** The Dead Come Through For Microsoft As if there wasn't enough contentiousness between Microsoft and the government, now state attorneys general are wondering why they're receiving letters from Microsoft supporters who aren't even alive. The letters have been arriving for the past several months at the offices of attorneys general in the 18 states that have joined the Department of Justice in its antitrust suit against Microsoft. Behind the unrelated letter-writing campaigns are two nonprofit lobbying groups--Americans for Technology Leadership and Citizens Against Government Waste--that have taken pro-Microsoft stances in the ongoing legal tussle. David Williams, VP of policy for the Citizens Against Government, admits that some of the form letters sent by his group's membership could have been forwarded by relatives of deceased members, especially since many of them are elderly. But, Williams says, the fact that family members forwarded the letters shouldn't take away from their validity. "If they agree, they can cross out the deceased relative's name," he says. Meanwhile, Jim Prendergast, executive director of Americans for Technology Leadership, says his group's campaign was simply a reflection of a constituency that wants the government to stay out of technology decision-making. Prendergast says his group had nothing to do with any of the letters attributed to the deceased. Paul Murphy, director of communications for the Utah attorney general's office, says the more than 400 letters his office has received--one of which had a return address in Tuscon, Utah, a town that doesn't exist--will have no impact on the state's position in the case. "It's just a bunch of letters that came," says Murphy. "It's really a blip. It's more funny than anything else." A Microsoft spokesman says the company was not involved in the campaigns. - Tony Kontzer This kind of Chicago politicking has benefited many a U.S. president. Will it work in this case, too? Give us the odds at the Listening Post http://update.informationweek.com/cgi-bin4/flo?y=eEE10BdFGA0V20OL70AW Find out more about the Microsoft case at No Delay For Microsoft Case http://update.informationweek.com/cgi-bin4/flo?y=eEE10BdFGA0V20RYp0Aj Nader's On Microsoft's Case, Too http://update.informationweek.com/cgi-bin4/flo?y=eEE10BdFGA0V20RIm0AQ Senator Wants Changes In Windows XP http://update.informationweek.com/cgi-bin4/flo?y=eEE10BdFGA0V20QQ80Ae -- Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com -- Author: INET: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Fat City Network Services -- (858) 538-5051 FAX: (858) 538-5051 San Diego, California -- Public Internet access / Mailing Lists -------------------------------------------------------------------- To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (note EXACT spelling of 'ListGuru') and in the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB ORACLE-L (or the name of mailing list you want to be removed from). You may also send the HELP command for other information (like subscribing).
