As another reader said Bullseye. I get the impression he does not trust the American people with the judgement to respond to commonsense leadership the way Reagan and FDR did.
That's a possibility... though from his recent climb in the polls as a result of stating his case to the people and slamming the rats, you would think that he will have learned that lesson.
Another could be that since he's not running for anything anymore, he may think he doesn't need to worry about his approval numbers - figures that with both houses in republican hands he should get his agenda passed regardless of poll numbers.
But the house and senate members running next year sure pay attention to that stuff and if they see Bush becoming a liability they'll stay away from him AND his programs like the plague.
Even if W didn't you would think Rove would understand that.