Poll: High Hopes For New Congress
68% Are Optimistic About 110th Congress, But Half Doubt Democrats And Bush Will Cooperate
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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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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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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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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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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
68%Pessimistic
25%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
41%No
51%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
45%Economy/jobs
7%Health care
7%Immigration
6%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
8%No
82%DOES PRESIDENT BUSH HAVE A CLEAR PLAN FOR IRAQ?
Yes
20%No
76%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
30%Disapprove
63%BUSH'S JOB HANDLING IRAQ
Approve
23%Disapprove
72%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.
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See all 62 CommentsYes 41%
No 51%
I don't think I've ever seen Bush cooperate with anybody . . . just my intuition but I would guess his idea of 'working together' with others means making concessions on stuff he doesn't that much care about such as say education and then expecting Congress to write him a blank check with no conditions when it comes to Iraq. And when they don't he'll pout and get all righteous and toss around phrases like 'partisan politics', 'standing in the way of freedom for the eyeraki people', 'not supporting the troops', 'letting the terrorists win', blah blah blah . . .
from the Washington Post 1/2/07:
"...instead of allowing Republicans to fully participate in deliberations, as promised after the Democratic victory in the Nov. 7 midterm elections, Democrats now say they will use House rules to prevent the opposition from offering alternative measures, assuring speedy passage of the bills and allowing their party to trumpet early victories."
So who do you think is "not working" with who?
Yes 8%
No 82%
Wow. What a glaring vote of confidence for the Democrats.
Incredible.
Pelosi hopes in the first 100 hours to:
1) Put new rules in place to "break the link between lobbyists and legislation."
2) Enact all the recommendations made by the commission that investigated the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
3) Raise the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour, maybe in one step.
4) Cut the interest rate on student loans in half.
5) Allow the government to negotiate directly with the pharmaceutical companies for lower drug prices for Medicare patients.
6) Broaden the types of stem cell research allowed with federal funds
I didn't have time to find articles to substantiate this, but I thought the majority of people support all those measures - within that context, preventing opposition ensures that it's the will of the majority that's being ensured speedy passage. To allow opposition to extend the process when the majority position is already known would otherwise effectively let minority positions thwart progress. Unless you can find articles/poll numbers to demonstrate that majority rules are not being upheld, I have to assume you're just upset that you're in the minority now after having been in the majority for the past 6 years and are upset at no longer being able to get your way?
SamTheTVCat:
from the Washington Post 1/2/07:
"...instead of allowing Republicans to fully participate in deliberations, as promised after the Democratic victory in the Nov. 7 midterm elections, Democrats now say they will use House rules to prevent the opposition from offering alternative measures, assuring speedy passage of the bills and allowing their party to trumpet early victories."
So who do you think is "not working" with who?
Posted by One_American at 06:49 PM : Jan 04, 2007)
meh . . . sorry, my thoughts are kind of scattered today . . . not my best work lol
If they fail, there will be no one to blame but themselves.
The fact that almost 70% are hopeful the Dems can figure something out, and that almost 75% think Bush is doing the wrong thing in Iraq right now is clear enough - except probably to Mr. "I'm a Uniter", who doesn't seem to care what anyone else thinks, from his generals on the ground to the vast majority of American voters.
If they fail, there will be no one to blame but themselves.
Posted by One_American at 07:06 PM : Jan 04, 2007
Except for the republican president that created this mess that you want fixed.
Can't take the responsibilty, can you?
True sign of a liberal.
Suck it up and get some guts, buddy.
Posted by badaxmofo at 08:09 PM : Jan 04, 2007
You are absolutely correct. However, one thing you conveniently left out...the Shrubster and his 2 sidekicks (Mr. Sharpshooter and Mr. Rummy) lie-bead to get us there in the first place.
With the exception of a few arguments (abortion, death penalty, etc), there's very little difference between Democrats & Republicans.
BOTH Democrats & Republicans have the exact same philosophy about running this country from a socialist style power-center called "Washington,DC" (aka "centralized government")
What BOTH political parties have forgotten, is the fact that:
"Washington, DC did NOT create the states,,,,,, it was the states that created Washington, DC."
WE NEED TO SEND POWER BACK TO THE STATES.
...............
As for the Kennedy family and their supposed illgotten gains through bootlegging, better that supposed past than the past of the Bush's illgotten gains.... collaborating with Hitler with his attempt at world conquest. This will be the second time the Bushes failed to conquer the world.
It's all up to the Democrats now.
If they fail, they will have no one to blame but themselves.
If they TRIED, they could NEVER F*UCK UP AS BAD AS THE REPUBS HAVE IN 12 YEARS! get over it; There's a new Congress on the HILL now!
Vote for Hillary
Now you sound like Michael Jackson on South Park.
Do you relate?
Posted by badaxmofo at 08:12 PM : Jan 04, 2007
Yea, really. The working class though, are stretched to the limit. They're going to have too many bancruptcies on their hands if they push us further and take any more of our money. Someone put it aptly today, "it's a vast corporate conspiracy against the middle class"
Sure Cheney and Bush LIED us into Iraq. They are obviously WAR CRIMINALs, but so what? Spineless Dems won't even cut off funds for this illeagal horrific WAR. In a couple months this will be a DEMOCRAT War as much as a fascist NeoCon imperial War.
in a couple of months it will be a "DEMOCRAT WAR"? WHEN it IS, WAS, AND ALWAYS WILL BE BUSH'S WAR? I disagree.
Sorry, but BOTH PARTIES ARE CORRUPT. They ONLY represent the RICH.
Our Country is FASCIST. Our Mainstream "news" is Government Controlled PROPOGANDA.
Police State USA.
Democrats WILL own this war because now they DO have the power to end this insanity -- but I doubt that they will. They are too afraid to appear weak, too afraid to really fight for justice and fight for the middleclass they claim to care about (while taking their corporate cmapaign contributions).
Robert Byrd, among a very few others, was quite outspoken in exposing the LIES of Cheney/Bush BEFORE the Invasion vote, but most Dems went along and voted to give Bush the Invasion Trigger, knowing what was to happen. So the Dems are ALREADY complicit.
OK I hope I am wrong, lets see if the Dems will vote to cut the funding for the War in Iraq. But history shows us that while Democrats may talk alot, no real transformative action ever takes place (since perhaps FDR new deal and LBJ on civil rights).
the democrats who "went along " with the decision were sold a bill of goods (WMD) and it was soon after 9-11, and everyone felt the need to react; Had Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rice &Co. levelled with the AMERICAN PEOPLE from DAY ONE, the DEMOCRATS would have NEVER VOTED TO INVADE IRAQ! THIS WILL NEVER BE the Dem's war.AND I think you are totally wrong when you say the dems will never cut funding for it.
If they fail, there will be no one to blame but themselves.
Posted by One_American at 07:06 PM : Jan 04, 2007
Except for the republican president that created this mess that you want fixed.
Posted by rsoxfan1123 at 07:46 PM : Jan 04, 2007
LOL - I stand corrected! Great post rsoxfan1123 . . . I didn't catch that inflection in One_American's comment - talk about not taking responsibility!?!
USA HATES THE LIAR CRIMINAL REPUKES
USA HATES THE LIAR CRIMINAL REPUKES
THE REPUKE REVOLUTION IS DEAD
Everyone else knew Bush was lying us into war, if your stupid politicians were dumb enough to be fooled by Bush then they should resign along with cheerleader boy, because they're obviously not qualified to run a 7-11 let alone a country...
Enough of the lame *** excuses for your phony crook *** politicians.
Here is their email address if you want to forward your concerns as I do.
democraticparty@democrats.org
And that's the game the GOPers will play. If the Dems don't withold funding of the war, they've broken their promise... if they do, they'll be accused of pulling the rug out from under the troops.All the while, they won't hold their dear frat boy 1% accountable for the debacle his lies have created.
"It's all up to the Democrats now.
If they fail, there will be no one to blame but themselves."
I'm sure the Republican's new mission is to ensure the new congress gets as little done as possible, good or bad, Ken Starr's phone is probably ringing off the hook about now.
I'm not just "Bush-bashing" either....
There has been and continues to be "Katrina" style mis-management on everything that affects the middle-class.
Why put a Navy admiral in charge of a ground war? Yet another yes man?
Anyone in uniform wearing stars on their shoulders that won't do their duty instead of being a "yes" man must be forced from the military.
May if I were rich or had very strong idealistic values that I arrogantly believed that what's right for me, must be right for everyone else in this country as well as all around the world.
Can the far right-wing and far left-wing just give us a break for while please....
That's right. Since the smirking chimp has been in office, "real wages" have been shrinking steadily. The gap between rich and the rest of us has burgeoned. Your jobs are being shipped overseas, college tuition has double while student aid has been cut substantially, and more of your taxes have gone to pay for a tax cut for the top 2% (while armor could not be provided to the troops?) cleaning up oil spills (Did you know you are still paying for Exxon Valdez?), increased green house immisions and associated health costs, increased insurance claims from lower safety standards, cleaning up after FEMA; tax "incentives" for Big Oil, Big Insurance and the drug manufacturers; Did I mention Iraq? And don't forget the cost of prosecuting all these greedy, corrupt GOPers. So yes indeed watch your wallets... as the cold, grimy fingers of the corporate plutocrats are slowly pryed off of our sore red behinds.
That's right. Since the smirking chimp has been in office, "real wages" have been shrinking steadily. The gap between rich and the rest of us has burgeoned. Your jobs are being shipped overseas, college tuition has double while student aid has been cut substantially, and more of your taxes have gone to pay for a tax cut for the top 2% (while armor could not be provided to the troops?) cleaning up oil spills (Did you know you are still paying for Exxon Valdez?), increased green house immisions and associated health costs, increased insurance claims from lower safety standards, cleaning up after FEMA; tax "incentives" for Big Oil, Big Insurance and the drug manufacturers; Did I mention Iraq? And don't forget the cost of prosecuting all these greedy, corrupt GOPers. So yes indeed watch your wallets... as the cold, grimy fingers of the corporate plutocrats are slowly pryed off of our sore red behinds.
maybe this one is better for you president@whitehouse.gov
But don't expect an answer
WOW, your last comment is perfect.
Thank you!
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.
I guess if you look long enough, you can always find SOMEONE to provide credence to your beliefs.
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.
"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.
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