McCain invented ... the Blackberry?

Remember eight years ago, when we let Republicans get away with saying that Al Gore claimed to personally invent the Internet? Well, John McCain is now claiming that he paved the way for cell phones, wi-fi, even the Blackberry! Who knew?

Read this diary at Daily Kos, which explains how McCain (unlike Gore) has actually stood in the way of many technological advances we now use daily. A snip:

Of pending legislation, McCain is not a sponsor of the "Connect the Nation Act" – though Senator Obama is. McCain is not a sponsor of Senator Rockefeller's call for a universal next generation broadband by 2015 – though Senator Obama is. And of course, McCain isn't a sponsor of the "Internet Freedom Act" that would ensure net neutrality – though Senator Obama is. ...

So,  McCain's "guiding hand" seems to consist of opposing the legislation that laid the groundwork for the communications we have today, and authoring failed legislation designed to benefit big carriers. Of course, we should probably be glad that John McCain really didn't invent the cell phone or wifi, otherwise we'd all be getting our wireless services from one monolithic company free to restrict our access to only the pages that pay for the privilege. And we'd all be using "Jitterbugs."

We have a lot of swing voters here in Idaho who are (still) employed in the tech and telecommunications industries. They need to read this and show it to their colleagues, too. John McCain is so thoroughly 20th century, it hurts to think about it.

Comments

[theresa]

Hmm can not send an email -- BUT "invented the blackberry".

Are we seeing some issues that are a problem in the campaign that need some spin?

Shakes head -- Like you said - all that needs to happen is for people to read facts - there is a HUGE difference between the two.

t

[Julie in Boise]

t, I honestly see the tide turning in this campaign. If we all work hard and talk with folks (within and outside Idaho), reason is going to prevail this time. (And I'll be in touch soon about visiting some of your neighbors, as we discussed a while ago ... that's rolling out this week and next )

[ID Moderate]

And, as further evidence of his "pro-science/technology" stance, McCain recently bashed Obama's request for federal funds to be spent on (I'm quoting here): "Planetariums and other foolishness." That's right folks, $22M spent on a bridge to an island in Alaska primarily populated with summer homes for the uber-rich is comparable to $3M to fund an upgrade to the Adler Planetarium's 40 year old projector that inspires many thousands of school children every year about the wonders of the universe!

Is it any wonder McCain graduated fourth from the bottom of his class?

[Julie in Boise]

This is probably as good a time as any to post the two tickets' academic resumes.

Can we PLEASE elect the smartest guy this time?

Obama:
Occidental College (Los Angeles) - 2 years studying Politics and Public Policy.
Columbia University (New York) - B.A. Political Science with a specialization in International Relations.

Harvard Law School - Juris Doctor (J.D.) Magna Cum Laude, Editor-in-Chief of the Harvard Law Review.

Biden:
University of Delaware - B.A. in History and a B.A. in Political Science.
Syracuse University College of Law - Juris Doctor (J.D.)

McCain:
United States Naval Academy - Class rank 894 of 899.

Palin:
Hawaii Pacific University - 1 semester - Business Administration.
North Idaho College - 2 semesters - General Studies.
University of Idaho - 2 semesters - Journalism.
Matanuska-Susitna College - 1 semester.
University of Idaho - 3 semesters - B.A. in Journalism.

McCain graduated near the bottom of his class. Palin was a serial transfer student in college. These facts pretty well speak for themselves. And here's an article about Palin's utter lack of distinction in school:

http://www.altweeklies.com/politics/sarah_who_/Story?oid=540879

McCain went to his 50th college reunion today:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080920/ap_on_el_pr/mccain_naval_academy