Which presidential candidate is the biggest is a friend of FOSS

[2cute4u]

Regardless of how you feel about their politics on other issues, who would you say is the biggest friend of FOSS among the presidential candidates?

Also who do you think would be the biggest supporter of software patents, and DRM?

[LaRoza]

I don't think there is money in it for any of them. So I think they will all cave in when the money issue is brought up. Freedom? Empowerment? Where's the cash?

[toupeiro]

I don't think its a focus of any of them (frankly, at this time thats fine with me, there are bigger problems) But, I personally if there is any camp out there with this as a line item at all, its probably John Edwards. Since he most likely will not win, I don't think there is much hope for the deserved FOSS attention in the short term future.

[Steveway]

Interestingly I stumbled upon an analyzis of the pages the candidates have and most republians were running Microsofts IlS and the democrates were mostly running a variant of Linux or BSD. (One page was afaik even made using python, yay.)

[LaRoza]

Interestingly I stumbled upon an analyzis of the pages the candidates have and most republians were running Microsofts IlS and the democrates were mostly running a variant of Linux or BSD. (One page was afaik even made using python, yay.)

I doubt the candidates make those decisions.

But a couple elections ago, one did invent the internet.

(Cheap shot, take it lightly)

[p_quarles]

Now that the field has narrowed somewhat, it doesn't take that long to check what they're running:

Mitt Romney -- Apache 2.0.52
Mike Huckabee -- IIS 6.0
Rudy Giuliani -- Apache 2.0.52
John McCain -- IIS 6.0
Ron Paul -- Apache 2.0.52
Barack Obama -- PWS 1.2.18
Hillary Clinton -- IIS 6.0
John Edwards -- Apache
This is, at least, what the servers are identifying as publicly. I had to look up PWS: it's a Microsoft product.

[LaRoza]

Now that the field has narrowed somewhat, it doesn't take that long to check what they're running:

This is, at least, what the servers are identifying as publicly. I had to look up PWS: it's a Microsoft product.

It is meant to be for personal use. Odd that it is being used for a live site.

[Lord Illidan]

But I doubt they made the pages themselves.

[LaRoza]

But I doubt they made the pages themselves.

I doubt they know they have a server.

Actually, they probably think a "server" is a supporter.

[MaximB]

Those people doesn't care about free and open source, they don't even know what is it.
They know very little about computers.
Anyway I bet that you will get either obama or clinton which both run MS servers (not that they know about it).
It will not help us in any way.

[zmjjmz]

I read somewhere that Obama supports the Open Document Format.
Although I forget where...

[Mateo]

it's not a political issue. some linux users make open source out to be religion, or like "the force" in star wars. politicians are not friends of open source or closed source because it's not, in any way, a political issue.

[Darkhack]

it's not a political issue. some linux users make open source out to be religion, or like "the force" in star wars. politicians are not friends of open source or closed source because it's not, in any way, a political issue.

It's not the most important issue, but it is a political issue that does exist.

http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/philosophy.html

There are a lot of articles on there about a wide range of issues. DRM, Microsoft's anti-trust suits, GPL violations, and tons more. Personally I'm rather mad that my tax dollars are going for such expensive and inferior proprietary software.

[Crashmaxx]

Barack Obama has a good policy for open internet and reforming intellectual property, though I don't see anything specific to FOSS.
http://www.barackobama.com/issues/technology/

[Steve_Barker]

Do not know about Cynthia McKinney, http://www.runcynthiarun.org , but the Greens in the in the UK are keen on FOSS:

http://www.greenparty.org.uk/news/2851

http://www.greenparty.org.uk/news/3128

http://www.newstatesman.com/200708280002

[bash]

Umm ... which presidential campaign are we talking about? Or more precisly in what country. I figure it is probably about the US primaries, but there happen to be more countries in the world than just this one. And except some candidate names from the US in the later posts, I can't find a country listed in the original post.

[oldb0y]

Here is a interview with Mitt Romney:
http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/01/mitt-romney/

[LaRoza]

Umm ... which presidential campaign are we talking about? Or more precisly in what country. I figure it is probably about the US primaries, but there happen to be more countries in the world than just this one. And except some candidate names from the US in the later posts, I can't find a country listed in the original post.

You could post any presidential candidate of any nation that is a friend of FOSS, I am sure we'd be glad to here about it, even if we are not all from that country.

[bufsabre666]

http://blag.xkcd.com/2008/01/28/obama/

new blog on xkcd, not really about FLOSS that much but it is about technology so i think its relevant

[Geert Jan]

I was going to post that link to xkcd too. Obama already seemed like the best candidate to me before reading that, but now I'm really sure.

[bufsabre666]

I was going to post that link to xkcd too. Obama already seemed like the best candidate to me before reading that, but now I'm really sure.

well hes still my second pick, theres still a chance ron paul can pull out the win ((very small)) but he looks like the best candidate

[lespaul_rentals]

it's not a political issue. some linux users make open source out to be religion, or like "the force" in star wars. politicians are not friends of open source or closed source because it's not, in any way, a political issue.

I think you're mistaken; it is in fact a political issue. Politicians can pass bills that will enable corporations such as Microsoft to go after GNU/Linux/BSD for crap like IP infringement. Just think about the RIAA and how easy it is for them to sue poor people for unreasonable amounts. The politicians let them. So it is a very political issue, one that may not be in the public eye but it may someday become an issue.

And as for the the person who said that Edwards would probably be the best, I agree. I really like him, he's my second favorite candidate. Kucinich was my first, but thanks to the lack of media support he said goodbye. :( Now Edwards is the only good one left, and media attention isn't the greatest in his arena either.

And if anyone says Ron Paul, that will get a :lolflag: from me. Ron Paul will not help the world of FOSS, he believes the Internet and software arenas can become corporate playgrounds, all in the name of free-market capitalism.

BTW, here's an interview with John Edwards about Net Neutrality: http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/19/senator-edwards-defender-of-net-neutrality-and-open-spectrum-allocations/

[2cute4u]

Those people doesn't care about free and open source, they don't even know what is it.
They know very little about computers.
Anyway I bet that you will get either obama or clinton which both run MS servers (not that they know about it).
It will not help us in any way.

It really doesn't matter what they use on their servers. And even if they don't know what open source software is they make policies that effect open source.


Anyone who supports patents on intellectual property isn't a friend of FOSS. Anyone who wants to limit the scope or eliminate software patents is a friend of FOSS. The real issue is do they support freedom or do they support control. Which do they support more, the right of a corporation to make profit, or the right of individuals openly share ideas ?

[argie]

I'm not American but Obama did claim to support Creative Commons.

[JAPrufrock]

Big Business runs Washington. I doubt many politicians would have the courage to support FOSS. Kucinich probably would, but he's out. I like Edwards, but I've been waiting for him to bash Big Business, but he seems to back off.

[skippy_1]

Barak Obama probably.
That's all the stuff he's for:

Ensure an open Internet.
Create a transparent and connected democracy. (here's the FOSS part, he wants documents in an open format)
Encourage a modern communications infrastructure.
Strengthen Civil Rights Enforcement
Combat Employment Discrimination
Expand Hate Crimes Statutes
End Deceptive Voting Practices

Meager exact FOSS details yeah but he's on the right track.
Sources:
http://www.barackobama.com/issues/civilrights/
http://www.barackobama.com/issues/technology/

I tried looking for Hillary's stand on the issues but can't find the tech ones on her site.
And Ron Paul's against Net Neutrality, That's a deal breaker for a lot of people.
I'd get a source for that but you can find the interview pretty easily

Disclaimer: I'm not an American :P

[2cute4u]

Barak Obama probably.
That's all the stuff he's for:

Ensure an open Internet.
Create a transparent and connected democracy. (here's the FOSS part, he wants documents in an open format)
Encourage a modern communications infrastructure.
Strengthen Civil Rights Enforcement
Combat Employment Discrimination
Expand Hate Crimes Statutes
End Deceptive Voting Practices

Meager exact FOSS details yeah but he's on the right track.
Sources:
http://www.barackobama.com/issues/civilrights/
http://www.barackobama.com/issues/technology/

I tried looking for Hillary's stand on the issues but can't find the tech ones on her site.
And Ron Paul's against Net Neutrality, That's a deal breaker for a lot of people.
I'd get a source for that but you can find the interview pretty easily

Disclaimer: I'm not an American :P

Ron Paul isn't against Net Neutrality. He's against giving government control of the internet. He believes that net neutrality is better created by ending the government backed monopolies of companies like Comcast, Verizon and AT&T, not by giving control of the internet over to the gvernment .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogx-16xpzAg
http://www.news.com/Technology-Voters-Guide-Ron-Paul/2100-1028_3-6224161.html
http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/29/ron-paul-softens-stance-on-net-neutrality-talks-on-other-tech-issues/

[bufsabre666]

Ron Paul isn't against Net Neutrality. He's against giving government control of the internet. He believes that net neutrality is better created by ending the government backed monopolies of companies like Comcast, Verizon and AT&T, not by giving control of the internet over to the gvernment .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogx-16xpzAg
http://www.news.com/Technology-Voters-Guide-Ron-Paul/2100-1028_3-6224161.html
http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/29/ron-paul-softens-stance-on-net-neutrality-talks-on-other-tech-issues/

and hes one of 2 congressmen to vote against the bill

[lespaul_rentals]

Ron Paul isn't against Net Neutrality. He's against giving government control of the internet. He believes that net neutrality is better created by ending the government backed monopolies of companies like Comcast, Verizon and AT&T, not by giving control of the internet over to the gvernment .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogx-16xpzAg
http://www.news.com/Technology-Voters-Guide-Ron-Paul/2100-1028_3-6224161.html
http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/29/ron-paul-softens-stance-on-net-neutrality-talks-on-other-tech-issues/

Which is a load of crap, IMO. On paper it works, but in reality we all know that whether or not corporate welfare from the government occurs, corporations will still pull their dirty tricks. He's just too naive to admit it.

[forrestcupp]

I can't believe a thread with the only purpose of discussing politics has gone on for this long without being moved to the Backyard.

[perbiu]

Anyone have read this?

http://www.linuxinsider.com/story/Why-Should-or-Shouldnt-Geeks-Vote-for-Obama-61500.html
http://spot.livejournal.com/287340.html

It says Obama is willing to address Copyright and Patent reforms.