Thug on trial, day 1

No more "alleged" about it. Whitey Bulger's lawyer, Jay Carney, yesterday admitted his client was a loansharking, drug-dealing thug. Just not a government-informing thug. From the Globe, which provides a cast of characters.

WBUR has more on Carney's attempt to turn the trial into a referendum on government corruption.

Howie Carr is impressed at how Carney is trying to paint a government witness as more of a psychopath than his own client. Peter Gelzinis considers Whitey's attempt to preserve his legacy.