Here is a perfect example of something that is “intuitive.” A new CNN/ORC International poll finds that two-thirds of those polled consider the current Congress the worst in their lifetimes. And President Barack Obama isn’t raising hope anymore about hope, the poll finds:
The worst Congress ever.
That’s the verdict from two-thirds of Americans about the track record of the 113th Congress, according to a new national poll. And a CNN/ORC International poll released Thursday also indicates that nearly three-quarters of the public say that this has been a “do-nothing” Congress.
Two-thirds of those questioned said the current Congress is the worst in their lifetime, with 28% disagreeing.
Just watch some of these Congressmen now go to their district saying, “I was part of a record-breaking Congress!”
But, to be sure, members of Congress can say their work created a national consensus:
“That sentiment exists among all demographic and political subgroups. Men, women, rich, poor, young, old – all think this year’s Congress has been the worst they can remember,” CNN Polling Director Keating Holland said. “Older Americans – who have lived through more congresses – hold more negative views of the 113th Congress than younger Americans. Republicans, Democrats and independents also agree that this has been the worst session of Congress in their lifetimes.”
According to the survey, 73% say that this Congress has so far done nothing to address the country’s problems, with one in four disagreeing.
But, hey, this shows consistency…
Even though it did pass a budget agreement, fewer than 60 bills have been signed into law during the first year of the two-year long 113th Congress, according to CNN analysis and by other news organizations as well. Assuming lawmakers don’t pick up the pace next year, and that’s a safe bet as 2014 is an election year, this will become the least productive Congress in at least the last four decades.
The poll also indicates there’s little optimism for the future.
“Negative attitudes extend to both sides of the aisle: 52% believe that the policies of the Democratic leaders in Congress would move the country in the wrong direction; 54% say the same about the policies of congressional Republicans,” Holland said.
And 54% say the same thing about President Barack Obama’s policies.
This means the thing to watch will be which branch of government disappoints the American public the most.
The least smelly wins.
But, even so, both sides lose.
Or have lost.
Joe Gandelman is a former fulltime journalist who freelanced in India, Spain, Bangladesh and Cypress writing for publications such as the Christian Science Monitor and Newsweek. He also did radio reports from Madrid for NPR’s All Things Considered. He has worked on two U.S. newspapers and quit the news biz in 1990 to go into entertainment. He also has written for The Week and several online publications, did a column for Cagle Cartoons Syndicate and has appeared on CNN.