Daily Archives: Sept. 29, 2007

Open thread 9/29

Sept. 29, 20071:05 a.m.

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Open thread | Comments (239)

Let customers decide if they want messages

Sept. 29, 20071:04 a.m.

Verizon Wireless is a private company and probably has the legal right to decide what text-message programs it will and won’t allow to be sent on its mobile network. Still, it was strange that the company would not allow Naral Pro-Choice America to use its network, before relenting Thursday. It also raised concerns about “net neutrality.”
The company at first told the New York Times that abortion was on a list of controversial topics that it blocks. But the messages don’t appear to be offensive and are sent only to people who ask for them. One recent text example: “End Bush’s global gag rule against birth control for world’s poorest women! Call Congress. (202) 224-3121. Thnx! Naral Text4Choice.”
Nancy Keenan, Naral’s president, complained: “Regardless of people’s political views, Verizon customers should decide what action to take on their phones. Why does Verizon get to make that choice for them?”
Posted by Phillip Brownlee

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Business | Comments (36)

Why Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinton might be OK

Sept. 29, 20071:02 a.m.

Even as Hillary Clinton’s Democratic presidential nomination flirts with inevitability, a question nags: Do Americans really want a quarter century of nothing but Bush or Clinton administrations?
Asked Wednesday by ABC News’ Charles Gibson about the “Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinton” issue, Bill Clinton said his wife would have to win on her own merits and shouldn’t be disqualified because she’s married to him, concluding: “No, dynasties are not good for America, but it wouldn’t be good for America to eliminate someone in consideration, because of what their last name was.”
Posted by Rhonda Holman

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Presidential race | Comments (38)

Thompson could brush up on current events

Sept. 29, 20071:01 a.m.

First Fred Thompson didn’t know much about Terri Schiavo or oil drilling in the Everglades. Then Thursday he said he didn’t know a federal judge had ruled that lethal injection procedures in his home state of Tennessee were unconstitutional, or that the U.S. Supreme Court had agreed to hear a Kentucky case on lethal injection.
As ABC News’ The Note blog observed, somebody should get that man a newspaper or Internet connection.
Posted by Rhonda Holman

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Presidential race | Comments (46)

Community thread

Sept. 29, 20071:00 a.m.

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Open thread | Comments (9)