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Security United States IT

White House Hires a New Cybersecurity Boss 20

TheGift73 writes "Last week, longtime chief Howard Schmidt stepped down. He's been replaced by Michael Daniel, who's been in the Office of Management and Budget's national security division for 17 years. What does that mean for the future of the cybersecurity issue? Probably that we can expect his knowledge of the intelligence community to play a part in not just tracking down hackers, but determining the lines that need to be crossed with future SOPA-like bills. So while this sounds like a relatively nondescript appointment, Daniel will almost definitely be a major player the next time someone comes for your internet."
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White House Hires a New Cybersecurity Boss

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  • WTF am I missing here? Isn't this the same fucking story? And, to make it to the front page?
  • Another faceless bureaucrat put in charge of something to which he has a vague comprehension. So if he worked national security for OMB, does that mean he is an accountant that finds terrorists?

    I'm sure Al-Qaeda is shaking in their boots. "Please don't audit me!"

    • I'm sure Al-Qaeda is shaking in their boots. "Please don't audit me!"

      If he worked for the IRS than that would truly be a terrifying prospect.

    • No, he'll try to infiltrate their organization by offering to help fill out their tax forms.

    • Another faceless bureaucrat put in charge of something to which he has a vague comprehension. So if he worked national security for OMB, does that mean he is an accountant that finds terrorists?

      I'm sure Al-Qaeda is shaking in their boots. "Please don't audit me!"

      Would you prefer a political appointee who comes in due to nepotism, or to appease some political allies?

      I'm not saying this guy isn't necessarily one of those things, but being in the "Office of Management and Budget's national security division for 17 years" doesn't mean he doesn't know cybersecurity. In general if a faceless bureaucrat gets appointed to an important position I'd expect it's because they're damn good at it.

      • In general if a faceless bureaucrat gets appointed to an important position I'd expect it's because they're damn good at it.

        You obviously have not worked for the US government.

  • by Anonymous Coward on Monday May 21, 2012 @10:35AM (#40064395)

    I confess a lack of well-versedness with the subtleties of Presidential privilege, but I can't shake the feeling that the appointment of these "bosses," "czars," and other authority figures is somehow an attempt at an end-run around rule of law, similar to the way the FCC can impose restrictions, levy fines, and carry out other actions without Congressional approval.

    Convenient timing, too, what with SOPA crashing and burning and ACTA looking like its fate is grim.

    If this is going to be a regular thing, can we at least mandate that for every new "czar" appointed, some other official gets shitcanned? I nominate John S. Pistole for next pink-slip recipient.

    • by Qzukk ( 229616 )

      similar to the way the FCC can impose restrictions, levy fines, and carry out other actions without Congressional approval.

      Congress pre-approved the FCCs actions by law. They're welcome to revise their law to not give away so much of their power, but then they'd have to waste their time on mundane day-to-day shit about running the country rather than making themselves look like heroes to their constituents by passing laws against terrorists and pedophiles while grandstanding on abortions, flag burning, gay

  • by CanEHdian ( 1098955 ) on Monday May 21, 2012 @11:49AM (#40065411)
    Howard Schmidt was critical of CISPA in public. Goodbye, Howard. Notice how he isn't yet picked up by neither RIAA or MPAA? TFA sums it up best to what Michael Daniel's job will be: "determining the lines that need to be crossed with future SOPA-like bills."

Love may laugh at locksmiths, but he has a profound respect for money bags. -- Sidney Paternoster, "The Folly of the Wise"

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