The excision of powers of Pardon are fascinating. It's the only time the president actually gets to be king except...
I think everyone is missing the exclamatory point of reasons for impeachment. First, the definition of impeachment as stated in Article 2, Section 4,
"The President, Vice President and all civil officers of the United States, shall be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors." These "civil officers" include federal judges and cabinet members, but do not include Senators and Representatives, (the Senate and House deal with misconduct by their own members).
I've studied this and the defining principle is found further on The Framers of the U.S. Constitution, in Article II, Section 2, Clause 1, provided that the president
"shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment."
Here is why the act of impeachment becomes equal to impeachment. The very nature of impeachment will preclude the president from exercising his plenary powers of pardon. Right now, as I understand this from constitutional scholars the power of the impeachment, whether enacted or not, dismisses the possibility of pardon. The enactment of his pardoning authority in my opinion is going to be extended by the President to just about anyone working for Black Water or with an R next to his or her name. How you impeach everyone is above my pay grade and I would be interested in other thoughts or if my thinking is incorrect. I also think we're going to see pardons en masse that will forever poison the Bush brand eliminating the Bush/Palin ticket of 2012.
Thoughts?