It is a banner day for the United States Congress.  Just when you thought that Congress had gone as low as they could go, Rasmussen Reports released a new poll today that proved that the numbers aren’t just bad, they’re abysmal.

The percentage of Americans giving the U.S. Congress a “good” or “excellent” rating has fallen to just 9%.  This rating is the lowest ever, of course, but also the first time that the rating has slipped into single digits.

The conventional wisdom of course is that conservatives are still disgruntled that the Congress flipped into Democratic control and the thought is still not settled in the minds of most GOPers.  Liberals are said to be disgruntled that the Congress hasn’t waved their magic wand and cured all of the world’s problems, from health care to the War in Iraq.  And moderates are, apparently, just too confused or too disgruntled to care.

Though the poll’s scope is national and not just on the great Nutmeg State (if you can believe that), this may be a harbinger of trouble for newly-minted Congressmen Chris Murphy and Joe Courtney in particular.  You probably have read that old tale: as the outgoing leader of a major company is heading out the door, he meets his replacement in the CEO’s office. 

The new guy says, “Do you have any advice for me?”  The old-timer looks at his successor for a minute and replies, “Surely.  I’ve left two letters in the desk here.  When you get into trouble, open the first letter.” 

So several months later, the new C.E.O. is having a really difficult time and so he opens the desk drawer and takes out the first letter.  It reads: “Blame everything on me.”  So the leader goes out and blames the troubles on his predecessor – and it works.  The trouble passes and things go on smoothly for awhile. 

But things then get difficult again and, remembering how well the first letter worked, the CEO goes to the second letter.  It starts out this way, “Write two letters.”

Murphy and Courtney got into office by heaping blame on the old boss in 2006.  In 2008, they are the bosses.  More heavily entrenched incumbents like Larson and DeLauro also have some answering to do.  Congressman Shays has probably inoculated himself from a good bit of much of these negatives with his maverick style and long-standing in the 4th Congressional District that has withstood strong challenges already. 

Whatever the case, it remains crystal clear that the national mood is ugly out there.  Americans are searching for different answers from their leaders.