"I went to a place to eat. It said 'breakfast at any time.' So I ordered french toast during the Renaissance". --Steven Wright ... If you are a devotee of time travel, check out this song...

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Keeping President Obama with His Email

You see the story in New York Times yesterday?

Prospects do not look for Barack Obama to continue sending and receiving email once he gets into the White House.

... he will probably be forced to sign off. In addition to concerns about e-mail security, he faces the Presidential Records Act, which puts his correspondence in the official record and ultimately up for public review, and the threat of subpoenas. A decision has not been made on whether he could become the first e-mailing president, but aides said that seemed doubtful.


It's not quite clear who, exactly, would be forcing the new President to do this. I think the President giving up his email is a terrible idea.

So what if the law requires all Presidential communications to be eventually available for public review? Surely a system could be devised which would automatically record all email that the President sends and receives. Come to think of it, isn't that what happens on every gmail or yahoo mail account right now?

More important, a President must be able to communicate in whatever way is most comfortable and effective for him. A person in his position needs to devote maximum attention to thinking and communication, without having to be handicapped by using old-fashioned paper, telephone, and other systems. Email has grown astronomically in the past decade for good reason: it has all the advantages of writing - permanence - and yet it is as immediate as speech. Plus, it is global and easily searchable.

And this is what some media Neanderthals want to deny to the new President?

My prediction: Obama will indeed become the first emailing President. Email me if I'm wrong.

For more on the advantages of email, see
The Soft Edge: A Natural History and Future of the Information Revolution.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

I believe that the security of the United States is more important then the using PDA. He will get use to someone else using theirs to send non-essential communications for him.
The fact is he can always turn over the Presidency to Hillary Clinton and go ahead using his toy. I believe this is highly unlikely but would be in the best interest for the Country. Just my rare opinion for Hillary does like being in the White House and she does not care about such frivolous basic needs as boy toys. Go Hillary 2012!!!

Anonymous said...

Hillary 2012 doesn't make much sense anymore... unless you think Obama will resign before his term, he will get a second shot in 2012.

Paul Levinson said...

The 2nd anon is completely right: the next President after Obama won't be elected until 2016.

Anonymous said...

Some people who have contemplated possible 2012 runs and that I would support:

Congressman Dr. Ron Paul

SOURCE:

http://reason.com/blog/show/130095.html
Rally for the Republic speech:
http://video.google.com/videosearch?hl=en&q=ron%20paul%20rally%20for%20the%20republic&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wv#


Governor Gary Johnson

SOURCE:

http://libertymaven.com/2008/11/09/the-next-ron-paul-gary-johnson-confirms-interest-in-2012-presidential-run/3149/

RALLY FOR THE REPUBLIC SPEECH:

http://video.google.com/videosearch?hl=en&q=ron%20paul%20rally%20for%20the%20republic&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wv#q=gary%20johnson%20rally%20for%20the%20republic&hl=en&emb=0


Governor Jesse Ventura

SOURCE:

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/09/02/1328026.aspx

RALLY FOR THE REPUBLIC SPEECH:

http://video.google.com/videosearch?hl=en&q=ron%20paul%20rally%20for%20the%20republic&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wv#q=jesse%20ventura%20rally%20for%20the%20republic&hl=en&emb=0

Paul Levinson said...

Well, obviously, some Republican and/or Independent will run against Obama in 2012.

I'd be happy were it either Ron Paul or Jesse Ventura. Certainly way better, at least terms of civil liberties and respect for the Constitution, than the current front runners in the Republican Party. (I was interviewed by Ventura on his MSNBC television show in 2003, and found him to be highly intelligent and original in his thinking.)

But, barring Obama's not being able to help with our current economic problems - and I predict that he will - I don't think anyone will stand a chance against him in 2012.

Anonymous said...

I figured it was a bit too early to worry about 2012 until I heard that Mitt Romney and Bobby Jindal were heading to Iowa already! Ugh - these are not the type of people I want as the future of the party. Goldwater conservatives only, please!

And thanks for that Jesse Ventura clip. I don't know if you've heard any of his recent interviews or read his new book, but apparently MSNBC canceled his show and "bought his silence" for three years because he opposed he invasion of Iraq!

james said...

Paul: I pray everyday for Obama's health.

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