As I understand it, the new bushings MOPAR sells have been redesigned using a better, non brittle material. I never had a failure on mine and when I just had the trans replaced they replaced the bushings at that time too.
JeepForum has a writeup; http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f96/another-mans-shift-linkage-repair-1211510/
The new bushing I bought was very rubbery feeling.
That should make it more pliable and less brittle.