I believe the point is that the government can put anyone they want on their "watch lists" and thus start removing particular rights. A President's (or any powerful individual for that matter) political enemies would be easy targets in this case. Simply put a name on that list and the person owning that name is pretty much eliminated.
Immie
Well that's kind of a reach. I don't think John Boehner is on Obama's no fly list.
Although the FBI won't divulge the names on the terrorist watch list, there are specific guidelines for how they get there. All I'm saying is the next guy who wants to blow up Times Square might be on the terrorist watch list and has to take a bus to get to Times Square, but he could be packing legally obtained weapons. It's absurd.
I don't think it as much of a stretch as you think it is.
Even as a conservative, I opposed the Patriot Act, because I believed that it could and will eventually be used for just such a travesty, meaning the removal of the rights of law abiding citizens because they may be a threat. Which party will break that ice? Not sure... right now, I would have to guess that it will be the Democrats, but that is only because I don't foresee Republicans having any power for the next twenty years or so.
Immie
I agree with you on this one completely.