The lame-duck status isn’t a slam on the president, but historically speaking an President with only months remaining in office, especially with low approval ratings and an opposition controlled congress, is considered to be a lame-duck presidency. He has little legistlative control left as congress can choose to use parliamentary procedures to limit or block debate and bills.
He has a golden opportunity here to overcome that status, show the public that he still is the President, and embarras congressional Democrats.
Again, not a slam at the President, merely a statement on Presidential status at the end of their elected careers.
According to the media definition of lame duck it is the last two years of a President second term. President Bush for sure has not been a lame duck President in the last two years and that why we won the war Iraq despite a defeatist democrat Congress.