2012: An Inauspicious Start

Well, Dear Reader, I hope that at some point during the last couple weeks you and your loved ones celebrated a happy secular- or religious-themed December holiday of your choice. I spent New Year’s Eve taking down the Christmas decorations; President Obama marked the occasion by signing the NDAA into law, so it’s now legal for the American government to arrest American citizens anywhere in the world on “suspicion” of terrorism, no trial, no rights, no lawyer, nobody telling your family what happened to you.

Of course, in his signing statement he promised his administration will never-ever use this power unfairly. As for whoever comes after him, who cares? Oh, I know the excuses Obama’s supporters are making – the poor dear had no choice but to sign the bill. It didn’t just gut the constitution by allowing American citizens to be disappeared into military camps, it provides for the military to get paid. (Ordering The Troops to risk maiming or death on occupation duty in the name of defending the constitution in one thing, but delaying their paychecks to defend the constitution is wholly unacceptable.)

If Obama had anything remotely resembling balls, or a spine, or a conscience, he could have vetoed the bill anyway and told Americans exactly why: “My fellow Americans, I could not in good conscience sign this bill. When I was elected to this office I took an oath – as do all Congressmen and Senators– swearing to uphold the constitution of these United States. Those who voted for this bill – Democrats and Republicans both – violated that oath when they did so. I will not violate mine by signing it.”