Just in case you thought an all-powerful Executive Branch was just to protect you
Note this post from the National Review:
Crane says he was disappointed with Romney’s answer to his question the other night. Crane asked if Romney believed the president should have the authority to arrest U.S. citizens with no review. Romney said he would want to hear the pros and cons from smart lawyers before he made up his mind. Crane said that he had asked Giuliani the same question a few weeks ago. The mayor said that he would want to use this authority infrequently.
“… the authority to arrest U.S. citizens with no review.”
Not terrorists. Not terrorist enablers. Not murderist, sociopathic, rapist genociders. Just U.S. citizens. If you happen to be one of the above, great. But when the distinction already gets blurred over while in the hypothetical stage, it shouldn’t be too hard to see how easily the lines between “terrorist” and “disloyal to the State” will get blurred.
It’s not about blurring a line, however. It’s about many in the U.S. despising democracy and wanting an authoritarian leader. Provided said authoritarian leader does things the way they want, of course.
Glenn Greenwald and Andrew Sullivan have more.
–WKW