BUSH IS LEADING NATION IN RIGHT DIRECTION

When Franklin Roosevelt became president in 1933, he immediately embarked on a three-month agenda that revolutionized the role of the federal government in our daily lives.

Ever since, presidents have been held accountable at the end of their first 100 days -- even if they weren't always held to FDR's standards of legislative and political achievements.

George W. Bush passed the 100-day mark of his presidency this week. As could have been predicted on the day he was sworn in, Republicans think he has done a marvelous job, while Democrats have found a good reason to unify in their unrelenting attacks on virtually every program Bush supports.

A significant change in the White House, though, is what might be called the matter of presidential style.

After eight years of Bill Clinton's flamboyant headline-grabbing, the nation has had to adjust to the daily grind of government without flourishes.

It's a good change. Slowly but surely the focus is shifting to real issues and real efforts to resolve the nation's thornier problems rather than keeping the focus on one headline-hungry man.

In fact, Bush has been so removed from the spotlight that few Americans are fully aware of how effective he is behind the scenes in keeping his agenda moving forward.

And the Bush plan -- lower taxes, more money for education, the federal budget, foreign policy, trade issues -- is definitely moving in the right direction.

While the familiar political faces stick to their party lines regarding the young Bush presidency, a real scorecard emerges from various national polls that record what Americans think of the new president.

Generally, Americans are satisfied with him and with the job he is doing.

For the most part, Americans aren't harboring resentment or fears about how the election was decided last year. In one poll, 76 percent of the respondents said they believe Bush is the legitimate president.

And the same poll showed 70 percent think Bush is working hard, while well over half think he cares about people, understands complex issues and is moving the country in the right direction.

Critics point to what they say is a failure to keep some campaign commitments.

These include shifts on a couple of minor environmental issues and the fact that the so-called marriage penalty and the estate tax haven't been removed from the tax code.

So far, there is no evidence that Bush has given up on any of his key points.

He has demonstrated in his first 100 days that compromise can produce lasting results. And he has more than 1,300 days to accomplish so much more.