President Barack Obama's approval ratings, once seen as historically high, could soon be among the worst early poll numbers for a modern American president.

He has already, however, outlasted the brief honeymoon of the last Democratic president, Bill Clinton.

The Gallup Organization — whose polls show Obama at just 50 percent approval rating less than eight months into his first term — says only two modern presidents, Gerald Ford and Bill Clinton, saw their approval ratings drop below 50 percent by this time in their presidencies. Ronald Reagan is the next in line, with his numbers dipping after 10 months, while Jimmy Carter retained positive approval numbers for more than a year.

The historical numbers back David Brooks' view today of an "Obama Slide."

Earlier presidents faced a more forgiving public: Richard Nixon maintained positive approval numbers for just over two years, and Lyndon Johnson for almost 2½ years. Dwight Eisenhower's numbers remained positive for more than five years, and John F. Kennedy never dipped into negative territory during his 1,000 days.

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The last time someone's numbers did what Obama's are doing, the situation was similar: a Democrat had inherited a complete economic disaster after a long period of inept Republican rule, and following a brief honeymoon his numbers slid as people grew impatient for improvement. But what happened next is the extraordinary part. His numbers started a long and remarkably consistent march upwards, as he dealt slowly but effectively with the Republican economic wreckage. By the time his first term was done, he was poised to smack his Republican opponent down hard -- winning much more easily than the first time around. And by the time he left office, he had one of the highest approval ratings ever recorded for a departing US President. Thanks for this encouraging comparison!

Of course, the flip side is Ford. But where Ford differs is that although he, too, inherited an economic disaster following a long period of inept Republican rule, he chose to continue the Republican economic policies. Obama isn't doing that.

House and Senate after his first 2 disastrous years to keep him in check.

History could repeat itself.