The Daily Muck

ABC’s “The Blotter” asserts that “only three have been waterboarded.” Make that four, if you include Daniel Levin, the acting assistant attorney general in 2004. Levin, tasked with reworking the administration’s legal position on torture, was so concerned about the use of waterboarding that he took the plunge himself. Levin, who was shocked by the controlled drowning, penned a new memo calling “torture abhorrent,” but stopped short of calling waterboarding either torture or illegal. And, well, the administration quickly replaced him. (ABC “The Blotter,” ABC News)

Having already built and deployed a private army, Blackwater USA is now building its own CIA. Under the guidance of former CIA associate director of operations Robert Richer and the former head of counterterrorism at CIA Cofer Black (think rendition and enhanced interrogation), Total Intelligence Solutions promises to “open doors” for clients around the world. (Washington Post)

A little late to the game. Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) has decided to vote for Attorney General nominee Mike Mukasey, despite his concerns with Mukasey’s answers. (Huffington Post)

What’s a little drug-trafficking between friends? Fred Thompson is trying to steer clear of the record of one his key fundraisers, Philip Martin. Martin has given his time, money and even his plane to support Thompson’s presidential run. But back in 1979 Martin pleaded guilty to selling several pounds of marijuana (who didn’t back then?) and in 1983 he pleaded no contest to trafficking cocaine and bookmaking. (Washington Post)

If the Bush administration gets credit for ruining only one virtue, my vote may be for the perversion of loyalty. Apparently former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani is following in Bush’s footsteps; The New York Times examines how Rudy puts on blinders to the misdeeds of people he trusts. Case in point: Bernie Kerik. (NY Times)

Dr. Cyril Wecht, the Pennsylvania coroner who became a victim of the U.S. Attorney scandal, is striking back. In a court filing last week, his attorneys are seeking a hearing to determine whether their clients’ prosecution was politically motivated. (Post Gazette)

Members of Congress may have cut back on earmarks by 50%, but they are still enjoying a healthy diet of pork. The new military appropriations bill includes $1.8 billion in projects not requested by the Pentagon. Twenty-one members, led by representative John Murtha (D-PA), have scored $1 billion in earmarks that primarily serve their home districts. (NY Times)

Administration officials are grappling with what needs to be done to close Guantanamo and move detainees to American soil, a maneuver that would require granting them even more rights, such as granting them hearings with federal judges rather than military judges. (NY Times)