VERDICT ON OBAMA – AT 11:18 A.M. ET:  Second terms are tough, but this tough?  A new poll shows Obama edging a bit upward in one category, but in sad shape overall.  From CNN:

Washington (CNN) – President Barack Obama's approval rating has edged up a bit since the end of last year, according to a new national poll.

But a CNN/ORC International survey also indicates the number of Americans who hope that his policies will succeed has dropped 12 points since last year and a majority now predicts that his policies will fail.

According to the survey, which was released Monday, 45% of the public gives Obama a thumbs-up on the job he's doing as President.

That's up from 41% in November and December, when the President was at or near all-time lows in polls from CNN and other organizations. The President's disapproval rating now stands at 50%, down from 56% at the end of last year.

"Leaving aside partisan demographics, Obama gets his biggest support from people who live in big cities, who give him a 56% approval rating," says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. "Three groups tie for the lowest rating for Obama in the current poll - rural Americans, senior citizens, and whites. The President scores only a 36% rating among each of those groups."

COMMENT:  How sad.  What a divided nation we are.  It didn't have to be that way.  Had Obama understood the nature of his office, and not had such an ego, combined with a chip on his shoulder, he might have brought greater unity.  I'm afraid it's too late.  He doesn't have the size to be president.  Neither did Jimmy Carter, to whom Obama is often compared.  And some around him, like his attorney general, are not helpful.

Nor is it helpful for the president, in a Super Bowl-timed interview with Bill O'Reilly, to blame Fox News for his troubles.  The Fox News audience averages less than one percent of the American population.  What's the excuse for the other 99%?

February 4,  2014