Sanders to Bachus: Who You Calling a Socialist?

Vermont Sen. Sanders is one, as are 17 in House: GOP's Bachus

(NEWSER) - An Alabama congressman says 17 of his colleagues, plus a senator, are socialists who are pushing President Obama too far leftward, the Birmingham News reports. “Some of the men and women I work with in Congress are socialists,” Republican Spencer Bachus declared yesterday—though he wouldn’t name any beyond Vermont independent Bernie Sanders. More»

Just 10% approve of work on Hill, according to latest Gallup poll

(NEWSER) - A Gallup poll released Wednesday finds that Americans' approval of Congress has hit yet another record low: 10%. There aren't many institutions Americans have liked less over the last 50-or-so years, according to Gallup: Only Fidel Castro, Saddam Hussein, Osama bin Laden, and OJ Simpson detective Mark Fuhrman have ever scored lower. ABC News takes a look at some very unpopular things that still manage to rank above Congress:

• According to an August poll, Paris Hilton is America's least-favorite celeb. But her 60% disapproval rating is still better than Congress's 86% disapproval rating.

Rep. Spencer Bachus faces first-of-its-kind ethics investigation

(NEWSER) - Foxes have been found guarding hen houses on Capitol Hill in the past, but ethics investigators now believe they have identified a particularly greedy one. Rep. Spencer Bachus, chair of the House Financial Services Committee, is being probed for possible violations of insider-trading laws, reports the Washington Post . The investigation of the Alabama Republican is the first of its kind involving a member of Congress, and comes as lawmakers are taking steps to stamp out insider trading by legislators and executive branch officials . More»

Some moderates, liberals reluctant to voice support for reelection bid

(NEWSER) - It may not come as a surprise that Joe Lieberman isn’t sure where he stands on President Obama’s reelection bid—but a number of Obama’s fellow Democrats aren’t rushing to support him, either. Instead, they’re refusing to comment or choosing their words carefully, Politico finds. Just a few Blue Dog Democrats the site contacted were willing to offer their views on the 2012 presidential race; other Dems skirted the issue. Some are holding off until they learn who Obama's opponent will be. More»

She encourages small-business owners to go 'on strike'

(NEWSER) - Well, here’s one idea for small businesses to help get us out of this economic mess we’re in: Stop hiring people! That’s the proposal from Tea Party Nation member Melissa Brookstone in a manifesto picked up (and derided) by Gawker and Wonkette . Brookstone’s post accuses the Obama administration, the “progressive socialist Senate,” the “global progressive socialist movement,” and the liberals that make up most of Hollywood and the media of teaming up with the “marxists, socialists, and even communists” of the Occupy Wall Street movement in an effort to wage class warfare, redistribute wealth, collapse the US economy, and turn the nation socialist. And because of that, Brookstone encourages small-business owners to go on strike and stop hiring “until this war against business and my country is stopped.” More»