Torture, detainees w/o trials, Guantanamo, the PATRIOT act, the alarming (and unconstitutional) expansion of executive power--to me, these were among the most insulting offenses of the Bush administration. I remember very clearly listening, during the 2008 election cycle, analysis (perhaps on This American Life? Perhaps Glenn Greenwald?) of Obama's positions on the expansion of executive power. The commentator said, "We should not feel comfortable that Obama will reverse these breaches".
If I remember correctly, this analysis was only about executive power, not civil liberties abuses. But as the Obama administration has failed to reverse Bush policies on detentions, or close Gitmo, or speak out strongly against the overreach of the PATRIOT act, I have thought of that bit of radio again and again.
