I’ve got a quick hit in the Post today, “defending” Blago:

ANY thoughtful consideration of Illinois’ Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s alleged crimes would find that, compared to many other governors and legislators considered “clean,” Blago is an out-and-out straight-shooter.

For instance, when New York’s then-Gov. George Pataki wanted a third term back in 2002, he had to pony up — but not out of his own pocket. He cut a deal with Dennis Rivera, president of 1199/SEIU, for $1.8 billion in raises for health-care workers — a bribe drawn straight from the public fisc.

All politics, after all, is the practice of distributing “fu**ing valuable” things — and just not giving them away for nothing. Blagojevich’s was a victimless (alleged) crime. Like Eliot Spitzer’s. In both cases, at least it wasn’t taxpayers getting screwed with their socks on.