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Well, the clown show that is the Republican primary campaign gave any Democrat inclined to take my advice on pinning Libby to Republican candidates a big head start.

Think Progress » Conservative Presidential Candidates Back Libby Pardon:

During tonight’s presidential debate, CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer asked all the candidates to say whether they would pardon Scooter Libby, who was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison today for his felony convictions related to the CIA leak case.

Former mayor Rudy Giuliani said the case “argues more in favor of a pardon,” calling today’s sentencing “way out of line” and “grossly excessive.” Giuliani said the case against Libby was “incomprehensible” because “ultimately, there was no underlying crime involved.”

Likewise, former governor Mitt Romney said it’s “worth looking at a pardon,” because special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald “clearly abused prosecutorial discretion” by going on a “political vendetta” against Libby despite knowing he was not the original source of the leak.

Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS) and Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO) said definitively they would pardon Libby. Former governor Tommy Thompson said he likely would. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) answered, “He’s going through an appeal process. We’ve got to see what happens here.” Former governors Jim Gilmore and Mike Huckabee and Reps. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) and Ron Paul (R-TX) said they would not pardon him, at least without learning more about the case.

Aside from my strategery, the answers are objectively fascinating. Giuliani is the worst of the bunch. As a former prosecutor who made his name being “tough on crime,” he certainly knows that perjury and obstruction are serious crimes that often obscure the underlying crime – otherwise what’s the point of perjuring oneself? Never mind that Libby’s sentence is in the mid-range of the scale, not “grossly excessive.” Romney seems to forget that Fitzgerald is a Republican who has prosecuted many Democrats. Wonder if those were “political vendetta[s].” Saint McCain wins the prize for White House talking points fidelity, and who can be surprised? No idea what the also-rans were thinking, that’s no way to break into the top tier.

Big up Blitzer! Now who’s going to start making these idiots pay?