Bush more than likely planned it this way. He's getting all of the unpopular actions done in 2003 and early 2004...in effect planning to "lose" the 2003/early 2004 elections, which, unfortunately for the Democrats, don't exist.
Then, with that out of the way, the economy improving, and Osama being pulled out of a hat (or Pakistan, or both), he'll be virtually unstopable.