Jeremy Scahill's use of the word "Empire" when referring to the U.S., is that comparative to Russia, China, Iran? See those Empires don't have freedom to vote and win their president. Neither do their Emperors have a short term of office when the vote comes up again.
I see it more if you're going to speak of the States as being an Empire as half of it's citizens being the power of the Emperor who chooses where we want this "Empire" to go -- Emperor citizens. For instance there is half of the United States that doesn't agree with Scahill. Even Democrat citizens who suspect he is a provocateur enemy.