* 25-30% of Americans are in the incredibly shrinking republican base. These are the people convinced bush was a resounding success, Obama wants death panels, etc. If obama walked on water, they say he was afraid to swim, that it was proof of his kenyan birth, and showed his sympathy for Nazi-style euthanasia. This chunk puts a cap on obama’s popularity. Considering he was at around 65% approval, he was basically near the maximum. Nowhere to go but down or at best holding steady.

* health care is a real test. Obama has had to wade into the muck. Is anyone surprised voters don’t like the stink?

* Obama is probably going to succeed. Regardless of the details, I think the finished product, rather than the process by which it was crafted, will prove to be popular, thus giving Obama a boost.

* comparing the approval ratings and progress health care, Obama is doing much better than Clinton at this point.

• If you lose your job, your health care is rationed.
• If you have a pre-existing condition, your health care is rationed.
• If your insurance company decides your care has cost too much, your health care is rationed.
• If you cannot afford insurance, your health care is rationed.

Under the Obama health care plan:

• We will stop health care rationing based on your employment status.
• We will stop health care rationing based on pre-existing conditions.
• We will stop health care rationing based on annual or lifetime caps on coverage.
• We will stop health care rationing based on the affordability of coverage.