Fidel Castro for Congress?

Freshman Sen. Michael Bennet, a Colorado Democrat, has emerged as an outspoken critic of the partisan gridlock and dysfunctional practices in Congress. After just 10 ½ months in office, Bennet, who has a business background, poked a little fun recently at Congress’ dreadful public approval rating.

Relying upon various national polls, the senator produced a chart that put Congress’ 9 percent approval rating in context with other institutions, individuals and ideas that have registered notoriously low opinions among the American public.

For example, Congress is far less popular than the IRS. But the representatives and senators collectively receive higher marks than Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez or longtime Cuban dictator Fidel Castro -– but not by much.