Brian Terry: What justice? What privilege?

By Michael Bresciani

In a jaw dropping move, Barack Obama put the brakes on justice, on behalf of the Justice Department's top man, Eric Holder by means of that god like power we have granted our presidents known as 'executive privilege.'

Trying to understand why Mr. Obama would insert himself into the investigation of the botched gun walking operation, now infamously known as, 'fast and furious' has produced only more questions and almost no answers.

Some words and phrases are rising to the surface more than others. Sadness, embarrassment, witch hunt, complicity, and cover up, are the top contenders and thought provokers. Every method of analyzing seems to fail, the higher criticisms and eclectic philosophies of the left and right thinker, deductive reasoning and just common sense are forced to sit down and shut up. So what's left?

It is not until simple math and that unrefined acid test we know as the process of elimination is engaged, that we start to get a sense of relief. What a thing is — is often made clearer by ascertaining, beyond doubt, what it is not. Let's begin.

Embarrassment?

After bowing to Saudi Kings, failing miserably at economic recovery, pronouncing his evolved position on marriage between same sexes and Michele's battles against soda and French fries — what's a little more embarrassment? It is not likely that that Obama's little ship of state will sink or even blush for this latest excursion into the new political landscape of absurdities. That's not it.

Saving a friend and colleague?

We may not think Mr. Obama is the brightest bulb in the shed, but no one, conservative or liberal would doubt that he is a relatively smart man. He has quite enough cognizance to know that using the power of 'executive privilege' to come to the aid of a friend is a misuse of power. In the event that Mr. Holder should be found guilty of some crime, Mr. Obama would be complicit in the same. That's not it.

Clearing the air so the election process is not impeded?

Such a notion is inconsistent with the administration's own philosophy of 'never letting a good crisis go to waste.' Mr. Obama needs every diversion available so he is not saddled with the impossible task of defending his own failed policies and his dismal record. Controversy, division and distraction are the bosom buddies he is not likely to betray. That's not it.

Putting an end to a witch hunt?

Democrats have used this term repeatedly against the Congressional Committee and Darrell Issa. It is the very catchword that best symbolizes the moral decline of an entire party. The insult it invokes is beyond the realm of decency. If searching for the murderers of Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry is a witch hunt we have only one question remaining. Are the police departments, coroners, scientists, detectives and officers actively engaged in murder cases around the nation also conducting witch hunts? Looking for criminals is never a witch hunt; does this actually have to be stated? This is definitely not it.

Obstruction of justice?

If the Congressional Committee had full access to the evidence we would not be forced to entertain this last possibility. But now that evidence has been secreted by fiat and justice has been averted. The long arm of the White House has reached over to the long arm of the law not for aid, but to hastily pull down the shades in that that alleged abode of — Lady Justice. Now, no one will know, no one will see. Lady Justice is not the only one now wearing the blindfold; both the congress and the American people are groping in the dark. Sadly, this may be it.

Because we have rightfully supplied the executive branch with the instrument we call 'executive privilege' does not eliminate our responsibility to question how it is used. Rather than accusing Mr. Obama of mis-using this power irresponsibly we need only apply some simple semantics and comparisons to see that the very idea of privilege, its use and its definition are what serve to bring the presidents use or mis-use of this instrument into question.

We need not sail around the great cloud of former presidents and statesmen to find our best comparison. We need only to consider what Agent Brain Terry thought of privilege. He thought it was a privilege to serve his country and his community by upholding and enforcing the law. But now, for the moment it is clear that he is being denied the privilege of having the nation he served, stop at nothing to uncover the reasons, the people and the means by which he had to pay the ultimate price in the execution of his privilege and sworn duty.

We cannot omit the dozens of Mexican citizens whose privilege to carry on in their lives and pursuits in their own country was also thwarted by the bullets raining from guns supplied by the botched fast and furious operation.

No fanfare here, no semantic wrangling, just one fair question. Can supplanting one man's privilege with another's — ever be thought of as justice?

Let one old preacher man appendage this message with this warning. Although many days and nights, months and years may yet have to pass before all is known about this filthy business, it will see its day. To wit:

"For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops." (Luke 12: 2, 3)

© Michael Bresciani