By Kenneth J. Theisen, 8/25/07
Two newly released polls, one national and one in California, show
Congress is not very popular with the public. Congress” approval rating reached
an all time low according to a newly released national Gallup Poll. 76% of the 1,019 poll respondents disapproved
of Congress’s work, while only 18% approved of the job done by Congress. The poll was conducted from August 13 –
August 16, 2007.
Even though Congress is now controlled by the Democrats,
only 21% of Democrats approved of the job it is doing. 17% of independents and 18% of Republicans
approved.
The Field poll taken in California of 536 registered voters and
released on August 24th showed similar results. There, only 20% approved of the
work of Congress and 66% disapproved. The poll was taken between August 3rd and
August 12th. Only 27% of Democrats
polled approved. And even though California is the home
state of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, she received only a 39% approval rating in
the Field poll.
Keep in mind that this poll was of registered voters. It is likely that those not registered to
vote have an even lower opinion of Congress.
While neither poll asked respondents” views about the
failure to end the war in Iraq, that is likely to be the primary reason why so
few approve of the work of Congress.
Last November’s election sent a clear signal to Congress to end the war,
but apparently Congress was not listening.
It is also not clear what affect the passage of the Protect
America Act of 2007 had on the views the respondents had about Congress. This vast expansion of surveillance power
given to the regime was highly unpopular with many. The Democratic-failure to
stop this law provoked reaction among the Democratic rank-and-file. House
Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office reported receiving more than 200,000 angry
e-mails from people displeased with the passage of the bill.
As long as Congress enables the Bush regime to continue the
war and the rest of its fascist agenda it can be expected to lose support among
the public. But like the Bush regime,
serving the public does not seem to be on the agenda of the legislative branch.
Even though poll after poll shows majority sentiment for ending the Iraq war, the
Democrats continue to fund it. And
Congressional leaders refuse to even discuss impeachment despite its
popularity. (While not a “scientific
poll”, a poll on MSNBC’s website indicates that of the 488, 678 respondents to
the question, “Do you believe President Bush’s actions justify impeachment,”
88% answered yes. It is a live poll and the numbers are accurate at the time I
write this. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10562904/)
Democratic leaders in Congress have more than made it clear
that they will not halt the Bush regime agenda on their own. Only mass
mobilization will end the regime’s agenda and drive out the regime. As I have asked repeatedly, what will you do
to make this possible?