Not only did it work brilliantly for Truman, there are other instances where either Congress or the President has drawn a line in the sand.
Remember George 41 and no new taxes. He failed the testing of a Democratic congress.
Remember when the Pubbies threatened to shut the government down. Clinton faced them down and he won.
The Public responds to decisive action by the Executive ...or not.
Great rant, but if you mean the 1995 Gingrich budget, it was vetoed by Slick. The rats shut the government down, but the pubbies were blamed. By the time the media and popular culture were finished, blood was flowing from GOP ears.
The GOP learned a lesson not yet forgotten.