President Bush's sub-30% approval rating toward the end of his term looks pretty good compared to Congress's recent ratings. Over the course of 2008, an average of just 19% of Americans approved of the job Congress was doing, down from 27% in 2007 and 25% in 2006, according to Gallup.

The 110th Congress saw Gallup's all-time low approval rating for one month. The Capitol Hill body was approved of by just 14% in July of 2008. Of course, the majority Democrats took no hits in the voting booths in November, and instead increased their majorities in both chambers.

The 111th Congress convenes today knowing that it can't get much more unpopular. With a new president and renewed shot at bipartisanship, Congress may be able turn it around.