Just 26 percent in the national survey express a favorable view of politicians, while 71 percent see them unfavorably. While that negative assessment peaks among independents, it crosses party lines, making dislike of politicians one view on which bipartisanship prevails.

Politicians score well behind their inevitable companions – pundits, seen unfavorably by 59 percent (with 20 percent undecided, suggesting that to some extent it’s an unfamiliar term), and public opinion polls, which draw an even split. (Rating of polls, of course, are only among people who agree to participate in them.)