It was announced yesterday that Louisiana-based CenturyTel is buying Qwest, marking the second major takeover in ten years for the Denver telco. I have some history with the US West iteration of […]
Joe Nacchio, American Motherfucking Hero

Dr. Slammy offered up some thoughts the other day on Joe Nacchio, the prison-bound former CEO of Qwest. For the good doctor, the case is both public and personal. For my part, […]
Joe Nacchio heading to jail; Justice weeps anyway
Don’t call it schadenfreude. That’s the term for taking pleasure in the misfortune of others, and I’m not guilty of that. What I feel today, as I review the news that former […]
I'll let you work for me for free: a fable for our times
I come before you this morning with a morality play, a modern-day American fable. I’d call the following, which made its way to me a few days ago, a true story, but […]
FISA – meet the new laws, same as the old laws?
by Rick L. Lucke The actions of the current Congress have given new meaning to Pete Townshend’s song, “Won’t Get Fooled Again.” I keep thinking, “Meet the new Boss, same as the […]
Telecom immunity: how stupid do you think we are?
It’s FISA Day in your Senate – amazing how this was scheduled for Potomac Primary Day, huh? – and Matt Browner Hamlin has the agenda up at Holdfast. My big issue is […]
Super Bowl provides us with an important teachable moment
I really have mixed feelings about the outcome of yesterday’s Super Bowl. It was a fantastic game, no matter who you were rooting for, and that’s always nice. Historically a lot of […]
2007 in Review, pt. 1: Dem White Christmas Blues
Welcome to S&R’s year in review. Over the next few days we’ll be taking a look back at the year past, the ridiculous and the sublime, the famous and infamous. We begin […]
The NSA was spying on Americans before 9/11, and telecoms were in on it
By Martin Bosworth That’s the accusation levied by disgraced former Qwest CEO Joe Nacchio, who claims that he was approached by officials from the Bush administration to bring his company into an […]
Progressive capitalism: Tocqueville, RJ Reynolds, and taking back our American birthright
This is a song Charles Manson stole from the Beatles. We’re stealing it back. – Bono Business issues have been much on my mind of late, and not just for the obvious […]