RESIDENT REMAINS IN POLL DOGHOUSE - AT 10:27 A.M. ET:  What strikes us about the polls is the president's inability to reverse them, no matter what he does...or says.  And "saying" is a big deal with this non-silent president. 

In recent weeks the president has 1) spoken at West Point, announcing a decision to intensify the Afghan war; 2) picked up the Nobel Peace Prize, accompanied by what was probably the best - at least the most pro-American speech - of his career; 3) gone to Copenhagen to try to get a global warming agreement.

And yet, his poll numbers remain steady or continue to sink.  This is not good news for this very political White House.  Today's Rasmussen report has 46% of likely voters approving of Obama's performance, with 53% disapproving.  While those are not the president's worst numbers in Rasmussen, they are close.

While some pollsters assure us that President Obama remains personally popular, instinct tells us that his poor performance ratings must be do in part to an increase in personal dislike.  He is overexposed on television, and often seems cold and disengaged. I would like to see pollsters ask this question:  "If there were a major international crisis today, do you trust Barack Obama to do the right thing for the United States?  High level of trust?  Moderate trust?  Little trust?  No trust?

Just asking.

December 20,  2009