Bipartisan pessimism on Obama, Congress

"Summertime, and the livin' is easy," the opening lyrics to a tune from "Porgy and Bess" assure us.

But there's not much political ease or optimism this summer.

One recent Gallup poll found only 41 percent of Americans approve of the job that President Barack Obama is doing, while 52 percent disapprove.

A Rasmussen Reports survey showed somewhat similar results, with Obama's approval at 47 percent and disapproval at 52 percent.

CNN/Opinion Research finds 45 percent approval for the president but 52 percent disapproval.

Pew Research figures have job approval for Obama at 44 percent and disapproval at 48 percent.

And Fox News finds a close split, with 45 percent approving of Obama's performance and 46 percent disapproving.

But for even more negative opinions, look at the public's view of Congress.

Eighty-two percent of those polled by The New York Times disapprove of Congress' performance.

CNN found disapproval of the politically split Congress at a still-worse 84 percent.

Wouldn't it be a nice change of pace if there were sound reasons for us to have good feelings about both our president and our Congress?

What will it take to justify our approval?

Absent wise decisions from our leaders, what are we, the people, going to have to do to generate optimism for all Americans in this summertime -- and beyond?

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