In terms of standing up to the president the Republican congresses were better than the current Democrats.  For one example, think about the Military Commissions Act - the congressional pushback was from the right, not the left.  They still ultimately capitulated, of course; I'm not saying they covered themselves in glory.  But even if we went with what you mention, the GOP would have delivered the presidency in 2004 and Democrats in 2008 based on their respective control of Congress.  In other words, the same result.  But maybe there would have been a little more spine along the way.