This seems to be an overall tactic these days. Kind of goes hand in hand with the "don't attack the message, attack the messenger.." tactic.

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/07/06/libby-apologists-go-after-clinton-for-rich-pardon/

So basically, some are able to take bits and pieces of what our administration does and come up with excuses based on some historical perspective.

This 1) assumes that there really is a historical parallel for anything bush does and 2) Even if we were to accept many of these parallels, it ignores that you go here for this scenario, here for this scenario, etc. Totally ignoring the level arrogance necessary to have one group responsible for all the things that are happening today.

>There were plenty of comments, from all sides, when Clinton issued those pardons. It was IMO the worst act of his presidency. But it has zero to do with the commutation of Libby's sentence. Why is no one discussing that on its own merits? Gosh, I can't imagine.
>
>
>>I don't remember any comments on Clinton's final day in office when he pardoned 140 criminals. Many of those were drug dealers (and relatives). But then, maybe I missed your posts then...
>>
>>
>>
>>>I don't think the "just politics" line is going to fly, even though it's clearly the spin they're trying to put on it. The pardon is outrageous. And yes, I would say the same thing if it had happened in the Clinton administration.
>>>
>>>
>>>>There was a good analysis of it on the Today show. It's mostly partisan politics. Hillary jumped all over Bush for it and the Republicans have said she should shutup as she turned a blind eye to what went on when Bill was in the White House. Bush's polling numbers are so low that the only people he has to keep happy are his core constiuents, so he commuted the sentence to keep them happy.
>>>>
>>>>>Bush has commuted Scooter Libbey's sentence.
>>>>>
>>>>>Bush said "I respect the jury's verdict. But I have concluded that the
>>>>>prison sentence given to Mr. Libby is excessive. Therefore, I am
>>>>>commuting the portion of Mr. Libby's sentence that required him to
>>>>>spend thirty months in prison."
>>>>>
>>>>>Huh? You respect the verdict, yet commute it??
>>>>>
>>>>>and he also said
>>>>>
>>>>>"My decision to commute his prison sentence leaves in place a harsh
>>>>>punishment for Mr. Libby"
>>>>>
>>>>>a $250K fine is pocket change to these people.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>This is a complete betrayal of the American people . . . But then that is
>>>>>nothing new to Bush.
>>>>>
>>>>>This is the guy who was going to bring integrity back to the White House and
>>>>>also the guy who said "if anyone in my admin was involved the Valerie Plame
>>>>>leak they will be fired." Can you say hypocrit?
>>>>>
>>>>>And the republicans impeached Clinton. Go figure.