59% Would Vote to Replace Entire Congress

[Zoomie]

59% Would Vote to Replace Entire Congress

Sunday, October 05, 2008



Congress was front and center in the national news last week and the American people were far from impressed. If they could vote to keep or replace the entire Congress, 59% of voters would like to throw them all out and start over again. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that just 17% would vote to keep the current legislators in office.
Today, just 23% have even a little confidence in the ability of Congress to deal with the nation’s economic problems and only 24% believe most Members of Congress understand legislation before they vote on it.
Last week, the House of Representatives initially rejected a financial bailout bill proposed by the Bush Administration. Later, after the Senate added a number of items that some call “pork” and others call “sweeteners,” the measure eventually passed. While the bill survived Washington, it did so at a time when just 30% of voters favored it and 45% were opposed (http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/business/general_business/63_say_wall_street_not_taxpayers_will_benefit_from_bailout_plan).


Only half (49%) believe that the current Congress is better than individuals selected at random from the phone book. Thirty-three percent (33%) believe a randomly selected group of Americans could do a better job and 19% are not sure (see crosstabs (http://www.rasmussenreports.com/premium_content/political_tracking_crosstabs/october_2008/crosstabs_congress_october_4_2008)).
A separate survey found that just 11% of voters say Congress is doing a good or an excellent job. (see crosstabs (http://www.rasmussenreports.com/premium_content/political_tracking_crosstabs/september_2008/crosstabs_rate_congress_september_23_2008)and recent trends (http://www.rasmussenreports.com/premium_content/historical_data/congress_performance_history)).
Despite these reviews, more than 90% of Congress is likely to be elected this November due to an electoral system designed to benefit incumbents. The biggest advantage offered those in the House of Representatives is a process known as Gerrymandering where Congressional Districts are loaded with friendly voters from Representative’s own party. In effect, Members of Congress—working through their state legislature--get to choose their voters rather than letting voters choose their Congressman.
Also aiding incumbents is high name recognition from news coverage, large staffs funded by taxpayers, and other perks. While the staff positions are technically excluded from politics, the constituent services they provide in a Congressman’s name are among the most effective of all campaign techniques.
Forty-nine percent (49%) of all voters believe Members of Congress are paid too much while just 5% believe they are paid too little. Thirty-seven percent (37%) say Congressional pay is about right.
While unhappiness with Congress cuts across partisan and demographic lines, Democrats are a bit less unhappy than other voters. Seventy-four percent (74%) of Republicans would vote to throw out the entire Congress as would 62% of unaffiliated voters. Only 43% of Democrats go along. Still, just 25% of those in Barack Obama’s party would vote to keep the entire Congress even though it’s controlled by Democrats.
However, there is agreement across party lines when it comes to whether or not most Members of Congress understand legislation before they vote on it—25% of Democrats say yes along with 24% of Republicans and 24% of unaffiliated voters.
Democrats currently enjoy a nine-point advantage in the Generic Congressional Ballot. (http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/mood_of_america/congressional_ballot/generic_congressional_ballot)
When the Constitution was written, the nation’s founders expected that there would be a 50% turnover in the House of Representatives every election cycle. That was the experience they witnessed in state legislatures at the time (and most of the state legislatures offered just one-year terms). For well over 100 years after the Constitution was adopted, the turnover averaged in the 50% range as expected.
In the twentieth century, turnover began to decline. As power and prestige flowed to Washington during the New Deal era, fewer and fewer Members of Congress wanted to leave. In 1968, Congressional turnover fell to single digits for the first time ever and it has remained very low ever since.
Source (http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/59_would_vote_to_replace_entire_congress)


Finally, a poll I can agree with!

[Marshall_Nord]

59% Would Vote to Replace Entire Congress
Then do it! This would send a message that we hold ALL of Congress responsible. Unfortunately too many Americans have secret love affairs with their representatives because they “do good work” or have commercials sitting with their family by the fireplace wearing a football jersey.

Doing this would be a great revolt against our impotent representatives!

[Invisigoth]

And replace them with who? Joe six-pack who not only understands but IS an average Joe-Six-Pack? Oh Puleeeeasse.

[California Joe]

The trouble is that Congressmen are elected by their constituents, if they look out for them by adding pork onto nationally crucial bills the constituents still make out like bandits irregardless of the harm it does nationally. Because lets face it. It's all about what they can do for you.

I would like to see a list of the pricks that added the 150 Billion onto the bailout. I would like to see them answer for their incredibly self serving and selfish actions.

[Zoomie]

I would like to see a list of the pricks that added the 150 Billion onto the bailout. I would like to see them answer for their incredibly self serving and selfish actions.
Agreed. It kills me that Congress is bitching about these banks not having enough transparency on their affairs, and what does congress do? Fight anything that would allow the slightest form of transparency on this bailout. :fork:

[philbob]

Then do it in all in the one national and three local election i have always voted agianst the incummbant its called VATI people.....

[philbob]

As long as were at it lets add term limits to congressmen and senators...

[Marshall_Nord]

And replace them with who? Joe six-pack who not only understands but IS an average Joe-Six-Pack? Oh Puleeeeasse.

In your world, only the anointed Roman aristocracy is qualified to rule the plebeian masses? Maybe the noisy energy of the "Barbarians" should be given a chance? p-)

[CG51]

The trouble is that Congressmen are elected by their constituents, if they look out for them by adding pork onto nationally crucial bills the constituents still make out like bandits irregardless of the harm it does nationally. Because lets face it. It's all about what they can do for you.

I would like to see a list of the pricks that added the 150 Billion onto the bailout. I would like to see them answer for their incredibly self serving and selfish actions.

Well, there we all were last Monday and we all said "hurray Congress finally stood up for the taxpayer"! How naive we were. Not enough of them received pork for their respective state. This new one passed with 150 Billion added to it. I am sure all of them got the pork they wanted this time around.

I agree, I rather have average Joe Sixpack, can't do any worse than these jokers and the average Joe has an actual soul.

[California Joe]

In your world, only the anointed Roman aristocracy is qualified to rule the plebeian masses? Maybe the noisy energy of the "Barbarians" should be given a chance? p-)

Joe Six Pack is a f*cking idiot. Joe Six Pack also cheats on his wife, beats his kids, and thinks NASCAR commemorative plates are a good investment.

I didn't approve 150 Billion extra in pork "sweeteners". I would like to know who needed them in order to compromise their *snicker* "principles" so they could sleep at night after f*cking the rest of us in the arse.

[especial]

Joe Six Pack is a f*cking idiot. Joe Six Pack also cheats on his wife, beats his kids, and thinks NASCAR commemorative plates are a good investment.

How do you know all that about Joe Six Pack?

[California Joe]

1 - I have relatives.
2 - W got elected.
3 - I've been to Walmart.
4 - I'm an American, and I've listened to country music.
5 - People still support Sarah Palin.

[shocker1]

And replace them with who? Joe six-pack who not only understands but IS an average Joe-Six-Pack? Oh Puleeeeasse.
Once again Joe 12 pack is left out. I am twice as smart as that 6 pack guy.


Joe Six Pack is a f*cking idiot. Joe Six Pack also cheats on his wife, beats his kids, and thinks NASCAR commemorative plates are a good investment.

.
Yankee go home

[Mackie]

Warning:

http://www.welt.de/multimedia/archive/00209/schwarzenegger_gros_209665g.jpg
Political engaged austrians

+

http://www.neumarkt-dresden.de/image1/baywobau/revolution-auf-dem-neumarkt.jpg
Revolution

= danger

[BlackFlag]

The Fuhrernator?

[Kilgor]

Warning:

http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-images/Arts/Arts_/Pictures/2007/08/07/hitler460.jpg
Political enraged Australians

+

http://www.neumarkt-dresden.de/image1/baywobau/revolution-auf-dem-neumarkt.jpg
Revolution

= danger

Fixed!....

[CG51]

1 - I have relatives.
2 - W got elected.
3 - I've been to Walmart.
4 - I'm an American, and I've listened to country music.
5 - People still support Sarah Palin.

You have been to Wal Mart. You are now one of us.

ONE OF US! ONE OF US!

[Mackie]

Fixed!....

Right
Land of evil.

They're faced with the wrath of god. The toad apocalypse
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A12945017

[Mackie]

You have been to Wal Mart. You are now one of us.

ONE OF US! ONE OF US!

Hell. Wal Mart must be stong in the US. Can't wait for my internship in the US. looking out of the car:

Wal Mart Wal Mart Wal Mart Starbucks Starbucks Starbucks
Wal Mart Wal Mart Wal Mart Starbucks Starbucks Starbucks
Wal Mart Wal Mart Wal Mart Starbucks Starbucks Starbucks
Wal Mart Wal Mart Wal Mart Starbucks Starbucks Starbucks, .....

[Merfeller]

Hell. Wal Mart must be stong in the US. Can't wait for my internship in the US. looking out of the car:

Wal Mart Wal Mart Wal Mart Starbucks Starbucks Starbucks
Wal Mart Wal Mart Wal Mart Starbucks Starbucks Starbucks
Wal Mart Wal Mart Wal Mart Starbucks Starbucks Starbucks
Wal Mart Wal Mart Wal Mart Starbucks Starbucks Starbucks, .....


Depends on where you're going. In some places there is organized revolt against both of those chains. But still, compared to Stuttgart, you're in for a bit of a culture shock.

[Marshall_Nord]

Joe Six Pack is a f*cking idiot. Joe Six Pack also cheats on his wife, beats his kids, and thinks NASCAR commemorative plates are a good investment.

I didn't approve 150 Billion extra in pork "sweeteners". I would like to know who needed them in order to compromise their *snicker* "principles" so they could sleep at night after f*cking the rest of us in the arse.

Nevertheless; In the end, the Barbarians always win...

[ren0312]

Nevertheless; In the end, the Barbarians always win...

The same Joe Six Pack that he will count on to defend his country, his land, and his family, if things go to the Triari, the same Joe Six Pack that forced Cornwallis to surrender his entire army at a place called Yorktown, the same Joe Six Pack could have thrown the Union out of the war, and came quite near to that point at a place called G_ettysburg.

[INAT]

59% Would Vote to Replace Entire Congress

This should tell us that the common people lost control long ago.

Yeah do you think those in power would allow that without a revolution?
Never ever. Big business specifically big banking has the American people by the balls.

, _____, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic...

Taking care of foreign enemies is easier than taking care of the domestic ones it seems.

[Ordie]

As long as were at it lets add term limits to congressmen and senators...

We already have term limits.

It's called elections.
We reward them for another term if we think they are doing a right job.
We punish them by voting them out of office if they don't.

Bad politicians are sent to Washington by good people who don't vote.

[INAT]

We already have term limits.

It's called elections.
We reward them for another term if we think they are doing a right job.
We punish them by voting them out of office if they don't.

Bad politicians are sent to Washington by good people who don't vote.


Government seems to be the only job in which the more inept and corrupt you are the better you do. Voting has become strictly symbolic nothing else.Electronic voting machines? What a joke.

The people pulling the strings in the background
The big Wall Street banks, the military industrial complex etc want to ensure the continuity of this system. The way to do that is to pull the plug on a president that is discredited in the eyes of public opinion and then ensure the transition to a new set of political puppets. These new puppets will then perform perhaps with a slightly different agenda but supported by the same economic, corporate interests that operate behind the scenes.The Bush administration are merely the instruments and not the architects of this corporate agenda.

[Bombtrack]

The trouble is that Congressmen are elected by their constituents, if they look out for them by adding pork onto nationally crucial bills the constituents still make out like bandits irregardless of the harm it does nationally. Because lets face it. It's all about what they can do for you.

I would like to see a list of the pricks that added the 150 Billion onto the bailout. I would like to see them answer for their incredibly self serving and selfish actions.

I vote to replace your language skills with better ones.

[Ordie]

The people pulling the strings in the background
The big Wall Street banks, the military industrial complex etc want to ensure the continuity of this system. The way to do that is to pull the plug on a president that is discredited in the eyes of public opinion and then ensure the transition to a new set of political puppets. These new puppets will then perform perhaps with a slightly different agenda but supported by the same economic, corporate interests that operate behind the scenes.The Bush administration are merely the instruments and not the architects of this corporate agenda.

What you permit, you promote.

[SOG]

And replace them with who? Joe six-pack who not only understands but IS an average Joe-Six-Pack? Oh Puleeeeasse.

A simple counter: If those who know are so bad then how could we be worse off with those who don't know what they know?

Thank you, I'll be here all day.


The trouble is that Congressmen are elected by their constituents, if they look out for them by adding pork onto nationally crucial bills the constituents still make out like bandits irregardless of the harm it does nationally. Because lets face it. It's all about what they can do for you.

I would like to see a list of the pricks that added the 150 Billion onto the bailout. I would like to see them answer for their incredibly self serving and selfish actions.

I will put an aid in Craiglist for the Punisher. May his vengeance be swift. Seriously though I just can't fathom how they get away with that at our expense and nobody seems to give a ****. WTF!?

And screw Congress, hit up ALL THE BRANCHES, not just Congress, especially the Senate.

[drunken sailor]

The Army needs to take control temporarily, Help us throw out every amendment to the constitution and make it stand for something again. All current politicians in office should be locked up. Special interest groups should be bared from contact with any government official.

[Ordie]

The Army needs to take control temporarily, Help us throw out every amendment to the constitution and make it stand for something again. All current politicians in office should be locked up. Special interest groups should be bared from contact with any government official.

The Army is sworn to protect and defend the Constitution.
What you are proposing is treason.

[Bombtrack]

The Army needs to take control temporarily, Help us throw out every amendment to the constitution and make it stand for something again. All current politicians in office should be locked up. Special interest groups should be bared from contact with any government official.

Woohoo get rid of the bill of rights! Plus, slavery was cool too! And who the hell thought women voting would be a good idea? And who could forget unlimited terms to the presidency. Surely that would help this situation.

[SOG]

Woohoo get rid of the bill of rights! Plus, slavery was cool too! And who the hell thought women voting would be a good idea? And who could forget unlimited terms to the presidency. Surely that would help this situation.

Well in his defense he is drunk.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEJL2Uuv-oQ

[California Joe]

I vote to replace your language skills with better ones.

Shut it Kanadian, I was probably Joe 18 pack by then. Tabernac.

Obviously, I was being sarcastic about Joe Six Pack, well, except for the commemorative plates.


The same Joe Six Pack that he will count on to defend his country, his land, and his family, if things go to the Triari, the same Joe Six Pack that forced Cornwallis to surrender his entire army at a place called Yorktown, the same Joe Six Pack could have thrown the Union out of the war, and came quite near to that point at a place called G_ettysburg.

Not sure what your point is, shooting at people invading your country doesn't exactly take brain surgeon level intelligence. Besides, the French Fleet forced Cornwalis to surrender. Pretty sure just as many Paddy Six Packs as well as Joes were fighting on both sides that day in Pennsylvania...Fact remains that the average hard working, perfectly wonderful American is not equipped to run this country and pandering to them is disingenuous at best.

I'm a beer drinker and I find the label to be retarded and condescending coming from some **** that is less intelligent than most of the women I know. And they don't pray with witch doctors.

[vryhpyammoadded]

It’s too bad the people won’t reset both party’s along with Capitol Hill. Having worked for and been disillusioned by the above I know a purging of Capitol Hill will only replace the crooks and incompetents with more of the same but at least it’s a start.
Really, swapping crooks and incompetents may be enough of a stop gap what with the changes in committee chairs and the several years’ mad dash the lobby will have to do to get their hooks in the new politicians.

It seems to me that the wizkids in suits with multiple degrees from the Ivy League have had enough fun with my wallet and liberty. Personally, I love the idea of having average Joe’s run things awhile. Maybe they’ll accomplish nothing at all; maybe they’ll drive a stake in the Federal Vampire, reducing its annoying, incessant meddling in my affairs, nibbling at my money and freedom.

I doubt it though seeing the meddling, big government, coerce from another to benefit themselves, criminal minority seem to have the plurality at the moment. That is something that makes me fear for our peace, prosperity and national future. I predict continuing down this course will lead to Banana Republic and quite possibly International Peace Keepers desperately trying to return order to a 10 million square kilometer Kosovo.

By the way, I don’t desire the DOD reset option, unless unconstitutional Marxism/Socialism somehow manages to usurp a political party that has the plurality, nor do I desire amendment removal. Although, scrubbing off the accumulated patina of DC corruption down to the Constitutional, Bill of rights bare metal and rebuilding is more enticing to me with each passing year of DC screwing me. Something akin to the reformation of the Soviets in 91 might be in order but then again, I’m certain we’d be right back into my glum prediction mentioned earlier in the above paragraph.

No matter what, it will be critical that neither the left nor right gains a significant lead on the Hill with a Congressional reset or we run the risk of one hell of a brewing up.

[Kilgor]

Well in his defense he is drunk.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEJL2Uuv-oQ

"I'm an amendment to be
Yes, an amendment to be
And I'm hoping that they'll ratify me
There's a lot of flag burners
Who have got too much freedom
I wanna make it legal
For policemen
To beat 'em
'Cause there's limits to our liberties
'Least I hope and pray that there are
'Cause those liberal freaks go too far."

[Jobu]

Joe Six Pack is a f*cking idiot. Joe Six Pack also cheats on his wife, beats his kids, and thinks NASCAR commemorative plates are a good investment.



You're so right. It's a good thing the politicians all have great family values and always make great investments.

[Dominique]

And screw Congress, hit up ALL THE BRANCHES, not just Congress, especially the Senate.

Umm...the Senate is part of the Congress, along with the House of Representatives, they form the Legislative Branch. The other two branches would be the Executive Branch (the POTUS, VP, all government departments, etc.), and the Judicial Branch (the federal courts and Supreme Court of the US).

[Steaks]

Umm...the Senate is part of the Congress, along with the House of Representatives, they form the Legislative Branch. The other two branches would be the Executive Branch (the PROTUS, VP, various government departments, etc.), and the Judicial Branch (the federal courts and Supreme Court of the US).

Unless of course you're asking Cheney, who is his own entity

[California Joe]

You're so right. It's a good thing the politicians all have great family values and always make great investments.

Hehehehe I already said I was joking. Jeez Jobu. :)

[Atlantic Friend]

Joe Six Pack is a f*cking idiot. Joe Six Pack also cheats on his wife, beats his kids, and thinks NASCAR commemorative plates are a good investment.

Given the state of the markets, Joe Six Pack may be onto something, about those NASCAR plates... ;)

[California Joe]

I find firearms to be an excellent investment.

And practical for when the investment banker zombies start roaming about the countryside moaning "Baillllllllllout".

[Atlantic Friend]

I find firearms to be an excellent investment.

And practical for when the investment banker zombies start roaming about the countryside moaning "Baillllllllllout".

Banker zombies... except for the megababe-ish banker that used to oversee my accounts, I fear that Voodoo would be redundant.