Bush's comments about Kerry are not direct praise of Kerry. Bush doesn't say that HE is proud of Kerry's service. He said that KERRY -should be- (maybe he's not?) proud of his service. Damning faint praise on examination, but sounds great at first blush.
Exactly! His statement is just like his speech to Hitlery and TheBentOne, Impeached42, when their "portraits" were revealed at the White House. He didn't say much about the Clintons, but he found a very teeny tiny bit to praise, and said a lot of it. Bush even got ol' Sink Stainer laughing a lot.