Posted on 10/07/2012 1:20:17 PM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
SAN FRANCISCO — When President Obama makes his latest foray into Silicon Valley on Monday, he will face a technology industry more engaged than ever in the wheeling and dealing of Washington, and much more forthcoming with its political contributions — including, generously, to his rival, Mitt Romney.
The two candidates, and their parties, have raised more money from technology executives and investors than they did in 2008. Altogether, Mr. Obama and Mr. Romney have campaigned here numerous times in the last year. And as the stakes for the industry have grown higher in Washington, both candidates have at least acknowledged some of its policy priorities, like immigration overhaul and lowering the corporate tax rate.
But although Mr. Obama is widely seen a friend of the tech industry — and, with his party, has taken in far more contributions — the excitement of his 2008 campaign has diminished here, as it has elsewhere. Mr. Romney and the Republicans have made visible inroads.
By the end of August, Mr. Romney had raised $2.04 million, compared with the $1.7 million that John McCain raised over his entire campaign four years ago. He has also tapped the pocketbooks of a few former Obama donors. One is Marc Andreessen, a prominent venture capitalist and Facebook investor who supported Mr. Romney’s failed primary bid in 2007, but went on to back Mr. Obama in 2008 with a $4,600 contribution. This year, he put in more than $100,000 for Mr. Romney.......
...Some of the industry’s pet issues have bubbled up in campaign rhetoric. Unthinkable even four years ago, both candidates have said they are concerned about cybersecurity, a lucrative area for many Silicon Valley companies. Mr. Obama has said he supports net neutrality; Mr. Romney does not....
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
May 29, 2012 (Ricochet) Elon Musk Shows Us How to Thrive in the Government-Directed Economy ....”Those who know how to navigate an economy driven by the state will succeed. They do so regardless whether the market has determined their product as the best or not—sometimes it has, sometimes it hasn’t. Sometimes the consumer has no real ability, thanks to the aforementioned mix of laws and regulations, to go in another direction. Sometimes the only consumer is the government, meaning the appropriators, bureaucrats, and administrators who dream fondly of working some day for the contractor titans they fuel with other people’s money.”.....
______________________________________________
RedState: Oct 20, 2011 - Tesla [Elec Cars] has even more questionable connections:
Tesla brings political pull, as well. A former Tesla board member, Steve Westly, is an Obama bundler who raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the president in 2008 and for his 2012 re-election campaign. His Westly Group was also a financial supporter of Tesla Motors until Tesla went public in 2010, and Westly continues to back the company.
Tesla’s founder and CEO, Elon Musk, is a hearty political contributor who has primarily backed Democrats, including Obama. According to published reports, another Tesla investor is Nick Pritzker, a donor to Obama and a cousin of Penny Pritzker, the national finance chair of Obama’s 2008 campaign........”
[Penny Prktzker reportedly is helping to buy Obama’s Hawaiian retirement estate.]
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2940998/posts
I can confirm that that's the case where I work.
In 2008 the Obamboids were giddy by this time of year -- openly organizing fundraisers and parties. They're nowhere near as visible this election cycle.
I agree. The libs are downcast and cranky these days. NO O bumperstickers - well, very few on the road here in Los Angeles. The musicians (99% libs) are disheartened and no longer gloating about what a great orator their candidate is (finally...). The Emperor Has No Clothes and they know it.
When Mitt’s tax reforms are in place, and California votes yet again for MORE taxes..many individuals and companies will find themselves paying MORE in state taxes than in federal.
CALIFORNIA / “State officials have urged school districts and charter schools to use $66 million in vouchers to buy technology before they expire next year.
The warning, issued Friday, pertains to funding remaining from an antitrust settlement with the Microsoft Corp. One set of vouchers must be redeemed by April; the other has a deadline in September.
Most of the available dollars, $212 million, have been claimed, but substantial resources remain, including more than $10 million for the Los Angeles Unified School District, according to the state’s most recent update on unused funds. L.A. Unified’s total share of the settlement was about $37 million.
The money does not have to purchase Microsoft products, but school districts have to use their own dollars up front — a potential challenge during this period of tight budgets — then apply for reimbursement.................
....The vouchers originate from a $1.1-billion antitrust settlement approved in 2004. Two-thirds of the funds unclaimed by California businesses and consumers were designated for California public schools, especially for those that serve substantial numbers of low-income students......”
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/10/school-districts-expiring-technology-funds.html
“But although Mr. Obama is widely seen a friend of the tech industry”
Say What! ... Why?
Crony Capitalism.
Heck - I thought the industry could stand on it’s own...
CA voters have exchanged their freedom for a mess of pottage, and they shall not see “hope and change.”
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.