pelosi as the first woman House Speaker. Democrats control both chambers for the first time in 12 years. Sharyl Attkisson reports.
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(AP)
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President Bush, right, shakes hands with Democratic House Leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House, Nov. 9, 2006. (AP Photo)
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The top Democrats in the House of Representatives: Speaker Nancy Pelosi, right, and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, in the House Chamber, Jan. 4, 2007. (Getty Images)
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Interactive 110th Congress The balance of power shifts and new leadership takes control as the latest session convenes.
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Interactive Presidential Approval Ratings A sampling of President Bush's overall job approval ratings at selected points during his term in office.
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Interactive Iraq: A Turning Point? New Congress, change at the Pentagon, study group report; what does the future hold?
Sixty-eight percent of those polled said they had optimistic feelings about the 110th Congress, which will be led by Democrats for the first time in 12 years. Just 25 percent said they were pessimistic.
Nearly half expect that this Congress will accomplish more than usual over the next two years.
FEELINGS ABOUT NEW CONGRESS
Optimistic
Pessimistic
But when asked if Democrats and President Bush can cooperate — in general and on Iraq, which is overwhelmingly Americans' top priority — half those polled were doubtful.
Fifty-one percent said the White House and Congress will not be able to work together on Iraq, while 41 percent said they will.Read the complete CBS News poll results.
WILL PRESIDENT BUSH AND THE DEMOCRATS WORK TOGETHER ON IRAQ?
Yes
No
Iraq was far and way the No. 1 issue Americans want the new Congress to address, easily outpacing other concerns like the economy/jobs, health care and immigration.
More than 70 percent expect Democrats in Congress will try to start bringing at least some U.S. troops home from Iraq — something a majority of Americans hope will happen.
WANT NEW CONGRESS TO CONCENTRATE ON:
War in Iraq
Economy/jobs
Health care
Immigration
Still, there is little confidence that either the Democrats or President Bush have a clear plan for Iraq. Less than one in 10 say the Democrats have a plan, while just one in five say Mr. Bush has one.
Starting off 2007, Mr. Bush's overall approval rating remains low at just 30 percent, his worst number ever in a CBS News poll, while his approval rating for handling Iraq is even lower at 23 percent — even after the execution of Saddam Hussein.
DO DEMOCRATS HAVE A CLEAR PLAN FOR IRAQ?
Yes
No
DOES PRESIDENT BUSH HAVE A CLEAR PLAN FOR IRAQ?
Yes
No
Americans don't think the execution of the former Iraqi president will improve the situation in Iraq. In fact, 40 percent believe Saddam's execution will make things worse and result in more attacks on U.S. troops. Just 5 percent think it will lead to fewer attacks against U.S. troops.
Mr. Bush did get a bump from last month in his handling of the economy, with 41 percent now saying they approve of the job he's doing — his highest rating on this measure since July 2005. Six in 10 Americans now rate the economy as being in good shape.
BUSH'S JOB APPROVAL RATING
Approve
Disapprove
BUSH'S JOB HANDLING IRAQ
Approve
Disapprove
Turning to how the new Congress will handle domestic issues, the poll found two-thirds of Americans expect a raise in the minimum wage, while 39 percent expect a tax increase.
Americans were split, 42 percent to 42 percent, on whether immigration reform would be passed.
The poll also found Americans have positive feelings about former President Gerald R. Ford, who passed away on Dec. 26. Sixty-nine percent approved of the way Ford handled his job as president, while just 4 percent disapproved.
This poll was conducted among a random sample of 993 adults nationwide, interviewed by telephone January 1-3, 2007. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus three percentage points. The error for subgroups is higher.
© MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Read the complete CBS News poll results.
Michelle Obama tells how her role as the First Lady has changed her perspective.





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See all 62 CommentsOh my!as a Christian myself I sould be offended but I'm not sure if you are serious or not. I thought the days of King George ended long ago. It sounds like you want a return to a Monarchy where no one opposes the King. Is this the so-called freedom we want to be spreading even to the Middle East? I'm sure they're tired of that. Anyways if there is one thing that boils my blood it is the stranglehold that far right nut jobs like Willimerdd have on Christianity, to me it sounds like an Aryan nations type of Christ and American Christianity that is so far off from what this nation and God/Jesus are all about.
Oh my!as a Christian myself I sould be offended but I'm not sure if you are serious or not. I thought the days of King George ended long ago. It sounds like you want a return to a Monarchy where no one opposes the King. Is this the so-called freedom we want to be spreading even to the Middle East? I'm sure they're tired of that. Anyways if there is one thing that boils my blood it is the stranglehold that far right nut jobs like Willimerdd have on Christianity, to me it sounds like an Aryan nations type of Christ and American Christianity that is so far off from what this nation and God/Jesus are all about.
Oh my!as a Christian myself I sould be offended but I'm not sure if you are serious or not. I thought the days of King George ended long ago. It sounds like you want a return to a Monarchy where no one opposes the King. Is this the so-called freedom we want to be spreading even to the Middle East? I'm sure they're tired of that. Anyways if there is one thing that boils my blood it is the stranglehold that far right nut jobs like Willimerdd have on Christianity, to me it sounds like an Aryan nations type of Christ and American Christianity that is so far off from what this nation and God/Jesus are all about.
Oh my as a Christian myself I sould be offended but I'm not sure if you are serious or not. I thought the days of King George ended long ago. It sounds like you want a return to a Monarchy where no one opposes the King. Is this the so-called freedom we want to be spreading even to the Middle East? I'm sure they're tired of that. Anyways if there is one thing that bolis my blood it is the strenglehold that far right nut jobs like Willimerdd have on Christianity, to me it sounds like an Aryan nations type of Christ and American Christianity that is so far off from what this nation and God/Jesus are all about.
Where can I get what you're smoking?
You are batshit crazy, pal. A true 23 percenter. You need to enlist NOW. Your Fuhrer need YOU.
Where can I get what you're smoking?
http://apoem.com
Brian Evans
GOD BLESS SUPPORT OUR TROOPS!
GPD BLESS REAL AMERICA!
"This bounce stands in contrast to data for the full month of December. Last month, the President%u2019s Job Approval Rating among all adults slipped to 39%, the lowest level ever recorded by Rasmussen Reports. It had been 42% in November. The December figures include 18% who Strongly Approve of the President%u2019s performance and 43% who Strongly Disapprove.
It will take a few more days to see if the Presidential Ratings bounce is a lasting change or mere statistical noise. It could be a response to the Hussein verdict being carried out over the weekend, to the fact that Democrats now control Congress, or simply an aberration."
If they will postulate that the Democrats now control Congress is enough to Raise Dubya's approval rating, just who do you think they are polling and where. They also failed to mention that they were polling the mentally disturbed - which to me is the only way Bush could get an approval rating above zero.
Posted by mh4cbs1 at 11:30 PM : Jan 04, 2007
Robert Byrd is one of the grand old men of the Democratic party and a brilliant author. The party would do well to tap his wisdom.
I guess if you look long enough, you can always find SOMEONE to provide credence to your beliefs.
You assume that the media is biased but that Rasmussen is neutral. Rasmussen has a right wing bias. You can see it a) in the questions that they poll as they typically are framed from the republican viewpoint, and b) the way they report the findings Republican clobbering the democratic candidate vs. Democratic candidate leads the Republican.
The view that the media is biased to the left is a rightwing talking point. Over the last six years, republicans have considerably more face time on talk shows. All of the papers, and news shows have rightwing op ed writers or commentators.
The only strong leftwing voice on the air is Keith Olberman.
WOW, your last comment is perfect.
Thank you!
maybe this one is better for you president@whitehouse.gov
But don't expect an answer
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See all 62 Comments