Republicans have done a poor job to informing the public about the impact of the losing the Bush tax cuts. Also, I think the Republicans have played nice far too long. See:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1845782/posts
for some talking points.
“Republicans” have never wanted to support W. They want to throw a hissy fit and blame him for their losses in elections.
All WH initiatives have been scorned by the so-called “base”. They’re quiet about tax cuts, because they know those work. But when you’re in a reflexive knee-jerk anti-Bush stance, it’s difficult to say anything good about his policies.