OBAMA'S ABYSMAL NUMBERS – 7:44 P.M. ET:  Low poll numbers, consistent over months, can hve a devastating effect on a president.  People stop listening to him, Congress won't do his bidding, he isn't invited to campaign for some members of his own party.

Obama's poll numbers as of today are depressing to anyone not taking appropriate tranquilizers.  Real Clear Politics pegs his approval, culled from an average of the major polls, at 45.3%, with disapproval at 49.8%.  No major poll has the presidential approval number above 48%, nor disapproval lower than 47%.

Nor does there appear to be anything on the horizon that could change those numbers drastically.  Americans appear to be coming to a consistent opinion about the president, and it isn't good.  The recent flareup over race will do him no favors.  The economic news is not what he could have wanted.  Our foreign policy has yet to include a major Obama victory.

By contrast, the GOP numbers are solid, although more because of opposition to Obama than became everyone loves Republicans.  The Republican line keeps moving forward, but, in terms of depth, it is thin.

The midterms are in three months.  If Republicans don't pull them off spectacularly, they should head for voluntary extinction.

July 31,  2010