• 56% think Obama isn’t a very good president and sucks and stuff
• 42%think Obama is in fact still a good president – this specific number is at an all-time low
• 2%don’t really think about the news that much, apparently source

• 37% Sarah Palin’s approval rating in Alaska
• 44% Barack Obama’s approval rating in Alaska source

• » Who would have thought that abandoning your state halfway through your term as Governor might make your constituents dislike you? Also in that poll: Only 6% of Alaskans like Levi Johnston, and residents with positive feelings about Palin are twice as likely to believe they can see Russia from their houses as those who dislike her.

• 64% the first lady’s approval rating in June 2009, when she was loved
• 50% her approval rating this week, after her glitzy trip to Spain source

• 53% approval rating, which is up slightly (+/- 3%)

On race relations:

• 58% of Americans thought Obama would change race relations before his inauguration
• 41% of Americans say he’s actually improved race relations in his first full year in office source

• Where was the freefall? Strangely enough, it was largest among other blacks. While white voters dipped to about 40 percent from 55 percent, blacks were at 75 percent a year ago, free-falling to 51 percent – a 24-point decline.

• 49% of respondents in today’s Gallup poll big-upped the president’s job performance
• 48% of respondents in Wednesday’s Quinnipiac University poll did the same; ouch, bro source

• 22% Gray Davis’ approval rating at the time that Arnold Schwartzenegger was elected in a recall
• 27% Arnold Schwartzenegger’s current approval rating; he’s nearing Planet Hollywood in popularity source

• 66% Obama’s approval rating in May from independent voters
• 49% his indie approval rating in August; wonder what happened source

• 49% of those surveyed said they support the way Obama’s handling health care – the first time it’s dipped below 50% since he took office
• 44% were against Obama’s handling of health care – way up from 29% in April; Obama’s approval rating is over 50%, though source

• 56% Obama’s approval rating in May, down 5% from April source

• 67% approval rating, down a bit but still pretty high source