“Howard Schmidt, a former Microsoft security executive and a one-time cybersecurity adviser to President George W. Bush, has been appointed to the position of cybersecurity coordinator, according to a White House announcement on Tuesday,” Zetter reports. “In his new position, he will be responsible for coordinating the federal government’s cybersecurity initiatives to secure government networks and U.S. critical infrastructures. This will include working with the Office of Management and Budget to ensure that agencies have money allocated for cybersecurity priorities, and coordinating the government’s response to a major cyber incident or attack.”
“According to the Associated Press, Obama was directly involved in the selection of Schmidt, who was chosen after an extensive search,” Zetter reports. “But the announcement of Schmidt came with little fanfare on Tuesday and followed months of reports from other candidates that they either turned down the job or otherwise discouraged the White House from courting them.”
“Last May, Obama announced he was creating a new office to be led by a cybersecurity czar,” Zetter reports. “For nearly a year, however, he could find no one to take the job, due to what many viewed as its undesirable placement in the federal hierarchy.”
“Schmidt, Microsoft’s chief security officer until 2001, is the second former Microsoft executive to take a top federal cybersecurity position,” Zetter reports. “Last March, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano appointed Philip Reitinger to the position of deputy undersecretary of the department’s National Protections Program Directorate.”
“Reitinger was Microsoft’s chief trustworthy infrastructure strategist, a job that required him in part to help develop and implement strategies for enhancing the security of critical infrastructures,” Zetter reports. “In his new position, he oversees the protection of the government’s computer networks and works with the private sector to help secure critical infrastructures.”
Zetter reports, “There have been concerns about how the White House intends to address cybersecurity issues, particularly in the private sector, and protect civil liberties at the same time.”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Who’s next, Balloon Boy to head up NORAD?
Given their record in the security area, I don’t know why anybody would buy from them. – Richard A. Clarke, former U.S. National Coordinator for Security, Infrastructure Protection, and Counter-terrorism, commenting on Microsoft, February 17, 2005
“Obama appoints former Microsoft security chief new cybersecurity czar”
In other news, Wile E. Coyote has been hired to take care of the Roadrunner problem.
@ Wake Up Black America,
“We don’t need handouts and dependency, we need to set ourselves free to achieve much, much better and more fulfilling lives.”
And just how are you going to accomplish that goal without decent jobs? The Republicans are all about profit, and that’s why they haven’t done jackshit to keep well paying jobs in this country. They don’t give a damn about whites, let alone blacks.
Unless they back affirmative action, you aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.
@derekcurrie
Most intelligent post I have read all day. People use some critical thinking. Both sides are playing the same game. Then they get us to argue about it but do nothing about it. Time to wake up America before it is to late.
Typical patronizing liberal thinking. We don’t need affirmative action, we need to be freed from Democrat instituted and perpetuated slavery.
Never forget: It was the Republicans that enacted The Civil Rights Act of 1964, not the Democrats.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_Rights_Act_of_1964
Relax, wingnuts. Take a deep breath.
I know you all are just about hyperventilating over the inevitable passage of historic healthcare reform (which every other president failed at, yet President Obama managed to pull off in year one).
I know you neocons are foaming at the mouth over Obama’s 51% approval rating, demanding impeachment because only slightly more than half of Americans approve of him (how soon you forgot W’s final approval ratings, huh?).
I know you science-denying conspiracy theorists are working yourselves into a lather over President Obama’s green energy initiatives, proclaiming economic doom and gloom despite the fact that, thanks to Obama’s judgment, we’ve been rescued from the epic, catastrophic collapse caused by your neocon administration.
Here’s a newsflash, wingnuts: the economy is growing again; the world opinion of the U.S. is greatly improved; we’re on the path toward pollution reduction and a new green energy economy; 30 million more Americans will soon have healthcare; and your freedoms are the same as they always were.
The world is not ending, wingnuts. It’s getting better thanks to President Obama. Chill out and enjoy the ride.
Captain Kirk’s nipples!
We’re doomed!
Hmmm.. Outsourcing jobs to other countries…
Wasn’t it Mr. Clinton (described by somebody as “the first black president”) that pushed through NAFTA?
Just a thought…
The Real Rob,
Nice fantasy. Now, let’s try likely voters instead of merely “registered voters,” since actual votes are what will count:
OBAMA ENDING YEAR ON LOW: 56% DISAPPROVE
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/daily_presidential_tracking_poll
2010 is going to make 1994 look like, well, a tea party.
First 2010, the 2012,
No election day necessary. The revolution has already begun:
Democrat congressman switches to Republican party
Democratic Rep. Parker Griffith announced Tuesday that he’s switching parties – saying he can no longer align himself “with a party that continues to pursue legislation that is bad for our country, hurts our economy and drives us further and further into debt.”
“Unfortunately there are those in the Democratic Leadership that continue to push an agenda focused on massive new spending, tax increases, bailouts and a health care bill that is bad for our healthcare system,” Griffith said in a statement. “I have always considered myself to be an independent voice and I have tried to be that voice in Congress – but after watching this agenda firsthand I now believe that the differences in the two parties could not be more clear and that for me to be true to my core beliefs and values I must align myself with the Republican party and speak out clearly on these issues.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1209/30896.html
@ The Real Rob,
Thanks, my blood pressure is calming down already.
Ommmm.
@ Josh,
Please tell your boss, the ex-governor of Alaska, that rambling comments that all sound like just do not really know what you are saying, work much better on Microsoft web sites.
Here… well….. I think your mother is calling you.
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Just a thought,
en
Zetter reports, “There have been concerns about how the White House intends to address cybersecurity issues, particularly in the private sector, and protect civil liberties at the same time.”
With this announcement, I don’t think those concerns are going to go away.
Sir Gill Bates,
Awaken to reality for a real change:
LIKELY VOTERS: OBAMA ENDING YEAR ON LOW: 56% DISAPPROVE
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/daily_presidential_tracking_poll
@ First 2010, then 2012
LOL. Dude, I’m going by Gallup. If you haven’t heard of it, it’s a pretty well respected poll. Certainly not a “fantasy.”
http://www.gallup.com/poll/113980/Gallup-Daily-Obama-Job-Approval.aspx
Chillax, man. No need to get all riled up by busting out the all caps.
No election day necessary. The revolution has already begun:
Democrat congressman switches to Republican party
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1209/30896.html
The Real Rob,
Do you understand the difference between polls of “registered voters” (Gallup) and “likely voters” (Rasmussen)?
I hear the money is rolling in like a tsunami:
http://www.sarahpac.com/
@ Jen
Do you understand we don’t vote for president in 2010? Do you understand this is a job approval poll, not a “who will I vote for” poll?
@ End of Meditation,
What the heck does a dead Russian mystic know about Obama’s approval rating? Ommmm.
Let’s just admit it: Obama is a serious idiot. Slightly more people got snookered than not. Okay, so a mistake was made. We can correct it starting in 2010 and finish it off in 2012.
BTW: The brilliant windbag gets quite a neck workout without Mr. Teleprompter. I think I had the same cadence while reading “Where The Wild Things Are” aloud to my parents when I was in 2nd grade:
Hey REal Rob, this statement is funny:
I know you science-denying conspiracy theorists are working yourselves into a lather over President Obama’s green energy initiatives, proclaiming economic doom and gloom despite the fact that, thanks to Obama’s judgment, we’ve been rescued from the epic, catastrophic collapse caused by your neocon administration.
So, REal Rob, where are the green energy jobs? Where was Obama in Copenhagen. Did you know that he agreed to only a 4% cut in emissions by 2020. In order to stop a complete global catastrophe it will require at least a 40 percent cut.
Obama is the same thing in a black wrapper.
The Real Rob,
Oh, I understand perfectly well what’s coming in 2010.
Maybe you’ll be able to grasp this one better:
Republicans Post Eight-Point Lead On Generic Ballot
Republican candidates now have an eight-point lead over Democrats, their biggest lead of the year, in the latest edition of the Generic Congressional Ballot.
The new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 44% would vote for their district’s Republican congressional candidate while 36% would opt for his or her Democratic opponent.
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/mood_of_america/generic_congressional_ballot
@ John,
“… while reading “Where The Wild Things Are” aloud to my parents when I was in 2nd grade:”
It’s nice that someone in your family finally learned to read.
LOL! All you wingnuts bleating about this congressman switching to the Tea Party need to calm down. You do realize this guy was basically already a Republican, right? That he’s a freshman representative and had voted for precisely zero of the Democrats’ signature initiatives this year? Seriously, this is not a “tsunami.” It’s one dude realizing he had the wrong letter by his name.
And maybe I should remind you all of the GOP to Dem defections this year? The most important being Specter, who, if you don’t recall, gave us the critical vote number 60 to pass healthcare. LOL. I’m loving it.
@Josh – I love you.
And he wasn’t talking about homosexuals, per se, he was talking about the “Safe School Czar” being OK with and giving advice to a minor regarding a homosexual relationship with a pedophile. Do a little reading on Mr. Kevin Jennings to get a clear picture of this disgusting individual. Nothing wrong with being gay, the problem lies in our government’s view of what “safe schools” should now be. Truly horrifying.