OBAMA POLL NUMBERS STEADY, AND MUCH TOO HIGH – AT 9:21 A.M. ET:  As we've noted here, it is simply amazing that, with all the foreign-policy catastrophes we've recently seen, Obama's numbers remain as high as they do.  He has gained since the election, possibly because of his own new aggressiveness, and possibly because the economy has in some measures improved.  But he remains a disaster.  From CNN: 

Washington (CNN)Americans' growing optimism about the nation's economy has not boosted President Barack Obama's approval ratings, according to a new CNN/ORC poll. The President's ratings for handling the economy have held steady, and the share who approve of his efforts to help the middle class has risen slightly, but more continue to disapprove than approve of his work on the nation's economic problems.

Ratings of current economic conditions remain mixed, with 48% describing them as good and 52% as poor, but that's significantly better than one year ago. In February 2014, just 36% said the economy was in good shape, 64% called it poor. Looking forward, optimism for the future of the economy has grown. The new poll finds 56% say things will be in good shape a year from now, up from 52% in October and the largest share to say so in CNN/ORC polls during Obama's second term.

And...

Obama's approval rating overall stands at 47%, with 51% disapproving, about the same as in a December CNN/ORC poll.

That's significantly better than George W. Bush's approval ratings at this stage of his presidency. In January 2007, just 34% approved of the job Bush was doing. About 8-in-10 of each president's own party approved of his handling of the job, but Bush fared much worse among political independents: 43% approve of Obama now, just 29% approved of Bush in January 2007.

COMMENT:  I have to believe that press coverage of Obama continues to boost him.  And his rock solid support from some groups in the Democratic base can't hurt.

But Obama's ratings not long ago hovered at 40%, also too high.  When will reality sink in again with the American people. 

February 19, 2015