I was surprised to see GW wield the veto pen, striking down 4 + billion $$$ worth of pork, while postponing a half-billion dollars of worthy expenses.
That took guts, kudos to him. GW certainly doesn't seem to be getting enough credit for it, which highlights his, pardon the pun, "deficits", as of late.
GW's PR skills have been sorely missing this summer. His speech in Oregon the other day, was the first time in months I have heard him be articulate, passionate, and with unquestionably sound reasoning. I sure wish he sounded like that when he is discussing the economy or foreign policy.
But it is now almost the end of the quiet before the election storm, so perhaps GW is just warming up to take the field?
He didn't use the veto. He simply refused to spend money Congress alloted to him and asked Congress to reapprove most of the funds. The amount of pork saved will probably amount to well less than one billion. Compare that to the hundreds of billions of new spending he's approved.