You know it's not just the pulpit. Remmember the pres appoints the cabinet; thats Sec. Of/Education/State/Labor/Defense/Interior blah blah. They are all appointed by him and they all submitt budgetary requests that reflect his wishes. Thats why you always hear of the veto if the Congress doesn't pass the funding programs he wants. Take the No Child Left Behind Act. Thats his baby and it cost us taxpayers a lot of money.
He is not the passive actor that Mr V says; he is the man who sets the budgetary priorities and they had better follow his wishes. Ask any Poly-Sci major who is most responsible for determining spending in the govt.

Hardware; boy I miss the local hardware guys. I hate Home Depot.