Microsoft, Google's and other opinions on the Yahoo! acquisition

search Yesterday I was reading a couple of interesting posts and the general news surrounding the proposed acquisition we made to buy Yahoo:
Microsoft Bid To Buy Yahoo Faces Scrutiny 

During my reading I stumbled upon a couple of interesting posts one from Google's,David Drummond, Senior Vice President, Corporate Development and Chief Legal Officer. He made an interesting comment:

So Microsoft's hostile bid for Yahoo! raises troubling questions. This is about more than simply a financial transaction, one company taking over another. It's about preserving the underlying principles of the Internet: openness and innovation.

While I feel this acquisition will beneficial overall to users like us, time will tell.  I find it is interesting that I have also read that Google is willing to help Yahoo! out, would that make Google even more dominate with a Yahoo partnership?  A couple of Good articles here:

Things that make you go hmmm.

Read the Mr Drummond's full post here: Yahoo! and the future of the Internet 

The other was from Brad Smith, while I am not 100% sure it was a response it was a good quick read.  He makes a nice positioning statement on why:

The combination of Microsoft and Yahoo! will create a more competitive marketplace by establishing a compelling number two competitor for Internet search and online advertising. The alternative scenarios only lead to less competition on the Internet

Read the full post here: Statement from Brad Smith, General Counsel, Microsoft 

So the question I have for everyone is this:

What do you think? Is this good, bad, or in the end will it matter?  

Good overall post from CBS: Would A Takeover Of Yahoo Matter? 

I feel this will put a strong #2 in search and Internet advertising business that has been dominated by Google for years.  Time will tell.

Make sure to put on your waders this may get messy.