Faced with an obstinate Congress, President Barack Obama has begun to stretch the limits of his executive power to get things done.

"We can't wait for an increasingly dysfunctional Congress to do its job. Where they won't act, I will," said the president in announcing one of his executive initiatives, overhauling a federal mortgage assistance plan to help millions of Americans, who have seen their home value tumble, to refinance.

The president's aggressive approach makes practical and political sense. Using the filibuster in the Senate and their majority in the House, Republican lawmakers seem intent on not cooperating with the president's economic stimulus proposals. Party leaders apparently don't want to see any recovery before the November 2012 election for which the president could take credit.

So President Obama needs to act unilaterally where he can.

On the political side the president can only benefit by hammering away at congressional (and Republican) inaction. A CBS News/New York Times news poll this week showed the president's approval rating at 46 percent. While hardly impressive, it's astronomical compared to the 9 percent congressional approval rating.

This week the president announced a revamping of the Home Affordable Refinance Program that will help homeowners more quickly refinance mortgages regardless of how far their homes have fallen in value. Moody's Analytics estimates the program could spur 1 million additional refinanced loans over the next six to 12 months. Goldman Sachs calculates that if borrowers with a 30-year fixed-rate loan backed by Fannie or Freddie refinance they would save $24 billion annually, creating spending money that could stimulate growth.

Student loan reforms announced by the White House could likewise help several million young adults cut their student loan payments, giving more of them the ability to buy homes and make other investments.

Also recently President Obama announced a training and hiring incentive program that should create 8,000 new jobs for veterans over the next three years.

Republicans may have to rethink their strategy of being the party of no.