Hot on the heels of a Washington Post/ABC News poll which revealed that only 21% of Americans consider themselves Republicans, a New York Times poll is out today and puts the number even lower: 20%. For the record, both numbers are at the lowest level they’ve been in decades.

Here’s Steve Benen:

There was some talk in Republican circles recently that the GOP is finally “back in the saddle.” If that’s true, the horse is looking pretty small.

[Chris] Cillizza added, “The number of people who see themselves as GOPers is on the decline even as those who remain within the party grow more and more conservative. That means that the loyal base of the party has an even larger voice in terms of the direction it heads even as more and more empirical evidence piles up that the elevation of voices like former vice president Dick Cheney does little to win over wavering Republicans or recruit Independents back to the GOP cause.”

Which brings us back to yesterday’s discussion about the party’s base refusing to allow the party to progress or adapt. Indeed, while the GOP would presumably be looking for new ways to expand its numbers, Republicans are apparently intent on doing the opposite.

It sounds like Republicans need to step up the “Obama’s a terrorist communist socialist fascist!” rhetoric, amiright?

Update: OMG, Obama’s approval ratings have climbed over the last few weeks! C’mon GOP! Formulate some creative new insults!!