Thanking the Little People.

I'm working on a column that looks at the resignation letters of people who have recently left the Bush administration. Not to give too much away, but I'm struck by how many of the letters praise career employees. So my question to you out there in the federal workforce is this: Are such sentiments genuine? Do the folks who come in as political appointees actually develop a real appreciation for the work of civil servants? Or do these kinds of declarations fall into the "I'm leaving to spend more time with my family" category of statements that are more convenient than true?