GWB had a majority in Congress the first four years. He could ram things through.
A GOP majority in the House from 2001-2006.
The Dems had a slim (one-vote?) Senate majority from 2001 (part)-2003. GOP had a two-vote majority in the Senate from 2003-2005, then a 10 vote majority in the Senate through 2007.
The GOP controlled both houses for four years- the first four, the most important. The rest held up because they could go into a holding action.

Not much Obama can do unless he can rustle the hosses in the next election.