Why does Microsoft want Yahoo?

My opinion: The chance to buy stuff they wanted but Yahoo got to first... like Flickr. There are still "brain trusts" within Yahoo, mostly in their still nascent acquisitions. That's also where there are still ad growth opportunities -- where Yahoo hasn't figured out how to make ad revenue, Microsoft might take a more effective crack at it and win.

If I were Microsoft, I'd have a plan in place to rid themselves of everything Icahn if the deal goes through. Throw Icahn the big cheeses and keep all Yahoo's kernels of nuggety goodness. Which, I'm sorry, ain't worth $37 a share in a recession.

I don't think Icahn is worth $1 a share in a recession, though. Heck, let's fire all the executives and let the employees elect the board rather than the stockholders. I'd love to see who Yahoo's employees would hire.