Cheney twice as popular as Harry Reid!

[lancelva]

Everybody try this:
Be honest. . . without looking it up, who's the Jr. Senator from Florida? The Senior Senator from Indiana? Who is Oregon's Third District Congressman? Are they doing a good job? Are they Republican or Democrat? Do they agree or disagree with you on your own "hot-button" issues? How long in office?

If you can answer the above questions without looking them up, you're a rare exception! Now, granted, people SHOULD know a bit more about Congressional leadership, however most know only whether they're Democrat or Republican, and they often answer polls accordingly.

Let me have a crack at it. And I didn't look anything up.

Junior Senator from Florida - Mel Martinez (R), elected in 2004 for vacant seat left by retiring Bob Graham. No, he's not doing a "good job," marching in lockstep with Bush. Of course he disagrees with me on nearly every issue and he has been in office since January 2005.

Senior Senator from Indian - Dick Lugar (R), elected in 1976 after defeating incumbent Democrat Vance Hartke (that one's a little tougher). He has been a fairly effective Senator for Indiana when put in perspective, but still follows too closely to the White House on some issues. I applaud him for raising questions about the illegal wiretap programs. He disagrees with me on most "hot-button" issues and has been in office since January 1977.

Oregon's Third District - Hmmm...this one is tough. The main reason I know him is because of his trademark bow-ties he wears all the time. Earl Blumenauer (D), elected I think in 1996 but in a special election to fill the seat after Ron Wyden became Senator. So he's been in the House since 1996. I think he has been very effective, as can be seen in the support he has received in his district, he's intelligent on nearly every policy issue, and I agree with him on most "hot-button" issues.

 

[lancelva]

^Lieberman and Sanders are independants although they caucus with the dems. You do not have 51.

You said it--they caucus with the Democrats. Which legally gives the Democrats a majority.

 

[JayHawk]

Ok so get something done......

 

[jackoroe]

^"Legally" isn't a majority. It's still a plurality.

http://www.thegreenpapers.com/G07/Senate.phtml?v=i&p=REP

 

[jackoroe]

Ok so get something done......

Repeat after me. Gridlock is good!

 

[JayHawk]

Hell no I hate traffic.......

 

[lancelva]

Ok so get something done......

Were it not for Republican obstructionism, we could.

 

[Jannus]

I doubt that many of the people who respond to these polls even know who Harry Reid is!

I suspect people who say they dislike Harry Reid do so only because they are mistaking him for Ralph Reed.

 

[RandomAccess]

Repeat after me. Gridlock is good!

Try repeating this: "Rubber stamp congress is VERY BAD!" Now that'd be honest!

 

[RandomAccess]

Let me have a crack at it. And I didn't look anything up.

Junior Senator from Florida - Mel Martinez (R), elected in 2004 for vacant seat left by retiring Bob Graham. No, he's not doing a "good job," marching in lockstep with Bush. Of course he disagrees with me on nearly every issue and he has been in office since January 2005.

Senior Senator from Indian - Dick Lugar (R), elected in 1976 after defeating incumbent Democrat Vance Hartke (that one's a little tougher). He has been a fairly effective Senator for Indiana when put in perspective, but still follows too closely to the White House on some issues. I applaud him for raising questions about the illegal wiretap programs. He disagrees with me on most "hot-button" issues and has been in office since January 1977.

Oregon's Third District - Hmmm...this one is tough. The main reason I know him is because of his trademark bow-ties he wears all the time. Earl Blumenauer (D), elected I think in 1996 but in a special election to fill the seat after Ron Wyden became Senator. So he's been in the House since 1996. I think he has been very effective, as can be seen in the support he has received in his district, he's intelligent on nearly every policy issue, and I agree with him on most "hot-button" issues.

DOH! I knew you were good, but I didn't know you were THAT good! You are a very rare individual. . . I doubt that many others in the forum could answer even a fraction of those. Plus, you went for the extra credit with the Vance Hartke bit! I bet your profs either loved or hated you in college! I feel sure there was no middle ground.

Oh! And your take on Dick Lugar is pretty much same as mine. I'd also give him points on being, perhaps, one of the most polished foreign relations men in Washington.

Now, with all that said, do you think average people have enough knowledge of Representatives and Senators from other states to adequately rate their job performance?

 

[JayHawk]

They rate congress as a institution. The leaders take the fall when they dont do what they say they will do. It does not matter how many local politicians anybody has dreamt over.

 

[RandomAccess]

They rate congress as a institution. The leaders take the fall when they dont do what they say they will do. It does not matter how many local politicians anybody has dreamt over.

Ah-ah-ah, the point of this thread was "Cheney twice as popular as Harry Reid!" Other than his position in the hierarchy, and the fact that he's democrat, what does the average American really know about him? Do you really think Joe Schmoe, Registered Republican from Podunk, Mississippi is really up-to-date on Harry Reid's job performance? No. All Joe knows is that Reid's one-a-them DANG Dem-crat lib-ruls. . . and therefore cannot be doing a good job.

But, the same holds true in rating Congress as an institution. It's why you see such radically disparate numbers for Congressional Ratings, without any clear trends, and with such low average numbers.

 

[JayHawk]

The average American probably doesn't know Reid is anything.

SO by your bigotted attempt at pretending everyone from the south is the same, you assume that polling organizations cold call as many ignorant people as possible?

Is it possible that Rasmussen, zogby and the others have a poll base where people regularly identify their political bent and by indicating an interest in politics by answering political polls over and over? No I didnt think so. They just cold call people.

Regardless they have a I dont know answer.

When they were polling in the highest numbers ever I don't remember any single 20 percenter that claimed the poll musta been from ignorant people. That my friend is an assumption of the elite left. You folks assume everyone knows less than you. Thats why you desire to spend our money for us...

Sorry my soapbox got stuck

 

[RandomAccess]

The average American probably doesn't know Reid is anything.

SO by your bigotted attempt at pretending everyone from the south is the same, you assume that polling organizations cold call as many ignorant people as possible?

Oh, for cryin' out loud, Maz. You know me better than that. Gimme a break. I was using Joe Schmoe from anywhere, but pulled Mississippi outta my ass. . . sue me.

Is it possible that Rasmussen, zogby and the others have a poll base where people regularly identify their political bent and by indicating an interest in politics by answering political polls over and over? No I didnt think so. They just cold call people.

Precisely.

Regardless they have a I dont know answer.

And people, not wanting to appear ignorant, avoid saying "I don't know." I've been an economist & handled surveys & statistics. . . people do not like to say "I don't know."

When they were polling in the highest numbers ever I don't remember any single 20 percenter that claimed the poll musta been from ignorant people. That my friend is an assumption of the elite left. You folks assume everyone knows less than you. Thats why you desire to spend our money for us...

Sorry my soapbox got stuck

Now go back and read my explanations of why Congressional polls are of questionable value & try to understand them.

I think what he's saying, Chance , is that approval ratings for individual members of the House or Senate mean much less than they do for Pres. & V.P., or even Speaker, or Pres. of the Senate. This is because people in, say, Montana, typically only are (sometimes vaguely) familiar with their own Representatives & Senators and their records. Those Montana folks are pretty good at judging the politicos from their home turf, but ignorant to (no offense intended) the job performance of Senators & Representatives from, say, Florida. A national poll on ANY member of Congress (exceptions listed above) is going to be all-over the board over any length of time. In that, I include Majority/Minority leaders & party "whips." If you think about it, you can't help but see the logic of this.


Everybody try this:
Be honest. . . without looking it up, who's the Jr. Senator from Florida? The Senior Senator from Indiana? Who is Oregon's Third District Congressman? Are they doing a good job? Are they Republican or Democrat? Do they agree or disagree with you on your own "hot-button" issues? How long in office?
If you can answer the above questions without looking them up, you're a rare exception! Now, granted, people SHOULD know a bit more about Congressional leadership, however most know only whether they're Democrat or Republican, and they often answer polls accordingly.

Now, how many of those questions can you answer? Even after having seen Lance's reply. I'm not saying you're intentionally ignorant. . . (besides, ignorance can be fixed) I'm saying there's little point in you being informed on all the politicians from all the states. That's why we elect Reps & Senators at the state level.