Two FTC Conflicts of Interest in Google/DoubleClick Merger?

Federal Trade Commission Chairman Deborah Platt Majoras said she will not recuse herself from reviewing the proposed merger of Google and DoubleClick. EPIC and the Center for Digital Democracy requested recusal, upon learning Majoras once worked for Jones Day - the law firm that represents DoubleClick. Majoras' husband is also still working for the law firm. Commissioner William E. Kovacic, whose wife, Kathryn M. Fenton, works for Jones Day, also said he would not recuse himself from reviewing the merger. In a written statement, Majoras said there was no ethical or legal conflict because her husband's compensation "will not be increased or affected by changes in the firm's income." Majoras said the firm represents DoubleClick only in Europe, a claim contradicted by a page on the Jones Day website, since removed.

An utter and complete outrage

[sam_handelman]

And a sign, however indirect and, frankly, minor, of the decayed and decrepit state of our democratic culture.

  The other news story that made me pissed off this week was the article in the times about designer shopping bags. It just seemed like such an intense case of utterly crass consumerism.