SAY IT AIN'T SO, MICHELLE, SAY IT AIN'T SO – AT 9:17 A.M. ET:  Added to the president's woes is the fact that his wife either isn't following the script, or is following one written for her by the opposition.  Whichever the case, Michelle Obama's poll numbers are heading into Barack country.  Yesterday, Michelle was the ultimate weapon.  Today she's in need of retraining.  From Byron York at the Washington Examiner:

After a widely admired start in the White House, first lady Michelle Obama's popularity is falling and, if the current downward trend in her approval ratings continues, could touch lows not seen since the scandal-tainted days of Hillary Rodham Clinton.

The Obamas and the Clintons, together again.  What a movie!

In the new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll, 50 percent of those surveyed say they have a positive opinion of Mrs. Obama. That's down from 64 percent in April 2009 and 55 percent in January of this year. The first lady's positive rating is barely ahead of her husband's personal approval figure, which stands at 46 percent in the new poll.

It's lame to go to Spain when many others are feeling pain.

After the Spain trip brought the first extended bad press of her time as first lady, the White House, and some of its allies in the press, pushed back by claiming Mrs. Obama will still be much in demand. News accounts suggested her "sky-high popularity," her role as "cultural and fashion icon" and her "incredible force" will boost Democrats across the country. Now, with the Wall Street Journal/NBC numbers, that's not so clear.

And...

...one more lavish outing and nobody will be talking about her as the White House's best asset.

COMMENT:  My, how the not-so-mighty have fallen.  But don't underestimate the press factor here.  When push comes to kill, the media will protect the Obamas, in whom whole journalistic careers are invested.  And there is time for the White House to correct mistakes.

The Clintons were down, yet Bill Clinton won a decisive victory in the 1996 election.  Opinion about the Obamas will be affected by what Republicans do, and the candidates they nominate.  It is not enough to watch the agony in the White House.  Our side has to be ready to govern, and do so effectively and to public acclaim.

August 13, 2010