06-22-2012, 08:31 PM
(06-22-2012, 08:08 PM)Jimbone Wrote: You're a smart girl. You know what is really going on here... if there was a true executive privilege claim, they would have used it immediately and not at the last minute. Throwing it out there now is a stall tactic - and I'm not sure under a court challenge the executive privilege claim will survive (if it gets that far) because laws were obviously broken.
You know - as well as everyone else with a brain - that this was a class A, all hands, fuck up that went all the way to the top of Justice. And maybe further?
What we are watching now is political theater at its worst. And Brian Terry's parents have a front row seat.
I know what I think based on everything I've read/watched and my assessment thereof. But, I'm very much looking at the motives and strategies of both sides; including what can be definitively proven and the risks involved to the parties. There are political agendas outside of what is directly on the table here for both sides, imo.
I believe in deliberative executive privilege for the reasons I posted upthread. I agree that Obama hoped this could be made to go away before pulling that card. Using executive privilege sends up a bigger flag and fuels suspicion of wrongful indisclosure with the public based on how it's been used in recent history, imo.
So, did Obama wait until the last minute to pull that card because other attempts to contain the situation had been expired and he believes that it sincerely applies? Or, did he do it hoping to keep the wolves at bay even though he believes that the requested docs/communications should not be considered privileged? That is the point that I'm less convinced about than you and Dick. I'm not sure. I tend to want as much information as possible before I dig my heels in on something of this magnitude, which may be rightfully construed as indecisive or less smart by some. But, I'm a bit analytical and it works for me.
The Terrys deserve answers (as do the Mexican officials) and I know they're frustrated and disgusted with the process so far. My heart goes out to them.