The mantra on FoxNews and right-wing radio talk shows is that President Barack Obama's poll numbers are "plunging" or "in the tank" or "dropping like a rock."

Bold statements. And outright lies.

Obama received 52.9 percent of the popular vote in the 2008 election. His opponent, Republican John McCain, drew 45.7 percent.

The latest Gallup poll (released yesterday, Feb. 14) shows Obama with a 53 percent approval rating. And the percentage of respondents that disapproves of Obama's job performance is 40 - nearly 6 points less than McCain's tally in the election.

In other words, the people who supported Obama in November 2008 still support him today. And not everyone who voted for McCain is dissatisfied with Obama.

In a nation as divided as ours, that's about the best any president can hope for.