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Subscribe to RSSNBC's Chuck Todd and the National Journal's Major Garrett discuss the latest NBC News/WSJ poll.
The latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll finds that the approval rating for Congress has tied its all-time low in the history of the survey, while its disapproval rating has tied its all-time high.
According to the poll, only 12 percent of registered voters approve of the legislative branch's job. The only other time it was that low was in Oct. 2008.
In addition, a whopping 82 percent disapprove of Congress' job, and the only other time it reached that level was in Aug. 2011 -- which was right after the bruising debt-ceiling fight.
Much of this survey was conducted before two controversial or embarrassing incidents for House Republicans.
On Sunday, Aug. 19, Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.) -- who is the GOP's nominee in Missouri's Senate race -- explained his opposition to abortion even in cases of rape by saying: "If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut [the pregnancy] down."
Also on Sunday, Politico first reported that House Republicans last year took a dip in the Sea of Galilee in an evening involving alcohol; one member, Rep. Kevin Yoder (R-Kan.) was nude.
The NBC/WSJ poll also shows that 36 percent view the Republican Party in a positive light, versus 45 percent who view it negatively.
By comparison, 42 percent have a favorable view of the Democratic Party, while 40 percent have a negative opinion. Both sets of numbers are similar to last month's.
The full NBC/WSJ poll -- which was conducted Aug. 16-20 of 1,000 registered voters (300 by cell phone) -- will be released at 6:30 pm ET.
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Nobody knows who the next President is going to be, but I hope that regardless of who wins, both the Senate and Congress work together to solve the problems of our nation. No president, whether Republican, Democrat, or Independent can possibly succeed with his agenda if Congress and/or the Senate are bent out of shape to go against everything he proposes to do. All bets are off once Congress and/or the Senate decide that their only objective is to make sure a President does not get a second term. People should remember what Dwight D. Eisenhower (true patriotic Republican) once said:
" People talk about the middle of the road as though it were unacceptable. Actually, all human problems, excepting morals, come into the gray areas. Things are not all black and white. There have to be compromises. The middle of the road is all of the usable surface. The extremes, right and left, are in the gutters."
I cannot help, but wonder what Eisenhower would say if he saw how our current Senate and Congress are operating.
America is screwed without term limits. We have term limits for our mayors, govenors and president but allow these bought off legislators to wallow at the public funded trough. Their only goal is to fill their pockets. If they do somehow get voted out they become lobbyists to further enrich themselves. Of course they are protected because their so called election districts have been so rigged by both parties that they face no opposition. Its time to vote all incumbents out if you expect anything to change.
We have term limits it's called elections, the only problem is that the American people seemed to be too dumbed down to hold all of their leaders accountable. Either way we the people wind up with the government that we deserve.
Harry Reid's Legacy. Lowest of the Low and Worst of the Worst. Way to go Harry. Now GET LOST Forever!
This means nothing the people will still vote these idiots back into office. You can't fix it without change. Both parties have been tearing this country apart for many years now. If we as a people do not find change soon we will lose it all. We are the next empire to fall and it is all the fault of the people.
Unfortunately George-38802 people tend to be more like the three monkeys hear no evil, speak no evil, see no evil or on other words deaf, dumb and blind. But oh how they care but they wouldn't dare to look to the heart of the matter, how men of great greed get what they need, purses that only get fatter.
Each and every one of these useless pieces of feces is as worthless as teats are on a boar hog.
On top of that, these crud-bags no longer represent you or me, they represent big business and the scum bag lobbyists that contribute largely to their re-election chests.
That and only that is what these pond scum care about.
They no longer represent you or me and haven't for more than 3 decades.
They all need to be taken out and tared and feathered and then dipped in sheep crap.
How about just voting them all out and putting in new blood until we find leaders who will serve the country rather then their own self interests.
We know the problem.I want to know is how the American people are going to fix it instead of B_itching?
But I don't want to waste my vote I want to vote for the winner I don't care what they do as long as my team wins. Or heck I will complain but I can't be bothered to vote I'm too busy watching TV. The fall of the American Dream, because evil prevails when good people do nothing.
We need a third, forth and more parties to participate in our government. Not just these two sorry excuses for parties.
A party that is fiscally responsible and socially aware would control this country.
My opinion of Congress and the people that elected them is at an all-time low.
The republican Tea Party members have taken control. They have come in and had one thing in Damion and set out to do it. Granted some of their ideas may have merit but government does not work like a business and until it is changed, it never will. And for those that think it will change, dream on. Congressmen and women have one goal and that is to get reelected.
How is public approval of American news media? I'd like to see that poll.
LOL Just look at all this fighting and finger pointing by EVERYONE!
Looks like they've divided us so now its only a matter of time before the conquer us.
When are all you numskulls going to realize that until WE the people are united in one cause (getting America back on track) and that BOTH parties are to blame and are selling us out to deep pocket contributors nothing will get done.
FORGET YOUR PARTY! IT IS NO DIFFERENT THAN THE OTHER PARTY!
COME TOGETHER AND VOTE THEM ALL OUT WE MUST STAND TOGETHER, DIVIDED WE FALL!
WAKE UP PEOPLE BEFORE IT'S TO LATE! (it may already be too late what with "homeland Security, the Patriot Act (domestic spying), and more Acts that do nothing but lay the ground work for controlling a population and laws that allow the government to claim you are a terrorist and throw you in jail without charges or access to lawyers indifferently) YOU BETTER WAKE UP FAST!
I believe a lot of people feel as I do and that is we are stuck with our Representatives and Senators. Too often we are left with little difference or nothing better than what we have. You would think with a rating below 10% people would vote for anything else, but most often left with a choice between a Democrat or Republican and it ends up with a vote either way is the same or totally distasteful and outlandish ideology. Where are all the honest people who would like to help govern this country and are not so stuck in their ideology that they would sacrifice the good of the country for their own ego. When will these politicians start putting country first, even if it means a loss of votes. It is a sad state of affairs out in the country.
Mitch McConnell, John Boehner, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, is there any wonder why nothing gets done? Four of the biggest dorks in the congress/senate today. We'd be better off with the GEICO-GEKKO running things....Time for a complete overhaul and find people who can work together for our benefiut-not the party's benefit. I'd rate the congress at 0%.....
What do you folks expect in Congress ?
All I see is the left bashing the right, and the right the left.
I see no effort being made to elect people who are competent.
Issues are rarely discussed. What is discussed is how awful the other guy is, not how to solve problems.
Voters dont want to hear how to solve problems, that involves difficult choices.
They want to hear they are going to get their government checks, their taxes wont go up, and the debt doesnt matter.
When the voters get serious and stop believing the sound bites from both sides, they will elect people who are competent, until then, we will get the ignorance of Washington.
People get the government they deserve.
Very true statement Bill but people keep bashing this party or that party. And it is all about what is the government going to do for me. I guess people are just stupid and will not take the time to realize that everyone can't have what they want or government will just not work. At some point in time the bill has to be paid but nobody wants to pay it. The United States has had it very good over most countries but if we continue to be greedy and selfish we will head the way of other nations---bankrupt and corrupt. Why don't people understand that these 2 political parties are about money, power and re-election? Government is about seeing what needs to be done and working a compromise to see that things are run as best as can be to satisfy everyone. All these 2 parties do is cut the other down and point out the bad instead of seeing the good and working with it. We will never survive as long as these 2 parties are intact.
The 'New Low' comes from the 2010 Elections, replacing those old Moderates with young Lunatics. The just elected TeaTwitt Congress Reps. were in bed with the Lobbyists before they could even be sworn in to office. The 2010 campaign wasn't about bringing a fresh voice to Congress it was about equal opportunity for Real Estate Speculators and Investment scammers to feed at the trough of Corporate Expense Accounts.
Milo9
You are grossly ill-informed. It was congressmen like Chris Dodd who was a friend of Angelo that was causing damage to our economy. It was democrats like Robert Rubin and Franklin Raines that made a fortune off the sub prime scandal. President Clinton did nothing to help when he and his President's Working Group make sure the Commodity Futures Modernization act of 2000 through congress.
Rick-312779 lol THAT'S your rationale? Someone says something you don't like, and your response is 'you're ill-informed'?
In 2010 there was a republican landslide. Bohener jumped up, and boasted it was a mandate for JOBS, JOBS, JOBS. So....where are those mandated jobs, jobs, jobs Boenher promised?
Also....why is it, we (the United States of America) never had a Federal credit downgrade before the TP'ers came along? None under Democratic or Republican controlled congress's/Presidents. EVER, till the TP'ers.
Cherry picking a few things, and blaming dems, like you do in your second paragraph really isn't intelligent. If Jr hadn't stopped working half-way though his term...we wouldn't be in this mess. I mean, after all...repubs today blame everything, EVERYTHING on Obama, eh? So lets put the entire recession on Bushie boy; it happened when HE was president, so it everything is HIS fault (using republican logic). By the way...how come no one is allowed to say the Bush name, anymore? How come he and Cheney were told NOT to attend the GOP convention? Could it be, republicans don't want to remember eight years of hell, again?
Hey, It's MEEEEE - What in the hell are you talking about? He accuses the Tea Party of being in bed with Real Estate Speculators and Investment scammers then you come in and bring up items that aren't even being mentioned and accuse me of cherry picking.
And if you would deal with your ignorance and actually inform yourself by doing some research you would acknowledge that Standards & Poors blamed the government....both sides.
And why are you lying about Bush and Cheney not being invited to the Republican convention?
Most people's posts are ridiculous. All of government's approval is low. It is not repubs or dems or prez or congressman or senators. It is all of government and the people's stupid bickering is what keeps sending these people back. Most of these politicians don't even resemble dems or repubs or independents. They are low life professional politicians who's only goals are to get more powerful, richer and get re-elected. They could care less about the citizens so you must begin to understand this and vote every last one of them out of their cushy jobs. It is the only way they are going to understand we are not putting up with their BS anymore. We want leadership and decisions that are for the good of all the citizens not decisions that are going to line the pockets of these filthy crooks in DC.
You mean the teabaggers didn't get the love for dragging their feet on jobs??? Where are the jobs, Mr. Boner?
Starderup
They are sitting on Harry's desk.
Here is a very simple test:
How many Republican job bills were sent to the Senate without various religious/social riders on them, passed by the Senate, and sent to the President to sign?
Answer: Zero.
Where are the jobs, Mr. Boner?
You show me one bill that has a religious amendment and I will show you five that doesn't.
The republican party is holding the people of the U.S. hostage for there own personal gains and have been for the past 4 years. The have done nothing in the past 4 years to help the countries problems. They fought the president and all bills that they said were no good but did not come up with any suggestions or solutions. The republicans want to take away all that has been put in place to help people unless it will hurt there own pockets.
The Republican position for years has been to keep the economy at a standstill or, when possible, worsen it. The excuse for doing so has been presented as "cutting out-of-control government spending". Related phrases are "shrink government," "reduce the deficit," and so on. "Nobody would run a household budget this way." (Of course not: they'd put the millionaire living free in the attic to work.)
The GOP has found a strategy for getting their socialist/marxist president out of office or, as McConnell put it succinctly, "make Obama a one-term president."
The strategy works. Basically, it's Grover Norquist's. "Shrink government until it's so small it can be drowned in the bath tub." Romney and Ryan are in full agreement. Tax rates are now so low -- lower than they have been in generations -- that the government (which is us) has a revenue problem as well as a spending problem. And the GOP wants to reduce the tax rate even more, from it's highest marginal rate of 35% to about 28%, while eliminating entirely the low taxes on dividends, capital gains, and interest that the extremely wealthy live on. Not to mention the estate tax, in which the offspring of very rich families simply inherit all their "hard-earned dollars."
Obama will probably lose in November, and the GOP may well take both houses of Congress. Romney will have to sign whatever the Tea Party puts in front of him, or else face a primary challenge in 2016. That includes laws governing our sexual behavior.
Then we can all sit back and watch while a great social and economic experiment unfolds.
Where's Mitten's big bump from the Ryan pickup?
...crickets ...crickets ...crickets... crickets...!
BTW: Obama/Biden win in 2012! No doubt!!
New Campaign Ad
TO LEADERSHIP IN CONGRESS
When your stated #1 goal is to make Obama a one term President and your actions show that you are following that goal come hell or high water, there are consequences. The American people know that you each took an oath of office. It doesn't refer to Grover Norquist nor does it say that the oath only applies if it benefits your party only nor does it say you are off the hook if the opposition party resides in the white house. Wouldn’t it be poetic justice if you didn’t meet your #1 goal? Hey you could then try something easier; the goal could be to make Obama a two term President.
If a reminder is needed, here it is:
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Function as laid out in the constitution:
The primary function and duty of the House of Representatives is to enact legislation for the benefit of the United States and its citizens.
OATH OF OFFICE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:
“I, AB, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.”
ZEEK
I've heard of a movement regarding Congress called "No Incumbent Left Behind" aka vote 'em all out. Maybe if the entire Congress got the boot, politicians might get the message - lead us and represent us or you're done. I think before any political debates between candidates, truth serum should be administered and polygraph tests administered to those candidates who engage in negative campaigning. I like Warren Buffet's ideas for Congressional change - maybe Buffet should run for president.