Poll Finds Approval Up for Congress

As the Democrats mark their first 100 days in power, a new AP poll polls show public approval for Congress is at its highest level in a year. It appears that a they step up their confrontation with President Bush over his handling of the Iraq War , Congress’s popularity increases. The polling clearly shows the American voters wants Congress to push for an end to US involvement in the Iraq war that has to- date claimed the lives of more than 3,200 U.S. troops

While Overall approval for Congress is 40 percent Bush's approval ratings remain in the low to mid-30 percent range. These numbers for Congress clearly weak by most objective standards, are up dramatically from 25 percent approval registered for the Republican majority in the weeks leading to last fall's elections.

It is evident that Iraq is the driving force in the poling data but increasingly questions regarding Valery Plame and Alberto Gonzales are pushing down the nations confidence in the administration and reminding voters of the value of Congressional over-site.

A new Zogby International telephone poll shows.

A majority of likely voting Americans – 55% – said they believe Congress should be able to force President Bush’s top aides to testify under oath before Congressional panels that are investigating the firings late last year of eight U.S. attorneys,

The former CIA operative Valerie Plame, was the star witness at the House hearing investigating who “Leaked” her name outing her as an agent and effectively ending her career. Plame testified that senior officials at the White House and State Department had "carelessly and recklessly" blown her cover to discredit her husband, former ambassador Joseph Wilson, over his questioning of the Bush administrations claim that Iraq sought to buy uranium from Niger, to the Iraq War. Ambassador Wilson stated in a July 2003 New York Times editorial, that he found no evidence to support the administration claims, which became a part of the justification for the war.
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales is another force driving public opinion. The former House Speaker, and likely 08 presidential candidate, Newt Gingrich said Sunday that Attorney General Alberto Gonzales should consider resigning. Newt said “The botched firing of U.S. attorneys has destroyed Gonzales' credibility as the nation's top law enforcer”.

Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., who is helping lead the investigation into the firing of eight federal prosecutors, said Gingrich's comments pointed to building bipartisan support for a new attorney general. "This is another important voice who believes that the attorney general should step down for the good of the country and the good of the department," Schumer said in a statement. "We hope both the attorney general and the president heed Speaker Gingrich's message."
Congress is also in a fight with the president to compel the testimony of White House officials including Karl Rove and former White house counsel Harriet Miers to determine the extent of White House involvement in the firing of the eight federal prosecutors.
One must keep in mind how quickly these numbers can change. If Democrats are looking at these polls and “Ordering new drapes” they better watch-out. 2008 is still a long time away, far too long to “Coast.” It will not be enough to for the Democrats to “Just not be Bush”, they are going to have to be seen as solving problems or they will be seen as irrelevant.