The Daily Muck

This weekend papers on both coasts took a look at Judge Michael Mukasey’s long record on the bench to conclude that the administration picked a fierce, independent judge to replace Gonzales. Mukasey has a record of coming down hard on the guilty, particularly those convicted of white collar crimes. And he has ruled against powerful figures, including the President’s uncle. Mukasey also has a conservative perspective. At this point, both papers seem to agree, competence is a step in the right direction. (NY Times, LA Times)

If Mukasey has a strong record of independence and rigid adherence to the law, then expect his treatment of detainees in post-9/11 cases to be a key item of inquiry by Senate Democrats. In particular, The New York Times takes a look at a once-secret transcript from a 2001 trial in which Mukasey showed little interest in claims that a defendant rounded up after 9/11 had been beaten by authorities while in custody. Though a 21 year old Jordanian immigrant terror suspect in his court complained of bruises from a beating while in custody (later medical exams revealed their presence), Mukasey noted, “he looks fine to me” and then ordered that he be held indefinitely. (NY Times)

Exactly where can Blackwater legally operate these days? The private security firm, whose license with the Iraqi government was suspended last week, now has permit problems in the U.S. Two former Blackwater employees have pleaded guilty in Greenville, N.C. to weapons charges and are now assisting in a federal investigation into whether Blackwater failed to obtain permits for dozens of automatic weapons used at its training grounds. The feds also want to know if Blackwater was shipping weapons to Iraq without the required permits. (McClatchy)

Why would Ray Hunt (of Hunt Oil) — one of the president’s staunchest supporters and a member of the Bush’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board — sign an oil deal with the Kurds that undermines an oil revenue
sharing program central to achieving a peaceful political settlement in Iraq? Paul Krugman argues that Hunt’s move signals that the surge has failed. Meanwhile, Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio), a member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee is demanding a congressional investigation to see what Bush may have known about the deal and whether Hunt is trading on inside information. (Washington Post, New York Times)

Now with 60% fewer earmarks! This year’s military budget approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee has shaved over two billion dollars off the amount of money allocated via earmarks. But, lawmakes can still slip in earmarks. And no word yet on senators finding other ways to fund their special projects (like calling agencies directly). (Boston Globe)

The New York Times dives into an investigation that TPMmuckraker has been covering on the $6 billion spent on military contracts in Iraq, Kuwait, and Afghanistan that has led to charges against at least 29 civilians and soldiers, more than 75 other criminal investigations and the suicides of at least two officers. According to federal authorities, 41-year-old Major Cockerham, along with his wife and a sister, hid nearly $10 million in bribes from companies seeking military contracts. (New York Times)

It’s finally going nowhere. The infamous Alaskan “Bridge to Nowhere” project was officially abandoned last week, after the state government determined that the project would require an additional $300 million in funding. Stevens and Young aren’t commenting on the death of their pet project, though both probably have bigger things on heir minds. (AP)