@Daniel Read the story. The issue is his disclosure obligations really. - Steve Rubel

The key point is not about the specific technology (the Blackberry) but about the way he communicates with all these people that keep him informed--some of whom would be outside the White House, even outside the government altogether. - Tommy Williams

probably time to update that...seems draconian - Adam Singer

@Daniel I imagine it's because all his email correspondence can enter the public domain. So it's not the Blackberry that's the issue here, but the use of email overall. At least that's how I read it. - Steve Rubel

@Daniel Boyd - you mean the current Whitehouse runs on Exchange. - Kevin Gamble

The issue is about having to archive every email under the Presidential Records Act more than the security. - ursi

Thank you ursi for being the sole voice of reason and sanity in this thread. - Anika Malone

There is no issue with a BlackBerry and archiving email under the PRA as a BB is merely an "extension" of Outlook in that the handheld merely reads email within Exchange. I think, as the article somewhat mentioned but failed to go too in-depth about, is like what Steve just mentioned: the potential security issue surrounding POTUS sending email. However, this should be relatively easy to solve using the right mix of PKI and other industry standard information security mechanisms. Govt adoption is the Q. - Scott Jarkoff

If a President says or writes something that is recordable - and technology is irrelevant, it could be a magnetophone and 8-track - it can be subpoenad by Congress. The article explores the tensions between the need for a President to have confidentiality about important matter of the state, and the need to open up new mode of communication fit for the 21st century mindset of the facebook generation. - Bora Zivkovic

so now that Obama is disabled from email, shouldn't the snarky left humiliate him like they did McCain? (being that McCain is disabled from using a computer for all time) - NoahDavidSimon

@bora - facebook generation isn't this generation at all. it's about the internet. facebook here today gone tomorrow - the internet platform as the amazing invention IT is stays. - Patricia

Bora++ This is the same reason Bush gave up his personal email back in 2000, and why, to many historians regret, the Presidents have stopped keeping personal diaries. The threat of subpoena is so powerful (and Congress so enjoys leaking information) that it's just not practical to keep those records (I once thought of creating an online diary system in Bermuda or something so VIPs could keep diaries outside of legal claims, but never got around to it). - Andrew Leyden

"facebook generation" has nothing to do with the actual Facebook site, or with a particular age - it is a shorthand term for a mindset of openness in communication. - Bora Zivkovic

What is new is that Obama is the first President with that mindset, as opposed to a bubble-boy, smoke-filled back-rooms, secretive types that the previous 43 Presidents were. The laws, customs and trappings of his new job are going to be conflicting with his modern instincts towards openness. - Bora Zivkovic

@Bora +1 - ~C4Chaos

@bora, telecom industry exec here. that's like saying america is about the pie when it's really about the country ;) - Patricia

It's a shame his "modern instincts towards openness" only flow one direction: out to his followers, in a very tightly scripted manner. Any questions or inquiries flowing in will be ignored. - ComicList

@Charles - Well we've seen what happens when he takes an unscripted question from an actual citizen. - Brian Newman

@Charles - why do you think that? From what I could see during the campaign, he listens and responds. He will not always respond the way we like, but he is the President, not us, so he needs to make the tough decisions not the armchair presidents. But he listens, it's not one-way at all. - Bora Zivkovic

@Bora, during this campaign, and past campaigns, when he faces questions he doesn't like, such as the ones about his past and his experiences, he either answers vaguely or untruthfully, or shuts down the questioner. He also has simply eliminated the competition in campaigns. He clearly understands and uses social networking, but not to interact honestly, only to influence and expand his support. - ComicList

Just another pitfall of being in the limelight, and another reason I shall continue to not want to be president. - BCK

@Charles - I will now, just like everyone on the planet, choose to either answer your question vaguely or untruthfully, or shut down the questioner. And I am not even running for office. Which one do you prefer? ;-) - Bora Zivkovic

I think you should shut me down. It's past my bedtime anyways. - ComicList

;-) - Bora Zivkovic

no matter our projections on Obama, the bottom line is that Team Obama is savvy enough to know how to tap the groundswell - http://bit.ly/y11L - ~C4Chaos

@~C4Chaos: excellent link - you should promote it into its own thread. - Bora Zivkovic

I'm so proud that people found a guy who can use email if he is allowed for president. I wanted more then that. I wanted a guy who could lead... and so far he isn't leading... he is wading in all these issues going around. I'm all for the wise say less theory... but there is a fiscal crises and stupid people are still high on the idea of email. he isn't president yet,,, but give us a sign Obama. if you give us leadership now then the market stabilizes because fiscal people are terrified of this dude. - NoahDavidSimon

But this thread IS ABOUT his use of communication tools. I am sure there are other threads around about his intense efforts to do something about the economic crisis. - Bora Zivkovic

sounds like Biden... I'm so impressed he can talk... now do something! the issue isn't about the media... the issue now is the message. and there is none. Marshall MCluhan is theory. Reality is we are suffering - NoahDavidSimon

Noah, it's still a month away before he can do anything of substance, but so far, so good. - Tanath

now is the time you talk about ideas...Jan 20th you do them. something is very wrong here http://delicious.com/simonst... ...none of us are on the inside, but Biden was talking about some major stuff happening. it is time to talk to the people and let us know what is going on. Bill Clinton rarely talked about Al Queda. Is this a prediction of the secrecy we should expect from Obama? What is the matter? the election is over and it is irresponsible to not dialog. this is poor leadership. - NoahDavidSimon

my guess is he is expecting this to blow up in his face and he is laying low. http://digg.com/politic... email won't help his cause if he don't have a birth certificate. this sucks for the people in the US who are facing a political climate where Putin thinks Obama is a pushover. ...but hey email... wow! - NoahDavidSimon

Obama's team needs a secure TeamWiki! - Bill Seitz

Obama's citizenship - That story has been debunked months ago. Only the Rush-dittohead-mouthbreathers still cling to that silly story. - Bora Zivkovic

Oh, come on, Noah, surely you know better. You can even find his certificate here: http://www.snopes.com/politic... - Tanath