Of course you wouldn't know it from the fawning press, but you are correct that his decisions have consequences. Unfortunately we won't hear about the consequences (if ever) until later.

the 2 most likely to jump up and bite him are:
1. Tax cheat in charge of IRS will have much lower collections from the masses, because if he gets away with an "oversight" so can they. And of course some may not like socialism and redistribution of wealth, but I digress.
2. Far more dangerous is one or more of the terrorists in Guantanamo that PBO and the lunatic anti-torture fringe is itching to release will show up as participating in the next major attack against the US. This one would be hard to ignore, but it could be kept secret or played down in the press. (OK looney libs - this is your cue to say "But look what Bush did")

"Oh NOE! Charges were dropped! ZOMG!"

Not surprisingly, S. Lindsey's blog today is full of histrionics and hyperbole, with precious little space wasted on trivialities such as "facts".

Here's the real story:
Al Nisri is a true bad guy, he was involved in the Cole bombing and may have possibly been the mastermind behind it.

He was captured by the US and subsequently tortured for information (the CIA admits to torturing 3 captives at Gitmo, he is one of the three).

President Barack Obama is sworn in and issues an executive order stopping trials conducted by military tribunals at Gitmo. Two of the three judges saluted their new commander-in-chief and obey the order.

The third judge, Colonel James Pohl, defied a direct order by his commander-in-chief, clinging to the fiction that an "executive order" by a president is not the same thing as a "direct order" given by a military leader to a subordinate. Hoping to inflict maximum political damage on the new President, the insubordinate Colonel orders the trial to begin.

Why did he order the trial to begin? Because under the old "Bush rules", evidence obtained under torture is permissible in trials at Gitmo. Under the new "Obama rules", evidence obtained under torture is NOT permissible. The insubordinate Colonel deliberately began the trial so that the "old rules" would apply before the Obama team had 120 days to institute the new guidelines.

Once the trial had technically begun, the only way to stop it was for the government to withdraw charges without prejudice, meaning that charges could be reinstituted at a later date, and they undoubtedly will, S. Lindsey's bleatings to the contrary notwithstanding.

President Obama was doing what the people who voted for him asked him to do: get the United States of America OUT of the "torture business". To do so, he'll have to contend with the Colonel Pohls and S. Lindseys of the world, who need to be reminded often that the George W. Bush's declaration that the United States Constitution is "just a goddamned piece of paper" (direct quote) is no longer the guiding principle of the federal government.
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Palin-Nugent 2012