Look at Bush and especially Cheney trying to expand the power of the executive branch. How the religious wing of the party tries to ban gay marriage.
While I do smoke the smoking bans are along the lines of seat belt laws.
Under Bush and the neocons the size of the government has grown to its biggest size ever and the rights of Americans have been reduced. I can be arrested and detained indefinitely of secret warrants, is it likely to happen? Of course not, but they have made a system where it is possible.
So as I already said I will choose a socialist over a despot but would rather have a libertarian.