Hey, Obama: What the fuck?

Hey, Obama: What the fuck? No really, WHAT THE FUCK?

At the beginning of the year, you signed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which included language that would permit the executive branch to indefinitely detain American citizens without a trial. It may have been a small part of the NDAA, but signing that part into law has big consequences, and puts Americans – particularly those who voice their dissent – in grave danger. What freedoms do Americans really have if the President can come and effectively make them disappear as long as they want without needing just cause?

At the time you signed it, President Obama, you made sure the press knew that you were hesitant to do so, saying, “I have signed this bill despite having serious reservations with certain provisions, interrogation, and prosecution of suspected terrorists.” I don’t know why you signed it anyway, but fair enough, you didn’t think it was the right thing to do.

But this provision not only has terrifying repercussions, it also is unconstitutional. Accordingly, earlier this year, a group of people sued to contest this part of the NDAA, and the courts appropriately ruled it unconstitutional.

Obama, despite the assurance that you “will not authorize the indefinite military detention without trial of American citizens,” your administration appealed the court’s decision to try to get the NDAA provision legally on the books. You must understand my skepticism when someone who says he has reservations about a bill and would never THINK to use it himself would fight hard to overturn it anyway.

Earlier this week, a federal judge ruled on your appeal and again – correctly – it was found unconstitutional. Since your administration has the discretion on whether to pursue this sort of thing, and since you say you oppose it anyway, end of story, right?

Of course not, Obama, you want to appeal it a second time! Take it all the way to the Supreme Court court where the game is that much more rigged and you’ll get your indefinite detention. For someone who never wants to use this dastardly provision, you’re sure doing all that you can to make it a law.  Even if I’m inclined to believe that (how is the closure of Guantanamo Bay going, by the way?), you’re just enabling the next President without scruples to overstep the criminal justice system… and you’ve seen what kind of dopes can become president.

And so, Obama, I demand to know why. WHY? It’s shady shit like this that leads me to not trust you. How does this battle – which you could drop at any moment – improve our country and its freedoms? I want an explanation of what the heck is going on behind the scenes there on this oen.

And to my friends and readers who will vote Obama this year, I get it. A Romney presidency sounds downright awful. But if you’re going to make Obama your guy, hold him accountable. Don’t just rest on the fact that he’s the better choice of two and don’t just rest on the fact that he respects women (that should be a general requirement, not the selling point). If he’s not going to protect your freedoms, then he shouldn’t be your candidate.