Flash: Obama more analytical than potted plant

Gates isn't damning with faint praise, though it sounds like it. He's actually trying to remain polite without making bullshit statements that everyone knows are social lies.

Obama is more polite than Dubhya. He's more intelligent. He's less arrogant. He's more receptive to opposing views.

In short, he's a much better person than Duhbya, not just already a much better President.