Patriot Act sneakiness again.

Regardless of your position on the death penalty, we have a jury system in this country for a reason. Now the neo-cons want to circumvent that when the jury doesn't give the result they want.

This is the proverbial slippery slope folks, say goodbye to another constitutional right. Thanks again to the UNDERNEWS for being there when it counts.

UNDERNEWS: GOP WANTS TO FORCE DEATH PENALTY EVEN WHEN JURY CAN'T AGREE: "NY TIMES - If all 12 members of a jury in a capital case in federal court cannot agree on whether to impose the death penalty, a convicted defendant is automatically sentenced to life in prison. But that may be about to change. A little-noticed provision in the House bill that reauthorized the antiterrorism law known as the USA Patriot Act would allow federal prosecutors further attempts at a death sentence if a capital jury deadlocks on the punishment. So long as at least one juror voted for death, prosecutors could empanel a new sentencing jury and argue again that execution was warranted. The Senate bill does not contain the provision, and representatives of both chambers will soon meet to discuss the differences between the two measures and potential compromises."

Well much like the rest of the Patriot act this serves to fulfill the fantasies neo-con despot wannabes while doing nothing good for America. Is it 2006 yet?