Actually, between the post-Star Wars VI novels (where Jedi led by Skywalker are mostly idiots), and the general idiocy of the Jedi in Star Wars I-III (we find out where the Jedi learned to be idiots), I have come to like the Empire a LOT more than I would ever like the the Republic...
I know what you mean. We need a Tarkin; "fear will keep the local systems in line." We must be absolutly ruthless when dealing with our enemies. If terrorists destroy one building, we nuke one of their cities. If they nuke a US city, then we nuke mecca, medina and the rest of their holy cities.
You said it. The Jedi are a bunch of reactive pansies to any threats. They have a debate as to whether they should go on the offensive against a terrible threat to the entire galaxy. What does Luke say? No, we shouldn't do that. It's too aggressive, and that's wrong. I read that and I thought that maybe the Jedi deserved extinction...
Darth Vader was a hero of my youth. Especially how he dealt with those asinine generals.