I think you may be onto something. Nothing in his administration's domestic plans, visions or strategies seem to be working, and he doesn't seem to care. He is focused on the war, however.
I have a more than passing belief that he knows we're going to war with Iran, and that when we do - all hell will be unleashed in the US by the Iranian apocalyptic Twelver regime - with massive terrorist attacks using big stuff, like killer viruses.
If he knew that this was to occur, all the politics and domestic fights would seem trivial in comparison. Perhaps he's rolling over just to placate and occupy everybody while he deals with the Big Stuff - and when it comes down - he'll declare martial law and stay in office to administer it.
Other than that, I've run out of excuses for him.
We've seen how the two-guys-with-one-rifle cell called The DC Sniper could disrupt matters, and so must concede the sleepers have leverage far beyond their numbers.
Taking the long view, that the Iranian nuclear facilities must be taken down, and, just as in Desert Storm, Israel should not figure--else the Muslim nations react against the U.S., an attack should be in the advanced planning or early execution stages--considering his time runs out January 20, 2009.
Some mention of the vulnerability of the food supply was made in the recent past. No doubt the jihadi mind will address every such vulnerability.
Let not CAIR and the ACLU hamper the conduct of the coming conflict.
That's a red line.