You are exactly right! And unlike Clinton, who had time for pizza parties with interns, Bush entered office with a number of issues to deal with...not even including the delay because of the contested election. From the recession and the need to get tax-cuts passed, to Enron and the corporate scandals (still an issue up until 9/11 and after), the Soviets and the ABM Treaty, the UN and the ICC/Kyoto...and the Chinese crisis after they downed one of our planes, Bush had a much fuller plate than most presidents.
Heck, one of the most important cabinet positions when it came to domestic terrorism concerns (Attorney General) was obstructed as the Democrats attacked Ashcroft for weeks trying to make his Faith a disqualifier for the position. When you consider all of these issues...especially how the Democrats immediately tried to delegitimize his presidency, it's amazing the country got through all this as well as we did. Just looking back at all this, I'd like to ask the conspiracy theorists just when Bush had time to plan the 9/11 attack.
Yes, especially since they thought he had lost the election in the first place! He didn't have a reason to start planning it BEFORE his election.