Inside the Beltway: Vladimir Putin gets a 90 percent approval rating

NEWS AND OPINION:

Consider that Russian President Vladimir Putin now enjoys a 90 percent approval rating, this according to the Russian Public Opinion Research Center, which deems the number to be a “historical high,” and credits “Russian air strikes on terrorist positions” as the primary driver. Meanwhile, President Obama’s rating currently lingers around 45 percent, prompting his critics to recommend he no longer “lead from behind” on the world stage.

Yes, well. The president’s tepid reviews are fairly cozy compared to national opinion of Congress, however.

Americans are simply “not feeling leadership love. People don’t feel particularly happy with current congressional leadership of either party” reports Emily Swanson, a polling analyst for The Associated Press regarding a new poll that finds that, among Republicans, only 22 percent say their leading GOP lawmakers represent them very well, 45 percent characterize it as moderately well, and a third say it’s generally just plain bad. Democrats offer only slightly better reviews of their party’s members: 37 percent say they feel “very well” represented, 47 percent say they’re represented moderately well, and 15 percent say they’re not represented well at all.

“Whoever takes the helm as speaker will preside over a deeply unpopular institution. Just 16 percent of respondents approve of the job Congress is doing more generally, while 83 percent disapprove,” Ms. Swanson says.

NOW THERE’S A THOUGHT

“Wonder how much sleep the Benghazi victims’ families have lost?”

— A tweet from For America, a grass-roots group supporting founding values, referencing Hillary Rodham Clinton’s comment during Thursday’s Benghazi hearing that she had “lost more sleep than all of you put together” over the attacks.

A LITTLE MULTITASKING

“As the Hillary Clinton political machine sought to paint Thursday’s sensationalized congressional hearing on Benghazi as a political witch-hunt, her own campaign showed signs that it views the Capitol Hill mega-event as a chance to strut her presidential stuff on a national stage,” observed David Martosko, U.S. political editor for the Daily Mail in his review of the Benghazi hearing.

“Clinton’s political staff live-tweeted her hearing statement as she read it, following their standard practice when she gives speeches on the campaign trail. Her campaign organization — not the U.S. State Department — distributed the text of her opening statement to reporters as the hearing continued, in an email that ended with the legally required notice: ’Paid for by Hillary for America.’ And in the hours leading up to the hearing, her campaign and its chairman issued appeals for cash.”

MOVE THE SUPER BOWL TO PRESIDENT’S DAY?

The 50th Super Bowl looms, and a Harris Poll reveals that two-thirds of Americans say the anniversary occasion makes them more likely to watch the game. But another 54 percent admit that the worst part of Super Bowl Sunday is having to get up the next morning and go to work. Which led the pollster to wonder if the nation would prefer the big game — currently scheduled for Feb. 7, 2016 — be played the subsequent week, the President’s Day holiday weekend.

The answer: 37 percent would prefer the game be moved to Feb. 14 — which might itself cause sweethearts and spouses to riot. Another 22 percent disagree, while 41 percent say they have no preference.

FOXIFIED

A good week for Chris Wallace, the veteran anchor behind “Fox News Sunday.” The talk show staple drew its largest audience in over six years with 1,618,000 viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research.

The draw? An exclusive face-to-face interview with Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump.

WEEKEND CANDIDATE TRACKER

It’s back to bustling Iowa for the presidential contenders.

Ben Carson has 10 events across the Hawkeye State; Sen. Ted Cruz, Mike Huckabee and Gov. Bobby Jindal journey to Waterloo for the Iowa Grassroots Coalition Candidate Honest Assessment Summit; Mr. Cruz has six other stops, Mr. Huckabee and Mr. Jindal three each.

All four Democratic hopefuls — Hillary Rodham Clinton, Sen. Bernard Sanders, Martin O’Malley and Lincoln Chafee — will assemble for the Iowa Democratic Party’s Jefferson-Jackson Dinner in Des Moines, which literally boasts a cast of thousands and myriad ancillary events. Bill Clinton and glittering pop star Katy Perry will accompany Mrs. Clinton for a free concert and rally — a long way from the Benghazi hearing indeed.

In New Hampshire Sen. Lindsey Graham is the sole candidate visiting this weekend, with seven events. In South Carolina, Jeb Bush joins Sen. Tim Scott for a town hall on Daniel Island; Sen. Marco Rubio visits West Columbia and Greenville. And Donald Trump? He’ll stage a jumbo “Make America Great Again” rally in Miami on Friday, followed by a second behemoth get-together in Jacksonville on Saturday.

WEEKEND REAL ESTATE

For sale: The Eldredge House, built in 1778 in Cape May, New Jersey. Working inn; four bedrooms, four baths, completely renovated. Original wide-plank floors, 12-pane windows and woodworking; multiple all-season fireplaces, historically correct paint and decorating, extensive gardens and stone patio. Sun room, sitting room, double living room, dining room, 10-minute walk to beach. Priced at $745,000 through CapemayEldredgeHouse.com.

POLL DU JOUR

• 76 percent of Americans have heard about the terrorist attack on Benghazi; 89 percent of Republicans, 71 percent of independents and 71 percent of Democrats agree.

• 45 percent overall disapprove of Hillary Rodham Clinton’s handling of the attack; 79 percent of Republicans, 44 percent of independents and 18 percent of Democrats agree.

• 30 percent overall say the Benghazi hearings are a politically motivated bid to embarrass Mrs. Clinton; 12 percent of Republicans, 26 percent of independents and 50 percent of Democrats agree.

• 24 percent say they are a serious attempt to uncover the truth; 49 percent of Republicans, 20 percent of independents and 9 percent of Democrats agree.

• 24 percent say the hearings are a mix of both those factors; 25 percent of Republicans, 27 percent of independents and 18 percent of Democrats agree.

Source: An Economist/YouGov poll of 2,000 U.S. adults conducted Oct. 8-12 and released Thursday.

• Daring proclamations, hasty conclusions to jharper@washingtontimes.com