If it was Gore instead of Bush and he did ALL the things that Bush did (yes, I know, but for the sake of argument, lets pretend) - there would be NO opposition to the war in Iraq besides from the "realpolitik" adherents and neo-isolationists on the right who would be quickly marginalized by the right itself. (Clinton's Balkan war is a prime example, and that war has MUCH less justification than any of the Bush's).
Hate Bush and everything he does is a bitter partisan politicking that blinds the left at the expense of the country's interests. They even ignore all the liberal reasons that alone justify the liberalization of the Middle East. They do an enormous damage to the county and the whole world with their "friendly" fire and leaving the real enemies alone.
You nailed it.