Congressional Approval Rating At All-Time Low

Gallup reports that public perception of Congress is the lowest since polling began in 1974, and, at 18% approval, ties the rating in March 1992.

What happened in November 1992? Americans kept Democrats in power in Congress but kicked out the incumbent Republican President.

Gallup notes that most Americans disapprove of Congressional performance most of the time. However, this 18% is a clear drop from the 35% of us who approved of Congress in January -- which was up from 21% in December 2006. There was hope -- albeit slight -- that the new Congress would effect change (the reason for tossing out incumbents in November 2006). That hope has now deflated, which is reflected in the fact that voters calling themselves Republican haven't changed their opinion (18%) in the past month. Democrats (down from 32% to 21%) and independents (down from 30% to 17%) have.

What Gallup doesn't ask is why Americans are unhappy with Congress. My guess is it's because Congress hasn't gotten us out of Iraq. After all, another Gallup poll has 1/3 of us saying Iraq is the most important issue facing the country (it's been number one all year - nothing else on the list comes close). Most of us think Iraq was a mistake. Two thirds think the costs outweigh the benefits. And 7-in-10 believe we should begin withdrawal in April 2008.

However, Democrats do not have a veto-proof majority in the Senate. Disgruntlement over Congressional impasse on Iraq seems unreasonable in that light. Besides we're expecting a report on the progress of the surge next month.

Why do you think Americans are unhappy with Congress?

See The Myth of the Mid-Term Turnover