Obama and Congress face falling ratings

President Obama's approval ratings are falling, but not like those of Congress.

Obama's approval rating is 45% in a new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll, just one point above the low that he hit in August of 2011.

Congress' approval rating? It's 12%, tied for its lowest standing in the history of the poll.

As Obama kicks off a series of economic speeches with an address Wednesday in Galesburg, Ill., the NBC/WSJ poll reflects public dissatisfaction with all aspects of the federal government.

"There is a palpable unhappiness with Washington," says Democratic pollster Peter D. Hart, who conducted the survey with Republican counterpart Bill McInturff. "Outside the Beltway, voters are saying, 'You don't get it.'"

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On Obama's numbers, NBC reports:

"A combined 44% say they are either 'optimistic and confident' or 'satisfied and hopeful' that Obama will do a good job during the rest of his second term in office - down 7 points from January 2013, at the beginning of the president's second term.

"By contrast, a combined 56% say they are either 'uncertain' or 'pessimistic' about the remainder of his second term ­- up 8 points since January 2013.

"And just 34% believe the president's health-care law is a good idea, versus 47% who say it's a bad idea, which is virtually unchanged from June.

"But by 51% to 45%, respondents say congressional Republicans should stop trying to block the law instead of doing everything they can to prevent it from being implemented."