Clinton's primary message--don't let the Republicans spend the surplus on tax cuts--didn't seem all that urgent, since it's not clear that even the House Republicans have a majority to do that.
Clinton was hoping that Republicans would make big tax cuts.
mnli hypothesis: Clinton was hoping that Republicans would make big tax cuts. premise: Clinton's primary message--don't let the Republicans spend the surplus on tax cuts--didn't seem all that urgent, since it's not clear that even the House Republicans have a majority to do that.