Poll: Lowest Congressional Approval in Two Decades

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Yes, it might at long last be time for a third party that isn't constituted along narrow lines. The party I have in mind would be the only party that pledges to do it better, faster, cheaper for all Americans. The party would disavow lobbying by special interest groups that have only their bottom lines to guide them, not the public interest, and would be 100% dedicated to the well being of those who vote for the party. The party would, further, fight in favor of ability, not seniority, for leadership positions in congress. It would fight against political appointments that smack of cronyism or payback for favors by appointing only the best qualified, regardless of party affiliation. And it would systematically pink-slip those within the party who fail any of these criteria.
Can this third party come about? Not a chance. Just look at the ways Republicans and Democrats have made it an impossibility--the financial hurdles they've put in place, the rules they've instituted to assure their success in a two- party system. Theirs is a ping-pong game for two players only,
and we're the ball. Why give up the game by letting a REAL third party in?

Ron W. Smith of UT 4:42PM September 06, 2009

Voters won't be so quick to forget the unmitigated disaster of the Bush years. The phony wars, the collapsed economy or the total incompetence of the anti-government Republicans.
There may be a large amount of right-wing press attempts to scream and yell about the impending collapse of Obama, most voters recognize the noise as just that, noise.
The Party of No has yet to pay for their sins.

thebob.bob of OR 4:55PM September 03, 2009

About 33 per cent is the boiled down essence of either party who will support it come hell or high water - the die hards and family members. The extra 4 per cent for the Dems must be the press and the labor unions.

Galasso of SC 2:15PM September 03, 2009

On what planet are they living? What we need is a new party made up of people who care about the voters electing them.

ss of VA 1:34PM September 03, 2009

Vince Calhoun of GA: If you don't know who you'll be voting out how can you say you're voting them out on the merits of their views? Not only that but you're from Georgia, you'll be hard pressed to find a Democrat to vote out. Know your candidates and vote based on their platform, not on an "Us versus Them" mentality or you're only making the current situation worse.

Robert of MO 10:41PM September 02, 2009

2010 will be the first chance I get to vote out every Democrat I can find in every election I am able participate. This Vet is tired of being ignored, and seeing other citizens ignored by a Congress who seems focused on destructive legislation that damages the nation. True, we may be steam-rolled over and be ignored, but we are Americans! We have a long memory, and are long-suffering. We will defeat an off-track and rebellious Congress eventually, even if everybody has be replaced to do it.

Vince Calhoun of GA 10:26PM September 02, 2009

On your article focusing on the declining approval ratings within congress, I have this to say: Of course their approval ratings are low! Both Republicans and Democrats are essentially acting like children arguing on a playground. Neither side is willing to admit they're being stubborn and try to propose legitimate suggestions. The Democrats propose an idea and the Republicans start rambling about The Iron Curtain. The Republicans suggest an idea and the Democrats start a rousing game of declaring your opponent a Fascist. It seems to me that no one wants to admit the Cold War is over. It's not debate, it's a windbag competition. Your article indicated both sides are predicting losses in the coming election, and I say good. Both sides have had quite enough time to prove their capacity to run the country, instead acting like squabbling parents with We the People the unfortunate children stuck in the car with them on the road to nowhere. It's high time they both got a reality check and lose. I for one am hopeful to see an influx of new blood into congress, ideally in the form of independent politicians who do not have to fear a party whip. Even better, maybe we could institute a positive and negative vote system to eliminate the positive feedback cycle caused by our current cat-brained electoral system.
Dick of FL: The Cold War is over, most industrialized nations have nationalized health care and are quite content with it. Our freedoms are not under siege, it's just the government offering a health insurance plan to compete with big business.
Don C of GA: This election will only be pleasant if everyone gets some sense slapped in to them and settles down. The government itself is a money pit, a 9 trillion dollar money pit to put it in perspective. The government needs heavy restructuring before any legitimate progress can be made, and that won't happen any time soon.
allcows nohat of MT: Republicans aren't evil, they're just stupid and concerned more with being re-elected than they ever will about the greater good of the people, as are Democrats.
Honestly, I think we need the ability to vote for or against an individual in order to more accurately represent the will of the people. Few of the people in congress are actually there because anyone likes them. Most are there because of a combination of disliking the other person more or just having natural incumbency advantage. Without the ability to directly vote against a person we get stuck in a positive feedback loop of always having to vote "for" someone. Not to mention we elected these idiots, to vote them out is to admit fault by proxy and thet's just un-American.

Robert of MO 10:18PM September 02, 2009

after the eight years of freedom disintegration we enjoyed under the republicans, i fail to see how returning them to any sort of power is going to be very good for this country. I am not sure what picks Obama has made to run the government that have Dick in a knot but most of duya's picks ( ata boy brownie) were a real piece of work.

allcows nohat of MT 7:09PM September 02, 2009

The midterm elections will be a pleasant experience for this voter. Supporters of the healthcare "initiative" say much about their coveted money pit but hear precious little when their constituents speak. And the impact of ignoring the majority on such an emotional issue will be clearly measurable during the mid-terms. So, go ahead, Democrats, drive it through. 14 months from now, America will take measure of your public service and judge you accordingly. And it ain't going to be pretty. Because it was never about healthcare. It was about an out of control government with out of control egos supporting out of control spending.

Don C of GA 4:40PM September 02, 2009

We have to get rid of the far left legislators in congress if we are to save our Republic.
Obama's picks to run certain areas of government are not only scary but to me downright
Marxist. I see him following much the same path as Chavez has done in Venezuela. It is up
to the American people if that is what they want. In our last general election we had a very
large proportion of the vote for Obama coming from the young people, some first time voters,
who had no clue what makes our country run and what has made it great. What is scary is that
even now, 8 months later, they still have no clue as to what is happening around them. I am
afraid if we don't counter this administration with a new congress, it will be to late in a
couple of years to turn things back to the freedoms we once knew.

Dick of FL 3:13PM September 02, 2009