Nutbar Club

I haven't been writing about the primary candidates much because it's still too early for me to give much of a rip. But (via Digby) I couldn't resist noting this:

BOSTON - Decorated Iraq war veteran Anthony Circosta seemed like an ideal candidate for a pardon from then-Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney for his boyhood conviction for a BB gun shooting. Romney said no — twice — despite the recommendation of the state's Board of Pardons.

At age 13, Circosta was convicted of assault for shooting another boy in the arm with a BB gun, a shot that didn't break the skin. Circosta worked his way through college, joined the Army National Guard and led a platoon of 20 soldiers in Iraq's deadly Sunni triangle.

In 2005, as he was serving in Iraq, he sought a pardon to fulfill his dream of becoming a police officer.

"I've done everything I can to give back to my state and my community and my country and to get brushed aside is very frustrating," said Circosta, 29, of Agawam, Mass. "I'm not some shlub off the street."

In his presidential bid, Romney often proudly points out that he was the first governor in modern Massachusetts history to deny every request for a pardon or commutation during his four years in office. He says he refused pardons because he didn't want to overturn a jury.

Is this nuts or what? Romney, who seems to be gaining steam among the big boys of the GOP may be more stupid and rigid than Bush! The point of clemency/pardons is to recognize changed circumstances since a conviction by a jury. I think this fellow qualifies as having changed his circumstances somewhat. Don't you? But not flip-flopping Mitty!

But you want to read the kicker? Romney says he would very much consider a pardon for Scooter.