According to this new report, Steve Ballmer is already pressuring the Democrats to impact their decisions, much as everyone ought expect. This is about Microsoft's interests, not the interests of the public who voted for Obama.

How disappointing. This development hardly surprising, however, and Microsoft's influence inside government is an issue that we more recently covered in:

• Bill Gates 'Helps' the Next United States President
• Microsoft Chooses New Lobbying Director with “Strong Ties to Democrats”
• When Microsoft Threatens Democracy
• Noted: The Microsoft-Abramoff Connection
• Microsoft Prepares to Influence Obama Office, Realigns Lobbyists
• Microsoft Lobbyists Raised Money for Obama Campaign
• New United States Government Already in Microsoft's Pocket
• Government Affairs or Just Cheating?
• Microsoft and Politics (Against Google)
• More Microsoft Cronies in United States Government, Other Companies
• Microsoft Puts the “P” in “Propaganda”; Windows Zombies Make More Extortions

Not only the United States is affected by Microsoft's influence. We have already seen this happening in large Asian countries like India and even China. Europe too is a major target and yesterday we saw Fortify, Microsoft's close partner, mocking -- if not attacking -- a British political party that embraced Free software. None of this is particularly unusual. ⬆

"I'm sorry that we have to have a Washington presence."

--Bill Gates

"I thanked Rose for all of his trips to Seattle and his willingness to distract a lot of time for the lawsuit."

--Bill Gates