Predictable: Spectacular Revival In French President’s Popularity

Similar to George Bush after 9/11, French president Francois Hollande is seeing a spectacular revival in his dismal popularity ratings after the terror attacks in Paris earlier this month.

According to sources, two major surveys yesterday showed French voters applauding his handling of the country’s most deadly Islamist attacks.

The boost for Hollande and his government, however temporary, prevented the anti-immigrant National Front party of Marine Le Pen from capitalizing on this month’s Paris violence as some analysts had predicted, one of the surveys showed.

Also similar to Bush, while the French leader’s improved image could help him combat resistance to his economic deregulation drive that is going through parliament, poll groups said the downbeat jobs outlook meant the boost in polls might not last.

Three gunmen killed 17 people in Paris two weeks ago, including staff at the satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo, before they themselves were shot dead by security forces.

Americans Have Less Disdain For Congress

A new poll shows Americans’ disdain for Congress is weaker than it has been in more than three years, but neither party has much to brag about.

The Washington Post-ABC News poll shows 50 percent of Americans say they “strongly” disapprove of the way Congress is doing its job. The good news: That’s the lowest that number it has been since March 2011. The bad news: It’s still half the country really disliking Congress.

And when it comes to the two major parties, the improvement doesn’t really show.

In fact, congressional Democrats are facing their highest disapproval rating in at least the last 20 years, at 67 percent. Meanwhile, 30 percent approve of the job congressional Democrats are doing.

The poll comes on the heels of a WaPo-ABC poll that showed the Democratic Party in general hitting a three-decade low as far as how people feel about it.

Democrats, though, still remain more popular than the GOP. Just 25 percent of Americans say they approve of the job Republicans in Congress are doing, while 72 percent disapprove.

The difference between the two parties, though, is smaller than it has usually been.