In terms of CFR, I think that was a case of taking the issue away, particularly due to Enron's collapse. Had Enron not collapsed, I think he would have vetoed it, but Enron's collapse, plus some bad mismanagement of the bill by Hastert ensured it would pass. The good news is that this thing will probably get shot down for the most part by SCOTUS.
Right now, the effort to make the tax cuts permanent is a big winner. We also have the war on terrorism, and in some cases, we also have the judicial nominations. The fact that the Green Party is running to their left - even against people like Wellstone - makes things easier. Bush has proven he can win (albeit it was too close for comfort, mostly due to the DUI smear that Rat in Maine engineered in the last week of the election) with less-than-stellar turnout from the Christian Right.
The Dems will hang themselves as they try to minimiz their losses to the Greens. Plus, we're going to get a lot more support for the Teamsters due to the ANWR fight. Family farmers in South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, Georgia, and Missouri will go Republican as the Democratic votes against permanently repealing the death tax are mentioned in ads.
In fact, the GOP may have a simple slogan for the fall "No death tax." Does that sound familiar to you? ;)
"No death tax." Does that sound familiar to you? ;)"
"No Car Tax" worked for the charismatically-challenged Gilmore, now, didn't it?! =^D
FReegards...MUD