Or else what? He DID realize he was in a separate branch of government, didn't he?
The MSM was fully behind him. Internet was in its infancy. The situation was similar to today, where the Congress was run by Republicans (but with a smaller majority and lots of RINOs) and the government was going to shut down if they did not pass a continuing resolution or some such.
He threatened to veto the resolution and shut down the government and blame it on the Republicans if they did not pass the bill. The MSM (the real power behind the throne) backed him to the hilt.
The Republicans caved, not unexpectedly. They had very little media, and what they had was not focused on this issue.
To blame the congress for this is like blaming a whipped dog for cringing when he sees the lash.
I have said this many times. We have been living under a mediacracy for decades, instead of a Republic. We are just starting to come out from under it.