FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
It's not just the record snowstorm that's slowing Washington down - it seems nearly impossible for our lawmakers to get anything done in our nation's capital.
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/02/08/art.dc.snow.jpg caption="The Capitol Building is seen across from a partially frozen pool in D.C. A huge blizzard dumped a blanket of snow over the nation's capitol."]
Some hoped that by putting Democrats in charge of both houses of Congress and the White House - they might actually get some of the people's business accomplished.
Not so fast. For example - no one can agree on a jobs bill... with some saying Republicans don't want to sign on to any bill that's being pushed by Majority Leader Harry Reid.
Meanwhile more than a year after taxpayers bailed out Wall Street - there's still nothing in the way of real financial reform and the bankers are back to making record bonuses. And what about progress on any of the other president's top priorities? health care? education? energy?
And this is all before Republicans got to celebrating the swearing in of Mass. Sen. Scott Brown, or "Mr. 41" - who will give the GOP enough votes to hold a filibuster.
It's no surprise a new Gallup poll shows Congress at its lowest approval ratings in more than a year. Only 18 percent of Americans approve of the way Congress is handling its job. That's down 6 points in just a month. 78 percent disapprove.
Gallup suggests that this is mostly due to a sharp drop in support among Democrats... down 15 points since last month. Democrats' approval of Congress, which jumped up once Pres. Obama took office, is now at its lowest level since then. Republican and Independent approval of Congress has already been below 20 percent for months.
Here’s my question to you: Is an 18 percent approval rating for Congress too high?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Bob in Kansas City, Mo. writes:
No, 18% is about right, they do some good deeds when it’s to the benefit of the rich and corporations. Now if we can manage to replace all of them in the next several elections things will improve.
John writes:
18% is incredibly high. It hasn't mattered which party is in the majority for at least the past four administrations. Except for irrelevant differences, our great nation just keeps marching towards destruction.
Ruth from North Carolina writes:
When it comes to an appropriate approval rating for Congress, anything that doesn't include a well-charged cattle prod operated by a citizen assigned to each elected official, is too high. They need to be prodded every time they fail to listen to the people who elected them. I'm sure there would be plenty of volunteers to remind the members of Congress that they work for us.
Pamela writes:
Want to improve your rating, Congress? Try abrogating free trade, putting tariffs back on goods and services, and bring all our American jobs that have been off-shored back home.
Linda from Arizona writes:
Who are these mythical 18% who approve? I'd like to hear them defend their position.
Simon in Orlando writes:
I'm shocked that 18% of the population is idiotic enough to think that there is anything but self-interest and incompetence running rampant through Congress.
Annie writes:
It is too high by about 17.5%.
Moby in Detroit writes:
Jack, I have a hard time believing that 1 out of 5 people still approve of what Congress has been doing. I guess there are more lobbyists out there than I thought.