The basic situation here is this - does the Administration have the authority to use lethal force to thwart violent attacks against the government, the country and its citizens? On American soil. The answer is yes.
And yes, drones are increasingly used for surveillance operations. They are not weaponized. Conflating the two undermines the needed debate about surveillance in general by introducing the "government is out to kill you" hyperbole. It parallels the "government will come and take away your guns" meme that crops up in gun legislation discussions.
Red herrings, both.
..and where the preemptive memo evolved, I'm not sure. Yet I see it mentioned all the time. Who in the Administration ever mentioned "preemptive actions"? Another red herring.
Does the Administration "target" individuals? Certainly. Profiling, which is what it is, needs a good long look. But floating the idea that the government is going to target and preemptively kill someone via a weaponized drone in your neighborhood is crazy...