In all the din of pontification over every aspect of the Microsoft antitrust trial, the theory has arisen that the best way out of the case is for a mass settlement between Microsoft and the U.S. Department of Justice and the 18 remaining states-including Michigan-suing it. While both sides in the matter could make the argument that a settlement may be the most expedient path toward ending the thing, clearly the most courageous path would be for Attorney General John Ashcroft to drop the matter all together. … more