Bush just got through winning an election where for 4 years (except for the 6-9 months after 9/11/2004) he was subjected to unreserved bashing every day in the MSM. Everyone hates Congress, so playing a little brinksmanship with those paper tigers should be a piece of cake.
I don't know, but I suspect that there are many, many simultaneous back-room deals at any given moment that we don't know about. One Freeper posted (I forget who) that Bush signed CFR to keep McCain in line during the campaign (I don't know whether it's true, but it strikes me a plausible).
So? You can speculate about back-room deals until you are blue in the face. We have worked and waited for 25 years and now with a Republican Senate, a Republican House, and a Republican President all we hear are excuses. Pubs need to get off the bench, pick up a bat and helmet, get in the batter's box and take their best swing.