I have to say that I’m slightly impressed with former president George W. Bush’s comments on the current president.

“I consider the media to be indispensable to democracy. That we need the media to hold people like me to account,” Bush told Matt Lauer on “The Today Show” Monday morning. “I mean, power can be very addictive and it can be corrosive and it’s important for the media to call to account people who abuse their power, whether it be here or elsewhere.”

Trump has raised alarm by his recent references to critical media outlets as “fake news” and as “the enemy of the people.”

Bush also expressed concern about the extent of Trump’s relationship with Russia’s ruling class, which has been extensively chronicled and led to the resignations of former campaign manager Paul Manafort and former national security adviser Michael Flynn.

“I think we all need answers,” Bush told Lauer. “I’m not sure the right avenue to take. I am sure, though, that that question needs to be answered.”

I still think his administration basically led us to where we are today and I will never forget going to war based on lies and Dick Cheney’s cavalier outing of a CIA operative for political revenge, but for this comparatively statesmanlike offering, I’ll give him a nod.  But that’s about it.