ASHCROFT THE AVENGER

If John Ashcroft keeps it up, we're going to have to change his title
from Attorney General to Avenging Angel: Since nobody else in the
justice system is morally trustworthy enough to mete out justice, he's
taking over the job himself.

First, he was so appalled that so few people were being executed that
he started overruling his own advisers' recommendations and ordering
up more death penalty prosecutions.

Next, he set out to strip federal judges of what little sentencing
discretion is left to them. He ordered that his office be told every
time some deviant judge dares to temper justice with mercy, so he can
loose his terrible swift sword in an appeal.

Now, he's found unacceptable laxity even among the hard-nosed federal
prosecutors who have stuffed America's prisons with record numbers of
inmates. Yesterday, he ordered them to stop reaching plea bargains
except in cases he approves of, and never mind the impact on courts'
functioning, the speed of trials or the wallets of taxpayers.

Justice is mine, sayeth the Attorney General. America needs to take it
back.