Early attempts to manipulate elections
Early 2000 in Boca Raton, Florida …
DBT Online in partnership with Accenture Ltd. of Bermuda, former world group Andersen Consulting, given a $2m contract from the State of Florida, purged some 50,000 qualified voters off the voter registration listings for Kathleen Harris, State Elections official.
District Court in Washington —
Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson presiding
US Justice Department vs Microsoft
1999 First six months …
Judge Jackson: “I’m not sure to blame Microsoft’s legal team, Bill Gates or Steve Ballmer, had the company been more honest in court it might have helped. It would have dispelled, to a large extent, any inference of malevolent motive.
David Boies: Noted about Bill Gates – “After a year of withering press and tribulations in the courts, Gates was flaccid, lifeless; all the piss and vinegar seemed to have drained out”.
Would all be forgiven and forgotten; return to business as usual …
2000 First six months …
Judge Jackson: “I’m not sure to blame Microsoft’s legal team, Bill Gates or Steve Ballmer, had the company been more honest in court it might have helped. It would have dispelled, to a large extent, any inference of malevolent motive. … you may have to give Microsoft credit for consistency. It has maintained, and continues to maintain, that it has done nothing amiss.” By contrast, Jackson considered David Boies the best attorney ever to appear in his courtroom, and called his cross-examinations “gems”.
Attorney David Boies: Noted about Bill Gates – “After a year of withering press and tribulations in the courts, Gates was flaccid, lifeless; all the piss and vinegar seemed to have drained out”.
Assessment of the case from an insiders view.
Steve Ballmer: “I do not think we broke the law in any way, shape or form. I feel deeply that we behaved in every instance with super integrity. I’m not saying we don’t talk tough.” Microsoft’s problem was bad manners, not bad behavior, Ballmer maintained. Microsoft’s executives were pleased with the WaPo interview, thinking it showed a measure of contrition.
Proof of denial by Microsoft they did anything wrong. To Judge Jackson, this denial was perhaps the greatest violation of all.
Bill Gates: On July 11, 1999 he wrote an e-mail directing that Microsoft redesign its software in order to harm competitors. The products in question were the Personal Digital Appliances that Microsoft heralded at trial as one of the products that might someday undo its monopoly. There was also a political calculation: might a new Administration abandon this case, just as the Reagan Administration had abandoned a 13yr-old lawsuit against IBM.
Further reading …
Narrow election results leads to Court battle with involvement:
REPUBLICANS — James Baker III of Bush #41, Ted Olson, Republican, special counsel involved with Prosecutor Ken Starr, Paula Jones and Whitewater issue of the Clintons.
COUNTERATTACK MICROSOFT — Bill Gates / Steve Ballmer
— Politics is Business — Business as Usual —
A TIMELINE
Jun 06 1999 Judge Jackson decision to split Microsoft in two
US attorney David Boies — in Nov. 2000 he will be counsel to Al Gore (Dem)
Tom Miller (D-IA) Attorney General for the six states vs Microsoft
Dec 1999 At a Microsoft Board Meeting Bill Gates breaks down and weeps delivering an extended and emotional tirade against US DoJ and Judge Jackson
Jan 01 2000 Steve Ballmer becomes new CEO Microsoft
Early 2000 Steve Ballmer becomes director of Accenture Ltd in Bermuda joins Accenture Management:
Joe Forehand CEO – Dallas Texas
William D. Green – Boston Mass. 27 yr veteran –
=First job at Andersen Consulting was for Trident Submarine — General Dynamics=
Apr 01 2000 Joint Venture Accenture and Microsoft: company named Avanada — world’s premier technology integrator for Microsoft solutions and enhances its consulting and outsourcing expertise through alliances
Summer 2000 Accenture Florida has contract in partnership with DBT Online of Hank Asher to purge voter registrations
Dec 19 2001 Accenture Ltd Bermuda made new legal contract between partners
Apr 01 2001 Ecora Corp in Portsmouth NH signs partnership with Avanada for IT management software to capture raw data on server applications
Jan 01 2002 MATRIX project Florida for Accenture and subcontract to Seisint of new company founded by Hank Asher
Spring 2002 Accenture in Arizona team with Seisint 10 yr $122m contract Dep’t Taxation
Aug 15 2002 Settlements in ENRON lawsuits, liability for Accenture Ltd. Bermuda ends
???? 200? Alliance between Avanada and Infosys Tech Ltd of India
Infosys is management contractor to City of NY, Lockheed Martin,
Pennsylvania and New Hampshire.
Infosys has former senator Larry Pressler (R-SD) on board.
Summer 2004 Accenture $2m contract in Florida to purge voter registration lists
Nov 02 2004 Contrary to flow of Exit Poll data during day and a NEP computer glitch
George Bush is delighted to be ‘elected’ for second term.