There is one trait regarding GW Bush that both Republicans and Democrats (and even Laura Bush) vehemently agree upon.
He is very, very, very stubborn.
This trait has served him well on many occasions, especially when he was right on the issues (such as Justice Roberts, Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, and tax cuts).
When he is terribly wrong on an issue(Harriet Miers, amnesty, out of control spending, etc) he won't admit it easily.
It takes getting sacked in the face about 50 times before he will even begin to move.
I talked to one ex-Washington insider who said the only people who could really put him in his place when he was wrong were his mother Barbara and his wife Laura.
Laura's approach is to shake her finger at him and yell "BUSHIE!!!"
I don't know how or why that works, but I am told it stops him in his tracks.