That means the President has to communicate effectively what the war's aims are and give periodic evidence of real progress.
Bush seems to think he has an infinitude of political time and capital to use. He doesn't, and his failure to keep momentum will probably have disatrous consequences in a month's time, resulting in our defeat in the Iraq after the Dems cut-off funding for the war there, followed shortly by a similar cut-off or withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Our defeat will be total, ignominious, and disastrous, while the Dems and MSM will be celebrating and blaming the Republicans.
Why wait for the D's and MSM to do it, when you've already put on your dancing shoes...?