He's a little late saying that. And it's just possible that he himself could have done just a bit more to make it "acceptable". For instance, breaking his neck and the budget--- (they're emergency expenditures, so considered outside the budget anyway),-- just so people could not make invidious comparisons, as done by the Journal.

He may never run again,, but his fellow Bushites are up next year in the House and some in the Senate. And the US is already plenty unhappy with the performance of our chosen leaders.