The REAL War.....
>>Well, that's what everyone is saying: Microsoft has conceded total defeat in the first battle, and is maneuvering for the second battle of the war. And the ultimate outcome may be rendered moot by the pace of industry change, if Microsoft can delay the process long enough. It's obviously a fall-back position. Nobody plans to be routed in the first battle of a war.
I've seen this process with drug and medical equipment companies. The FDA will question a companies' drug safety tests, or manufacturing processes. Frequently, the first reaction by the company is to shout back: "We did nothing wrong! Leave us alone!" This is always the wrong response, whether the FDA is right or wrong. The proper response is to say: "Yes, sir. If you say we screwed up, then we did. Tell us what we need to do to make you happy, and we will be 100% compliant." This is the right response (from the viewpoint of a shareholder who wants to be richer). If you fight and make the Feds angry, you lose. Every time. This may not be Fair or Just or Right, but that's the way it is.>>
The REAL war will be over who can finesse this just right politically to land on the right side of the isle at the exact right moment for the most leveraged benefit.
The DOJ's move gives the democrats incredible leverage in this situation for they can play "heads I win....tails you lose" with their opponents using DOJ as their ace in the hole. It's an unbelievable bargaining chip and the longterm implications for technology are as massively huge as they are troubling.
Meanwhile, Greenspan (thumbs up or down) or no Greenspan, out of their "dog eat dog" possessive self-righteousness, Republicans, conservatives and the WSJ can be unknowingly paint themselves into just one more of the many corners which will enable Bill/Hillary and Gore to gleefully use their last second salvo/dose of media spin and public opinion to determine which trigger to pull.
And so help me God, Carville may even repolish a gem from their dark closet, attach a new label and say "It's The Internet, Stupid!!"
Going lower while appear to "go higher" you gotta hand it to these political sleight of hand artists. And it's not like we don't know/"get" what's happening. For it's become ONE big Seinfeld show. Only this time, Leno is staying in the Lincoln bedroom - ie. "they are coming to see Jay" - what perfect cover!!
Peace.
GO!!
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