Oh, right Gene. It's all this crafty followup on Reno's trying to crash the markets. The "Special Master" was appointed by the Judge, and I've not heard any indication that DOJ had anything to do with it. If you have such an indication, perhaps you should say so and give us a source. And say why Microsoft is supposed to have a veto over who the Judge chooses. The guy clerked for Posner, and taught at "the Chicago School". Plus, he brought PC's to the Supreme Court. If you think someone like that would be the first choice of the international ilk conspiracy, methinks thy own objectivity be somewhere in the neighborhood of the financial engineer.
I guarantee you, I don't prejudge the outcome of this. The particular issue of Anne Bingaman's toothless consent decree is sort of an odd thing to build on, but that's the way wars start sometime. The Sherman act hasn't been repealed, it'll take awhile to get rolling again if they have to start from scratch, but Bill better dig up some better allies that the Libertarians and Objectivists if he wants to win on the political front.
And, I'd say it's both premature to dance on Netscape's grave, and somewhat arrogant, given the background issue of treble damages. Maybe Bill can make the laws go away, or build up Fischofer's world class lobbying organization in the next 6 months, maybe not. Me, I will enjoy reading the news, regardless. I'm sure there'll be another round from Microsoft, about how unfair this all is, and nobody else could possibly understand the complexity of it all. Whatever.
Cheers, Dan. |
