The "Controversy" Thing

In a previous post here (dated March 24) I made the observation that public "controversy" surrounding the use of the pardon power is not a very good measure of controversial behavior. Today, National Review Online makes the same point very well (here). A lot of attention was given to the Marc Rich pardon, but just as much could have been given to the pardons Clinton gave to former housing secretary Henry Cisneros and his girlfriend, individuals convicted in the independent council investigations of former agriculture secretary Mike Espy, Susan McDougal and associates of Mrs. Clinton's brothers.