Laura Rozen asks the blunt question: “Is Congress so venal and inept as to not fully learn and explain what is going on with telcos helping the government snoop on their constituents’ phone calls more than a year after this article came out?” Obviously, rhetorical.
Thoreau over at Unqualified Offerings notes the high stench, too. Jack Balkin reminds the Hill, “It’s the Secrecy, Stupid!”
What can the Stiftung say? We are dealing with institutions literally dumber than a brontosaur. Specifically, we have represented a telco or three in our time. Including during the digital wiretap (CALEA) process in the mid-1990s. Nothing above re the NSA is any different than the behind the doors situation during the CALEA period, Jerry Berman and CDT libertarian posturing notwithstanding. Although, the CALEA process at least was out in the open, while per Jack Balkin’s pithy observation, the new program was all done in secrecy.
re CALEA all the telcos cared about in the end was either avoiding new burdens or making sure they got paid for them. Same with Lucent and the switch makers. Sure, they resented FBI intrusions into ‘the cage’ — there is alot of monolithic/monopolistic territoriality that comes into play on both sides. Sure, they resented FBI attempts to outsource R&D on to them. But those internal conversations had zero to do with the public posturing and civil liberties, etc. All that complaining about ‘FBI punchlists’ etc. really came down to was to lock the FBI into clear lines for monetization and recoupment. We are confident the NSA situation played out pretty much the same.
We’ve never seen a telco — and we have represented all of them except the (formerly)MCI and Sprint competitive entry crowd (what’s left of it) — draw a line in the sand on constitutional grounds. Or walk away from contracts. Until Qwest.
Anyone from the computer industry’s early days remembers the refrain “nothing dumber than a telco.” Over the years, it’s still true. Oh sure, the TV ads are hipper. But the DNA hasn’t changed much. In the early 1990s, 1/3 the Amazon rain forest was cut for telco lawyers fighting cable lawyers over ‘video dial tone’ proceedings and many other meaningless regulatory posturings. And so on. With the 1996 Telecom Act, the telcos were determined to fight the 1983/84 AT&T break-up and preserve LATA and Inter-LATA financial structures, voice calling plans and strategies while the Internet loomed on the horizon like a tidal wave.
At the time (1996/1997) the Stiftung was in a position to be with a small, elite team to advise Ivan et al. and others to abandon voice and long distance as quickly as possible. They would soon be commodities — the future was digital traffic, maximizing revenue and transactions per unit. It was like telling a triceratops in Mexaco to look up at this big flaming ball coming down from the sky. That most of them rolled over for the National Security State is no surprise.
The Congress of Peoples’ Deputies’ spinelessness goes hand in hand. Which leaves the Nation in a weird political moment. None of its political institutions are capable of taking effective action to satisfy concerns seemingly of any real constituency. One cannot help but wonder how long this state of affairs can last.
———-
[Update] See new item at Unqualified Offerings discussing new WaPo story on Verizon’s 2005 unhesitant compliance with government expansive inquiries. La plus ca change . . .
Comment says
We used to think it was a bad idea – about ten years ago, when we first started hearing about the resolution – But we’ve changed our minds over time because we keep hearing opponents say either 1.) bad timing 2.) genocide denial 3.) ethnic ridicule 4) or just lies..
So we no longer trust the sincerity of the bulk of those who make arguments against – Many of them are self-interested and have cryptic or not so cryptic agendas.
So over time, we thought it was important to affirm what so many smug, self-interested parties want to deny.
The Colonel makes many good points, but he has groked too many military POV to see this clearly and objectively.
Aldershot says
I hate to go all hawk on your ass, but don’t you think the House passing the Armenian resolution is a bad idea? I mean, surely, you’ve seen what the Colonel has to say…no, not Colonel Sanders.
Aldershot says
On SNL…’Jane, you ignorant slut.’
Comment says
Where was that Aldershot?
Aldershot says
How about something like, “Tom, you ignorant slut.”
Comment says
We happend to see a 1964 Playboy interview – Toffler interviewing Ayn Rand – Some great quotes.
Comment says
Wouldn’t it be great if there was someone on that panel – an extra, who had credibility, turned to Friedman and just dumped on him in a sound bite/youtube friendly way.
DrLeoStrauss says
Signs of the Apocalypse:
Dear X:
We want to remind you about the 2007 National Conference on the Creative Economy that will be held on Oct. 24-25 at the McLean Hilton in McLean, Va. This important event is being organized by the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority, and X is a proud sponsor.
The event — which will have a particular interest to the region’s Internet, digital media and interactive communities — brings together hundreds of leaders and visionaries from the worlds of business, government, and academia.
Keynote speakers include:
o Thomas Friedman, columnist for The New York Times and author
o Alvin Toffler, futurist and author of Future Shock, The Third Wave and Revolutionary Wealth.
o Professor Richard Florida, author of The Rise of the Creative Class and The Flight of the Creative Class
In addition, Frank Sesno of CNN will lead a town hall session on how companies and communities can be more attractive to the “creative class.”
____
The Earth is doomed.
Comment says
Tucker is in full bow tie mode attacking the Armenian resolution – This is a good example of someone who makes us confirm our support for the resolution – The fact that people think they can evoke Colin Powell as some sort of authority on this really grates – Powell still has the stupid UN speech to answer for. No matter what you feel about the Armenians – we hear do understand both sides of the argument and it would have been better if this wa dealt with under Clinton – it must really grate them to hear these pathetic people deny their history on tv everyday.
A Random Quote says
“I have made it clear to the Chinese that religious freedom is in their interest.”
~George Bush
Comment says
We could not bring ourselves to read the column, but Friedman has a new meme – “Green-collar.”
Anon says
Incidentally – he also used Richlieu’s line.
Anon says
Ha – Mukasy must be unpatriotic – He rebukes Addington, Mitt, and Rudy. Will the GOP apologize to Durbin?
http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/004478.php
A Random Quote says
“The deliberations of the Convention, my Lord, are conducted with vast secrecy; and nothing is known with accuracy but that their drift is to endeavor to form such a federal constitution, as will give energy and consequence to the union. Whether this is to be done by improving the old governments or by substituting new ones — whether by continuing a power in each State to regulate its internal policy, or to abolish all separate establishments, and to form one grand federal authority, is a matter of consideration which creates much doubt and animadversion.”
~Phineas Bond
(To Lord Carmarthan)
Philidelphia, 7-2-87
Comment says
We meant to say tha Streep was quoting Rudy to explain the rightish thought process of her character, but in doing so, she ended up making Rudy’s brutal speculations and allegations sound like tough truths.
Aldershot says
“Daily Show – Meryl Streep is quoting Rudy – even though she doesn’t support…”
As far as I can tell it’s not up on the DS site yet…will check tomorrow, but still, that sounds awful. Geeze.
Comment says
Jpod is the new head guy at Commentary – We meant to touch base about that when we read the NY Sun editorial. This is surprising in many ways – We just noted Jim Henley’s comments and we agree.
Comment says
Daily Show – Meryl Streep is quoting Rudy – even though she doesn’t support – Anyway, she quotes his bogus statistic that ‘enhanced interrogation’ foiled 24 plots of terror. Interesting – because we recall Rudy only claimed 23 plots and that was bogus in many ways anyway – And we are not sure that he said they were all solved with these approved tortures. Another example of a liberal just setting her argument back
Comment says
So Doc – Addington uses saracasm alot – Freud actually spoke about the uses of sarcasm. It is the preferred humor of the right – No hipster irony.
Comment says
NO actually we really did try to change that crappy typo as soon as we sent it. Interesting we made a typo – an honest typo with Virginia Foxx’s name earlir. Oh well.
Udall was Mormon wasn’t he? He had better sense of humor than The Mitt Romney.
Aldershot says
“I cast my first ballot in 1976.”
Hey, me, too. I voted for Udall in the primaries, but then was having too much of a good time during my three-year stint in the Army to cast my absentee ballot in the General…no idea who I would have voted for either. Oh, me.
Aldershot says
Whatever you say, Freudian Boy.
*wink wink*
Comment says
Meant to say cracks us up – LOL – Oh well, that better than Johnny Yoo – the babyface torture memo man.
Comment says
Ron Suskind craps us up whenever we see him on tv – Why? Not sure, but he reminds us a bit of some school teachers we have had who took their jobs and themselves a bit too seriously.
It’s easy to imagine Suskind being an evangelist for the metric system.
Comment says
Cheney and Addington are the features on Frontline tonight – when we tuned into Tweety they were having a silly debate about whether or not Condi is a failure.
A Random Quote says
Spengler has an interesting MacBeth allusion w/ Bush. It’s a bit of a stretch (maybe not) – but funny. Also Michael Eric Dyson (or Eric Michale Dyson?) should bone up on the section about the Seljuk’s – Because we think that it was the time shortly after the 4th Crusade (we are guessing) and that probably explains to roots of Buchanan’s hostility toward the Armenian genocide recognition.
Why would this matter with Dyson???? Doubtless Pat is worried that the blacks and various native american tribes are taking notes and getting ready to pounce
During the cold war Pat could just points to Turkeys keeping the Russians bottled up in the Black Sea – and allowing our electric spying.
But now Pat is pro Putin, so his tribal instincts come into play – and the recognition of Armenian history serves to illuminate (indirectly) the depraved 4th crusade – and Pat blames the eastern churches for the schism.
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/IJ16Ak02.html
A Random Quote says
“The Dems calculate that, without those [US] flights and convoys [through Turkey], we won’t be able to keep our troops adequately supplied. Key intelligence and strike missions would disappear. It’s a brilliant ploy – the Dems get to stab our troops in the back, but lay the blame off on the Turks.”
~Ralph Peters
(Slowly revealing himself
as a bit of a Nazi)
Anon says
Steve Dunleavey from the NY Post was/is similar to Steyn in the sense that he was not to be read too closely – Like when he defended wiseguys and said the Bureau was just wrong etc – Steyn works the same angle (nb his Conrad columns – almost all containing obvious falsehoods). Friedman- in many respects does the same thing, but for a very busing audience of ruling class liberals – Friedman helps them feel justified in their thoughts and actions – by inventing faux-paradoxes and catch phrases.
Anon says
Also – Steyn’s readers, more than Friedman’s, often know that Steyn is wrong on his facts – But they don’t care – they just want his story available for a bogus footnote or to bounce off it, so as to create a new narrative.
Very few of Steyn’s colleagues actually believed that b****** about Atta – Indeed, they knew that Safire was blowing smoke. But they found the story convienient and they wanted it to gain semi legitimacy by recycling thru the Dan Burtons and the Hoekstra types.
Anon says
Another way to explain Friedman’s success would be in context – pundit land. Read this:
http://timlambert.org/category/politics/steyn/\
Steyn is far more wrong more often than Friedman – He is wrong in the micro details in his macro predictions. When he said Conrad would be vindicated, even Tweety would not have to check the “Irish odds” to know Conrad is toast. In short – he is an anti compass. But he is clever and he tells people things they want to hear – just like a musician. Friedman just tells a different group a different set of myths – more upscale, less humorous people.
Comment says
If you look at Friedman less as reporter/analyst and more as signifier/vogue/ – he makes more sense as a brand. Sometimes Freidman is right for the wrong reasons and people point to those few times to justify his current state of elevation. But it has long been clear – to those who ride the subways – that Friedman’s books are often just fashion accessories and/or signifiers for people who want to convey an accessable worldliness.
DrLeoStrauss says
Your slight hope is ours, Sglover.
re Friedman’s impact on the meme-virus generation game, note that it was Friedman, not Abizaid, that started “We treat the Arab world like gas stations” remark. http://daily.stanford.edu/article/2007/10/15/roundtableDebatesEnergyIssues
How anyone can take a word he says seriously after being wrong on so many important things escapes the Stiftung. Perhaps that is the key — no one is threatened by someone they know reflects the status quo and will be wrong in the future, he simply tells them how to *fit in* now.
sglover says
“The Congress of Peoples’ Deputies’ spinelessness goes hand in hand. Which leaves the Nation in a weird political moment. None of its political institutions are capable of taking effective action to satisfy concerns seemingly of any real constituency. One cannot help but wonder how long this state of affairs can last.”
He was a lousy politician, but for my money Jimmy Carter was the last American president to think in terms of grand strategy, and to do so lucidly. In particular, he saw the epic folly of binding our economy ever more tightly to the most hate-filled region of the planet, Southwest Asia. Unfortunately he was dumb enough to believe that Americans wanted to hear that there aren’t any free lunches. (Blowback in Iran didn’t help him, either.)
I cast my first ballot in 1976. All my adult life I’ve watched the U.S. steadfastly refuse to even discuss certain basic realities that follow from our petroleum habits. Even now, no politician dares hint at the most commonsensical measure — a petroleum (or maybe carbon) tax, that ensures a gradual and predictable rise in the commodity’s price. Of course, since today’s news is that $90/bbl is now in sight, the days when that tax may have averted us from some seriously painful adjustments may be past.
Anyway, as I say, I’ve been watching this collective denial for my whole adult life. It’s long been evident that our political institutions are seriously neurotic, incapable of dealing with external reality in an effective way. What’s really worrisome is how quickly the malady has to been worsening over these last few years.
I’m slightly hopeful that the Bush years might have one — only one — redeeming value: Through his sheer awfulness, the worthless little shitstain might have jolted an otherwise numbed fraction of the electorate, and got them to pay attention. Of course, we’re essentially left with the Dems, who, while not gleefully malicious children, are utterly brain-dead and spineless. Hey, like I said, *slightly* hopeful.
Comment says
Prince supported Buchanan in ’91 – he says it was about the taxes and free market econ. Charlie presses him, knowing Pat is less free market than Bush.
Comment says
Prince is even talking the shift to 4th gen war (4GW) with Charlie –
Comment says
Erik Prince on Charlie Rose – Prince is very impressive performer so it came is no surprise when Charlie Rose said Prince and Clooney have already touched base. Democrats will have their work cut out for them if they want to sideline Prince. Blackwater is making so much money now – Maliki should ask for a cut.
Comment says
One thing that Foxx did that we thought was interesting was mispronounce the names of Turkish cities – which indicates that she was just reciting material that was crafted for her by lobbyists – But she showed true anger when she spoke of this as “provincial,” which was sort of funny coming from her. This is all fine and good – no big deal, but just funny coming from her an her colleagues – Again, has Reagan brought this issue to her and Pelosi opposed, she and the pthers would switch sides – History is totally contingent these days on party loyalty. She also showed anger at the Armenian lobby and she seemed more aggreived against them than seemed reasonable – The Armenians cannot unseat people save in some districts – It’s ludicrous to suggest it has anywhere near that kind of power – In fact, it’s powerless.
But what we really find amazing is the new found concern that Republican have for public opinion in a Moslem country. Foxx put up charts showing they hate us and she warned they will hate us more – No sense of irony.
Comment says
Virginia Foxxx [R-NC] of North Carolina’s fifth district is on the floor of the House denouncing the Armenian Genocide resolution.
Foxxx is a perfect example of why the current vote tallies on this resolution are unnatural – She is simple nice person, but very uninformed and likely is unaware that Armenians were Christian – It’s very clear that she thinks this is just some sort of liberal Pelosi thing and it’s pretty funny watching her praise Mustafa Kamal –
If she had any idea what she was talking about – instead of what lobby gives her to read.
Anon says
Pat’s favorite rapper – especially raps #3 and the anti neocon #11
http://www.amazon.com/Thug-Misses-Khia/dp/B0000667PB
A Random Quote says
“You throw a rock over a fence and the dog that barks is the one that you hit.”
~Mitt Romney
FNC
Comment says
How much did Imus make over getting fired? 70 million? Tweety doesn’t blink – but Gore’s mullah drives him to sadness.
Comment says
We have mixed feelings about the Imus thing – we normally don’t like these mau mau things, but that Tweety/Russert/Imus cabal was beginning to grate and we loathed the moment when he saw Russert on TV acting like his vouching for Imus mattered – Also – we knew that he would get a big money package and he’d be back – And indeed, we know people who have been canned for mild water cooler jokes. So its a fraught issue.
Comment says
Pat has probably heard rap songs, but he probably can’t tell the difference between a mild Sugar Hill type thing and the most raw hit from Khia.
Comment says
Dyson is a bit of a huckster IMO – But we could be wrong, since we have not read his Werke. But every time we hear him, he jams a lot of Vick-type points into his spiel, then when he is called on it, he claims those cheap shots were independent clauses unrelated to his larger point.
Vick is a soccer mom’s nightmare. That being said, he put VaTech football on the map.
Comment says
Vick’s Tune (to the tune of ‘He Fought The Law’)
“He fought the dogs …
but the law won!”
Dr Leo Strauss says
Dyson’s hyper velocity comment about about Vick opening the segment told Pat he was in a knife fight. Now Dyson is talking about racial consciousness — a shame Pat has never heard an actual rap song and lets Dyson off too easily.
Comment says
Buchanan on Tweet debating Michael Eric Dyson about Imus – Western Civ may end tonight. LOL.
Comment says
C. Michael Armstrong made a lot of money for ATT with dirty movies – Moneywise – Larry Flynt wasn’t even close – We recall a cartoonist who told us he was having trouble selling a cartoon that made this point.
Comment says
Who made that ‘nothing dumber’ comment? Was that from the Capn’ Crunch dialtone?
Comment says
Great post! Brings us back to a time when he made a poor decision not to make some investments at that time that we thought made sense – But we decided not to go forward and then the next four years were excruciating when we saw some stocks go thru the roof and some people we knew made easy money that we felt we deserved better.