WHEN CONFUSED, DISAPPROVE. Contemplating yesterday's discussion of exactly why Americans detest Congress so much -- even more than they disapprove of George W. -- I went in search of statistics on public knowledge about the legislative branch of the federal government. What I learned is that 76 percent of Americans know which party controls the House of Representatives. That's good news. But only 24 percent of Americans know Congress passed a hike in the minimum wage, the single biggest Democratic victory this year and a proposal that enjoyed overwhelming popular support. My guess is that the message on Congress that has most penetrated through the mainstream media is "Congress has failed to end the war." If that's the case, then it's no surprise that, as J. noted, more Republicans than Independents or Democrats actually approve of the Democratic Congress. GOP loyalists are the last pro-war hold-outs, after all. --Dana Goldstein
