I think we all too often forget — after the long era of corruption under Bush and Gonzalez — that the Department of Justice is actually supposed to be insulated from the political machinations of the White House.

Considering this, it’s worth pondering that the Obama administration’s recent claims that the architects of the Bush torture memos shouldn’t be prosecuted can be seen as a deft political move to distance Obama from any investigations that may be undertaken by his Attorney General, Eric Holder.

I know, it’s shocking to think that the administration of justice should be insulated from the political vagaries of the White House, but that’s how it has generally worked throughout the history of the DOJ.

Update: Rachel Maddow covered similar ground last night: