Not wanting to be lectured to and mocked while "the one" controls the microphone and media access is smart. Not wanting to help glorify the poseur who has spent almost four years tearing down and vilifying everything that W put in motion is a very wise decision.
My feeling is that Bush has been schooled that former presidents fade into the background and do not attempt to critiize or steal the limelight....Bush just isn’t a Carter or Clinton who just won’t shut up and go away.