Senate GOP: Light at the End of the Iraq Tunnel?
The political battle over positioning on the Iraq war has unquestionably been The Story so far in the 110th Congress.
Domestic issues have taken a substantial backseat to, first, the symbolic fight to pass non-binding language opposing President Bush's troop surge into Baghdad, followed by the two-month-and-counting battle over the nearly $100 billion in supplemental funding for the Iraq war.
Despite an overwhelming opposition to the handling of the Iraq war, Senate Republican leaders now believe that they are seeing public opinion move to their advantage. According to a memo from the Senate Republican Conference, there is "increasing frustration" with Congress for not passing substantive legislation now that we're more than four months into the year.
As evidence, the conference memo points to an Associated Press poll released today that shows 35 percent of voters approve of the way Congress is handling its job, which is a five-point drop from the AP-Ipsos poll from early April. According to the poll, 60 percent of Americans disapprove of the job of the Democratically controlled Congress.
"There are also signs that the failure to approve supplemental funding after nearly 100 days of debate is having a negative effect on Democrat approval ratings," the memo states. The Senate GOP conference is chaired by Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.), who is considered the No. 3 Republican leader.
To be sure, Kyl's staff doesn't point out the long-term arc of congressional approval ratings. One year ago at this point, the Republican-controlled Congress was mired in a public relations disaster, with just 25 percent of Americans approving and 71 percent disapproving of the work on Capitol Hill, according to AP-Ipsos.
For the rest of 2006, congressional approval never climbed up to 30 percent. But once Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) grabbed the speaker's gavel in early January, that number topped 30 percent. Since then the approval number has climbed to 32 percent in early January and up to 40 percent last month, settling at 35 percent now, according to AP-Ipsos.
It's unclear whether that's a sign of a free-fall to continue or about where the partisan lines will be drawn for now.
The entire Senate GOP memo is attached below. Feel free to read for yourself and make your own judgment on the Republican view of the lay of the land.
Memorandum
Date: May 11, 2007
To: Senate Republican Communicators
From: Senate Republican Conference
RE: Recent Survey Data on Democrat Congress
A number of new public opinion surveys show movement among the American public regarding their impressions of the Democrats in Congress. The surveys show increasing public frustration with the Democrat Congress' inability to pass substantive legislation. There are also signs that the failure to approve supplemental funding after nearly 100 days of debate is having a negative effect on Democrat approval ratings.
An Unproductive, Do-Nothing Congress
Public support for Democrats in Congress is beginning to slip as they continue to focus on efforts to block funding for the war rather than passing any meaningful legislation. The Associated Press highlighted a survey which found only 35 percent approve of how Congress is handling its job, down 5 percentage points in a single month. The AP reported that "[p]eople think the Democratic-led Congress is doing just as dreary a job as President Bush, following four months of bitter political standoffs that have seen little progress on Iraq and a host of domestic issues." [Associated Press, "Poll: Congress' Approval Same As Bush," May 11, 2007]
This poll follows an article this week in the Washington Post with similar findings. It reported that, "Not a single priority on the Democrats' agenda has been enacted, and some in the party are growing nervous that the 'do nothing' tag they slapped on Republicans last year could come back to haunt them." [Washington Post, "Democrats' Momentum is Stalling," May 11, 2007]. The article noted that a recent ABC/Washington Post poll reported that 73 percent of Americans believe Congress has done "not too much" or "nothing at all."
Iraq: Evidence of Democrat Overreaching
A close look at polls on Iraq show that, while public opposition to the war remains consistent, there are some signs that Democrats may be overreaching in their attempts to cut off funding for the war. When asked who is more responsible for the troops not having funding, 44 percent blamed congressional Democrats, while 34 percent blamed President Bush. [CNN/Opinion Research Poll, May 4-6, 2007]. Importantly, while a majority of the public (57 percent) believes that the president strongly supports the troops, less than a third (31 percent) of the public believes that Democrats in Congress strongly support our troops.
Additionally, there are signs that the public supports the position of many Republicans on a compromise to provide supplemental funding for the troops. 61 percent of Americans favor an Iraq bill that sets benchmarks for the Iraqis but not a date for withdrawal. Many Senate Republicans have expressed support for this position, and President Bush said today that he was willing to consider benchmarks. This proposal received stronger support than the Democrat alternative of setting a timeline for withdrawal of the troops.
Taken together, these numbers show that Democrats may have focused too much effort on satisfying the left wing of their party on the war in Iraq rather than working to build a record of accomplishment as they pledged to do during the last election cycle.
By Paul Kane |
May 11, 2007; 6:12 PM ET
Iraq
, Senate
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Posted by: RCD | May 12, 2007 8:53 AM
All politicians should be reminded that they work for their constituents, not the other way around. The last election showed what the majority of this country is feeling about ongoing waste of human life in Iraq. I care more about lives being lost than the funding. It is ludicrous to think of the labeling of unpatriotic that the Bush and his White House syncophants paint all opponents to this war. It is interesting to note that our last two presidents have both avoided military service, yet had no qualms about sending young people in harm's way.
The amount of money that is being wasted on this current endeavor could provide funding for health care for all children in this country, education, and the rebuilding of New Orleans.
I feel sorry for my grandchildren, as they repay the deficit caused the egotistical attitude of president. We had a remarkable surplus when he was elected. He could have restored this country to greatness that it deserves.
I refuse to be called unpatriotic. I refuse to be smeared as unsupportive of our troops. I am a Viet Nam vetran with 8 years in the US Army. I do remember history and another waste of life.
Posted by: tom scianna | May 13, 2007 3:52 PM
Paul,
The light the Republicans are seeing is the 2008 Express.
Posted by: Sam Sara | May 13, 2007 8:12 PM
I hope the Republicans continue to delude themselves about the light at the end of the tunnel. That light they see is an oncoming train. Democrats stay your ground. The American people elected you to change the course of this war. When the right starts talking about Democratic over reaching. You're at the wheelhouse of the GOP fears.
I wish to God almighty the national elections were being held this November. So keep bloviating Repubs. The 2008 Elections draws nearer everyday. I for one can hardly wait to get to the polls.
Posted by: Rbonmon | May 14, 2007 11:51 AM
Let's exchange dubbyah, darth, dubbyah's li'l parrot condi and the house republicons
for the captured soldiers. Never mind, the trade wouldn't be excepted. Cowards for Heroes never works.
Posted by: Dan | May 14, 2007 1:44 PM
Hello there in to the USA.
I,m here in the radio the Premierministern from SWEDEN, Fredrik Reinfelt, are in to Washington now.And I send a letter to him
, but two month since, and say to him that
send the people from Ieaq, (40000)to USA.
And him take it up, with Mr. Buch.
It,s not SWEDEN, as everbody knows have WAR whid Iraq, This is USA!!
m.v.h nils-göran spjuth.
Siriusgatan no 20, 415 22 Ghotenburg
Posted by: nils-goran@comhem.se | May 14, 2007 1:45 PM
It's not very surprising that the GOP would count this triumph. It's ridiculous that public opinion can be swayed against the Democrats for something that the Republicans are hindering. Democrats have been winning over more support than the Republicans. The support of Democratic candidates and leaders really supports the notion that the Democrats are taking on issues that really matter to the American people. From health care to education and poverty, these issues take precedence over an ever-inflating military budget that seems to bring no resolve for any country involved. This is why the GOP has resorted to smear campaigns. They can't win on the issues.
The Borgen Project states that just $19 billion annually can end starvation and $23 billon annually can reverse the spread of Malaria and AIDS. With these issues being so easily addressed, it is no wonder that a war-touting Republican side isn't doing well in the polls or with the American people.
Posted by: anna k | May 14, 2007 6:57 PM
I agree with anna k that the Democrats are focusing on what's really important in this country and around the world. The amount of money that has been spent and is still being spent on the war in Iraq shows where priorities lie. It is good to see a decline in support for Republicans who feel that continuing a war is more important than proving food and shelter to millions of people around the world.
Posted by: stephanie w | May 14, 2007 8:03 PM
Anyone who would accept Sen Jon Kyls analysis should be banished from Washington. Republicans have become the skunks stinking up DC and they do not even realize it. There is no movement towards GOP. It is all of us in GOP running away from our leaders who have gone crazy and need to be gone.
Posted by: mascmen7 | May 15, 2007 1:20 PM
Although congressional approval is down voters realize that, with the head count in congress being as close as it is, it is still the Republican side stalling progress by refusing to override George Bush's vetoes.
Posted by: waggoner41 | May 16, 2007 2:02 PM
Democrats, your silly non binding resolutions are not fooling the people who swept you into office. We already see the 110th Congress as the Jim Jones Congress as you follow your feckless leader in political suicide. Democrats, your sitting and doing nothing, did nothing before and it is not going to do anything again for you. Maybe you could try, SAVE OUR TROOPS AND BRING THEM HOME NOW. Most of you are silly and supercillious which is going to be your downfall again. Twelve years out of power appears to have taught you nothing. The electorate doesn't care which party ends this war. Just do the next right thing: SAVE OUR TROOPS BRING THEM HOME NOW. End it before it ends your career. A word to the wise?
Posted by: mreen1948@yahoo.com | May 16, 2007 9:14 PM
Wow, it took Speaker Pelosi and Senator Reid only four months to do what it took President Bush four years to do (have Approval Ratings in the 30's). So much for Democrats being "ready to lead, prepared to govern and absolutely willing to work in a bipartisan way." (Nancy Pelosi two days after Election Day 2006)
Posted by: adam | May 20, 2007 9:33 PM
The comments to this entry are closed.
Shame on you Post for not pointing out the silliness of most of these poll findings, at best these numbers will need to continue for any kind of a pattern to be discerned. Most Americans always have a bad impression of Congress, that's why each voter only elects one Representative, and if you're far left, you think 80% of Congress is too right, if you're far right, you think 80% of Congress is too left, and if you're anywhere in the middle, you think 80% of Congress is either too far left or too far right. So you'll hardly ever have high approval numbers. Also, you cannot be do-nothing when you're passing legislation that's being vetoed, and you have more like a half a vote majority in the Senate, cause Lieberman is only half a Democrat. Do-Nothing is apropo when your party has majorities in both houses and the White House, and you don't pass anything. In divided rule land with an obstinate, stubborn and wrong-headed opposition, you won't pass anything, but the American people will understand the calculus.