Verizon and Google Jointly File Internet Policy Statement at the FCC

Intriguing that Verizon and Google have agreed to a joint filing at the FCC on Internet policy matters. They don't agree on everything and those differences are reflected in their separate filings. Nevertheless, here is their recent joint filing:

Google and Verizon Joint Submission on the Open Internet

Political Memo - Massachusetts Election Tests Democrats’ Staying Power - NYTimes.com

Political Memo - Massachusetts Election Tests Democrats’ Staying Power - NYTimes.com:

Win or lose in the special election in Massachusetts on Tuesday, nationally, the Democrats are in deep trouble because TeamObama has made promises that the country cannot financially afford to keep.

Looking at the huge support of candidate Scott Brown in the various polls among likely voters, it's clear that middle-of-the-road Americans do not agree with TeamObama's national agenda.

Whether Brown wins or loses in MA, large numbers of voters will have sent a strong message that they are not pleased with the direction left-wing Washington leadership is taking the country.

"...But most ominously for Democrats contemplating the midterm elections, the battle here suggests an emerging dangerous dynamic: that Mr. Obama has energized Republican activists who think he has overstepped with health care and the economic stimulus, while demoralizing Democrats who think he has not lived up to his promise."

France and the internet: Helicopters at the ready | The Economist

France and the internet: Helicopters at the ready | The Economist:

Socialism is alive and well in France much to the dismay of some entrepreneurs.

Propping up 'old' or unsuccessful businesses by government intervention and levying discriminatory taxes is so typical of France.

TeamObama's intervention in America's auto industry smacks of the same protectionism and a tilt toward the socialism that so many Americans find repugnant.

Drink American wine!

"...To experienced cyber-entrepreneurs, the government’s proposal for a new tax on internet firms is not surprising. “French governments always try to take money from young industries to sustain the old ones,” says Pierre Chappaz, chief executive of Wikio, a search engine for news and blogs, and a former co-head of Netvibes, a website that lets users personalise online content. A controversial new law which cuts off internet access for illegal downloaders demonstrates the established media’s lobbying power.

Although French entrepreneurs have started many successful young internet firms, most tend to be local rather than pan-European. One problem is that France’s high taxes on stock options makes hiring difficult. Partly for that reason, points out Mr Chappaz, many start-ups, including Netvibes, already have their headquarters outside France."

A Heated Debate Among Top Executives at Google Over Withdrawing from China - WSJ.com

A Heated Debate Among Top Executives at Google Over Withdrawing from China - WSJ.com

Google is taking a principled stand that will continue to receive kudos from most of the world, at least those who value an open Internet without government censorship.

The WSJ believes that Google will likely be alone in this fight with China. Cheerleaders will abound, but it's unlikely many other companies will join the possible pullout.

Google is unlikely to win this battle with China and having taken their stance, should prepare to pull out of the soon-to-be-world's largest market for almost everything.

On the other hand, China's leaders cannot possibly believe they are able to control the Internet within their country forever.

What is most troubling about this episode is the growing ability of Chinese technologists to crack almost everything and what seems to be their increasing ability to wage cyber-warfare if desired.

Legislative Philosophy 010609 - Google Docs

Legislative Philosophy - Musings during January 6, 2010 VT House Ways and Means Committee Meeting

This committee and Vermont's Legislature must recognize the structural changes underway in our society and financial system and not be lulled into believing that we will soon see a rebound to a former condition. The Vermont economy will be in ''rainy day" status for a long time.

Appropriations and spending must be consistent with the capacity of the tax base, which is not growing in Vermont. To consider extracting yet more taxes from this economy with a population that is growing at a rate 1/3 of the national average is bad public policy.

The Legislature's fundamental premise must be to reduce the government 'pull' on private sector assets, resources and personal income. Instead, they will be well advised to cut taxes as soon as possible by reducing the size of the public sector, including K-12 education, in an intelligent way.

Op-Ed Contributor - The Spies Who Got Left in the Cold - NYTimes.com

I missed this when first published on January 9, 2010. This piece by Robert Grenier, a former CIA Clandestine Service Officer for 27 years, is ‘must read’ all the way through to the end. It is well written and speaks volumes about what we owe to our intelligence specialists in the field for the work that they do on our behalf.

So many of our ‘professional politicians’ and their cohorts on staff and in the media are quick to castigate the intelligence community, as though their task was simple and risk-free. These self-serving politicians and camp followers are unworthy of our respect. Those in the intelligence community who most deserve our gratitude seldom receive it.

Please read Mr. Grenier’s musings and be thankful for his service and his willingness to speak out.

Op-Ed Contributor - The Spies Who Got Left in the Cold - NYTimes.com

Republicans Cite Lott in Calling for Reid to Quit - NYTimes.com

Republicans Cite Lott in Calling for Reid to Quit - NYTimes.com

Sen. Harry Reid is is a good as gone after these racial remarks about Obama's, so very similar to Lott's when he was in Senate leadership. Apologies just don't seem to suffice when Political Correctness reigns.

Because Reid's in trouble in his 2010 Nevada re-election bid, and assuming some other Democrat wants his Senate leader's job, it's bye, bye Harry!

Drones are Effective Against Al Qaeda Leaders

A quote from the Wall Street Journal describes one bright spot in Th U.S. war against terrorists (whatever TeamObama chooses to call it). Drone technology is good and getting better. The article also contains this quote: "Able to go where American soldiers can't, the Predator and Reaper have since 9/11 killed more than half of the 20 most wanted al Qaeda suspects, the Uzbek, Yemeni and Pakistani heads of allied groups and hundreds of militants. Most of those hits were in the last four years."

This capability is a very effective weapon and keeps Al Qaeda leadership from moving freely. We should use it as often as it will be effective. Collateral damage, while frustrating and difficult, can be mostly avoided because of the precision of these weapons. However, If 'civilians' choose or are forced to be close to these evil radical Islamists, then some will, unfortunately, die. This is a fact of life in warfare of any kind. President Obama would be wise to continue describing our war against Islamic radicals intent on destroying us as...a WAR. They will not be won over by our choice of words.

"The Obama Administration has with good reason taken flak for its approach to terrorism since the Christmas Day near-bombing over Detroit. So permit us to laud an antiterror success in the Commander in Chief's first year in office.

Though you won't hear him brag about it, President Obama has embraced and ramped up the use of unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones. As tactic and as a technology, drones are one of the main U.S. advantages that have emerged from this long war. (IEDs are one of the enemy's.) Yet their use isn't without controversy, and it took nerve for the White House to approve some 50 strikes last year, exceeding the total in the last three years of the Bush Administration.

Associated Press

Supporters of Pakistani Labour Party rally against the United States and drone attacks on militants in Pakistani tribal areas along the Afghanistan border.

From Pakistan to Yemen, Islamic terrorists now fear the Predator and its cousin, the better-armed Reaper. So do critics on the left in the academy, media and United Nations; they're calling drones an unaccountable tool of "targeted assassination" that inflames anti-American passions and kills civilians. At some point, the President may have to defend the drone campaign on military and legal grounds."

Vermont Accepts "The Challenge" from Public Strategies Group

This week, Governor Douglas, Senator Shumlin and Representative Smith have agreed to accept the report of the Public Strategies Group (cost $300,000). I assume that means they have also agreed to implement all the recommendations that will allegedly save $38 Million in FY2011.

While the news is good that Governor Douglas and Legislative leaders have agreed to accept "The Challenge," I doubt that all the savings will be realized in FY2011.

Who will be responsible for tracking the progress and quantifying the savings. Will the same group who has been tracking and reporting the use of ARRA (stimulus) funds do this? Will the State Auditor of Accounts be responsible?

State government has only a few months to implement these recomendations in order to allow time for them to be in place long enough to realize the assumed savings. The devil is always in the details.

Eye on America's Purse Strings - CNBC.com

Eye on America's Purse Strings - CNBC.com

David Walker on fiscal discipline (there isn't any) in Washington.