FCC COMCAST APPROVAL --- This is classic. Can the US be more corrupt?

[Armstead]

http://www.thewrap.com/media/article/fcc-commissioner-meredith-baker-stepping-down-27297

A mere four months after voting in favor of Comcast's controversial $13.75 billion purchase of NBC-Universal, Meredith Attwell Baker, the Republican commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission, has decided to step down to take a top government affairs job at Comcast. 

Good government watchdogs and bloggers can commence finger wagging, because Baker was one of four commissioners who endorsed the deal. 

(more at link above)

[msongs]

1. this merger needs to be stopped and reviewed in light of this inside job nt

[onenote]

24. It was a 4-1 vote. Take away her vote and it still passes

With two Democrats and one Republican supporting the decision.

[Armstead]

26. But it still cold be the equivalent of a mistrial

But the administration is in bed with GE, so I doubt they'll bother doing anything about it.

[onenote]

27. it really couldn't

There is no factual or legal basis for overturning the decision.

That being said, let me emphasize that I think its incredibly arrogant of Comcast/NBCU to hire Baker straight out of the FCC only a few months after she voted on the merger. I've been practicing communications law in DC for three decades and can't recall anything that remotely approaches this in terms of unseemly appearances.

[Armstead]

28. unseemly is a mild wortd for it

You're the lawyer, so I'll defer to your opinion of the legalities of this.

But if it's not illegal it sure should be.

[AsahinaKimi]

2. A Republican commissioner of the FCC?

I am surprised he hasn't made Rupurt Murdock Assistant Chief..and Fox News the Official Channel of the FCC. meh... :mad:

[RKP5637]

3. As we move more and more fascist. n/t

[Canuckistanian]

4. This would be blatantly illegal in Canada

It should be in America, too.

[RKP5637]

5. But America seems to love this damn type of SH**. n/t

[Canuckistanian]

10. I'm not sure they love it

They don't even realize it goes on... or even care.

It's piddly little shit like this - like NOT preventing government employees from becoming lobbyists (for a period of X years) that causes their system to become corrupt and unaccountable.

Somebody oughtta pass a law....

[Gidney N Cloyd]

11. We might care if we could somehow turn this shit into a reality show.

[Canuckistanian]

12. That's a great idea

"Dancing with the Policy Wonks" would be a HIT!

[RKP5637]

17. That's about the only way it seems anymore. And do the presidency on American Idol. n/t

[RKP5637]

16. I think the root cause is they don't even care. I don't get it, for some reason

many Americans just don't get what's going on and when you try to explain something to them they don't seem to care. It's really really strange and very frustrating.

[Armstead]

20. Partly, I think that's because it seems remote and irrelevant

I mean it makes no apparent difference to their lives if some obscure bureaucrat takes a job in the private sector, even if the bureaucrat just voted on something in its favor.

If one is paying attention, it does hit on a basic sense of immorality. But many people just assume that's how the system works, and it is intractable.

Nor do they understand that these things do directly affect them -- like they don;t make the connection between the next price hike on their cable or internet access is partly a result of shit like this.

It is frustrating that more people can't make those connections. But it's understandable, i guess.

[dixiegrrrrl]

6. Can the US be more corrupt?

Heck yeah....just watch.

[RKP5637]

7. Our greatest nation product is becoming corruption, and we already lead the

way on wars.

[dixiegrrrrl]

8. As long as we are #1, that is all that matters.

:sarcasm:

[Armstead]

19. We may be #1 already....in corruption

I mean this one takes the cake for blatancy

[corkhead]

9. What's Wrong With You People!!!1!1!1!!

It's the invisible hand of the free market at work. She earned that money.

just in case - you don't always know around here: :sarcasm:

[Armstead]

14. Not so invisible -- This one is pretty blatant

[Leopolds Ghost]

13. The same FCC that is advocating a "Universal Set-top box" n/t

[leftstreet]

15. K&R

Disgusting

[JVS]

18. This is a close second to Gerhard Schröder's work with Gazprom and Nord Stream AG.

[ThatsMyBarack]

21. Final nail in the coffin....

For watchable TV (sounds like). :nuke:

[Armstead]

22. If this nation really cared ablout issues, accumulation of power through mergers...

would be one of the top priorities to deal with.

[Rex]

23. I hate the fact that corporations own our govt and we the taxpayer

get lip service.

[Armstead]

25. Our lips on their butts

[progressoid]

29. Well how the hell did she get that job???

Oh yeah.

Meredith Attwell Baker was nominated for a seat on the Federal Communications Commission by President Barack Obama on June 25, 2009. She was unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate on July 24, 2009, and sworn in as Commissioner on July 31, 2009.

:grr: :grr: :grr:
:grr: :grr: :grr:
:grr: :grr: :grr:

[Armstead]

30. Shit...I thought she was a Bush holdover

Oh well...