Actually, according to some Simon, Paula and Randy (American Idol) are the most watched people in America.
That is both a fact and a sad commentary.
I dfo not disagree with your "not at the expense of my civil liberties" point of view. What I, and a good many others, have been saying is that it is sometimes necessary to do a bit of evil to achieve a greater good.
This is not just an enemy we can defeat militarily in a few months and safely go back to ignoring. This is a world-wide movement of otherwise desperate souls that seeks our destruction. Barring that, they'll settle for pulling our soiciety down to a level that equals theirs (slightly more advanced than the typical anthill).
This was the same pattern of the Second World War and the Old War; a technologically, philosphically and ethically backwards totalitarian society is battling it's complete opposite; and, once again, can only win if we let it.
What we would be asked to sacrifice in the name of victory in this war is no more or less than what our grandparents were asked to sacrifice during WWII. The only difference is that the media would be there 24/7 offering constant and inane commentary on it all.
Very difficult for the public to actually "give up" it's civil and human rights when the press is there before the ink on the press release is dry.
If your objection is that such things are "un-American", then you need to read up on your history. The same (and worse) has been done in a national emergency (and even a few non-emergencies). What's un-American is sitting idly by while our society is picked apart at the seams by radical ideologies that flourish under, yet seek to destroy, our system.
Getting rid of a parasite is ALWAYS a good idea. The method is unimportant.
"This was the same pattern of the Second World War and the Old War; a technologically, philosphically and ethically backwards totalitarian society is battling it's complete opposite; and, once again, can only win if we let it."
Beg yer pardon, that was supposed to read COLD War.