Congress' low approval ratings parallel president's

There are good reasons for how the American people currently feel about their senators and representatives, and in particular the Democrats. According to PollingReport.com, "as of 6/26-27/07, 36% approve of the job Democrats are doing in Congress; 49% disapprove; and 15% are unsure." Citizens have a lower opinion of Congress than of our current president (OCP), according to Gallup (6/21/07).
Here and abroad - A recent blog post gave me an idea: I think there are direct parallels with the decline in the approval ratings of OCP and of the United States in the world at large. Written by one of my all time favorite bloggers, Steve Clemons, author of The Washington Note, titled his post, "Launch of 'Center for a New America Security," (6/27/07). Look at Clemons' words quoted in the first paragraph of the following block, "Collapse in the perception of . . . power . . . systemic disdain and disregard." Quote,

In a question I posed, I asked the panelists to suggest real proposals that would reverse the real collapse in the perception of American power in the world. I mentioned the Pew Research Center Global Attitudes Survey (of which a new phase of information is about to be released) that show that what used to be Bush-focused anger and frustration around the world has turned into systemic disdain and disregard for the United States. In other words, global anti-Bush attitudes have become more firmly rooted anti-American views. I asked what could they recommend to the next President to help turn this "perception" of our decline around.

James Steinberg said that the most important thing the next American leader can do is to step back from the impulse to offer meaningless platitudes in defining the goals and objectives of American foreign policy. He said that we must "match rhetoric with reality." Announcing lofty goals that are not connected to "means and ends" undermines American credibility in the world and has contributed to the perception that America's ability to achieve change in the world is eroding. Steinberg said that the next US President needs to "think before pledging".

What are the reasons? The second of the above paragraphs lays out the reasons for why OCP is held in such world-wide disregard. The parallels with disregard for Congress seem obvious to me. Look at the words, "offer meaningless platitudes . . . Announcing lofty goals that are not connected." The following article, "House Democrats at Odds Over Energy Bill Provisions," by Steve Mufson writing for the (6/28/07) Washington Post, is a good illustration of the reasons why the Democrats are in trouble with so many of us. To quote,

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is trying to pull together the pieces of an energy bill from 10 committees and warring Democratic leaders.

. . . House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman John D. Dingell (Mich.) yesterday urged lawmakers to leave tough issues -- such as motor vehicle fuel economy, coal-to-liquids incentives and a renewable portfolio standard -- out of the current bill . . .

One issue up in the air in the House maneuvering: higher fuel efficiency standards for cars and trucks. Dingell, a longtime opponent of higher mileage requirements and an ally of the automobile industry, wants to make auto fuel usage part of a broad climate change bill later in the year. But the chances of getting a complex climate change bill through Congress and then President Bush signing it are much more remote than adopting a more modest energy bill.

. . . But yesterday Dingell was pushing for a trimmed down energy bill that could unite committee members ranging from pro-coal Rep. Rick Boucher (D-Va.) to renewable fuels advocates like Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-Calif.). It includes tougher efficiency standards for appliances, new buildings and lighting. It also promotes incentives for a "smart grid" that would help residential and industrial customers use electricity more efficiently.

Congress makes the same mistakes as OCP/Bush - Quoting again from Clemons' post, the same principles apply to Congressional actions.

. . . step back from the impulse to offer meaningless platitudes . . . "Match rhetoric with reality". . . Announcing lofty goals that are not connected to "means and ends" undermines . . . credibility.

Representative Dingell's tactics illustrate how to further lower Congressional approval ratings:

• Yeah, right! He wants "to leave tough issues out of the bill" (a meaningless platitude).


• Red Herring! "Dingell, a longtime opponent of higher mileage requirements and an ally of the automobile industry, wants to make auto fuel usage part of a broad climate change bill later in the year." (Announcing lofty goals that are not connected)


• Everything but the kitchen sink! ". . . yesterday Dingell was pushing for a trimmed down energy bill . . . It includes tougher efficiency standards for appliances, new buildings and lighting. It also promotes incentives for a 'smart grid' that would help residential and industrial customers use electricity more efficiently" (not connected to "means and ends" undermines . . . credibility).

If Democratic leaders in Congress were smart, they would learn from their opponent, our current president, OCP. Leaders must exercise control of the rank and file committee chairs who fall back into business as usual, using the perks of entrenched power, and thinking they can fool the people with smoke and mirrors, while actually serving their special interests and protecting their turf. Speaker Pelosi has the authority; will she use it smartly? We'll have to wait and see.

Reference: PollingReport.com - An independent, nonpartisan resource on trends in American public opinion.

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