Gah, I keep forgetting how hard abstract thinking is. In more concrete terms: President Obama accused Anwar al-Awlaki of being affiliated with al-Qaeda. We don't actually know if that was true. The administration never had to prove it in court; it just killed him.

The reason that we have due process of law, and courts, is to protect the innocent. Forget memes, that was just an example. Under the precedent set by Obama, the President can convict you of any crime just by saying so. You and I could be affiliated with al-Qaeda, and threaten national security. Period. Don't bother to deny it, you are a terrorist, and there's nobody and no process to hear your denial. No lawyers, no court, no appeals. If the President said so, so it is.

And that's dangerous.