Comments on: Bush campaign site blocks traffic from abroad

Five days before the election, the official Bush-Cheney re-election site shuts out visitors from outside the United States.

Wow - talk about bias...

geez, Alorie Gilbert, crucify the president for:

"Still, the move is unlikely to improve Bush's reputation when it comes to being Web savvy. During a televised debate earlier this month the president mistakenly referred to the Net in the plural, as 'the Internets.'"

I don't seem to remember you hammering away at Gore when he claimed to have INVENTED the Internet...

Tell you what, since you want to go after a politician, go after someone who had the nerve to say:

"I defended this country as a young man"

and then went on to call everyone he served with in Viet Nam "Baby killers".

[Stan Kee]

Gore Never Said He Invented Intenet

They should't have to, Gore never said he "invented the internet". It was just some spin by republicans when gore what talking about supporting legislation and funding research and as usual it was twisted and taken out of context. If you are going to hate democrats hate them for the truth not myths.

http://www.dailyhowler.com/dh120302.shtml

[Stan Kee]

Misrepresentation

As far as Kerry goes he was reporting what a group of Vietnam vets told him was taking placing when he went before Congress. Why constantly mislead people?

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/choice2004/view/

Check out video "Two: 1968-1972" for those who want a clearer picture.

I think the big difference with Bush is...

I think the reason news stories like this seem to be blasting Bush more is because this is not the first, second or even the last of Bush's big blunders. If 99% of what Bush did was smart, right and intelligent I doubt this would have been a problem at all. However, Bush's record clearly shows the man is an idiot and that the VP isn't much better. Bush lies, he is delusional, he won't admit he has made mistakes, he has lost sight of so much. So this is just one more big blunder on his part. That is why people tear him up for it.

As for Gore, wow one mistake compared to hundreds from Bush. Big difference if you ask me.

Robert

Big Mistake.

This Move By The Bush campagin is going to cost them alot more then they gain.

This did just give an pretty idea what Bush is all about.

Also, pepole how live in America is going to hear about this, since this no secret.

Bush is going to loose and i am pretty happy about it.

Oh, i am from iceland and i cannot go into the page. Just to make sure that pepole how don't get it, get it now.

Have an Nice day!

[Stan Kee]

Stupid

It's stupid to block the website because there are definately ways around it. I see what Stewart means, there is no way to top this administration.

[George Cole]

stupid to block the website

http://www.analogstereo.com/mazda_5_owners_manual.htm

So what's the problem?

Perhaps, like thousands of other businesses in the US, the Bush site doesn't need or want the hack attempts, spam, and bandwidth issues that come with allowing the whole world access to your web site. Particularly with controversial or high profile content.

Last I checked, you only get to vote here if you live here.

I consult for a number of businesses that have permanantly firewalled off China, Russia, and other regions for the same exact reason. As they do not require communication with those regions, it results in lossless compression.

Ignorance is sooo American...

Well man... I see why we don't like you US people. You just beleive that there's US and 'them' who you don't need. Lossless compression, is it? Nope. That's what you call ignorance. As I can see, you regard China and Russia as something of negligible value... Would LOVE to see you here in Russia (or in Chinafor that matter) expressing this attitude, you know. I am Russian (and proud of it, too), and I worked in China. Guess what? These are better places than US, actually. More honest, less ridden with lawyers and all that belief in being The Only Power in the world. So, Bush Minor chose to block foreigners? Then he just confirms that he's a)ignorant and b)impolite non-educated person. As they say, the nation has the ruler it deserves, eh?

[Steven N]

Incredible... luckily not all US people are like you

Last time I checked most of the spam came from the US. So you don't know what you are talking about.

I would think that a multi billion campaign can afford paying for some more bandwidth. After all it is not that expensive in the US. So again, you don't know what you are talking about.

Apparently you believe the US is the safest place on earth and the people outside your ivory tower are all crazy and mad people, that are doing nothing but attacking the web site of bushie. Get real.
You are a hypocrite if you say we have no business with you, but yet you are willing to make money out of us. Get out of the consultancy business and start breeding hormone stuffed cattle then. US market only?

I can make out of your comment you don?t like the practices of firewalling in some countries. Why are you then supporting exactly the same from bushie? Again hypocrisy?

If I look at the practices of bushie, and the opinions of his supporters, then I am getting the impression the US is heading into a totalitarian regime: us against the rest of the world, people being held in prison without charges, monitoring what your citizens are doing, invading countries based on lies, ? Plenty of examples of these practices in history, all classified under totalitarian regimes?

Good luck on your little island. If you want us to leave you alone, then leave us alone too. Oh, and stop using the www, that was developed in Europe?

[fcgreg]

Have some cheese with that bias, Alorie

It's been a while since I've seen a purported "news" article be so blatently biased. You see Alorie, according to most concepts of journalism ethics, it's supposed to be DIFFICULT (or impossible) for us readers to know your polical opinions and leanings in a "news" story.

'nuff said, at least until the personal attacks against me begin.

[Steven N]

Same here in Belgium...

No connectivity here either.

Is it xenofobia? Is it total ignorance of the the way the web/world works? Incompetence, stupidity, ...? Or just another example of bushies view on the rest of the world.

Sure, you can say we don't have any business with the US, but then they shouldn't be using foreign policies in their campaign, then they shouldn't be hunting abroad for support for their lost causes.

Is this the freedom of press the US is always boasting about? I hope not...

How nice

How nice that an American presidential candidate is giving priority to American voters, in order to assure that the vast majority of likely American voters will have access to information that will help prepare them for the important decision they're about to make. While expatriate voters are certainly important - in the U.S. every citizen's vote is valuable, I don't see the necessity of non-voters having equal access to the web site in the final days of the election. After all, they have had access to the site until very recently. Our neighbors need to understand that, though they are welcome to come for dinner, it would be quite rude of them to stay the night.

Cheney was wrong twice

CNET incorrectly referred to factcheck.org as "a Web site that supported (Cheney's) arguments." In fact, the web site supported Senator Edwards' charges. Thus Cheney was wrong on both the URL and the content contained therein.

SO WHAT!

Whats the big deal over Bush/Cheney website not allowing outside countries to view it. Why even waste the time to writing about it. The website was gear for the American voters not the Europeans and Asian. What are Europeans going to gain from the Bush website? Not a thing, They are not voting Nov 2 2004. SO WHO REALLY CARES! If there is no love loss oversea. Then why make an issue about.

This election has gotten out of hand with the little nit picken between both parties. I feel like a parent watching to little kids and their friends in a sandbox fightin over a bucket and shovel. I can't wait when this election is over so that we all can get on with ours lives.

[David Arbogast]

American Elections are for Americans

I have absolutely no problem with this, and even wonder why it was reported. American elections are for Americans. We make decisions for our country that are not, and should never be based upon influence from citizens of foreign countries. The letter writing campaign from the Brits was enfuriating, and the fact that they would even complain about not being able to see our President's web site tells me that they need to spend more time focused on their own country's problems.

I have never even attempted to view the personal web site of a foreign leader, and would never dream of trying to personally influence elections in another country. It would be nice to receive the same respect from others around the world.

This is not an issue of Americans being close-minded. This is an issue of foreign individuals who do not respect the fact that America has its own system to work with.

[Techno Guy]

Simple Explanation

In my mind there is a simple explanation for this: the site, georgewbush.com, was knocked offline for several hours about a week ago. In all likelihood, those who manage the site know why, and, if it was a denial of service attack, know from which corners of the world it originated.

The restriction of the web site to requests originating from within the U.S. allows it to reach its essential target audience while minimizing the risk of a denial of service attack. To me, I would not be amazed in the least if a DOS attack were mounted against georgewbush.com -- I would be amazed if one were not.

Anyone in the international audience who is offended by this is simply looking to be offended.

Typical CNET junk reporting

"Still, the move is unlikely to improve Bush's reputation when it comes to being Web savvy. "

Actually, it shows his team is incredibly web savvy. They're hardening their site to ensure domestic access. Stick to reporting, CNET, and leave the amateur commentary to the bloggers. They're better at it.

...

Why even read the site knowing all they report is "junk?" Genius.

Because...

Mostly to see what topics of the day are in the industry. CNET does an acceptable job in reporting tech issues. When I see something interesting, I then go look it up elsewhere to get what is often the real scoop. But overall their journalistic standards are pretty low. Thats ok for tech news, but bad when reporting on politics.

I will give them props for having a nice, single page summary of stories thats really easy to give a quick once over.

[Steven N]

Take a look at this one...

http://www.rnw.nl/hotspots/html/bel030113.html

Don't speak me about respect to foreign systems...
What did bushie try to hide here...Quantanamo bay? Abu Ghurayb?

[Steven N]

Grr... reply to American Elections are for Americans

Happens too often...

[David Arbogast]

Wake up.

Big difference pal. Governments interact in a lot of ways that may or may not be proper. The problem, is that citizens are now exhibiting poor foreign relationship behavior. You say the government does something bad... so now you can do something bad too? Oh I get it... you are just as bad as they are. Don't bother to rise above... we're learning to expect less.

Tech News... not Bias Please

Why is this slanted? And why is there 500 people posting about politics when this is a issue of proper network security/design? If I am getting hammered from a vast amount of people that are not even essentially my customers or could even be my customers why should I grant access. It costs to have a pipe and why offer it to people who don't even need it over the people its actually going ot affect.

Let their site admin do his job because I guarantee you he most likely has a better grasp of the problem then a group of liberals whining... and foreign liberals at that!

PS we thought we were the **** in WW2 and no one complained..