Here's a post from Dave Riehl:

Why Listen To Judges And Prosecutors When You Have Friends?

I don't imagine Huckabee will like this quote from a friendly staffer on Huckabee's pardon problems addressed today in the New York Times. Seems you can't be tough on crime and have friends, too.

The Fields case also underscores the degree to which personal and political connections sometimes played an important role in how Mr. Huckabee used his powers of clemency. Some who received clemency were recommended by Baptist preachers who had long supported Mr. Huckabee. A few had worked as trustees in the governor’s mansion. Others, like Mr. Fields, were championed by Mr. Huckabee’s political allies.

“When you have somebody that you trust and is your friend and is putting their neck out there and is asking you to do something, versus judges and prosecutors who want to look tough on crime, that would have more of an impact with him,” Mr. Cox said.