But it is not too early to note that Barack Obama is not the exceptionally popular politician so many people make him out to be:

If the 2012 presidential election were held today, President Obama and possible Republican nominee Mitt Romney would be all tied up at 45% each, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.

The president, seeking a second four-year term, beats another potential GOP rival, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, by six points – 48% to 42%.

In both match-ups, seven percent (7%) like some other candidate, with three percent (3%) undecided.

Wow. Palin has been beat up without rest by the punditocracy . . . and she only trails Obama by six? And this during the first year of a new Presidency, when President enjoy a honeymoon with the public?

Obviously, a lot can happen between now and 2012. But the real dynamite in this story may have to do with the 2010 elections. If there already is a significant amount of dissatisfaction with the Obama Administration, I have to think that there is a great deal of dissatisfaction with the Democratic Congress. And Congress has a lot less time to get on the good side of the voters than does the Obama Administration.