Civil libertarian’s (I am writing of real ones, not Ron Paul), are hopping mad at President Obama. Green Greenwald has written extensively on the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 2012, a law he calls the “Indefinite Detention Bill”. Greenwald I try to ignore, as he finds (intelligent) ways to attack this President with a regularity that makes me wonder why Rupert Murdoch hasn’t called yet. The Salon.com writer is one of the intellectual leaders of the liberal fantasy parade that dreams a “stronger” president, or at least one who is less of a “corporatist” could have passed tougher health care reform and other dreamy dreams.
Jonathan Turley is another story; the respected constitutional scholar is brilliant, consistent, and well-meaning. His recent post on the appropriation bill, its content, and the President’s decision to sign it must be taken seriously. And serious is the best description for the thrashing given President Obama by Turley in his recent piece. The issues central to this debate are difficult for me; as a fervent Obama supporter, his record on civil liberties is (for me) a painful failing. I desired a stronger, more brisk roll-back of Bush-era tactics, President Obama has fallen short of the mark. But I will point out that the criticism of this President on this signing has, as is typical, overshot its mark. I will also point out that its mean-spirited tone, and monolithic objection to available evidence is typical of the behavior the anti-Obama liberal sees in Obama apologists.