Actually, getting the Bush to threaten to veto something is a sort of a victory. Until now he's just signed everything they sent him, with "signing notes" stating that he intends to ignore them. And his ignorance ignoring has been powerfully done.

By not using the veto he's prevented anything from going back to the Legislature, so nothing could be contradicted or overridden.

By being forced to make a credible VETO threat, he's vacated his stance that he's the invincible "decider" who can just ignore Congress. He's admitted that Congress still matters enough to be annoying at least - which is a step toward at least a possibility that Congress has some hormones left.

John