Originally posted here by nebulus200
Think the biggest thing you shouldn't forget is that the biggest single variable in the equation, Bush, is a politician. With Iraq out of the way, the general consensus in polls of the American people, is that more attention needs to be paid to the economy. Bush, like every politician, will be too busy doing what he needs to do to when re-election (and not repeat the mistakes of his father I might add). Starting another war that close to his re-election bid would be a very foolish mistake, something his managers aren't likely to let him make...
/nebulus
This is where you are right and wrong. The last thing bush wants is people to focus on the economy at election time (this is the true mistake his father made..ending the war too soon.). What he needs to do to win the election is start another war close to election time. Get all of the unpatriotic patriots spewing their "you must support the president in the time of war" and "you don't change horse mid race" rhetoric going and rid the wave through the election. That is his best hope for a second term. Hell there is a growing number of conservatives taking him to task on his economic policies, people have started to figure out his tax cut shell game (cut federal taxes, pass unfunded mandate, states forced to raise taxes) if the economy is what we focus on he’s screwed.