but it is totally believable and probably should be expected anymore.

is there any candidate whose admin might stop such shit?

This isnt exactly the same as the proposed Comcast, time warner cable merger.
The two companies dont in this case dont compete against each other to much, DirectTV is pretty much tv only ATT is mainly internet, cellular phone and some TV but their TV service is still in its infancy.
Hell I have ATT Uverse internet (only option in my subdivision sadly) but they dont have the uverse tv service here yet and they probably wont for atleast a few more years if ever.
I gotta admit though I do wish they had said no though because I suspect this will just cause ATT to abandon and or slow their uverse TV deployment to rural areas.

AT&T will be dumping their U-Verse product line, which does directly compete with DirecTV.
But while U-Verse is not going anywhere, DirecTV continues to expand, thus the merger.

Unfortunately, AT&T has horrible customer service, so I heard that they'll be dumping that,
and switching to the DirecTV customer service, which is rated a lot better.

Personally, I don't like contraction of the market. Eventually, there will be only 2 suppliers
of everything, and they'll be able to manipulate the prices.
By everything, I'm not just talking about DirecTV/AT&T, but every service you can think of.

So I doubt they will totally abandon their uverse deployment though like I said they might for the TV version which takes more $$$ for them to setup in areas.
DirectTV on the other hand was just TV so like I said they dont overlap as much as the Comcast deal that was just killed a few months ago.

They still have customers they need to screw

I'm surprised it hasn't happened already. The merger hinged on Directv winning the NFL Sunday Ticket rights but you mean as far as allowing it? Don't know

I think Sanders could as he understands domestic economic policies very well.

I've been with DirecTV since they first started up. I guess I'll have to do Dish or Charter the lesser evils than AT & T.

Big business wins again....

Never met a merger that the didn't like...especially if it makes something worse.

or T-Mobile/AT&T
or Sprint/T-Mobile.

of capitalism has begun - in a good read "Postcapitalism" - by Paul Mason, he explains that giant mergers are a defense -

information is corroding the market’s ability to form prices correctly. That is because markets are based on scarcity while information is abundant.

The system’s defense mechanism is to form monopolies – the giant tech companies – on a scale not seen in the past 200 years, yet they cannot last. By building business models and share valuations based on the capture and privatization of all socially produced information, such firms are constructing a fragile corporate edifice at odds with the most basic need of humanity, which is to use ideas freely -

Have at it...long, often confusing, but informative and needs more debate....

http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/jul/17/postcapitalism-end-of-capitalism-begun

Each time I hear these things, there's a new facet. This one makes sense.

but the main vices of monopoly that private business covet is the ability to offer fewer choices while charging more but with the fewer choices they offer is where the Guardian is probably referring to there.

And they'll welcome all the new DirecTV employees into the work family and they'll never ever ever fire 75% of them after 10 to 12 months. Nope.

A win-win for all corporate persons (not to be confused with, you know...people).

I have no use for local news (LOL news) - for $20 I can get an antenna (if I want local broadcasting, which I don't),Netflix through smart tv or roku works just fine...I understand DTV and the NFL is huge..but the cost is punishing..unless you share it with friends and family..I haven't cut cable completely - I am testing myself...(and saving $67 bucks a month) - my question, what the hell are we doing spending that kind of money - for what - to hear replay of republican crap just to hear pundits express their opinion...yes, debate is good..but it only goes as far as the corporations who own cable will allow...(yep, allow)

This merger will affect many people and their livelihood - the MACHINERY is in place and will require less and less human supervision

Networking with LOCALS allows for the free flow of information - that which is local in the political arena...ideas for progress - FREE!

Attend your legislative district meetings..and pay attention to city politics...this is where WE can do the most good...for the most people..I suspect I am preaching to the choir.....