Pardon for Libby being floated to legitimize the idea

The idea that "Scooter" Libby will be pardoned by the President is being floated to news outlets. According to Josh Marshall this is the first stage in a program of legitimizing the idea with the public so that when it happens the public reaction is more likely to be "Yeah, we all expected that." Rather than "What? More coverup from the administration? How crooked are they anyway?"