because the alternative is john kerry.
Exactly.
Expanding on that, because Bush recognizes that we are in a war with Islamofascists who seek to destroy us. The paleo-conservative right and the Democratic party do not recognize this fact. The former, instead, chooses to scapegoat Israel, and the latter chooses to blame America.
The author's equation of Padilla with a simple thief is utterly laughable. Padilla was meeting with Khalid Mohammed and other Al Qaeda bigwigs in an effort to plot a dirty bomb attack. If the author thinks Padilla should be ignored or set free, all I can say is that I hope Padilla moves in next door to the author so he can see firsthand what sort of monster we're detaining.
"because the alternative is john kerry."
So be it. When you vote for the lesser of two evils, all you get is evil. Let the people get a taste of undiluted (as opposed to diluted) socialism. The taste will be so unpleasant that they will reject it for all time.