Summary: Microsoft has its people installed at VMware and RNC; Microsoft lobbying and Obama pressure seen

VMware's latest recruitment of Microsoft folks is something that we've already covered some days ago.

In order to reinforce our analysis, we hereby present more analysis which concurs. InfoWorld's (IDG) virtualisation expert has posted an essay that he titles "Ex-Microsoft execs continue filling the VMware lineup" and he writes:

VMware's executive roster is beginning to look very familiar to the old Microsoft regime. Since Diane Greene's departure, it seems as though a few key executive positions have fallen into the hands of former Microsoft employees.

[...]

From the outside looking in, there has never been much of a positive relationship between VMware and Microsoft. So it will be interesting to see how much the growing Microsoft executive presence within VMware will define and shape the company's vision as well as how it will effect the competition between the two companies moving forward.

VMware was actually prepared to sue Microsoft or at least issue an antitrust complaint about a year before Tucci kicked Diane Greene out of her throne (she left along with her colleagues). It's like she was overthrown by a Microsoft coup, headed by Microsoft's partner of the year. Microsoft's 'planter' Maureen O'Gara proudly proclaims that this 'regime change' is indeed happening. A few days ago she published the article "VMware Continues To Reek of Microsoft." In InternetNews.com, we found the article "Microsoft, VMware Talk Up Lower Power Bills." That too was published a few days ago.

Keep it where it's warm, eh?

Another entity to keep an eye on is the Republican National Committee (RNC). According to this new press release, a Microsoft executive has just been made a director there.

Until September 2007, Todd was a Microsoft executive where he held a number of senior leadership positions, most recently General Manager, Media Strategy and Monetization for MSN. Todd was the Streaming Media Evangelist at MSNBC.com where he wrote the initial strategy and business plan for MSN Video Product Unit. Under his leadership, MSN Video inaugurated over 100 traditional TV brands into broadband video and its revenues grew fourfold over four consecutive years. Prior to joining Microsoft, Todd was Co-Founder and CEO of theDial, a venture-capital backed Internet radio network. theDial's syndication network was the first to welcome Fortune 500 companies and national consumer brands to Internet radio advertising. His most recent company is SpinSpotter, a venture-capital backed, semantic web business and winner of a 2008 DEMOgod Award.

This was also covered in TechCrunch (or via The Washington Post) and some other sites that offer additional details following the announcement from RNC.

The RNC just sent out a press release announcing the appointment of former Microsoft executive Todd Herman as the RNC's new media director. This is a key part of Steele's efforts to get the Republican Party tuned in to digital media and its place in modern politics.

 

The Republican National Committee tapped a former Microsoft executive to spearhead the party's efforts to vastly improve its use of technology, RNC chairman Michael Steele announced Monday.

For those who think that Microsoft influence in the Republican camp is rather futile right now, well... we have some more news. Several days ago we found reports about Microsoft taking its lobbying of the Senate/Democrats up a notch. Watch this: Microsoft Taps Pryor To Lobby Senate

Microsoft has hired David Pryor Jr. as director of government affairs, where he will lobby the Senate.

The company's newest lobbyist has family ties to the Senate. His father, is former Sen. David Pryor, D-Ark. and his younger brother is Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark. who was elected in 2002.

And this:

FedEx lobbyist David Pryor Jr. is joining Microsoft as director of government affairs for the Senate.

He’ll lead the software giant’s efforts in lobbying the Senate, handling pressing economic, education and health issues and promoting online security polices.

Pryor’s younger brother is Sen. Mark Pryor (D-Ark.); their father is former Sen. David Pryor (D-Ark.).

“David’s extensive work with Congress and with various federal agencies and his strong relationships give him the ability to advance Microsoft’s goals on Capitol Hill,” said Microsoft’s managing director for U.S. government affairs, Fred Humphries.

For older information about Microsoft's affairs with the Democrats, see:

• Microsoft Chooses New Lobbying Director with “Strong Ties to Democrats”
• New United States Government Already in Microsoft's Pocket
• Microsoft Executives Go Personal, Pay Obama Instead of Their Lobbyists
• Government Affairs or Just Cheating?
• More Microsoft Cronies in United States Government, Other Companies
• Microsoft's CEO Pressures the Government to Loot the Public and Help Corporations

This morning we found that Microsoft is even giving instructions to Obama now.

Microsoft tells Obama to spend cash on broadband

THE SOFTWARE giant Vole has told the US government to spend its stimulus money providing broadband fibre networks to critical public institutions. d with various federal agencies and his strong relationships give him the ability to advance Microsoft’s goals on Capitol Hill,” said Microsoft’s managing director for U.S. government affairs, Fred Humphries.

Was that 'Microsoft bridge' which taxpayers fund not enough for Microsoft? ⬆