October 17, 2007: Grumpikuss - polls go lower and lower

Just when you thought they couldn't go any lower, approval ratings for Bush and the Congress have hit another round of new lows to 24 and 11 percent respectively. As for the Congress' rating, you'd think you could get 11 percent simply from people mishearing the question. "Do you approve of the way the Congress is working?" "Say what?" "I asked do you approve?" "If you say so."

I am in Washington where you'd think you could smell this malaise in the air. But you can't. I arrived barely in time to catch a few minutes of the Republican Jewish Coalition's candidate show at the Grand Hyatt. The Fredster was up as the last of the speakers at four in the afteroon, but still there were a fair amount of political junkies hanging around. They had been at it since seven in the morning, I later learned, when the candidate's wives were talking to women's groups. The long day continued as I moved on to a party for the launch of XM's P.O.T.U.S.'08 Channel on which PJM has a weekly show. A lot of jokes were made about how the channel would be providing twenty-four hours a day of campaign coverage for an already stultified public. I went on from there to dinner at the Ledeens where we discussed... politics.

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This town (I'm in Arlington, which is functionally part of the company town) is far to self-involved to care what the hoi polloi are saying, as long as there are other polls that say Dems are likely to pick up congressional seats and the Presidency. It's about power, not governing well or pleasing the electorate (pandering, yes, pleasing, no).

There is also the fact that neither the Post not the Times (NY, that is - nobody on the left reads the Washington Times) are going to report negative news about the Dems, so they are not having it thrown in their faces. Fact is, the Post regularly (every 2 to 3 weeks) runs stories about how bad things are looking for the Republicans in the next cycle.

On the other side, so many Republicans have gotten conditioned to being slandered, that they are in continual defensive mode.

This isn't healthy.

Posted by: wmartin at October 17, 2007 5:56 AM

It would be nice if you could add some photos.

thanks.

Posted by: Lem at October 17, 2007 8:36 AM

''I went on from there to dinner at the Ledeens where we discussed... politics.''

LOL --as if there's any other topic!

Posted by: Buddy Larsen at October 17, 2007 9:17 AM

So how was the service at the Ledeens? Cause, frankly, I don't think I'd be able to resist tossing at least one "Faster, please" at the host.

Posted by: Eric Akawie at October 17, 2007 9:36 AM

Mark Twain said "There is no hereditary criminal class in America with the possible exception of Congress." The feeling is mutual. The Mass-5 election this week should give some hope to the GOP but I fear they are hunkered down too far to see out. God help us if Hillary wins.

Posted by: Mike K at October 17, 2007 12:44 PM

Why is this bad -- the less Congress does the better off the people will be.

I general this proves that if your only plan is hate, you get slimed. Better to come up with a real plan and future for America. Also, socialism is beginning to leave a nasty taste ...

Posted by: bill-tb at October 17, 2007 2:17 PM

I have to say I have my doubts about these poll numbers. I don't think people are overjoyed or anything, but I don't think Reuters or Zogby are exactly reliable either.

I think the numbers I have seen on Bush lately are mostly between 32 and 38. The numbers I have seen on Congress have been between 20 and 30. Nothing to brag about, but not this bad.

I think these numbers are probably off by about 10 points.

Maybe the thing people are really tired of are the polls themselves. Sort of the the "yeah yeah whatever" kind of answer to the questions.

Posted by: Terrye at October 17, 2007 2:18 PM

24 and 11 percent. Really? Why so high?

Posted by: Carl Spackler at October 18, 2007 2:28 AM

I would bet that among people who exerted superhero-like effort bother to go out of the way and vote, Bush's approval ratings are higher.

If you sample Escondido you know exactly what's in the box of chocolates ;)

Posted by: Lem at October 18, 2007 5:00 AM

Roger,

Driving into work today in my new Honda Pilot (no P.C. gas-hoarding for this redneck!) I kind of blundered into the POTUS XM Radio channel and was surprised and delighted to hear you holding forth.

I thought the Obama quip about being Cheney's eighth cousin was rather funny, and not at all mean-spirited.

Yo, Buddy! ;-)

Jamie Irons

Posted by: Jamie Irons at October 18, 2007 10:50 AM

I now see, noting the date of your original post, that what I heard this morning must have been a "rerun!"

Reminds me of the old Borscht Belt joke about G_d's using "old material!"

Jamie Irons

Posted by: Jamie Irons at October 18, 2007 10:54 AM

Jamie, i heard that too--the cousin bit--and that Obama's comment on it was "every family has its black sheep". That was on tv, overheard while I was feeling along the floor for my gin bottle, so I don't know who said it. If Obama really did say it, hoorah--a JOKE, something funny in this Stepford Wives campaign!

Posted by: Buddy Larsen at October 18, 2007 1:48 PM

Bill-tb, Boone Pickens sez, "A fool with a plan will always beat a genius without one."

Posted by: Buddy Larsen at October 18, 2007 1:53 PM

These guys seem to be competing for the bottom.

Quebec legislature bans word 'weathervane'

Wonder if George Carlin can work it into his standup ?

Posted by: Neo at October 18, 2007 3:55 PM

The turnaround is the first major failure for Pelosi, who has successfully muscled through the agenda she set out when she became leader of the Democratic majority in January.

This first has begot this legacy ..

Krauthammer's razor (with apologies to Occam): In explaining any puzzling Washington phenomenon, always choose stupidity over conspiracy, incompetence over cunning. Anything else gives them too much credit.

Posted by: Neo at October 19, 2007 7:09 AM

Powerline disagrees, sez this was no application of the razor.

Posted by: Buddy Larsen at October 19, 2007 8:46 AM

Dear speaker Pelosi is the link btwg humans and the deer in the headlights.

It looks like while Congress approvals are at an all time low their letter condemning Limbaugh is at an all time high for charity bids on eBay.

Who said there ain't no Santa Claus?

Posted by: Lem at October 19, 2007 10:09 AM

Dr. Seuss draws a hairy reed.

Posted by: Buddy Larsen at October 19, 2007 10:49 AM

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