allowed that obama s words were at least partially gracious. he was partially gracious. i think he could have been more direct about the surge. it would have been more gracious to have done so but of course, he is a political issue. if he ever were to praise george bush, the surge, iraq, the base would be more disspirited. for the record, here is how president obama so fearful did not praise mr. bush. no one could doubt president bush s support for our troops or his love of country and commitment to our security, but praising mr. bush was not enough for the war supporters, even by bill kristol s standards. steven hadley told the wall street journal, i thought i owed it to the former president that somewhere out there, somebody gives him some credit and point out that he is the one actually started withdrawing u.s. troops. okay. i ll do it. i, keith olbermann, do hereby