The Memo: Tennessee debacle revives bitter debate over death penalty

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An attempt to execute Christa Pike in Tennessee failed, leaving her in critical condition in a hospital. The incident has reignited a national political debate over capital punishment and the administration of executions.

The death penalty is back center stage in national politics in the most macabre of circumstances. Christa Pike, 50, who admits to the gruesome 1995 murder of classmate Colleen Slemmer, is in critical condition in hospital after Tennessee’s attempt to execute her on Wednesday evening failed. The attempted execution had only proceeded at the last…