I have always believed--from observation & believable reports, that it was Karl Rove who led "W" down the wrong path, costing America dearly in lives and fortune. Have written a number of articles analyzing Rove's dysfunctional approach to politics. He is anything but the genius his admirers claim.
For example, see Rove Revisited.
It was Rove's folly that gave Congress back to the Democrats. He is all memory of yesterday's voting patterns. He is utterly clueless on how to alter those voting patterns--utterly useless in the art of meaningful persuasion--if not merely an amoral self-promoter..