Poll: Republicans Not Happy With their Do-Nothing Congress

By Jeralyn, Section Other Politics
Posted on Sun Mar 20, 2011 at 06:59:47 PM EST
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A new Pew Research poll shows voters are increasingly disapproving of Congress. The reason is because Congress, even after the November election, has failed to do anything on the basic issues everyone cares about.

Republicans and the Tea Party promised change, but haven't delivered. So it's not really a surprise that:

Pew surveyed 1,525 adults from March 8-14. The poll's findings suggest the political losers so far have been Republicans, who rode a wave of voter irritation to win control of the House of Representatives last fall.

After the election, 35 percent said Republicans had a better approach to the deficit, expected to reach a record $1.65 trillion this year. This month, that number has plunged to 21 percent.

Patience is wearing thin with the Tea Party: [More...]

The most restless constituency has involved supporters of the conservative tea party movement. After the November election, where backers helped elect dozens of congressional Republicans, three of four movement supporters liked GOP budget plans. This month that figure dropped to 52 percent.

The morning of the November elections, I made some predictions, including this one:

Republicans will make gains in the House and they will crow about it until January, but it will be empty posturing. The radical right won't get any serious legislation passed during the next two years. They'll have greater success at being obstructionist and blocking Democratic proposals, just like they've done the past two years, only on a bigger scale. It will backfire on them in 2012. We'll be in worse shape and the voters will rightfully blame them and boot them out.

I'm glad it's happening even earlier than I expected.

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Poll: Republicans Not Happy With their Do-Nothing Congress | 31 comments (31 topical)

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It would be a greater consolation if (5.00 / 5) (#3)
by Anne on Sun Mar 20, 2011 at 07:22:13 PM EST

the Democratic proposals were particularly identifiable as Democratic - they aren't even identifiably left, or even identifiably good, for heaven's sake.

Obama's out there pushing conservative policy, he's got gangs of Senators willing to push along with him, so it's not going to be some stark choice between the crazy GOP and the sane Democrats, it's going to be one where the inevitable split-the-difference, bipartisan "compromise" gets us traditional Republican policies. That's what these Dems are "fighting" for now.

Woo-hoo...I'm so excited...

Not to worry (5.00 / 4) (#4)
by MO Blue on Sun Mar 20, 2011 at 07:25:38 PM EST

Republican voters just have to wait until Obama negotiates the budget cuts to get everything they want and more. :-(

But most GOP voters (5.00 / 3) (#5)
by cal1942 on Sun Mar 20, 2011 at 09:17:15 PM EST

are too dense to know that they're getting GOP policies. Having even a clue about policy vanished some time ago.


So are most dem voters... (5.00 / 4) (#9)
by Edger on Sun Mar 20, 2011 at 10:07:47 PM EST

: Our electorate (5.00 / 1) (#30)
by cal1942 on Wed Mar 23, 2011 at 11:35:30 PM EST

(understatement warning) isn't terribly bright.

I wonder if Repubs know how few days (5.00 / 1) (#11)
by shoephone on Mon Mar 21, 2011 at 12:48:27 AM EST

their reps are even in session now. I attended my Democratic rep's annual St. Patty's week fundraiser earlier this evening, and learned this interesting little tidbit:

When I found out he's going to be in town all week, I asked why, and if there were lots of special events planned for Seattle. He said, "No, not necessarily. But the GOP House majority didn't schedule any work for this week. In fact, since they took charge, we work less than ever -- three weeks on, and one week off, three weeks on, and one week off..."

No wonder they're not getting much done. They're not in D.C. to put in the hours.

: But, but those horrible teachers (5.00 / 4) (#13)
by MO Blue on Mon Mar 21, 2011 at 07:46:24 AM EST

get the summer off and how dare they want benefits just because their congresscritters have them. :-(

: It would be in our best interest (none / 0) (#31)
by cal1942 on Wed Mar 23, 2011 at 11:40:51 PM EST

if the House GOP worked one day a month. With very long lunch periods.
I understand Boehner likes to get out early, no later than 6. Gives him time for both the bars and the tanning bed.

Promised change, but haven't delivered? (4.75 / 4) (#1)
by Edger on Sun Mar 20, 2011 at 07:12:47 PM EST

This sounds vaguely familiar....

Yeah... (none / 0) (#7)
by Thanin on Sun Mar 20, 2011 at 09:56:17 PM EST

sounds like 99% of all politicians ever elected.


That's (5.00 / 1) (#12)
by Ga6thDem on Mon Mar 21, 2011 at 06:37:04 AM EST

what happens when you make a vague promise of "change" with no real policy specifics. Almost everybody is bound to be disappointed.


99%? (none / 0) (#8)
by Edger on Sun Mar 20, 2011 at 10:06:46 PM EST

I've never seen a 1%er...


: Well... (none / 0) (#10)
by Thanin on Sun Mar 20, 2011 at 11:40:09 PM EST

there's always room for hedging.

Me too. (none / 0) (#2)
by Lil on Sun Mar 20, 2011 at 07:12:55 PM EST

My only concern. . . (none / 0) (#6)
by McKinless on Sun Mar 20, 2011 at 09:23:30 PM EST

is unhappiness with the Repubs/TPartiers is peaking too soon.

odd, (none / 0) (#14)
by cpinva on Mon Mar 21, 2011 at 07:57:32 AM EST

i thought all those voting for republicans were only concerned with making it harder for women to get health & reproductive services, and keeping gay people from marrying one another. there are other things they were worried about?

Where are the jobs, Mr. Boehner? (none / 0) (#15)
by Harry Saxon on Mon Mar 21, 2011 at 07:58:41 AM EST

Be patient (5.00 / 3) (#16)
by MO Blue on Mon Mar 21, 2011 at 09:05:26 AM EST

The tax cuts haven't trickled down yet. Some time in the future the Bush tax cuts of 2001, the tax cuts in the Obama stimulus package, the Obama tax cuts of 2010 and the additional Obama/Boehner future negotiated tax cuts that will result in jobs. :-(


Really (none / 0) (#19)
by Slado on Mon Mar 21, 2011 at 10:58:54 AM EST

it's been two months. You sound as lame as republicans who blamed the fiscal crisis on Obama right after he took power.

Republicans won't get anything done this year because everyone is gearing up for 2012.

They can blame the president because he holds the power now.

No one is going to buy blaming the party that controls 1/3 of government when the other party controls 2/3.

Wishful thinking on the part of BTD and other dems.

Dems had the senate and congress in 2006 and nobody blamed them in 2008.


Like Rush Limbaugh talking about (none / 0) (#22)
by Harry Saxon on Mon Mar 21, 2011 at 11:47:48 AM EST

the Obama recession?

Good point.

But the question will be more relevant next year, as I doubt the Republicans will be able to do anything positive about the unemployment rate in the next year, even with Obama's help.


But the Dems aren't doing anything (5.00 / 1) (#23)
by Anne on Mon Mar 21, 2011 at 12:36:27 PM EST

about jobs, either - there's a whole slew of Dems in the Congress who have bought into the nonsense that all we have to do is cut spending and make sure we keep tazes low - especially on the wealthy and business - and jobs will magically begin to appear...

I mean, what's the Dems' argument going to be "Well, our not doing anything is better than their not doing anything?"

When the difference in the policies is only one of degree, where's the argument for why people should vote for Democrats? At what point do people decide that "marginally less bad" is a distinction without a difference, and all we're talking about is that it might take one party longer to screw us over than the other?

Neither one of these parties has what I would consider to be a compelling argument for why one is better than the other, and if the core of the Democratic campaign will be that the GOP = Tea Party = Certifiably Insane, they are in serious, serious trouble.


: The Dems have the choice to make it (none / 0) (#24)
by Harry Saxon on Mon Mar 21, 2011 at 12:37:25 PM EST

a partisan issue and go up against Obama. :-)

Two months? (none / 0) (#25)
by MO Blue on Mon Mar 21, 2011 at 01:35:46 PM EST

Your calculations on time expired since the tax provisions were signed into law are much different than mine.

Bush Tax cuts signed into law Jun 7, 2001 Time since passage: 10 years, 9 months or 129 months.

Tax cuts contained in Obama stimulus package signed into law FEBRUARY 18, 200.9 Time since passage: 2 years, 1 month or 25 months.

Obama tax cuts negotiated with Republicans signed into law December 17, 2010. Time since passage: 3 months.

Obama/Boehner future negotiated tax cuts. Time since passage: 0 months since it will occur at some future date.

Your comment makes it appear that you lack reading comprehension since it was completely non responsive to what I wrote. First and foremost my comment was completely bipartisan since it blamed both Republicans and Democrats for enacting trickle down tax policies that never seem to trickle down, let alone create jobs in this environment. If you take the time to read my comment carefully, you will find that it was about tax policy and referenced (i.e. blamed) both Republican and Democratic tax policies.


I don't think so (none / 0) (#17)
by jbindc on Mon Mar 21, 2011 at 10:41:40 AM EST

It will backfire on them in 2012. We'll be in worse shape and the voters will rightfully blame them and boot them out.

They may be dissatisfied now, but most people aren't paying attention to politics right now. When the presidential race starts, the will coalesce.

It won't backfire, and I predict the Republicans to pick up seats in the House and possibly gain the majority in the Senate. Depending on the economy, they could get the WH too.

Your deduction are correct (none / 0) (#18)
by Slado on Mon Mar 21, 2011 at 10:56:00 AM EST

While everyone hates congress the president will be held responsible in an election year.

Obama's only hope is a good candidate like Daniels or Christie doesn't emerge. If he gets a Pawlenty, Newt or Huckabee he will probably win but will loose the senate and more seats in the house.

Which by the way would be great because divided government is good government.


Sheer numbers alone (none / 0) (#20)
by jbindc on Mon Mar 21, 2011 at 11:37:39 AM EST

Tell me the Republicans pick up the Senate. They are only defending a handful, while the Dems are defending around 25. There are also a handful that are open that are ripe for the Republicans' taking.

Of the nine states that will be crucial (at least, accordin to Chris Cillizza)for Obama's re-election, several of them have Democratic Senators that may or may not need to be associated with Obama's tailcoats (or rather, he may be need to be associated with theirs).


And with the redistricting that is taking place (none / 0) (#21)
by jbindc on Mon Mar 21, 2011 at 11:43:05 AM EST

I don't see the Dems picking up a substantial amount in the House - in fact, I've already seen in several areas, where the redistricting could pit 2 or more long-term Dem representatives against each other in a primary (See. Sandy Levin and John Dingell). It's easy to see the Dems losing more seats in the House (or at least coming out even).


And things (none / 0) (#26)
by jbindc on Mon Mar 21, 2011 at 03:55:59 PM EST

like this don't help the Dems:

Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill (D) announced Monday she was sending a check to St. Louis County to pay thousands of dollars in back property taxes owed on a private plane.
The plane that McCaskill co-owns with her husband, wealthy businessman Joseph Shepard, and other investors had become a political issue after a report that she was using her office funds to pay for travel on the aircraft.
McCaskill had already reimbursed taxpayers almost $100,000 for those flights, which her office maintained were within Senate ethics rules. She denies profiting from the transaction.
On a conference call with reporters Monday, McCaskill announced she was sending the St. Louis County Department of Revenue a check for more than $287,000 to cover personal property taxes owed on the plane for 2007 to 2010.
"If in fact we have overpaid, that is fine," she said.

I'm sure that my sweet Claire (none / 0) (#27)
by MO Blue on Mon Mar 21, 2011 at 05:07:55 PM EST

is somehow, someway going to share the sacrifice that she is so eager to impose on the lower 98%. :-(

John Kerry could learn a lot about how to flip flop from my sweet Claire. For example (not direct quotes):

My dear constituents please send me $5 or more so that I can fight to made sure benefits are not cut on SS and Medicare.
Claire McCaskill
Dear President Obama,
I along with my Republican colleagues write to inform you that we believe comprehensive deficit reduction measures are imperative and to ask you to support a broad approach to solving the problem.
. . . Specifically, we hope that the discussion will include discretionary spending cuts, entitlement changes and tax reform. We are sure that the elderly, the poor and the middle class will be more than willing to sacrifice so that we the wealthy can continue to accumulate more wealth at a record pace.
Claire McCaskill

To date my sweet Claire has signed at least 3 letters wanting action on deficit reduction including a letter to Obama demanding the establishment of the Cat Food Commission after the motion failed to receive cloture in the Senate.

I knew you'd like that story :) (5.00 / 1) (#28)
by jbindc on Mon Mar 21, 2011 at 05:11:51 PM EST

: Yep, you called that one exactly right (none / 0) (#29)
by MO Blue on Mon Mar 21, 2011 at 06:05:29 PM EST

As you and most regular readers of TL know, my sweet Claire is one of my favorite Dem politicians. :)