BY KENNY BELFORD

Suppose you picked up the sports page of the newspaper and saw a score of 7,386-0. Wouldn’t you conclude that the side with the zero was a loser of epic proportions? I’m thinking yes.

Well, so far the current Republican conference in the House of Representatives has previously collectively voted to repeal or defund the Affordable Care Act [ObamaCare] 7,386 times. Their efforts have failed 7,386 times. They just did it again. Although in the minority of the Republican caucus, Speaker John Boehner caved in to the Tea Party faction and allowed the measure to advance.

This latest effort will meet the same results. They know it, but the Republicans don’t seem to mind wasting time on a losing cause. That helps explain why Americans give the Republican-controlled Congress such historic disapproval ratings.

The latest polling numbers illustrate just how out of touch with America the Republican-controlled Congress really is. In answer to the polling question, “Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Republicans in Congress are handling their job?” all the major polls indicate their obstructionist agenda not only hurts Americans, but also is widely being rejected and recognized as a failure.

The Quinnipiac University poll reveals a massive 73% of Americans disapprove of their actions. The Gallup Poll serves up a 69% disapproval rating. The CBS poll isn’t any better with Republicans receiving a 67% disapproval rating. The ABC/Washington Post poll gives Republicans a 72% disapproval rating. In the NBC/Wall Street Journal poll Republicans have earned a 69% disapproval rating. The CNN/ORC poll serves up a 73% disapproval rating for the Republicans.

Even the Fox News poll recognizes the Republican failures with a 67% disapproval rating.

http://www.pollingreport.com/cong_rep.htm

While the dismal Republican approval ratings are hardly new, they’ve been in the tank for quite some time; the GOP leadership seems powerless to change. They signed onto a losing strategy and just keep doubling down on their bet.

Last January, Louisiana Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal gave the keynote address at the Republican National Committee. In his speech he said to his fellow Republicans, “Stop being the stupid party.”

The next day in his speech, Haley Barbour, the former Mississippi governor and RNC chair, said he agreed with Jindal.

Obviously they didn’t heed that advice.

“Stupid is, as stupid does.” – Forrest Gump

– Kenny Belford lives in Tulsa, OK and is a frequent contributor to The Oklahoma Observer