Democrat

Congressional Tweet-mageddon After Weiner Scandal

Kara Swisher in Social on June 9, 2011 at 1:58 pm PT

Were all the politicians in Congress taken up in some sort of rapture to a Twitter-free zone? Nope, just the effect of the unfortunate nether-region photo tweet by Democratic Rep. Anthony Weiner, which has apparently caused others on Capitol Hill to stop posting as much to the microblogging service.

The FCC Votes, a New Internet Dawns, Like It or Not

Arik Hesseldahl in Enterprise on December 21, 2010 at 8:50 am PT

There is only one point of consensus that has emerged from today’s imminent 3-2 vote by the Federal Communications Commission on network neutrality rules proposed by Chairman Julius Genachowski: All concerned are dissatisfied with the result.

Breaking: FCC's Copps Voting "Yes" on Net Neutrality Plan

Arik Hesseldahl in Enterprise on December 20, 2010 at 1:45 pm PT

Michael Copps, a Democratic member of the Federal Communications Commission, says he plans to vote in favor of Chairman Julius Genachowski’s proposed rules on network neutrality. This makes the passage of the rules in a vote scheduled for tomorrow a virtual certainty, as Copps was seen as the only possible swing vote on the five-member commission.

House Committee Asks Professor to Censor Facebook Remarks

Jennifer Valentino-DeVries, Reporter, The Wall Street Journal in News on December 3, 2010 at 12:00 am PT

In an unusual move, the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection asked a Columbia University Law School professor to censor his remarks in a hearing about online privacy legislation. “We as members of Congress are never inclined to censor testimony in open congressional hearings,” Rep. Zachary Space, an Ohio Democrat, said when introducing the professor, Eben Moglen. “But Congress tries to foster highest level of decorum. I would ask you to avoid personal attacks against any companies or company employees.”

Welcome to the FCC, Julius: Now Get to Work on a National Broadband Plan, Please…

Kara Swisher in News on June 29, 2009 at 1:04 pm PT

Last week, after much delay, longtime Internet exec Julius Genachowski was confirmed by the Senate as the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission. It is an important role for the future development of the Web, of course, although it took a dog’s age into the new Democratic administration to approve him. Hopefully, he and the other commissioners can soon get to work on a wide range of major digital issues, such as a national broadband plan that does not cost Americans a fortune.

Congress Readies an “Opt-In” Privacy Bill, and the Web Industry Cringes

Peter Kafka in Media on June 23, 2009 at 1:41 pm PT

Here comes the battle the online ad business has been dreading: Congress is drawing up a bill that would require users to sign up to let advertisers track their online behavior–and, if you believe online publishers, more or less destroy the online ad business.

Meg Whitman Tries on Her Political Dancing Shoes on the "Today" Show

Kara Swisher in News on February 12, 2009 at 1:07 pm PT

Here’s a video of former eBay CEO Meg Whitman talking to Matt Lauer on the “Today” show this morning about her nascent campaign to be governor of California as the Republican candidate. Whitman, who was a favorite of failed Presidential nominee Sen. John McCain, seems to have perfected the art of saying exactly nothing, even after Lauer asked her if she was nuts to run the “arguably ungovernable”–referencing a writer for the Sacramento Bee–California.

Microsoft's Steve Ballmer Bubble-Pops at Democratic Policy Confab: The Full Speech

Kara Swisher in News on February 6, 2009 at 3:14 pm PT

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer made an appearance at the three-day U.S. House of Representatives Democratic Caucus Retreat today to talk about innovation and, let’s be real, the very bad economy and the impact on businesses like the tech giant. The confab has already seen an appearance by President Barack Obama yesterday and one by Vice President Joe Biden this morning. Ballmer got the lunch spot today. Ballmer’s message was a bummer, appropriately: “In my view, what we now have will be a fundamental economic reset.” Here’s his whole speech.

Loves It: Life Was Better When Martin Sheen Was "Fake" President (We're Not So Sure About Paris, Though)

Kara Swisher in News on October 9, 2008 at 12:34 pm PT

Famous-for-being-famous celebrity Paris Hilton continues her comic run for “fake” President of the United States, with a new online video for the Funny or Die comedy site. In the latest, Hilton consults the most famous of fake Presidents, actor Martin Sheen, who played President Jed Bartlett for many seasons on the NBC hit “The West Wing.” BoomTown really misses C.J. and the rest of the team.

From Plumber of the Internet to Plumber of the Economy?

John Paczkowski in News on October 7, 2008 at 10:36 am PT

When he appeared at our D5 conference in May 2007, Sen. John McCain said that, given the chance, he’d hire Cisco CEO John Chambers for his cabinet. Now, in the run-up to the November presidential election, it looks like Chambers has some competition for that spot. In an interview with Reuters, McCain said that Chambers is still on his short list of potential Treasury secretaries, but the Cisco CEO has some company.