Senators urge Facebook CEO to change privacy settings

By GottaLaff

I'm beginning the entire world needs to change its privacy settings. It's fairly obvious that there is no such thing any more:

Four Democratic senators called on Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg Tuesday to reconsider the recent changes in its privacy settings and asked the Federal Trade Commission to streamline guidelines regarding privacy on all social networks. [...]

Schumer, Sens. Michael Bennet of Colorado, Mark Begich of Alaska and Al Franken of Minnesota sent a letter to Zuckerberg about Facebook's decision to allow third-party sharing of user's information.

"We are writing to express our concern regarding recent changes to the Facebook privacy policy and the use of personal data on third party websites," the senators wrote. "The expansion of Facebook – both in the number of users and applications – raises new concerns for users who want to maintain control over their information."

They went on to say how the "opt out" option should be an "opt in" option. It is pretty confusing, and the default setting is less, not more, privacy. The responsibility falls to the user, and if someone is unaware of that, or if they can't figure out Facebook's system, then information is shared with other sites.

Facebook is glitchy enough without having to worry about personal info being inadvertently shared on the InterWebs.

Videos- President Obama stumps for Bennett in Colorado

Four More Dem Senators Join Push For Vote On Public Option

Not going to get too excited, but Greg is reporting some good news.

Yesterday four Dem Senators made a big splash by signing a letter pushing Dem leaders to pass the public option via reconciliation, suggesting the provision may have a faint pulse.

Now four more Dem Senators have added their names to the list, their spokespeople tell me, doubling the number of signatories to eight and perhaps upping the volume of the public option’s pulse ever so slightly.

The new signatories: Al Franken, Pat Leahy, John Kerry, and Sheldon Whitehouse.

They join yesterday’s signers: Michael Bennet, Kirsten Gillibrand, Jeff Merkley, and Sherrod Brown.

The letter asks Harry Reid to stage a full Senate vote on the public option under budget reconciliation rules. It argues that there’s a history of using the technique for passing significant health care legislation and that a majority of Americans has consistently supported a public option.

The letter — the work of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee and Democracy for America — also bears the signatures of over a hundred House Dems.

Obama praises new Colorado senator, Michael Bennet

By GottaLaff

Soon-to-be Senator Bennet got the Obama stamp of approval:

President-elect Barack Obama Saturday praised Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter's choice of Michael Bennet as that state's next senator [...]

"Filling Ken Salazar's boots in the US Senate is a tall order. But in selecting Michael Bennet, Governor Ritter has made an excellent choice," Obama said in a statement released by his transition office.

"Michael Bennet perfectly reflects the qualities of the ruggedly independent state he has been chosen to serve. An innovator in the public and private sectors, he has shown himself willing to challenge old thinking and stale policies," Obama also said.

I wonder if Bennet wears big cowboy hats too.

Bennet replaces Salazar, above, Obama's choice for interior secretary.

Denver schools superintendent Michael Bennet to replace Ken Salazar

By GottaLaff

Photo by Linda McConnell

MSNBC just reported the following:

Denver Public Schools superintendent Michael Bennet is expected to be named Saturday as the future U.S. Senate replacement for Interior Secretary nominee Ken Salazar, according to two Democratic sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Gov. Bill Ritter is expected to name his U.S. Senate replacement pick on Saturday, ending a brief but frenzied period of speculation about who will take the seat of Interior Secretary nominee Ken Salazar. [...]

The selection would be preliminary, since Salazar is not expected to resign his U.S. Senate seat until sometime after Jan. 15, when he faces a confirmation hearing — and later vote — to become President-elect Barack Obama's first Interior Secretary.

More here.