Wednesday, May 3, 2006

Internet Neutrality Ed Cone: "I'm guessing former Clinton mouthpiece Mike McCurry meant to sound tough and bloggy with this post about Net neutrality. "It really didn't work. He sounds like an angry insider who can't believe a bunch of nobodies dared to challenge him. "Yeah, it's rough out there in the comments, but you have to stay cool and on point. "It helps to mix a little Google into your act, too: McCurry sounds ignorant when he calls Vint Cerf 'Vince.' But his biggest problem is this challenge to 'net neuts,' as he calls proponents of Net neutrality: 'What content is being denied? What service is being degraded? What is not right with the Internet that you are trying to cure?' "The answer to his third question: It's not a cure, it's a vaccine. "The phone companies (for which McCurry is a paid lobbyist) are the ones who want to change the rules, and those changes would bring abundant answers to his first two questions. "The battle of Net neutrality has moved into the political arena. Presumably this is why the telcos are employing a political expert like McCurry. "But when the battlefield moves to the Web, it might help to have someone who knows the terrain." Category: 2008 Presidential Election 7:04:19 AM

Nuclear energy? Wash Park Prophet: "Mr. Moore, co-founder of Greenpeace, explains why he thinks that environmentalists should support nuclear power...the main alternative, coal is really a problem." Category: 2008 Presidential Election 6:48:57 AM

Immigration Captain's Quarters: "The May Day protests by activists for illegal immigrants have resulted in an utterly predictable backlash, according to the Washington Post. Voters have sent bricks to their Congressional representatives as donations for a border barrier, and even those who considered themselves liberals want the government to start rounding up illegals and send them packing." Bull Moose: "[Monday's] immigration protest only assisted one group - the Republican right. It inflamed the fever swamp and it was not a good thing. Those who are here illegally should not flaunt a sense of entitlement. Yet, there is a need for a comprehensive reform bill, and whatever backlash that might develop shouldn't dissuade Congress from acting. "The GOP's right fixation on the 'immigrant hordes' is ludicrous. Sure, there is a problem, but it is nowhere as immense as some Republicans suggest. These illegal immigrants generally come to America not to be on the dole but to work and work hard. Yes, they speak a foreign language and observe customs from the old country - and so did many of our parents and grandparents. English should be the preferred language for the national anthem, but even if it is sung in a foreign tongue it is better than not being heard at all. "Ironically, these immigrants are likely more socially conservative than native born Americans. As the Washington Post pointed out, there is a revival of Pentecostalism among new immigrants. Indeed, the native tongue may be speaking in tongues!" Category: 2008 Presidential Election 6:40:43 AM

© Copyright 2009 John Orr. Last update: 3/15/09; 11:29:46 AM.