General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Drones: Do I have a line in the sand? [View all]Demo_Chris
(6,234 posts)As I am sure you are aware, most of what you wrote is irrelevant. Interesting, but irrelevant. The question is not how we conduct war or handle deserters or even whether or not this one person deserved to die. All of that is a distraction.
We are debating what rights apply to the American Citizens that our government has labeled enemies of the state. In so doing, we are debating what rights apply to everyone -- that being the way our rights work in this country. Not this singular case, or individual bad guy, but the biggest question of all:
Will we remain a nation of laws and rights, or have we decided we no longer care.
President Obama is arguing that US Presidents are no longer required to follow the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. He is claiming that a President is free to ignore these laws as he sees fit, anytime he feels it is necessary, with no restrictions, no rules, no oversight, and no accountability to anyone. That a President, any President, can decide, in secret, what laws he feels like following that particular day, and who is an enemy of the state deserving of execution without a trial.
That is the power President Obama is claiming.
I think that you should have a problem with this.