John Buckley, AOL Time Warner's America Online division spokesman, is in line to take over from Hilary 'Reach Out' Rosen as the RIAA's new truth-adjustor-in-chief.

At least, that's what Tim Arango says in his July 17 New York Post story AOL FLACK A LEADING CONTENDER AT RIAA.

Buckley, "seen schmoozing last month at the going-away party for Hilary Rosen," was once a rock critic for the Village Voice and Rolling Stone and, "has strong ties to the Republican Party, a credential that the RIAA has been seeking in candidates," says Tim.

"He was also the longtime head of public relations for Fannie Mae, and served as communications director on Bob Dole's 1996 presidential campaign."

Tim adds that Buckley has also flacked for the National Republican Congressional Committee and Ronald Reagan's 1984 campaign.

It's no secret that RIAA president Cary Sherman has been hoping to replace Reach Out, who's to become the head RIAA apologist for the CNBC.

But rumours that Cary was seen taking a carefully folded copy of the July 17 New York Post into a cubicle at the RIAA's palacial head office men's washroom are vicious and untrue.

My take on this all. It is shaping up into a fight between the consumers , voting citizens, and the multinational, hydra-like corporations like AOL/TW and the politicians they buy. Our freedoms are being threatened boyz and girlz. Where is the fourth amendment when these politicians want to invade your box with an unreasonable search and seizure.

In the past, it has been the general view that young folks are apathetic, they won't vote. Well, I say we develop a three pronged attack.
Prong 1.Vote against ANY politicians who are attacking us (Conyers,Hatch,Berman come to mind) and vote FOR people who are for preserving our freedoms.
Prong 2. Do NOT support any company that sides with the RIAA/MPAA/etc. I for one was with AOL (and was even a beta tester) for years. I and my friends have all cancelled our accounts. I pledge NOT to buy ANY CD or even listen on the squawk box, of any song from any artist who is represented by the RIAA. Economic and political action represented by the first two prongs.
Prong number 3. Let the medai know that we are boycotting and avoiding supporting any person ,business, or company that supports or aids the RIAA.

Any thoughts?

BOYCOTT THE BASTARDS! BAN THE BASTARDS FROM P2P!

my wife is not going to like it when i switch from "ROAD RUNNER" a time warner company, we have argued over the switch several times already. But Bell South is a comparable service, with a recent government sting still showing publicly.

just a note, I'd like to cancel my cable too, but I have to deal with the less than involved wife...

LOL, domestic traquility is important.

It will take a little time to teach her your persepctive, just be patient.

We have to remember that a lot of people are not as passionate, nor as informed as we are about these issues.

That's what the corporate shills and congress count on.

Keep plugging.

I have made a decision.

I will not be getting cable in my new apartment. Rabbit ears will do just fine, as the only channel I possible care about is the campus channel, and that broadcats via over-the-air radio waves.

Furthermore, I'll be getting my broadband internet from someone OTHER than Time/Warner such as the local STIC.net or something like that.

In fact, I intend to call them up right away and tell them why.

-- Funksaw

It might not be the RIAA who is violating our 4th Amendment rights- there are other companies who dedicate themselves to identifying people for the RIAA. Also the RIAA is claiming that there is o "privacy" / "anonymity" (sp) on the internet. I'm not sure how this would hold in court but I do know it will cost some cheese. If these fucks play their cards right, they will likely only be targeting people who are poor and way below the poverty line. Another thing I fear is if people hide themselves taking p2p underground it will only keep the RIAA standing where they stand on the issues. I dunno what but it's gonna take some serous action, some serious boycotting, and some serious public education on just who and what the RIAA are if anything is going to happen.

I agree!

You're RIGHT ON THE MONEY (no pun intended) when it comes to this!

We need to REALLY EDUCATE the rest of the country that INDDED...THEIR rights (as well as ours) in the digital era are being threatened by big corporations who favor outright CONTROL over how, where, and when we listen to music or watch movies!!

It is HIGH DAMNED TIME that WE, THE PEOPLE, STAND UP and send a CRYSTAL CLEAR message that their ARROGANT shenanigans against regular people WILL NOT BE TOLERATED!!!

And this message MUST be sent to ALL Congresspeople & Senators in DC... Vote against us with laws that CURTAIL OUR RIGHTS in favor of the so-called copyright holders...and WE WILL VOTE AGAINST YOU in November 2004!!!

DeanSB2000

heh maybe the RIAA can suffer the same rapid fate that AOL has caused TW (stock=

woah that didn't work out...

i was saying that TW's stock fell over 70% after becoming an aol-company. hopefully the RIAA will suffer the same fate that comes with letting an aol-er run the show.