The Senate's Top Ten
A few days ago SurveyUSA came out with the approval ratings for the 100 US Senators. Considering elections are coming in November, and all the issues that are going on in D.C. (and the nation, for that matter), I was curious: what are the popular Senators doing (or not doing) to make them so popular?
Let's look at each of them a try to find out:
Republican Susan Collins enjoys a envious 72% approval rating. She was named "Port Person of the Year", she's sponsored "Read Across America Day" and she was presented "with an award from the American Dental Hygienists Association in appreciation for the Senator's leadership and work to improve oral health care services for all Americans" Her big issue is education. Why Republican haven't touted her accomplishments is beyond me, but it may have something to do with her being from Maine. Or the fact that Rush Limbaugh called her an ignorant demagogue (click here for proof if you don't have a subscription to Rush's site).
Democrat Kent Conrad (also at 72%) is fairly tough on abortion, and as his 43% rating by NARAL shows, fairly conservative on that and other social issues. Like Collins, he has a thing or to to say about education. His views on Social Security mirrors President Bush, but since the issue is on the backburner nobody really cares. And he's at least tried to issue legislation for "fiscal responsibility." Agriculture seems to be his ace card, and for North Dakota, it's a good one to have.
Like Collins, Olympia Snowe is a female Republican from Maine who enjoys a decent approval rating (71%). They even have the same NARAL score of 55%. However, (according to the press) Snowe's a supporter of small business. In addition, she (along with Sen. Lindsey Graham) has introduced a Terrorist Surveillance Act to the Senate, apparently in hopes of rescuing the President from his warrantless wiretapping debacle.
Besides being the only African-American Senator, Democrat Barack Obama has a notable approval rating of 70%. His fairly liberal record apparently hasn't hurt his popularity, despite his high NARAL rating and his comments on the situation in Darfur. He even has a blog! Nevertheless, everyone has their haters, and Obama is no exception.
Nebraska Democrat Ben Nelson also has a 70% approval rating. Why? Well, on the issues he's 100% pro-public education, pro-business, pro-life and an aboveaveragee advocate of civil rights. He's also an advocate for "rural health care" and agricultural issues.
Hawaii Democrat Daniel Inouye is at 69%, and has Watergate and Irancountrya as his claims to fame. Some will say that the passing of his beloved wife is a reason for his better-than-average approval rating, but those people ignore things like his flood investigations inKaya and Punaluu.
Like Inouye, one could argue that sympathy is the key reason Republican Mississippi Senator Trent Lott's 69% approval rating. Or maybe some Old Guard Republicans want him back as majority leader. Nevertheless, his strong suit has been Hurricane Katrina, and he is working pretty hard on the issue. Other than his stance on expanding stem cell research and the port deal, he's the most conservative member of the Top Ten.
In South Dakota, Democrat Tim Johnson's 69% rating is obvious. Although he received an "A" from the National Education Association, a failing grade from the Christian Coalition, and is a strong supporter of Social Security, his stances on the issues have been pretty middle-of-the-road. Then again, it's led some in the media to call him a "hypocrite."
Patrick Leahy, a Democratic Senator from Vermont, is kinda like Johnson: pro-business, "anti-Christian Coalition," in the middle everywhere else. He wasn't too keen on Bush's views on the torture ban, and right now he's dealing with the immigration issue with Republican Arlen Specter. Leahy sits pretty at 69%. Of course being a ranking member on the Judiciary Committee helps, especially when the President selects two new Justices.
Lastly we have Democrat Jack Reed from Rhode Island. Even at 68% he's liberal, with a notable pro-education record. He lead the charge against a Trojan Horse bill (stem cell legislationdisguisedd asantit-abortion legislation) and is considering censure for the Bush.
So what's the magic formula here? I don't think there's really any template per say. Everyone has apassionatee stance on education, which can only boost your support in your state. None of them are typical talk-show guests; so there's something to be said for being underexposed. Other than that, everyone from the liberal Democrat to the most conservative Republican here happily boasts a better-than-60% approval rating. So as long as you stay away from the Sunday Shows and work on education (and get results), it seems that you can do pretty much what you want in the US Senate.
BTW, that's three Republicans and seven Democrats who have a better-than-60% approval rating (are the Republicans sure they wanna push Bill Frist for their presidential candidate?).
Let's look at each of them a try to find out:
Republican Susan Collins enjoys a envious 72% approval rating. She was named "Port Person of the Year", she's sponsored "Read Across America Day" and she was presented "with an award from the American Dental Hygienists Association in appreciation for the Senator's leadership and work to improve oral health care services for all Americans" Her big issue is education. Why Republican haven't touted her accomplishments is beyond me, but it may have something to do with her being from Maine. Or the fact that Rush Limbaugh called her an ignorant demagogue (click here for proof if you don't have a subscription to Rush's site).
Democrat Kent Conrad (also at 72%) is fairly tough on abortion, and as his 43% rating by NARAL shows, fairly conservative on that and other social issues. Like Collins, he has a thing or to to say about education. His views on Social Security mirrors President Bush, but since the issue is on the backburner nobody really cares. And he's at least tried to issue legislation for "fiscal responsibility." Agriculture seems to be his ace card, and for North Dakota, it's a good one to have.
Like Collins, Olympia Snowe is a female Republican from Maine who enjoys a decent approval rating (71%). They even have the same NARAL score of 55%. However, (according to the press) Snowe's a supporter of small business. In addition, she (along with Sen. Lindsey Graham) has introduced a Terrorist Surveillance Act to the Senate, apparently in hopes of rescuing the President from his warrantless wiretapping debacle.
Besides being the only African-American Senator, Democrat Barack Obama has a notable approval rating of 70%. His fairly liberal record apparently hasn't hurt his popularity, despite his high NARAL rating and his comments on the situation in Darfur. He even has a blog! Nevertheless, everyone has their haters, and Obama is no exception.
Nebraska Democrat Ben Nelson also has a 70% approval rating. Why? Well, on the issues he's 100% pro-public education, pro-business, pro-life and an aboveaveragee advocate of civil rights. He's also an advocate for "rural health care" and agricultural issues.
Hawaii Democrat Daniel Inouye is at 69%, and has Watergate and Irancountrya as his claims to fame. Some will say that the passing of his beloved wife is a reason for his better-than-average approval rating, but those people ignore things like his flood investigations inKaya and Punaluu.
Like Inouye, one could argue that sympathy is the key reason Republican Mississippi Senator Trent Lott's 69% approval rating. Or maybe some Old Guard Republicans want him back as majority leader. Nevertheless, his strong suit has been Hurricane Katrina, and he is working pretty hard on the issue. Other than his stance on expanding stem cell research and the port deal, he's the most conservative member of the Top Ten.
In South Dakota, Democrat Tim Johnson's 69% rating is obvious. Although he received an "A" from the National Education Association, a failing grade from the Christian Coalition, and is a strong supporter of Social Security, his stances on the issues have been pretty middle-of-the-road. Then again, it's led some in the media to call him a "hypocrite."
Patrick Leahy, a Democratic Senator from Vermont, is kinda like Johnson: pro-business, "anti-Christian Coalition," in the middle everywhere else. He wasn't too keen on Bush's views on the torture ban, and right now he's dealing with the immigration issue with Republican Arlen Specter. Leahy sits pretty at 69%. Of course being a ranking member on the Judiciary Committee helps, especially when the President selects two new Justices.
Lastly we have Democrat Jack Reed from Rhode Island. Even at 68% he's liberal, with a notable pro-education record. He lead the charge against a Trojan Horse bill (stem cell legislationdisguisedd asantit-abortion legislation) and is considering censure for the Bush.
So what's the magic formula here? I don't think there's really any template per say. Everyone has apassionatee stance on education, which can only boost your support in your state. None of them are typical talk-show guests; so there's something to be said for being underexposed. Other than that, everyone from the liberal Democrat to the most conservative Republican here happily boasts a better-than-60% approval rating. So as long as you stay away from the Sunday Shows and work on education (and get results), it seems that you can do pretty much what you want in the US Senate.
BTW, that's three Republicans and seven Democrats who have a better-than-60% approval rating (are the Republicans sure they wanna push Bill Frist for their presidential candidate?).
Comments