I'm not so worried about ex-Microsoft employees taking care of budget issues, but more worried about current employees of Google running in the senate and government positions. They are lobbying against nationwide surveillance and are pro-lessening privacy. Google employees and execs have been doing this for a few years now, and that is why were seeing so heavy legislate like CISPA and anti-piracy attacks.

Microsoft has denied that Xbox 720 will be "always on". These articles are just spreading FUD.