Bush plans to avoid future party politics

DALLAS, Jan. 9 (UPI) -- With a dozen days to go as president, a relaxed George W. Bush says he plans to steer clear of party politics after leaving the White House.

In an interview with the Dallas Morning News, Bush said he looked forward to moving to Dallas after Jan. 20 and while he did not know what comes next, "I'm confident I'll be able to fill my days with activities."

Bush said he would leave the political spotlight to President Obama and keep public criticism to a minimum.

There will be bike rides on new trails, a new office, a memoir, a new home which Laura picked out in a secluded cul-de-sac (plans still call for weekends at the Crawford ranch), a number of favorite projects both he and Laura plan to pursue and raising money for his presidential library and Freedom Institute where debate will center on "big ideas."

"This is not going to be a 'George Bush is a Wonderful Person Center,' or the 'Center for Republican Party Campaign Tactics,' " Bush told the Morning News. "It's going to be a place of debate, thought, writing, lecturing."

"I remember eight years ago, thinking about the sense of anticipation about coming here to Washington, and how much our life was going to change," Bush said, "I feel that same sense of anticipation with obviously less of a sense of heavy responsibility about to ascend on me."

Laura Bush, meanwhile, cheerfully looked ahead to what she has called the "afterlife."