Exactly, *any* incumbent who has been in the job for 4 years, and then on the eve of a re-election bid says he will lead the people to lemonade springs and the rock candy mountains if only they will re-elect him won't pass the laugh test. "If it is so good why have you not done in in the last 4 years" even the dimmest will ask.
G.W. is running NOT for a historical legacy, but a second term as President of the United States. His record is a measure to judge him by but should NOT be the only measure by which he is elected. Candidates are expected to have platforms for how they intend to govern this nation for four years. A NRST or Flat Tax could be the first major new policy the Bush administration has put forth as a reason to vote for him to have another term. Everything else he has been stating as reason to elect he has been running on the last four years. This plan is bold, and it WILL arouse support if properly sold to the American people.
I'm not exactly a Bush fan, but if you recall there has been a few things on his plate the last 2 years.
I'm told that he supported the plan when he took office and was about to come out in favor of it. After we were hit on 9/11, he put it off until his second term.
I'm as skeptical and cynical as the next guy, but I see no reason to mistrust the timing on this. The support in the House has grown from 8 to 56 cosponsors this year and is still picking up new support. That's probably why he is more comfortable talking about it now. It's more feasible now than ever before.