Jacob Sullum on Obama and Romney's Bipartisan Disdain for Civil Liberties

During the final presidential debate, the moderator asked Mitt Romney about President Obama's policy of killing suspected terrorists, including U.S. citizens, with missiles fired from unmanned aircraft. "I believe we should use any and all means necessary to take out people who pose a threat to us and our friends around the world," Romney replied. "I support that entirely." In other words, writes Jacob Sullum, Romney has no qualms about trusting one man with the power to order the summary execution of anyone, anywhere in the world, whom he deems "a threat to us." Sullum says this bipartisan disregard for civil liberties is the rule rather than the exception for the two major presidential candidates.