There are many ways to measure the corruption of our system of government. One that measures the difference between actual executive power employed and the perceived opposition to it is the number of
pardons granted at the end of a Presidents term. By this measure, FDR (3687), Wilson (2480), and Truman (2044) presided over the most corrupt executive expanding administrations so far. This is something to reflect on when you hear protestations by Democrats about Bushies abuse of executive authority. Is the Bush administration corrupt? Yes. Is he expanding the Executive's power far beyond what is Constitutional? Yes. Is this grasping unprecedented? No. The three Democratic Presidents listed are his precedent. My question is, are we so comfortable with the ever-expanding Executive that this President will not have to pardon extensively? Oh heck, let's have a poll we can look at in two years.