This is worth watching. A few points struck me: 1) Romney never pardoned or commuted ANYONE, saying he wouldn’t second guess a jury. However, this is a traditional function of executives and you expect them to act –maybe not as many times as Huckabee– but once in awhile, right? Were there no miscarriages of justice in Massachusetts in four years? Seems to me this is the type of approach of someone not wanting to create political problems later on. (Is this going to be his position as President also? Would he have refused to pardon or commute the sentence of Scooter Libby?) 2) He criticizes Huckabee for raising taxes $500M. Well that’s exactly the amount Romney raised in “fees” (plus another $140M in loophole closing). Do I think Romney had an overall better fiscal record? Yes, but this particular item is not a helpful point of comparison. 3) Again on immigration Romney is dwelling on in-state tuition and scholarships– not exactly the central issues on immigration. Has Huckabee so outfoxed him on the issue that this is all that’s left to fight about? It seems small beans. (Others agree.) UPDATE: A friend reminds me of one such very deserving person denied a pardon: Anthony Circosta.
