Conservatives must be salivating over this new Gallup poll…

Since September, Obama's approval rating had been holding in the low 50s and, although it has reached 50% numerous times, it had never dropped below 50% until now.

Of the post-World War II presidents, Obama now is the fourth fastest to drop below the majority approval level, doing so in his 10th month on the job. Gerald Ford dropped below 50% approval during his third month in office, and Bill Clinton did so in his fourth month. Ronald Reagan, like Obama, also dropped below 50% in his 10th month in office, though Reagan's drop occurred a few days sooner in that month (Nov. 13-16, 1981) than did Obama's (Nov. 17-19, 2009).

…I mean, they love anything that mentions Ronald Reagan.

Right?

The poll asked this question: "Do you think that Barack Obama legitimately won the Presidential election last year, or do you think that ACORN stole it for him?" The overall top-line is legitimately won 62%, ACORN stole it 26%.

Among Republicans, however, only 27% say Obama actually won the race, with 52% — an outright majority — saying that ACORN stole it, and 21% are undecided.

Yep, 52% of Republicans think ACORN stole the 2008 presidential election, using nothing but their patented stupidity to secure 53% of the popular vote for Obama. Another 21% of Republicans think, well, maybe. Yeah. That certainly sounds plausible, but… hmm, who can say for sure?

After all, if there's one thing we know about ACORN, it's that they're masters of getting away with illegal activity without anybody ever noticing.

Well, he's still got a chance, but it's not looking quite as chancerific as it was last week. Say la vee. (La vee.)

This leads us to wonder if Republicans — despite growing dissatisfaction with congressional Democrats — the the GOP could still be getting ready to Scozzafava away all of its moderate (reasonable) candidates for 2010 and still end up losing ground.

According to this poll from CNN, that seems to be a possibility…

The poll indicates that a slight majority, 51 percent, of Republicans would prefer to see the GOP in their area nominate candidates who agree with them on all the major the issues even if they have a poor chance of beating the Democratic candidate. Forty-three percent of Republicans say they would rather have candidates with whom they don't agree on all the important issues but who can beat the Democrats.

Democrats polled seemed to place a slightly higher priority on electoral victory: 58 percent say that they would like their party to nominate candidates who can beat Republicans, even if they don't agree with those candidates on all the issues. Fewer than 4 in 10 Democrats say they would rather see their party nominate candidates who agree with them on all major issues, but have a poor chance of beating the Republican candidate.

Translation: Republicans are obstinate and unrealistic, while Democrats are cowardly and accepting of mediocrity.

So, this poll gives us no new information.

Things are happening!

Turns out the Republicans have a four percentage point advantage — quite a different result from when Democrats were leading by six points back in July. The margin of error is plus or minus four percentage points, however, so Democrats might be rightfully tempted to dismiss that result.

What they can't ignore, though, is what Gallup found about the GOP's lead among independents. Among that segment of the population, Republicans lead on the generic ballot by a fairly stunning 22 points, up from just one point in July.

What?! 22 points?! Really? Wow! America is speaking! And it really, really prefers loud obstructionist politics to flaccid defeatist politics. By a lot!

Well, I guess if you've got to choose one…

And that's not all! Only half of them think that he does hate America! And people say Republicans are childish and petty…

More than half of Republicans either say President Obama doesn't love America or say they aren't sure of his feelings toward the country he leads…

PPP polled 766 registered voters nationwide. Of the GOP respondents, 27% agreed that Obama "loves America," 48% disagreed and 25% said they weren't sure.

If they added in a question about whether or not Barack Obama breathes oxygen like the rest of humanity, I wonder what percentage of Republicans would answer that he probably didn't.

I know one thing. It wouldn't be zero.

In the latest turn of events, the Washington Post reports that despite the summer of outrage a clear majority of Americans now support the public option:

Americans remain sharply divided about the overall packages moving closer to votes in Congress and President Obama's leadership on the issue, reflecting the partisan battle that has raged for months over the administration's top legislative priority. But sizable majorities back two key and controversial provisions: both the so-called public option and a new mandate that would require all Americans to carry health insurance.

However, one resident of Washington, DC — it's unclear if his opinion was included in this poll or not — seems to think that a public option is okay, but not necessarily necessary…

Obama "will obviously weigh in when it's important to weigh in" on the possibility of a public option, chief of staff Rahm Emanuel said. Added Obama senior adviser Valerie Jarrett: "He's not demanding that it's in there. He think it's the best possible choice."

Right. And if all you have to go on is your belief that a public option is the best possible choice, and data showing that a majority of Americans also believe it's the best possible choice, you wouldn't want to make an unreasonable demand like that.

However, if you're a Republican, then the odds are pretty good that the stupid person is you…

Forty-two percent of Republicans say President Obama was born outside the United States, while only 37 percent say he was born here.

Twenty-five percent of Democrats say President George W. Bush let 9/11 happen, while 63 percent say he didn't.

At a certain point, you have to wonder if ignorance is a lifestyle choice.

* If you don't rebuild, the Jedis win. They hate our way of life.

* This article here says that people's faith in the accuracy in news reporting has hit its lowest point in two decades. But, you know, I don't fucking believe that shit.

* Sen, Robert Byrd just wants to protect young gay men from getting molested by Julius Ceasar. Or something.

* Majority of doctors found to be socialist scum.

* Double-Yoo Tee Eff, ACORN? If you're going to be corrupt, do you have to be moronic about it, too?

Well, you're not alone in being alone in that confusion…

Two in three Americans call the health care reforms being debated by lawmakers confusing; only 31 percent said they have a clear understanding of the proposed changes. Sixty-seven percent of those questioned said the reform ideas were confusing.

This evaluation cuts across party lines, with majorities of both Republicans (69 percent) and Democrats (58 percent) saying the current proposals are confusing.

That's funny, because — according to my own personal polling data — somewhere in the neighborhood of 99.7 percent of people I've talked to have ridiculously strong, entrenched opinions about health care reform.

Although, I am 82.3 percent confused by those opinions.