Letter from Congressman Donald Manzullo

[Daliman]

Below is a copy of the Email I recieved from Congressman Donald Manzullo. I donlt fully remember sending him an email, but obviously I did somewhere along the line. My likely less-than-eloquent reply follows. I didnt feel like typing out a HUGE long response, or practice full due diligence, but whatever, i said what I said.

Dear Aaron,



Thank you for contacting me about internet gambling. It is good to hear from you.



Internet gambling sites are frequently fronts for money laundering, drug trafficking and even terrorist financing. Further, unlike in bricks-and-mortar casinos in the United States, these sites evade rigorous U.S.-based regulations of the gambling industry.



To address these issues, on November 18, 2005, Representative James Leach introduced H.R. 4411, The Unlawful Internet Gambling Act. H.R. 4411 would create strong tools to help federal and state governments enforce existing gambling prohibitions. Specifically, the bill would enhance criminal penalties for gambling businesses settling Internet wagers with financial instruments such as credit cards, checks, or fund transfers. It would also require payment systems to establish procedures for blocking these transactions.



H.R. 4411 passed the House with my support by a vote of 317-93 on July 11, 2006. The bill now awaits consideration in the Senate.



Thank you again for contacting me on this issue. Your input is important to my work here in Washington





Sincerely,

/m/

Donald A. Manzullo

Member of Congress


Dear Congressman Manzullo,

Exactly what evidence do you have that gambling sites are being used for these things? You have no access to gambling site's records, no information as to how people are getting this, and near as I can tell , no actual info on current terrorism supects in the USA who are receiving $$$ in this way. Was this Kyl's reasoning when he introduced a similar bill back before 9/11, or is this just another case of everything the current government leadership wants to push through being put under the umbrella of "homeland security"? Please don't insult my, or the general public's intelligence any further and just admit what this is all about;
#1 Taxes.
#2 Engendering yourselves to the "Moral Majority" near election time.

People like poker, as evidenced by it being all over TV. But not everyone has a casino near them, and those that do frequently have to foot the bill for the 50%+ taxes the casinos must pay, ( I believe my state, Illinois, is topped out at 70%). Being able to play online is both convenient and safe. I don;t have to worry about being robbed going to my car, or having my car stolen at a casino, ( which I have), and I can do it from the comfort of my home, saving on gas, allowing me more time to spend with my family. There are numerous other benefits, which I feel far outwiegh the drawbacks. This country was founded on freedom, and here we are hearkening back to the ignorant days of prohibition and witch burning. How did those work out?

Aaron M. O'Rourke
Internet poker player
Registered voter

[MagCFO]

nice.

Anyone who believes online gambling supports terrorism is a damn fool.

[akishore]

This is an excellent response (by you), high praise all around.

[gdubbers]

I love these form responses that you get from politicians that essentially say, "thanks for the letter, [censored] off"

[Grasshopp3r]

I came across some clown on party who had SheikOmar or something like that as his screen name. I think that he was a terrorist, but after I took his money, I reported him to Party customer service with the chat. Party banned him and did the right thing.

[Uglyowl]

Great letter. Further there are people who are unable to leave their house for various reasons. I have made this point to a few Congressmen. There was a period where I was unable to go to "crowded areas" due to treatment for cancer and honestly poker helped occupy my time and have contact with the outside world.

[ QUOTE ]
I don;t have to worry about being robbed going to my car, or having my car stolen at a casino, ( which I have), and I can do it from the comfort of my home, saving on gas, allowing me more time to spend with my family.

[/ QUOTE ]

[Claunchy]

Nice letter. Be sure to bump this if you get any kind of response as I'm sure many of us would like to read it.

[faustusmedea]

This is another area where we likely don't have the full story. This guy represents northern illinois. Its likely the boats don't favor online poker.

[Cubswin]

[ QUOTE ]
This guy represents northern illinois. Its likely the boats don't favor online poker.

[/ QUOTE ]

There are no boats in his district.

[Synergistic Explosions]

[ QUOTE ]
Internet gambling sites are frequently fronts for money laundering, drug trafficking and even terrorist financing.

[/ QUOTE ]

Why don't these politicians name one, just one of these sites who are doing this? If they know this to be true, they have an obligation to name the freaking site.

The reason they don't is they can't because it's a lie.

We should ask them each and every time when they reply with this question, which sites are they talking about? Is that to much to ask from our lawmakers?

[Daliman]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Internet gambling sites are frequently fronts for money laundering, drug trafficking and even terrorist financing.

[/ QUOTE ]

Why don't these politicians name one, just one of these sites who are doing this? If they know this to be true, they have an obligation to name the freaking site.

The reason they don't is they can't because it's a lie.

We should ask them each and every time when they reply with this question, which sites are they talking about? Is that to much to ask from our lawmakers?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, as I stated in the letter, how would they even know? Have they come forward with ANY real info regarding embedded terrorists? Of course not.

Ty for the kudos those who gave.

[krazyace5]

First time I have heard of the drug trafficking angle.

Its all so pathetic.

[tcorbin16]

dali i give you props for that letter.

-corbin

[Synergistic Explosions]

I liked the good ol days when we blamed everything bad on the communists. Those were simpler times.

[PBJaxx]

Mad props on the letter. It was honest and blunt without sounding hateful or disrespectful. I am glad to see that the players are doing what we can.

-Jaxx

[Daliman]

[ QUOTE ]
dali i give you props for that letter.

-corbin

[/ QUOTE ]
tyty, sir

[Daliman]

[ QUOTE ]
Mad props on the letter. It was honest and blunt without sounding hateful or disrespectful. I am glad to see that the players are doing what we can.

-Jaxx

[/ QUOTE ]
Hoping that it matters. I tried not to sound too pissy, hopefully I succeeded. TY for the complment.

[dboy23]

I think he just spit back out what Leach and Kyl have been spewing as reasons to support their pet project. Apparently all you have to do in congress to pass a bill is say it does something to curb terrorism.

[dboy23]

by the way, great response. Maybe he will understand logic and rethink his preconceived notions.

[donkeylove]

well done...if he writes back ask him if since every reason he cited was because the casinos are located offshore then we can surely count on his vote favoring u.s legalization when it comes up

[mattnxtc]

hell i had a guy transfer me 200 dollars once that he owed me over poker stars...they froze my account until i gave them a clear reason why i didnt play with the money and just withdrew it...so i think they might get a bit more questionable if u try to pass say 100k or more

[RemyXO]

[ QUOTE ]
Internet gambling sites are frequently fronts for money laundering, drug trafficking and even terrorist financing. Further, unlike in bricks-and-mortar casinos in the United States, these sites evade rigorous U.S.-based regulations of the gambling industry.

[/ QUOTE ]

Osama bin Landen frequents $5+1 SNGs at PokerStars to raise money for the next terrorist attack on the Unites States. He hides under a nick "IGetBooteeeey" and Milton Sisters avatar. With his 5% SNG ROI, he poses a very serious threat. All flights are cancelled.

There is ample evidence also that PartyPoker and SportingBet are piling up weapons in mass destruction in Iraq. You know, when they decide to run off with cash, they will jusy gas the crap out of you - the poker players.

Jeeeeeez ... I am just wondering, how many people in out government have IQ over 45 and are not full of $hit???

[johnnybeef]

Dali,

Great reply. However,

[ QUOTE ]
#1 Taxes.
#2 Engendering yourselves to the "Moral Majority" near election time.

[/ QUOTE ]

is not entirely true. If it really were about taxes, they would be taxing. It is about #2. Nothing more, nothing less.

beef.

[Shank]

"If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State."

"The most brilliant propagandist technique will yield no success unless one fundamental principle is borne in mind constantly - it must confine itself to a few points and repeat them over and over"

- Joseph Goebbels

"Make the lie big, make it simple, keep saying it, and eventually they will believe it"

- Adolf Hitler

"In politics stupidity is not a handicap."

- Napoleon Bonaparte

"Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives."

- John Stuart Mill

PS in the interests of flame aversion, let me state unequivocably that I'm not implying that the threat of terrorism is a lie, since clearly it's very real; my point in quoting the above is that Kyl/Leach/Manzullo clearly believe that if they repeat the lie that "online gambling = money laundering = terrorist funding" long enough then peopler will believe it.

[Victor]

congressman letters are quite similiar to party support emails.

[AlexM]

[ QUOTE ]
Jeeeeeez ... I am just wondering, how many people in out government have IQ over 45 and are not full of $hit???

[/ QUOTE ]

They're mostly a lot less stupid than they seem, especially Bush. They just have zero respect for the intelligence of the American people and try to play us any which way they can.

[LesJ]

[ QUOTE ]
congressman letters are quite similiar to party support emails.

[/ QUOTE ]

POTD (I know it's early, but easily top candidate so far!)

[Marc H]

"Engendering"

I do not think that word means what you think it means.
/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[Daliman]

[ QUOTE ]
"Engendering"

I do not think that word means what you think it means.
/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

http://media.lawrence.com/img/photos/2005/04/07/inigomontoya.jpg

P.S. It does, though i DID double-check. /images/graemlins/wink.gif

[Daliman]

[ QUOTE ]
Dali,

Great reply. However,

[ QUOTE ]
#1 Taxes.
#2 Engendering yourselves to the "Moral Majority" near election time.

[/ QUOTE ]

is not entirely true. If it really were about taxes, they would be taxing. It is about #2. Nothing more, nothing less.

beef.

[/ QUOTE ]
They ARE taxing it. They are just concerned that they aren't taxing ALL of it. This is merely the first step.

[Knight Vision]

holy [censored] they think Joe American is [censored] stupid don't they. unbelievable.

[Marc H]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
"Engendering"

I do not think that word means what you think it means.
/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[/ QUOTE ]


P.S. It does, though i DID double-check. /images/graemlins/wink.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

http://www12.nrk.no/magasin/upunkt/urort/bilder/scaled/82303_main.jpg

You thought it meant
1. To bring into existence; give rise to: “Every cloud engenders not a storm” (Shakespeare).
2. To procreate; propagate.
/images/graemlins/confused.gif

and that it was a better choice than "endearing"? /images/graemlins/wink.gif

[Daliman]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
"Engendering"

I do not think that word means what you think it means.
/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[/ QUOTE ]


P.S. It does, though i DID double-check. /images/graemlins/wink.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

http://www12.nrk.no/magasin/upunkt/urort/bilder/scaled/82303_main.jpg

You thought it meant
1. To bring into existence; give rise to: “Every cloud engenders not a storm” (Shakespeare).
2. To procreate; propagate.
/images/graemlins/confused.gif

and that it was a better choice than "endearing"? /images/graemlins/wink.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Bah, I knew that, and DID use it incorrectly, grrr. I only rechecked the definition, not my usage. As I said initially, the email was just a quick response from me, I meant "Engender support from the "Moral Majority" during election time." but I think I changed the wording when I put Moral Majority in parentheses. You got me.

Sigh. Well, strike one for litteracy. /images/graemlins/crazy.gif

[derosnec]

actually, Osama moved up to the $15+1s turbos about a month ago

[Marc H]

[ QUOTE ]
Sigh. Well, strike one for litteracy. /images/graemlins/crazy.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

And spelling. /images/graemlins/smile.gif
Thread hijack over. Thanx for posting your letter!

[kevstreet]

Dali,

You capsulated everything we want to express in a very respectul manner. Well done.

[five4suited]

[ QUOTE ]
I think he just spit back out what Leach and Kyl have been spewing as reasons to support their pet project. Apparently all you have to do in America to get elected is say "tough on terrorism."

[/ QUOTE ]

FYP

[Obfuscation]

[ QUOTE ]
I came across some clown on party who had SheikOmar or something like that as his screen name. I think that he was a terrorist, but after I took his money, I reported him to Party customer service with the chat. Party banned him and did the right thing.

[/ QUOTE ]

lol at a terrorist choosing "SheikOmar" as a screen name.

[scottc25]

[ QUOTE ]
actually, Osama moved up to the $15+1s turbos about a month ago

[/ QUOTE ]

I was wondering why someone wrote in chat "Praise be allah" and "Death to the infidels".

[TomBrooks]

Where is this Congressman's District? I'm just curious who got stuck with such an idiot.

I think I might start going to some political meetings. If all politicians are this stupid, it ought to be easy sporting good fun to mock them in public.

[Dhani]

HERE! HERE!
I too am from Illinois and have sent our congressmen and women emails. This is an obvious travesty of justice on the part of our Government and more importantly the Republican party. In addition this a clear example of Hypocrisy on the part of the true aim of what once was the GOP, to get government out of our lives. They now have been hijacked by oil mongering swines who solicit hand jobs from the moral majority, all the while sending "Christians" off to die so thaht they can legally "Launder" oil and money from Iraq.
The "moral" of this story? He with the most guns makes the rules and steals from everyone else. Simple history.

[jakeduke]

[ QUOTE ]
Where is this Congressman's District? I'm just curious who got stuck with such an idiot.



[/ QUOTE ]

Manzullo was my hometown Congressman growing up; he serves Northwestern IL. His email sums up his intellect and character pretty well. IIRC he "accidentally" gave a few speeches for some group around 2002 before they were exposed in the media as a neo-confederate organization - brilliant.

[ntd88888]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
actually, Osama moved up to the $15+1s turbos about a month ago

[/ QUOTE ]

I was wondering why someone wrote in chat "Praise be allah" and "Death to the infidels".

[/ QUOTE ]

Wow, that was so bogus, Osama just hit a running straight on the river to take me out. Not only that, but Saddam was CLEARLY chip-dumping to him on the bubble.

[nws103]

how does an ignorant moron like this get elected????
lets call his office and leave messages or do whatever it takes until we get an answer on this terrorism bullsh&t.
He needs to explain this idiocy.

Congressman Donald Manzullo
2228 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515
Phone - (202) 225-5676

[Myrdred]

Simple. Anyone smart enough to do a good job in office is smart enough to never run for office.

[CutCreator]

These guys dont need proof nor care about proof that online gambling funds terrorism. They are in power, and they are going to do whatever they want. The claims that internet poker funds terroism is the response that will work for the majority of sheep in the country that believe what they tell them.

The only thing that can change this is if enough people care and vote for someone else. On this issue I just dont think that is going to happen.

Until the gun toting midwestern and southern Christian voters become the minority, I think stuff like this is going to get worse.

I mean, as bad as the Bush admin has been, he got re-elected. And thats because the majority of the people in this country voted for him. That is the awful reality.

People like this idiot who claims internet poker funds terroism are the ones currently in power. Hopefully that changes.

To these people basicly anything they dont like or think is immoral, supports terroism. Drugs even weed, online gambling, etc.

Hopefully it wont get worse and we wont hear about how pornography supports terrorism, or any other moral issue they have.

[SuitedSixes]

Dali-

Nice hand.

I would be interested to know how many of our elected officials received letters or phone calls from the voting public saying, "By all means ban internet gambling."

[Ryendal]

I thought you were a buffon ^^, but if I was american, I would have made almost the same answer

[blueodum]

I'm just waiting for them to shut down e-commerce completely, because (as we know) it is just as viable a money laundering tool as internet gambling.