Ok, get back to me when you've thought about it.
I'm willing to give them a lot of slack/benefit of the doubt regarding the War on Terror.
Here's the problem with that: The WoT is permanent. There are no even theoretical conditions that it could be declared over and 'war powers' rescinded. Even the president has said he expects it to last at least decades. By that time most living people will remember nothing else, thus these 'war powers' are not temporary, they have become the 'new normal'. Given enough time eventually someone who would abuse these powers against legitimate American dissidents will take power.
Next problem, is the absolute power this 'war power' gives the executive. The government's definition of terrorism is so vague, it can and I predict it will be used against those the government doesn't like. Dissidents may be imprisoned and called terrorists or criminals by the executive. But without a trial how do we know the accused is what the government says they are? We don't. There are no charges filed, no evidence presented, no chance to defend oneself. Simply put, if they say you're guilty you are. That's absolute power. And absolute power corrupts absolutely.