As to Reagan, August 1982 was just 5 months before his tax cuts took effect in Jan. 1983, propelling 7% growth in 1983. As he later admitted, he was wrong to delay the 1981 tax cuts until 1983. But when the tax cuts kicked in, the economy roared until President Bush I (another Reagan mistake was picking Bush for VP) increased taxes in 1991. That was after Bush I had solemnly pledged at the 1988 convention, “Read my lips!!!! No new taxes!!!!” What a liar, like his son.

So, I’m not eager to replace Obama with a Republican.

Can we please just go back to the Articles of Confederation?

President Obama may not be the most popular man on the campaign trail at the moment, but the president is still faring better in the polls than Ronald Reagan was during this stage of his first term, the National Journal reports.

According to a new study by the Society for Human Resource Management/National Journal Congressional Connection Poll (which was conducted with the Pew Research Center), 47 percent of Americans would like to see Mr. Obama run for re-election in 2012.

The figure, though short of a majority, is significantly higher than Mr. Reagan’s 36 percent rating on the same question in August 1982 – just months before his own party lost 26 House seats (but gained a Senate seat) in the midterm elections.

Of course, remember that Reagan was reelected in a landslide two years later. So I wouldn’t start measuring for new drapes in the White House just yet.