The United States of Autocracy

In a column for yesterday's Washington Post, Johnathan Turley, Shapiro professor of public interest law at George Washington University, gave ten reasons why America is no longer a free country:

1. President Obama has claimed, as President George W. Bush did before him, the right to order the killing of any citizen considered a terrorist or an abettor of terrorism. ...
2. Under the law signed last month, terrorism suspects are to be held by the military; the president also has the authority to indefinitely detain citizens accused of terrorism.  ...
3. The president now decides whether a person will receive a trial in the federal courts or in a military tribunal, a system that has been ridiculed around the world for lacking basic due process protections. ...
4. The president may now order warrantless surveillance, including a new capability to force companies and organizations to turn over information on citizens’ finances, communications and associations. ...
5. The government now routinely uses secret evidence to detain individuals and employs secret evidence in federal and military courts. It also forces the dismissal of cases against the United States by simply filing declarations that the cases would make the government reveal classified information that would harm national security ...
6. The world clamored for prosecutions of those responsible for waterboarding terrorism suspects during the Bush administration, but the Obama administration said in 2009 that it would not allow CIA employees to be investigated or prosecuted for such actions. ...
7. The government has increased its use of the secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, which has expanded its secret warrants to include individuals deemed to be aiding or abetting hostile foreign governments or organizations. ...
8. Like the Bush administration, the Obama administration has successfully pushed for immunity for companies that assist in warrantless surveillance of citizens, blocking the ability of citizens to challenge the violation of privacy. ...
9. The Obama administration has successfully defended its claim that it can use GPS devices to monitor every move of targeted citizens without securing any court order or review. ...
10. The government now has the ability to transfer both citizens and noncitizens to another country under a system known as extraordinary rendition, which has been denounced as using other countries, such as Syria, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Pakistan, to torture suspects. The Obama administration says it is not continuing the abuses of this practice under Bush, but it insists on the unfettered right to order such transfers — including the possible transfer of U.S. citizens. ...

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In addition to which, there's the President's claimed -- and exercised -- right to bomb anyone, anywhere, anytime, just as he thinks fit without a declaration of war by the United States Congress. 

And the determination of the United States Government to prevent states such as Arizona enforcing immigration law.

And the President's decision to force health insurance on American citizens whether they want it or not.

And the use of executive authority to give airline travelers the option of being irradiated with X-rays or sexually humiliated by blue-rubber-gloved groping goons.

And the Presidents declaration,  by implication, without aid of any court decision, that the killing of Trayvon Martin was a hate crime.

See also:

Judge Andrew Napolitano: Obama the Assassin

Tools of Tyranny: Judge Napolitano talks to Lew about the government’s plans for you

NY Times on Obama the Assassin