Gonzales to Get Power In Death Penalty Cases

This is something I find truly amazing. It's the rare case where the media is reporting the story everywhere, but where are the bloggers? Perhaps wingers are picking up the torch (I rarely read them), but I've not seen any mention of this on the left.

Gonzales should be kicked out of office and not rewarded with more powers. So I have no idea why there seems to be no outrage.

Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales, under political siege for his handling of the U.S. attorney firings and other issues, is to get expanded powers to hasten death penalty cases under regulations being developed by the Justice Department.

The rules would give Gonzales the authority to approve "fast-track" procedures by states in death penalty cases, enabling them to carry out sentences more speedily and with fewer opportunities for appeal if those states provide adequate representation for capital defendants.

Such powers were previously held by federal judges, but a provision of the USA Patriot Act reauthorization bill approved by Congress last year hands the authority to the attorney general.

And just why does the Attorney General need such power? If federal judges already have the power, isn't that adequate? What does the AG bring to the table?

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