This does not sit well with me. Giving government the capability to control a public, open and free network is where I draw the line. I do like the idea of having a federally-recognized cybersecurity certification program, as this will establish one standard for knowledge on the subject and clear a lot of hurdles for aspiring network security analysts. Everything else is bull. This is the first time I’ve seen the EFF call out something introduced by a non-Bushie. I took issue with the NSA in the Bush years because the same thing happened: government took too much liberty with the public internet, and spied on its own citizens in the process. If a threat emerges, let the government deal with their own networks. Any sysadmin who has completed the proposed federally-sponsored cybersecurity certification program would predictably be able to take care of those under their control.

If you haven’t noticed already, I’ll go ahead and say that my problems with this are solely practical rather than political, as the internet is a big part of my life and work, so naturally these are the issues I care most about. (I’m working on an essay-type thing detailing my positions, in which I proclaim that Republicans are evil and Democrats just don’t care anymore.) I’ve seen a lot of people online throwing harsh words at the president for this, which is stupid because he has nothing to do with it. These people are crossing the line. They’re probably overzealous Glenn Beck fans. Anyway, case in point:

This has nothing to do with “protecting” the internet.

It has everything to do with the power drunk, dicatorial 0bama engaging in an unprecedendted, unconstitutional power grab, orchestrated by his psychotic. lunatic fringe “czars” like Van Jones.

After siezing the auto companies, siezing the banks, setting up a snitch line at flag@whitewhite.gov for Americans to report anyone who doesn’t agree with 0bama’s evil health care bill, , ahile ammasing a fedrel deficits of a staggering $1.6 trillion, and sending “stimulus” money to murderers in US jails, this communist wants to grab control of the internet too does he?

Really? Really? I suppose the fact that Jay Rockefeller is coming up with this thing rather than the White House does nothing for you. You probably think President Obama has exercised some sort of mind control on this poor fellow to perpetrate this communist, Kenyan, Bill Ayers-esque, Orwellian, Illuminati, unconsitutional, and overall, evil, evil, evil power grab that will turn everyone gay, make the divorce rate skyrocket, take away all your guns and direct the government to demolish all churches.

To this I say: Really? What are you smoking?