Unfortunately I believe that "Bush Derangement Syndrome" has become so entrenched that it will infect another generation or two regardless of the magnitude of national crisis we confront.
The next attacks- crises for the next 10 years or more - will be pinned on "Bush's failures" in policy and execution.
The relentless battering down of George Bush, a good and decent man, as a "liar" - has become one of the democrat party's strongest rallying forces. It worked for the most recent round of elections and gave them "control". They will not easily find another platform.
Maybe, but the essense of the "lying" charge is that the war on terror is a sham (think Al Gore: "they played on our fears.."). The Dems have tried to separate the war in Iraq from the broader war on terror, but this is the kind of mistake the Republicans make. Subtleties like this are lost on the average voter.
The Democrats have bet big that there will not be another terrorist attack. Look at Nancy Pelosi's coronation. It was a bunch of syrupy pap about the children. If we get hit big and there are 10s of thousands of American citizens dead in the streets, the Democrats are screwed. The American people will want a military leader not a mommy.