My question:
how would one feel about a President whom we liked and trusted having such powers?
I believe that the President, nor any part of the government should *EVER* have any more power under the BEST of men ( or women) than we would want it to have under the worst.
I did not like renditions, the utilization of non jury trials or pretty much any part of the PATRIOT act. the FOunding Fathers gave the government plenty of tools to do anything it needs or will ever need to do; there is NOTHING so urgent that it can’t go through being vetted by a judge before a warrant is issued unless it is an airplane. I sure as hell don’t like the precedent being set now. Yes, an enemy combatant who happens to be an American citizen who gets whacked IN THE MIDST OF A BATTLE- tough luck, other than that, the rule of law should always apply.
Just my .02
I agree. Would we mind if Reagan or Bush had those powers...not that any president doesn’t already have that power.
I think all leaders have that sort of power written somewhere and interpreted as conditions require. It’s just not very realistic to advertise this.
How many people just here on FR have stated that so&so should just be brought out back and shot? Pre-emptivation is alive, well and acceptable to many folk.