Those Republican disapproval numbers

by David Safier

I know there's been a lot of hand-wringing among Democrats about how Obama and the Dems in Congress are being played by the Republicans. I don't count myself as a hand-wringer. I'll just say, it all makes my stomach hurt, and sometimes I have to turn away from the news to preserve my sanity.

But this is interesting. A CNN poll says 59% of Americans disappprove of the Republican Party, against a 33% approval rating. Compare that with a 47%-47% approval/disapproval rating for Democrats. If that stat means anything, it means people don't like what they're seeing from the Republicans they elected in 2010, which means they may be more ready to look at and listen to Democrats this time around. (The R disapproval number probably includes right wing stalwarts who think the Republicans aren't pure enough, but if they're unhappy, they may lack the enthusiasm to vote in huge numbers. And there are certainly people on the left who disapprove of the Dems as well.)

Also, the CNN poll saw a record "Throw the bums out" number.

Only 41 percent of people questioned say the lawmaker in their district in the U.S. House of Representatives deserves to be re-elected – the first time ever in CNN polling that that figure has dropped below 50 percent. Forty-nine percent say their representative doesn't deserve to be re-elected in 2012. And with ten percent unsure, it's the first time that a majority has indicated that they would boot their representative out of office if they had the chance today.

The Republicans may have won a number of battles since Obama was elected — though I still maintain that, given the unprecedented pressure of the Republican opposition and its scream machine, Obama had some significant victories as well. But it could end up with the Rs losing the elections war in 2012.

UPDATE: A Gallup poll has Obama leading a generic Republican candidate for the first time in awhile. People may not love what they're seeing from Obama and the rest of the Dems, but they must really dislike what's coming out of the Rs right now.

According to the monthly survey, which was conducted from August 4 -7, Obama would win 45-39 against "the Republican party's candidate." The previous two polls from Gallup had the generic GOPer running strong with a 47-39 lead in July and 44-39 lead in June.