I don't give a flip about "his" success. What matters is what's good for the country. And temporary tax cuts are no better for the country than no tax cuts at all, because they provide ZERO incentive for government to cut spending. They'll only cause the deficit to increase, and then at the end of the ten-year period, the taxes will go up automatically, and the whole idea of cutting taxes will have become discredited in the public eye, because of the way they added to the deficit.
If they're not made permanent, then it's all for nothing. Yes, Congress needs to be pushed, but so does the President, most definitely. It's not a complicated task for them in the slightest. Once that's done, then we can talk about letting him play around with his other ideas.
You ought to care about his success in implimenting tax cuts. It serves as an illustration that the President is an ally on this issue.
The only reason they were NOT made permanent is because the SENATE stood as an obstacle. The President and the House were solid allies. You wish to pressure the President, fine. I consider it a waste of my time that can be better spent leaning on relunctant Liberal Republicans in the Senate.
Further, those tax cuts helped shorten a recession that does dampen the economy which does negatively impact every American citizen. Certainly it is only a short term solution, permanence is needed, but it is and was better for the country then no tax cuts at all.
As to letting him "play" with other ideas, Pfft. You may not have any interest in other platforms he campaigned on, but I do. I do not consider, for example, S.S. reform to be a "pie in the sky" idea.
Have I missed something here? When has this administration shown any concern about the deficit or any desire at all to cut spending? Bush will advocate making the tax cuts permanent on principle, not because it has any hope of resulting in lower spending.