Because I Could...

Clinton:

In a tone of sadness and self-reproach, Clinton said of the affair: "I think I did something for the worst possible reason -- just because I could. I think that's just about the most morally indefensible reason that anybody could have for doing anything. There are lots of sophisticated explanations, more complicated psychological explanations, but none of them are an excuse." Those comments were aired on last night's "CBS Evening News."

Ghosting

Keeping secret prisoners creates conditions for abuses such as the humiliations and beatings suffered by some Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib, the group argues.

"The official secrecy surrounding U.S. practices has made conditions ripe for illegality and abuse," said the report from Human Rights First, formerly called the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights.

There is obviously no moral equivalence here, but the logic is the same. Clinton got a blow job because he could. Bush passed a tax package and ruined our fiscal situation for little benefit, because he could. He invaded Iraq because he could. He has lied and misled because he could. Secrecy and obsequiousness are threats.