The Daily Muck

House Democrats are proposing new legislation that strengthens independent oversight of the Bush administration. Their proposed legislation would put more teeth into the 1978 law that established independent inspector generals by making it more difficult for the administration to fire inspector generals or otherwise control internal watchdogs. The White House is threatening a veto, arguing that the law will interfere with the president’s Constitutional right to fire inspector generals. (CQ Politics)

Ray Hunt, CEO of Hunt Oil, claimed (sub. req.) yesterday that he did not take advantage of his connections with Republicans- and specifically, the President- to help land an oil arrangement with the semi autonomous Kurdish region in Iraq. The State Department has previously claimed that it advised Hunt against the deal; Hunt claims he did not communicate with anyone in the government prior to the agreement. (Wall Street Journal)

If the White House won’t talk, try the telecoms. ABC’s investigative superstar Justin Rood reports that Congress is seeking information about the government’s warrantless wiretapping programming by asking telecommunications firms about their role. The firms have until October 12th to suddenly become a part of the executive branch so that they can claim privilege. (ABC’s The Blotter)

Rep. Peter Visclosky (D-IN) earmarks over $7 million for a technology start-up incubator to be built (sub. req.) in his state. The first five businesses to take up residence in the new building are all clients of the lobbying firm PMA. PMA is Visclosky’s largest political contributor. Nothing to see here, folks. (Roll Call)

Alexis Debat, the discredited terrorism analyst who fabricated interviews with Barak Obama, Hilary Clinton, and Alan Greenspan, has been busy angling for work since resigning from ABC. He approached the Lincoln Group (a government contractor specializing in strategic communications) and attempted to raise money for an investment schemethat would predict future stock moves. Debat’s resume refers to a project in “artificial intelligence.” Hmmmm. (Mother Jones)

The government began its case against the Liberty City 7, the kooky band of Miami residents, members of the Seas of David cult, who (allegedly) planned to take over the world after blowing up the Sears tower. The defense is playing up the incompetence of the seven men, the timing of the arrest (an election year) and the fact that the group was offered large amounts of money from undercover FBI operative if they pledged allegiance to Al-Qaeda. The government acknowledges that the attack plans were certainly “more aspirational than operational,” but maintains that the men were still threats to national security. (LA Times)

Before Wilkes was bribing Congressmen with cash and hookers (we’re not supposed to talk about the hookers) he was making a name for himself in local elections (hookers). In fact, many of the players from the Cunningham scandal make an appearance in this 2003 story of dubious campaign support for the failed mayoral bid of Ron Roberts. Many of Wilkes’ employees contributed to Robert’s bid, but investigators were more curious why those same employees were cashing checks only days later for the exact amount as their contribution. (Voice of San Diego)

Michael Mukasey, the president’s nominee for Attorney General, has provided forty-six pages of documents to the Senate Judiciary Committee. In the documents, Mukasey acknowledges that he has “distributed information” on behalf of his “good friend” Rudy Giuliani, but stopped short of raising funds for him. Mukasey has also revealed instances in which he recused himself from cases because of conflicts of interest, as well as instances in which he refused demands by defense attorneys to recuse himself because his “hypothesized support for political zionism.” (Washington Post)