How come the people who always talk about the sanctity of "norms" are always the ones most eager to abolish the longest-standing and most fundamental norms?

Also, I don't think one can say that it's just one party who has abused the pardon power for corrupt ends: https://twitter.com/ChrisMurphyCT/status/1341911437485240323

The presidential pardon is a vital tool for correcting grave injustices perpetrated by a mix of Congress and prosecutors. Without it, Alice Johnson & scores of other non-violent offenders would still be in prison. So would this great Louisville activist: https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/local/2020/12/23/president-trump-grants-pardon-louisville-activist-christopher-2-x/4034744001/

Like every government power, it's subject to abuse. Among the worst recent pardons: Bush 41's of his Iran-contra aides to protect himself; Clinton's of Marc Rich & his own half-brother (but not other drug offenders); Trump's of Blackwater killers & random corrupt GOP politicians.

But the presidential pardon is a vital check on the abuse of prosecutorial powers by overzealous or politically motivated prosectors, especially in a country which imprisons huge amounts of its citizens.

Demanding its abolition is reactionary and (ahem) norm-violating.