[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i.l.cnn.net/cnn/2008/images/02/08/art.bushfeb.ap.jpg caption=" President Bush in the East Room at the White House, Thursday."]
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
The American people are pretty much fed up with President Bush and Congress, according to a new poll.
The AP/Ipsos poll shows only 30% of those surveyed approve of the job the president is doing. This is worse than his previous overall low of 31% in this poll back in November.
Congress gets a pathetic 22% job approval. This ties their poorest rating in this survey from last October. Congress usually has lower ratings than the president. It's an institution that people love to hate, and with good reason.
What stands out is even though the president is a Republican and the Congress is run by Democrats, the public can't stand either one.
Both of these marks for Mr. Bush and the Congress have dropped by 4% points in just the last month. One of the main factors driving the public's dissatisfaction is the economy. Many Americans are worried about a recession.
The irony in all this of course is that we will probably elect either a Democrat or Republican president in November, and many of the incumbent Republicans and Democrats in the Congress will be re-elected as well.
There are countries in the world that have overthrown their governments when they are disliked by as many people as ours is. But history suggests we will simply hold our noses in November and elect another version of our dysfunctional, broken government. Very sad.
Here’s my question to you: Is there anything President Bush and Congress can do before November to improve their image in the eyes of the American people?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Patricia from San Rafael, California writes:
The smartest thing Bush and most of Congress could do to improve their image with the American people is resign. This would also provide some evidence that they have some understanding of how to serve their country to the best of their ability.
Jon from Foley, Minnesota writes:
There is absolutely nothing they can do to improve their image. What we have to do is get some politicians who work for the people, not for profit. We need to dump the current administration and let the healing process begin.
Matt from Orlando, Florida writes:
Nothing our government does will change people's minds in the short term. However, if they were to stand up and take action against the credit crisis and out-of-control debt our country faces, instead of pulling money out of thin air and giving everyone more handouts, my personal opinion of them would improve drastically.
James from Morehead City, North Carolina writes:
They can try to put aside their differences and do something that actually benefits the American people instead of arguing back and forth like a bunch of children.
Charlie writes:
Yes, Congress can impeach Bush and Cheney.
Gary writes:
They could stop allowing the corrupt contractors in Iraq to continue to gouge the American taxpayer as our own people lose their jobs and houses, our schools crumble, and the value of the dollar plummets.
Bruce writes:
Jack, No, there is nothing they can do to improve their image. Why would anyone vote for an incumbent, or any of the clowns that caused our problems, for president? It is all about the track record, and these idiots only have a swine-filled mud pit as their accomplishment.