GWB tried that. What happened is he wound up giving the media free reign to make every unfounded accusation under the sun. By the time he left office everything was his fault, he was one of the most unpopular presidents ever, and Obama was able to win by running against him and pretty much ignoring McCain.
You can never stop fighting and setting the record straight.
Eartick, I like you but hopespringseternal is right. We can never ignore our enemies. We must all continue to fight. The enemy never sleeps.