Anyone got Mike Pence's phone number?

I found a new (to me) right-wing rant called, appropriately enough, "The Rant". As I read the editorial by managing editor Frank Salvato, entitled "A Conservative House, Divided Against Itself, Cannot Stand" ("Divided Against Itself" is redundant, BTW), the following statement got my ire:

As for the obscene level that government spending has reached, it needs to be pointed out that Congress approves the budget, not the White House. If real fiscal reform is ever to be attained it will be the appetites of those in Congress that will have to be suppressed. While many waste no time pointing out that President Bush hasn’t once used his veto power where government spending is concerned, it should also be noted that he isn’t the one proposing legislation to pay for the building of bridges that go to uninhabited islands in Alaska.

What is Salvato's argument? He mentions that "many waste no time" (inidicating he's irritated with us) "pointing out that President Bush hasn’t once used his veto power where government spending is concerned", but his counter to this reasonable argument is very weak indeed. The very reasonable point again is that the President has veto power and he has not used it. Perhaps once or twice is forgivable - that is, maybe the Republican leadership assured him that "this is it" insofar as pork or that revenues (taxes) would grow well in-excess of such pork. But this President has signed-off on 6 successive budgets presented to his desk.

Like it or not - the Republican President is the political leader of the Republican party, including the Republicans running Congress. As for Salvato's assertion that fiscal restraint must come from the Congress - this is laughable. Every parent knows a child must be disciplined (led) when he is engaged in foolishness. He will not self-correct. Congress is the child; Bush is the parent. If congress is to present a reasonable budget to the President's desk, the President must demand it.

Jonah Goldberg recently made the rapier distinction that Bush is not Reagan insofar as being anti-state. Bush is rather anti-left and comfortable with the state in its present (or dare i say larger) form. In order for spending to ever be brought under control, the President will need to once again be an anti-state conservative. Anyone got Mike Pence's phone number?