The recent media fixation on the President's approval ratings is a prime example. Democratic leaning columnist Paul Krugman recently wrote in the New York Times of President Bush's "plummeting" poll numbers over the last few months. The facts are that President Bush's approval rating is exactly where we thought it would be eighteen months ago. And the approval numbers "plummeted" all of three points from 63% to 60% in three months!

Others in the media have recently talked about how weak the President is currently and they point as evidence to his "falling" poll numbers. First, when you are at 90% approval, I may not be a genius, but which direction can they go? And his numbers were sustained at a high longer than any other President since polling began. Second, the President's job approval rating of 60% compares very well with other Presidents who won re-election fairly easily. Ronald Reagan in 1984 had a 58% approval rating prior to Election Dayand Richard Nixon had a 57% rating, and each won in a landslide carrying 49 states. Even Bill Clinton, a darling to some in the media, had a 54% approval rating when he won with a fairly large margin in 1996.

The 2002 election offers additional confirmation of some media elites lack of perspective. How many times did you hear that, "The economy is suffering, so folks are going to take it out on Republicans" or "Folks are very upset about corporate accountability and since the Republican Party is viewed as close to business, they will be hurt on election day" or "Citizens' 401(k)s have lost value over the last year, so Republicans beware on Election Day."

Putting aside the fact that for many this was only wishful thinking published as analysis, an examination of previous historical results as well as looking behind the initial current events, one would have discovered quite a different story. I understand the desire of many in the media to link immediate cause and effect to every blip or event, but this is beginning to strain credibility.

On closer examination of the 2002 issue environment, a very opposing reality would have been revealed. Yes, folks were concerned and nervous about the economy (they still are), but this concern had not risen to the level of anger, and it is anger that fuels discontent at the ballot box. Further, the only positive message related to improving the economy heard by voters leading up to Election Day came from Republican candidates and because of this fact Democrats suffered. The number one issue on Election Day was the economy in every single close race. On Election Day the public trusted Republicans more on handling the economy than the Democrats by a seven-point margin! That is why Republicans won, because of the positive agenda put forward by President Bush and Republican candidates.

Perspective takes a bit of digging, some objectivity, and not relying on the "spin" many in the media have become accustomed to over the last ten years. I hope this and other information you now have access to will provide some of this perspective. Thank God (or is it Al Gore) for the Internet.

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Matthew Dowd serves as Senior Adviser to the RNC

Yes, I know that a few years ago state legislators banned so-called party politics from Chicago elections in favor of ''non-partisan competition.'' But that only formalized the near death of the GOP here. Let me cite three reasons that led to the Chicago Republican Party's decline and three steps to revive it.

First, the Republican Party of Chicago lost the support of major party contributors when business leaders determined that it was a waste of money to invest in two parties when one would satisfy their needs. From the onset of the first Daley administration, business contributors began to fade away. Too many city Republican officials began to cut deals with the Democrats, which only added to business' lack of interest in the GOP. But a major cause has been the changing nature of business itself.

Second, the transformation of business in the last 30 years has fostered its leaders' political agnosticism. Earlier, business leaders who lived in or near the city and had a stake in its governance raised money for Republican candidates because they believed in specific principles and goals: lower taxes and efficient and honest government. They were mobilized under the umbrella of the United Republican Fund, headed by Acme Steel retired CEO Fred Gillies, and included, among many, the Stuarts (Quaker Oats), the Ingersolls (Borg Warner) and the McCormicks (International Harvester). A young Charles Percy (Bell & Howell) supplied energetic thrust. But the conversion of Chicago businesses to mere outposts of absentee conglomerates meant that managers (working in Chicago for only a few years) would run businesses--and they had no interest in risking retribution from the Democratic organization by supporting sure-loser Republican candidacies.

Third, a series of Republican governors from William G. Stratton to George Ryan welded a treaty with the Chicago Democratic organization and discouraged Republican candidacies in the city. Republican candidacies were supported for state offices, leaving Chicago's GOP to stagnate.

Rebuilding Republicanism in Chicago requires much creativity.

First, its brightest young leaders should pop up in visible roles in citizen reform movements. Reform should be the watchword--challenging aldermanic stand-patters with vigorous candidacies, perusing budgets and municipal accountability in the spirit that animated the early Civic Federation. For all its successes, the Daley organization is wasteful, hostile to reform and opposed to decentralization of government.

The drive for school vouchers should be embraced by reformers eager to tackle reactionary teachers' unions. Funding should come more easily to these committees than to GOP organizations, and from these groups will come fresh new leaders. But the Republican Party will benefit when such reform movements flourish. The day can come when a nonpartisan mayoral candidate running on a reform ticket will benefit the GOP.

Second, the Republican Party in Chicago should take an interest in the neighborhoods where young professionals live and work. Lowering the city's murder rate and City Council-watching against corruption should be the key.

Third, the Republican Party of Chicago should make a greater effort to identify with issues that affect minorities. Immediately, the cause of Miguel Estrada should enlist GOP energies. Here is an outstanding lawyer, potentially the first Hispanic U.S. Supreme Court justice, who is blocked from a Senate vote by filibustering Democrats, including Sen. Dick Durbin.

If the Republican Party will do these things, it will rescue itself from near-extinction and spare the city's politics from boredom.

Thomas F. Roeser is author of Father Mac: The Life and Times of Ignatius D. McDermott, Co-founder of Chicago's Famed Haymarket Center (McDermott Foundation, $24.95).

NASA Technology is touching the lifestyles of all Americans in a variety of ways. More than 1300 documented NASA Technologies have reached U. S. Industry and has helped improve our quality of life and even generated millions of jobs for the American workingman. More than 100 technology spin-offs have come out of the Space Shuttle Program alone.

One of the first technologies to come out of NASA was the miniaturization of the computer industry. The satellites that NASA put into orbit, for the benefit of the American people, had to be made smaller because of the weight vs. fuel to get it into space. The smaller the electronics, the more powerful the satellites could be and would be, with the miniature circuits developed, the job market expanded by millions to produce them for our use.

The space industry needed a pliable, heat resistant sealant to use and the product called “RTV” was born. This silicone chalk has been used on all of the spacecrafts and has become popular in the commercial business community. It can be used on autos, houses, electrical equipment and many other applications and had developed million of jobs in the manufacturing industry.

The CAT scan and MRI scan commonly used in hospitals today, were developed by NASA to computer-enhance pictures of the moon for the Apollo Program.

During the Apollo program, the astronauts needed a way to stay cool while they were walking on the moon, in the sun. The cool suit was developed and is now used by racecar drivers, nuclear reactor technicians, shipyard workers, people with MS and kids with a congenital disorder known as Hypohidrotic Ectodermal Displasia.

Thanks to the Hubble Space Telescope, women have a non-surgical and less traumatic breast biopsy technique. This technology is now saving women time, pain, scarring, radiation exposure and money.

Another breakthrough is for breast cancer screening, using an advanced digital sensor that detects infrared energy. This sensor is incorporated in a non-invasive diagnostic tool that checks for breast cancer.

The cardiac pacemaker is another benefit from the Apollo program in the 70’s. The most modern unit uses space communications telemetry to communicate with the implanted pacemaker. The longer life batteries are thanks to the technology from spacecraft electrical power systems.

The space shuttle fuel pump technology, led to the development of a miniaturized ventricular assist pump by NASA and heart surgeon Dr. Michael DeBakey. The pump, that is currently undergoing European trials, is only 4 ounces in weight and 2inches long by 1 inch in diameter.

The design of the biological laboratory, used on the Mars Viking Spacecraft, has aided insulin dependent diabetics with implant and external insulin pumps. These computerized pumps can infuse insulin at a pre-programmed rate, allowing more precise control of blood sugar levels.

An ingestible thermometer capable of accurately measuring and relaying internal body temperature to an external receiver was developed from satellite communication techniques.

Cordless power tools and appliances are one of the most successful commercial spin-offs of the technology developed by the space industry. These re-chargeable tools were developed to permit astronauts to do repairs in space.

Another spin-off was a lighter, smaller, self-contained breathing apparatus that gave fire fighters more mobility while working in smoke filled structures. NASA designed this in response to concerns from the nation’s fire chiefs. Fire departments rescue crews have a new extrication tool to help remove accident victims from wrecked vehicles. The hand-held device requires no auxiliary power systems or cumbersome hoses and is 70% cheaper than previous rescue equipment. The cutter uses a miniature version of the explosive charges that separate devices on the shuttle.

A third item that the fire departments use that was developed by NASA is the Thermal Imager. This Infrared Cameras can look thru walls and see hot spots and aid the fire fighters in locating victims and fighting the fire.

Other fruits of the space programs are satellite T.V., wireless cell phones that use satellites instead of cell towers, various plastics, solar cells, biomedical sensors and computer chips just to name a few items with their roots in the space program.

As you can see, the space program has developed numerous items that we use every day to improve our quality of life and create thousands of good paying jobs. Many people are saying that we should defund the manned portion of the space program; but, how many technologies will not be developed because of this unwise idea.

We should, all say thanks NASA and tell our Congressional men and women that we need to see more money allocated to NASA to inspire the economy onward and upward.

THANK YOU NASA FOR THE GOOD WORK!

==>Ronald Reagan