MR. PRESIDENT, WE BRING GOOD NEWS.  MR. PRESIDENT, WE BRING ROTTEN NEWS – AT 3:36 P.M. ET:   From Andrew Malcolm at the L.A. Times's Top of the Ticket blog: 

Finally, some good news to please President Obama in a new Gallup Poll.

The survey finds that more Americans still identify themselves as Democrats (31%) than call themselves Republicans.

Now, the bad news:

That 31% ties the lowest annual average of Democrats since 1988, when fellow Harvard Law alum Michael Dukakis got thumped by the first Bush to become president.

In fact, in the 717 days since Beyonce sang "Moon River" or something to this dancing Democrat, the percentage of Americans identifying as members of his party has declined five points, or almost 14 percent, from where it was. No wonder he smokes cigarettes.

Worse, Gallup finds that the percentage of Democratic-identifiers has fallen to where it's now only two points above (whisper) Republicans.

Additionally, things have gone so well changing the harsh partisan tone of Washington, as Obama promised, that more folks are fleeing into calling themselves "independents" (38%). That's what Americans do when they're too embarrassed to say what party they secretly favor.

COMMENT:  The really grim news for the Nancy and Barack Party is that independents have been tilting heavily Republican in their actual votes cast. 

Obama is still the slight favorite, by virtue of incumbency and rhetorical skill, to be reelected in 2012.  But he will have to face far worse numbers than he did in 2008.  And he'll have to face his record. 

There are retirement villages available.

January 6, 2011