http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/16/us/politics/16blackberry.html?no_interstitial
As this New York Times article illustrates, President-Elect Barack Obama may be forced to do away with his BlackBerry. For many politicians and Americans alike, the BlackBerry has become the closest connection to loved ones, business deals, email, and Chinese food at 2am. I find it ridiculous to ask a techno-savvy President to surrender this vital tool. I strongly believe that if Obama holds on to his BlackBerry, work will be conducted much more quickly and efficiently. though there are some security issues, let's try and rectify them before we immediately tell the President that he can no longer send emails and communicate with the world in a near instant fashion.
Obama says he wants to place a laptop on his desk in the Oval Office, which would make him the first United States President to do so, ever. Obama really wishes to be tied to the 21st century, and I believe that the addition of his BlackBerry will make him a much stronger leader, since he will have access to an endless amount of information at his fingertips, at all times.
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The president of the United States does not need a blackberry. He can get anyone in the world on the phone whenever he needs to via the White House phone system. Furthermore it is irresponsible to be on your blackberry texting loved ones when you are running the country. All business calls will be conducted through the White House, because a Blackberry or a cellphone is not a secure line. Loved ones can be talked to over the phone during the (infrequent) free time. Also, the president has staffers whose job it is to keep him up to date on everything going on in the world. Their information is far more accurate and up to date than what he will find on the Internet. The president cannot just email people at his whim. He needs to run it through his staff before he contacts people. And I will restate that email, like a blackberry, is not secure.
These are things he does not need and does not have time for.
I believe that although Blackberrys and emails aren't necessarily the most secure way to transfer information, we will be entering 2009 and therefor, it is vital for all information to be at our fingertips. Without constant email and connection to the rest of the world, it is inevitable to "fall behind." Our world today is based on all of the readily available information and if all Americans have immediate access then the president should as well.
yeah i thought this was very funny, but necessary. though the president is huge political figure some things need to be kept private. I wish that he did not have to give up his right to email just so people wont meddle in his private affairs. but hey thats the life of a president so he better get use to it.
I definitely agree with Jake. The fact that there is even discussion about a matter like this in a large news paper is absurd. If Obama doesn't have a BlackBerry or isn't provided with "information at his fingertips at all times" he will not fall behind in his current events, just as the 43 other presidents before him. Let's get real here. Millions of people get along just fine without a BlackBerry, and I'd be willing to bet that those with BlackBerries are no more up to date with current affairs than those without BlackBerries. Do those of you with one constantly check the news throughout the day?
Obama has an entire staff whose sole job is to keep him updated. And, using them and their traditional ways of communication are definitely more secure than using his BlackBerry. Although this whole argument is just an example of how sad the media has gotten (there are more important things I could be reading than a story about the 'highly debatable' question of our new president's cell phone) there is no question that a BlackBerry would in no way make a president significantly more efficient.
I also believe this article is more of a testiment to the ludicrousy of the media than a piece on keeping the president at the leading edge of technology. While you may wonder why such a story gets published, I think its apparent that its headline is an attention grabber, at least enough so that a person looking for an interesting afticle like Alex was intrigued to click on it. Stories that feature simple messages that citizens can relate to often get more attention from the average internet surfer than more complicated issues.
As many above me have said, it is not necessary for the President to have a BlackBerry because most information are sent and received by the White House staff as opposed to the president himself. When he needs to communicate with someone for an important reason, he can simply connect to anyone in the world through the White House phone. Also when there is new up-to-date information that the president should be aware of, his staff will inform him of such information as opposed to him checking emails and such. I know it is hard to imagine getting serious work done without an instant connection to the worldwide web, but because of the lack security on the internet, it is probably not the best option.
The problem with not being one of the first to post is that all the good points get taken. But yeah I agree with Jake that the president does not need a Blackberry if it's not secure. However, I do think Obama should have a laptop on his Oval Office desk. The White House definitly has the resources to create a secure email-laptop for the President to use. I also highly doubt that Obama will have resist playing Solitaire instead of running our nation. If he thinks a laptop is helpful, he should get one.
I think he should look into getting an iPhone. The iPhone is so much better than the Blackberry.
Wow. What a pointless article. Obama can have a blackberry if he wants one, or just have secret service agents run up to him and tell him the latest news. Does it matter? About the laptop, does he really need it? I mean the most recent information is probably going to be given to him by a White House report or something similar. The "news" that's published online can't possibly be more up to date than that.
Obviously the president needs to be informed with up-to-date information, but a blackberry is not the only way to do this, nor is it the best way. I am conficent that the people in the White House who's job it is to keep him informed will do so. He will also be able to communicate with people through his staff as well. It turns out he's just replacing his blackberry with people who will do a much better job than a heandheld device, and will do so much more securely.
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