A Washington Post-ABC News poll released yesterday shows a 15-point reversal in Americans' approval rate for the Democrats' performance in leading Congress over the last six weeks. On the question of who is "taking a stronger leadership role in the government in Washington these days, (Bush) or (the Democrats in Congress)?" the loss over the same time period is even worse, 22 points. Meanwhile, the poll showed congressional Democrats losing only seven points on whom Americans trust more to handle the war in Iraq. Something is afoot here. It's probably hard to pin-point, but maybe editorials like today's from the Las Vegas Review-Journal and the St. Petersburg Times (a New York Times subsidiary) are giving citizens the sense that it's same 'ol same 'ol under the Democrats in Congress, for example, regarding earmarks. House Appropriations chair David Obey (D-WI) defends his "new" earmarks rule -- delaying the addition of earmarks until a bill is in conference, when they can no longer be removed from the bill by amendment -- as follows: It's going to take weeks to get that screening [of earmarks] done and I'm the person that has to sign off ... As long as I'm in charge, I'm going to make doggone sure that we do everything possible to screen every project. OK, if you say so, but don't be surprised if you lose Americans whom House leaders promised "the cleanest House in history."