Pardon Me Roger

Clemens and his lawyers must be feeling the heat they are seriously entertaining the idea of trying to get a pardon from President Bush. As Buster Olney writes here, he gives the reasons why and why not Bush would pardon Clemens (if he's charged with perjury), one reason why he shouldn't:

"If he pardons Clemens, there will be nothing quiet about it; it will be a
headline grabber that would only be overshadowed in the event the president
issued a pre-emptive pardon on behalf of Vice President Dick Cheney. The president has done a number of interviews in recent weeks, answering questions related to what his legacy would be -- and a pardon of Clemens, as he exits, would generate an enormous public-relations backlash as he heads out the door. "

Hard to argue there, but I wonder why this is even an idea. What good came come out of pardoning Clemens? I wouldn't be surprised if there are tons of people out there who can forgive the man for relying on faulty 'intelligence' but not for pardoning Clemens. Do any of you remember his 2004 State of the Union Address?

"The use of performance-enhancing drugs like steroids in baseball, football, and
other sports is dangerous, and it sends the wrong message -- that there are
shortcuts to accomplishment, and that performance is more important than
character. So tonight I call on team owners, union representatives, coaches, and
players to take the lead, to send the right signal, to get tough, and to get rid
of steroids now. (Applause.)"

I couldn't not put the applause in there, too funny. But seriously, can he really address PEDs in his speeches and then pardon Clemens? Can he really pardon someone from lying under oath after his party impeached Clinton for the same reason? It wouldn't be the first case of hypocracy, but to give Bush some credit, I don't think it's going to happen or that it's even being seriously considered.