Splitting Billion Dollar Babies/2

[Charles Behney <charlesaugust@theriver.com>]

  http://cnnfn.com/digitaljam/9712/11/microsoft/
  
  CNNFN has the only Ralph quote regarding the split decision issued late
  today regarding the DOJ petition. Lot's of wiggle room for the lawyers
  on both sides. Mr. Mueller: what happens when a special judicial officer
  is appoint to research a case? I assume everything submitted by a
  specialist is nonbinding.
  
  Regarding the "Democracy 101 debate: Almost everyone in Congress is a
  reactionary, dependent on their staff and the lobbyists. That said,
  Congressmen like Senator Orrin Hatch watched Novell and Wordperfect
  almost vanish as an economic force in Utah. Barksdale and Trent Lott are
  good old boys. These guys read the news, and when college students and
  DOJ attorneys get press, the congressment take note, and usually punt...
  to their staff and the lobbyists. The key here is to keep the news
  stories breaking, and establish a story line that is easy to follow, but
  interesting enough to keep momentum. E-mail applied to CEOs and
  congressmen that reinforces current topics will carry some weight. The
  results will not be immediately apparent, but the efforts are not in
  vain. Senators Lott and Hatch can use the e-mails to justify their
  positions, even if they are favors paid to corporate donors...
  
  >  Jackson also ordered that a special
  >                   judicial officer, law professor Lawrence
  >                   Lessig, be appointed to consider the facts
  >                   and legal precedents that applied to the case.
  >                   Lessig, a specialist in computers and
  >                   cyberspace, must submit his report by May
  >                   31.
  
  >  Consumer advocate Ralph Nader
  >                   criticized the decision, saying it didn't go far
  >                   enough.
  >                      "U.S District Judge Jackson gave
  >                   Microsoft a second bite at the apple by not
  >                   approving the sanctions in addition to the
  >                   injunction he issued today. He rejected the
  >                   government's complaint that Microsoft's
  >                   non-disclosure agreements obstruct people
  >                   and firms from coming forward with
  >                   information to the Justice Department.
  >                      "All in all, the decision does little to deter
  >                   Microsoft's arrogant and predatory business
  >                   practices which will be the focus of other
  >                   ongoing investigations by the Justice
  >                   Department and state attorneys general," he
  >                   said.
  
  
  CAB