Bringing change is easier said that done. Consider an example from last week's news; US agents captured Osama bin Laden's son-in-law, a former Al Qaeda spokesman, and have brought him to New York to stand trial. Some politicians are incensed, saying that it willmake NY a terrorist target and that he doesn't deserve a criminal trial, and demanded that the fellow instead be sent off to Guantanamo bay and interrogated, with his fate to be decided by a military court (summarized here: http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-03-09/opinions/37579... FWIW I agree with the conclusion of this editorial).
You might remember that Obama attempted to close down the detention facilities in Guantanamo soon after taking office, and wanted to try alleged 9-11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammad in NYC, but the plan was shelved following vociferous objections, public demonstrations etc. Now I don't want to go all partisan, but I can't help observing that the very same Tea Party type Republicans that object to big government were the very same people that rallied in the streets of NY to argue against transparency and the application of the criminal justice system. For the administration, it's kind of a 'heads you win, tails I love' situation.
Part of the problem is that civil libertarians are not very organized. They don't march on TSA headquarters to demand the right to leave their shoes on, or parade through the streets of NY to champion the criminal justice system, or picket the headquarters of the NSA. When the administration does stand up for civil rights (even in a small way like the above), they get virtually no popular support.
...They don't march on TSA headquarters to demand the right to leave their shoes on...
I don't know about you, but I'm too busy trying to keep a roof over my head to go traipsing off to New York, or to join a march in demonstration of the TSA.
You might remember that Obama attempted to close down the detention facilities in Guantanamo soon after taking office, and wanted to try alleged 9-11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammad in NYC, but the plan was shelved following vociferous objections, public demonstrations etc. Now I don't want to go all partisan, but I can't help observing that the very same Tea Party type Republicans that object to big government were the very same people that rallied in the streets of NY to argue against transparency and the application of the criminal justice system. For the administration, it's kind of a 'heads you win, tails I love' situation.
Part of the problem is that civil libertarians are not very organized. They don't march on TSA headquarters to demand the right to leave their shoes on, or parade through the streets of NY to champion the criminal justice system, or picket the headquarters of the NSA. When the administration does stand up for civil rights (even in a small way like the above), they get virtually no popular support.