MORE POLL RESULTS - AT 7:31 P.M. ET:  New poll results from CNN and Pew confirm Rasmussen's report that the president's poll numbers are slipping, although Ras's numbers are lower than the other two:

March 16 (Bloomberg) -- President Barack Obama’s approval ratings are slipping as Americans fret about the economy, two polls found.

A March 12-15 survey conducted for CNN by Opinion Research Corp. found Obama’s approval rating dropped 3 points from late last month and 12 points from early February. A Pew Research Center poll taken March 9-12 found that Obama’s approval rating slipped to 59 percent from 64 percent last month.

While Americans still generally support Obama’s handling of the economy, more questions are cropping up, according to the polls.

COMMENT:  A drop after some weeks in office isn't that unusual.  But the trend in all polls is downward, based on policy decisions.  That is bad news for the administration.  A percentage of the public is losing confidence in Obama's policies, and we haven't even had a foreign crisis.  There is opportunity here for Republicans, but only if they develop a coherent set of policy choices that comes from the party, not from talk-show hosts.  The Contract with America was effective in 1994, and it's a good model.

But Republicans must be careful.  Millions of Americans are hurting, and they are legitimately angry at the excesses of some business firms, which are now using our tax dollars to get out of trouble.  If the GOP just goes back to stale old mantras about the "great American free enterprise system," or if conservative talk-show mouths keep screaming about "redistribution of wealth," the party may well get a very cold response.  The idea is to recognize legitimate problems and come up with solutions that work, consistent with the principle that government should become involved only when the private sector can't or won't do the job.

A particular danger area for Republicans is health care.  The conservative movement was successful over the last 40 years not simply because it stood for "low taxes," but because it became the embodiment of traditional American ideals, a strong national defense, and a moral code based on our Judeo-Christian heritage.  When Ronald Reagan demanded, "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down that wall!" he was speaking of human freedom, not the desire to replace the wall with a corporate data center.  Health care, especially for a pro-life party, involves serious moral issues.  Republicans must deal with these in a sensitive, ethical manner, and not lean on talkers who scream, "Where does it say you get health care?"  The GOP can develop an enlightened health-care plan, mostly dependent on the private sector, but mindful of our moral codes.  That it must do.  That will appeal to Americans, who are an idealistic, but not an ideological people.

March 16, 2009