I'm not so sure about that.
If J F'n Kerry had won, the Republican legislature would have fought him tooth and nail, instead of handing over the goods like they do with our "conservative" President.
Sad, isn't it.
You're of course 100% right. The republican congress kept Clinton in check for 6 years and actually forced him to justify spending and government enlargement. In lots of cases, Clinton had to fight them just to keep the congress from shrinking the government.
It is sad what we've become.