I MEANT TO PRAISE KERRY FOR THESE REMARKS earlier, but my limited-blogging weekend meant that I forgot. But this statement was praiseworthy:

Senator John Kerry, Mr. Bush’s Democratic challenger, issued a statement Friday saying: “I am disturbed and troubled by the evidence of shameful mistreatment of Iraqi prisoners. We must learn the facts and take the appropriate action.

“As Americans, we must stand tall for the rule of law and freedom everywhere,” Mr. Kerry added. “But we cannot let the actions of a few overshadow the tremendous good work that thousands of soldiers are doing every day in Iraq and all over the world.”

Indeed. And his tone — and substance — were just right here.

UPDATE: David Schuler emails:

Every time I’ve written Kerry off as a total horse’s patoot, he comes up with one of these statements. It kind of reminds me of Al Gore’s concession speech.
I nearly wept. I could only think: why didn’t THIS guy run for President?

Yeah, I know. I wonder if this is why Kerry moved up in the tracking polls?