I don't think he's sugarcoating a thing. He's saying exactly what many of us feel-Bush was weak, could have done better, she might turn out great but we DON'T KNOW her at all.
Savage IS crazy...there's nothing new in that. I like him in small doses but he goes WAAAAY overboard.
And how is that bad, remember Reagan nominated Bork and with the help of Oldsmobile Ted and MSM, he was rejected, and ultimately we got Justice kennedy(Douglas Ginsberg was rejected because he smoked pot in the 60's, the kook right)(buchanan etal) probably used that as a smokescreen for their objections that he was Jewish).
JMO, Bush did the correct thing.