So far so good, I think
After his over my dead body statement any retreat on tax cuts would be curtains for Bush II. He is probably okay on the rest of it.
Digressing, your paraphrase of the Clinton war cry "It's the economy stupid" reminded me of a humerous incident on the MSNBC boards awhile back. I used a similar paraphrase in a very obvious way (but without quoting the original) responding to a normally quite reasonable and intelligent but liberal democrat who's name I no longer recall.
He immediately jumped me with both feet for resorting to an ad hominem response.
There is some insight there somewhere.