Posted on: Monday, September 10, 2001

Editorial
Microsoft: Bush right — for wrong reasons

The Bush administration's decision to lighten up on Microsoft is in large part one of political expediency, rewarding Bush supporter Bill Gates and burnishing Bush's pro-business image.

But that's what elections are for. The Justice Department's announcement that it will no longer seek the breakup of Microsoft is precisely what Bush promised on the campaign trail.

If you're not comfortable with the politics of this turnabout, take comfort that the Bush approach is liable to lead to a settlement, a far cheaper outcome for taxpayers.

And bear in mind that the landscape of the computer business has changed so radically since the case was brought that the breakup and other penalties sought by the Clinton administration were fashioned for a cyberworld that no longer exists.