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In a country sharply divided on almost every issue, most Americans agree on one thing: they don’t like Congress, and they would vote to replace every single member -- even their own -- if they had the option.
Fifty-six percent of registered voters say they would vote out every member of Congress if there were a place on the ballot to do so. That’s the highest response in favor of the question since it was first asked in March 2010.
And they say so across the ideological spectrum – with 55 percent of liberals, 55 percent of moderates, and 58 percent of conservatives all feeling the same way.
“We found the one area in which all people in the country agree,” said Republican pollster Bill McInturff, who conducted the survey with Democratic pollster Peter D. Hart.
Combine that with Congress continuing to be at near-record lows in approval at 13 percent and all members of Congress are at risk, McInturff said.
But there are also warning signs specifically for Republicans.
More people say the GOP has brought the wrong kind of change (31 percent) in Congress than the right kind (12 percent). That represents a drop for the GOP from a year ago, right after when they took control of the House as a result of the sweeping 2010 elections. In January 2011, 25 percent thought Republicans would bring the right kind of change versus 20 percent who thought they would bring the wrong kind.
Those attitudes are also far worse than right after when Democrats took control of the House in 2006 (42%/15%) and Republicans regained a majority in 1994 (37%/11%).
“People want Congress to get things done, act responsibly and fix the economy,” McInturff said, “and if they don’t,” they could be in trouble. McIntruff added, “These guys are going to be running in a head wind.”
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As an Independent voter, I am voting Democrat straight across all election ballots in all local and national elections through the next 2 cycles. The GOP needs to be reminded that they were elected to represent the people, NOT just the rich ones. Obama is proving himself to be one of our greatest presidents. I want to see what he can accomplish without the GOP obstructionists.
Eddie boy - So your straight up lovin those record welfare & unemployment numbers??
Watch what you wish for Ed. You might get it. And greatest presidents? Surely you jest. He had two years with a majority and all it got us was that abomination of a health care law. Everything this administration does, top to bottom, leads us further into the abyss of becoming just another piece of dirt with people living on it.
Yes Sir Ed, I agree and will be voting Democrat straight across all election ballots. The Republicans have to go.
Looking back at your prior posts, you're anything but truly independent.
Any true independant will vote a straight Republican ticket, right?
Severed, not even close.
Yes, Obama had the majority - of course, the Republicans decided to abuse the filibuster rule so that nothing could get done unless the Dems had 60 votes.
As for Obama - he tried so hard to be a bi-partisan president, he could have pushed through his health care, and banking regulations immediately - but he wanted to give the Reps a chance and they watered down everything, and slowed down everything as much as they could. All be cause their number 1 priority wasn't fixing the nation, it was defeating Obama.
Personally, I hope he learned his lesson. I hope Obama is elected, and he gets a super majority in both the house and senate. Then I hope he goes to the Democratic caucaus and tells them to get in line and fix the nation. Then I want them both to cram down the Republicans throat every bipartisan bill that will serve ALL the American people, rather than the 1%. And that includes cutting and balancing the budget and putting us on the road to getting rid of the deficit.
Anyone who believes that the first two years of job losses and deficit increases have anything to do with Obama - are blindly partisan nuts. Look at Reagan - it took almost 3 years before unemployment fell below 8% and that's exactly where we are with Obama. I don't blame Reagan for the mess he inherited, and I don't blame Obama for Bush's incompetence.
Fortunately, over half of the Stimulus has yet to be paid out - and it's already beginning to gain traction. Hoping it will have a big impact by September '12
If the current Congress were employed by the private sector, they would all be fired because they do not do their jobs. They are obstructionists!!!! They are not acting in the best interst of the people but rather special interest groups who buy thier votes from congress. They should all be arrested and put in prison.
I think its time for something called TERM limits. Senators no more than 2 tersm (6yrs) and Representatives no more than 6 terms (12yrs). We need new blood in these offices. The old guys owe too many favors, forget who they work for and seem to be stuck on issues along party lines all the time. New blood every few years might promote more non-partisian laws that really work for the people.
I'm all for voting them out. Let's get people that care about the American people and are willing to put their bi-partisan differences aside and do what's best for the American people and the country, instead of what's best for themselves.
Our families voted our heart out...! Are you?
it's about time majority of this country can agreed on something !!
it's time for some new congressmen and women !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tea Party Members ruined our Congress, Worst Congress in History!
They were the only ones who chose to stop the Obama bus speeding ever so much faster ahead without looking at the signs along the way. They have served as traffic cops stopping the flow of traffic over the drawbridge.
By what? Promoting the @!$%#tiest excuses for policies and just barely covering up their racist beliefs with social policies that are insults to humanity?
How funny! I've been saying this for a few years now!!! We need to band together, my fellow Americans, and change the way Congress works! Congress should have term limits, just as the Presidency does. This will ensure we can get NEW BLOOD, a younger generation, who might just "think outside the box", and stop playing in the sandbox like children!
We desperately need to get all ousted members of Congress to get on the unemployment line with absolutely NO BENEFITS, so they can feel the pain we feel EVERY DAY when Congress doesn't do the job we sent them there to do for the PEOPLE!!!!
Granted, we all know the ideological bias of MSNBC. Personally, I don't care a bit for MSNBC - they're the liberal fox news. But I do like the vine because there's candid discourse on imporant issues - even if that involves some uninformed/ignorant opinion ranting.
But could this article have been any more biased? I mean, c'mon MSNBC - quit beating arond the bush and come right out and declare how much you hate Republicans!
I'm with the majority of opinions regarding this subject - vote the lot out. My only caution to all is look before you leap. Innevitably a race will contain the incumbent crook versus just as corrupt a crook - make your best informed decision to vote for the lesser of two evils. Sad that this has become the standard in American politics. See the surge of Gingrich.
At last, a breath of fresh air. Thank you Concerned.
I don't intend to vote for my incumbent. There, I've said it!
One can only hope we can replace every single person in Congress. It would show all future politican's "WE THE People" means something. Lets hope someone will go in that will get something done, We need to throw out Paul and Cantor, those two are nuts
politician
Cycle in and cycle out, term limits given by the people.
Absolutely! Get rid of all the incumbants. But bringing in new Democrats or Republicans won't help either because they are still beholden to and controlled by their parties, so the infighting will continue. Let's really shake things up. Vote Libertarian!
This is the best idea I've heard in a while. All people need to do is vote accordingly this fall. Can term limits be added as well?
Congress needs term limits just like the President. That would solve a lot of the problems. How do you expect a country to advance when you have 80 year old men who are stuck in their ways?
Perhaps we should all be voting for moderates, as opposed to extremists from *either* party? At least then we'd have a Congress that could work with each other, talk in a civil manner, and maybe, just maybe, get something done? Unfortunately, the primary system we have works in the opposite direction, rewarding those who swing as far to the party's extreme as possible, and eliminating those who might actually work cooperatively to improve our country.
That may be part of the problem. In both parties there seem to be radicals at the very ends of the fields. We could use more moderates.
Part of the problem may be that voters will only vote for the radicals on the extremes.
This is the best idea I've heard in a while. All people need to do is vote accordingly this fall.
I agree, vote them all out, even my Reps and Senators not for what they did, rather for what they didn't do.
Considering the amount of time off they take, what they get done during the time they are there, the amount of money they cost the American public, and the lack of representation for the average voter, they do need to be replaced, and term limits should be tightened. A "house" cleaning is always in order when policies fail. However, all at the same time would devastate our government.
out out out
You can thank your state government for much of the problem. Thanks to gerrymandering, most seats are almost assured of re-electing the incumbent. This year, vote non-incumbent and pressure your state legislature to redistrict fairly, so that different voices can come to the table.
did the lefties in congress abandon their posts like the lefties in wisc when the tea party said they were holding them to fire on the budget? the conservative agenda was made VERY clear. STOP SPENDING! for all you taxPAYERS get out your checkbooks. for all you taxRECEIVERS go stand by the mailbox for your "checkie"
Ok, start taxing the top 2 percent a higher rate. And cut out the tax loop holes the rich have. Then I will go along with your cuts.
REQUIRE that those trying to get into office:
1. do not communicate with lobbyists.
2.reinstate Glass-Steagall
3. tax any single year income over $500M at 99%.
4. commit to requiring that banks never go beyond 10 to 1 leveraging.
There are more items...I am sure others can create a strong list. Why do we only hear what THEY want us to hear??
I don't know where this alleged poll was taken but I believe it is just talk. I have a good friend in the 8th district in Ohio and he says he would Keep Boehner and get rid of all the rest. He says Boehner has done so much good for his district. It makes me want to scream. Maybe he is doing good for the 8th district but look what he is doing to the country. If he wants things done on a local basis that is what the State representative is for not the Congressional figures. We have to look at ll of congress at a national level and make sure they are performing n the best interest of the country not poe-dunk 6th district Ohio.
It's what I've been saying for months. Vote out whoever is in office, no matter who it is. It should be obvious by that that the "who it is" will not cooperate and will not get the job done. Repeat. They WILL not. It's not a matter of can or can't.
Let me point out something. These low approval ratings have been going on for a long long time. Have they had an effect? Has the fact that the majority of the country disapproves of their performance made any difference? Have they made even the slightest effort to cooperate with each other and get things done?
Hell no. And the reason is simple. They think they're safe in office. They think they're invulnerable. They really don't care what you and I think because they believe we won't do anything about their absolutely miserable performance. They simply refuse to act.
Please. Everyone. Let's not be like they are. Let's not refuse to act. Let's act and get all of them the hell out of there.
That means everyone. Democrat, Republican, Independent. They are ALL failures. They need to go.