GOP OVERPLAYED HAND WITH GAMBLING BILL
 

http://www.newsday.com/news/politics...bling-politics,0,6213865,print.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlines

AP November 3, 2006, 11:00 AM EST

" NEW YORK -- A Republican-sponsored effort to clamp down on Internet gambling may turn out to be a bad bet for the GOP.

The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, which President Bush signed into law Oct. 13, has infuriated many voters who enjoy betting on sports or playing poker online, analysts said.

Other observers, however, see little threat to Republicans from the law, calling it a relatively minor matter to most voters......"

Re: GOP OVERPLAYED HAND WITH GAMBLING BILL
 

http://www.newsday.com/search/dispat...target=article

Your link didnt work for me. It's about the 4 th story down on this search.

They sure lost one vote here.

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Great article!

"I've been a loyal Republican for over 30 years, and I'm quitting the party I once loved," said Jim Henry, 55, who lives outside San Francisco. "Not because of the Mark Foley scandal or Middle East policy. But because the Republican Party wants to stop me from what I love to do: play poker over the Internet."

"I've talked with Republicans all over the country, and they all understand that this is a theft of our liberty," said lifelong Republican Alan Sheldon, 61, of Loveland, Ohio, whose grandmother taught him how to play poker at the age of 4.

Sheldon, who describes himself as a conservative Christian, said he would not vote Republican next week because of the new gambling law."

I'm also a former lifelong Republican who won't be voting Republican in this election. Go to the polls on Tuesday and throw these fascist bastards out of office. Enough is enough!

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They sure lost one vote here.

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Same here. Even though we can still play poker, for now, I'm still pissed about the bill.

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It's not just republicans you need to vote against. Here's a list of all Members of the House and how they voted on this bill when it was up by itself.

http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2006/roll363.xml

90% of Republicans and 60% of Democrats voted for it. Find out where your representative stands on the issue and vote accordingly. It's not a R vs D issue, please get educated.

Josh

Re: GOP OVERPLAYED HAND WITH GAMBLING BILL
 

A. a 30% discrepency is huge.
B. You're correct that it's not all about party.

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It's not just republicans you need to vote against. Here's a list of all Members of the House and how they voted on this bill when it was up by itself.

http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2006/roll363.xml

90% of Republicans and 60% of Democrats voted for it. Find out where your representative stands on the issue and vote accordingly. It's not a R vs D issue, please get educated.

Josh

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None of the people who introduced the bill were Democrats if I'm not mistaken (though there's a fair chance that I AM mistaken).

Good bills generally get some sort of bipartisan support BEFORE the final vote so the two parties can slap each other on the back and get lots of photo ops.

I'm a little suprised at the proportion of Democrats who voted for it though (thanks for the link). But I also think a lot less than 90% of the Republicans who voted for it really cared that much about the issue. But just before an election when ALL of the House members need votes, who's going to defend online gambling when it's already not legal? Won't someone think of the children?!!! (channeling Mrs. Lovejoy of the Simpsons there)

Really it's Frist and the others who used a procedural trick to get this thing passed in an unrelated bill without any real debate on its merits that we should be pissed at (and mildly irritated that the rules make this sort of thing possible in the first place). It's frankly a blatantly UNdemocratic move. What are we a bunch of godless commies that we pull the same crap the People's Republic of China did? (little John Wayne there)

Now I would argue that Republican politicians are a lot more likely to pass this sort of social regulation than Democratic politicians (also gay marriage bans, that sort of thing) but yes, the Democrats didn't really fight for it did they? I think it's a difference of opinion about the fundamental role of the federal government. I don't believe the government should be in the business of legislating morality at all, but that opens a huge can of worms there.

But there are a hell of a lot more important things than online gambling that should sway our votes. I suspect there are other things these disgruntled voters have on their minds than poker and the bill was just the last straw for them.

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Really it's Frist and the others who used a procedural trick to get this thing passed in an unrelated bill without any real debate on its merits that we should be pissed at (and mildly irritated that the rules make this sort of thing possible in the first place). It's frankly a blatantly UNdemocratic move. What are we a bunch of godless commies that we pull the same crap the People's Republic of China did? (little John Wayne there)



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Riders = incredibly common legislative tool. Pork barrel legislation is a huge part of what congress does. Not a shocker that a bill that effects so few people winds up as a rider.

The cold hard fact is, when you say how “Undemocratic” the bill is, you have to ask what is a democracy? Sure, it is protecting the rights of the individual, but in a democracy, majority rules. We, as gamblers (which is how congress perceives us, not as poker players) are in the minority here. The zealots of the religious right love this bill, and it really doesn’t matter to many other people. The proportion of people pissed about the bill compared to the people that support “moralist” legislation is in the favor of the latter.
IMO, a big reason this went through is the economic implications of shipping billions overseas. Online poker is an unregulated, multibillion dollar industry, and it certainly hurts the trade deficit. However, if our government wasn’t retarded, they would have legalized it, found a way to tax it, and then eagerly tried to get china into poker. It could be the freakini anti-Walmart, but they are too busy trying to hold down the moral vote.

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IMO, a big reason this went through is the economic implications of shipping billions overseas. Online poker is an unregulated, multibillion dollar industry, and it certainly hurts the trade deficit.

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This factor is very overrated. Even if online gambling sent $10 billion overseas yearly, it would have virtually no economic impact on a national basis, and would account for less than 1% of the yearly trade deficit.

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IMO, a big reason this went through is the economic implications of shipping billions overseas. Online poker is an unregulated, multibillion dollar industry, and it certainly hurts the trade deficit.

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This factor is very overrated. Even if online gambling sent $10 billion overseas yearly, it would have virtually no economic impact on a national basis, and would account for less than 1% of the yearly trade deficit.

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BUT DUDE THE TERRORISTS ARE GETTING ALL OF THAT MONEY ZOMG THE WORLD IS GOING TO DIE

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Anyone who votes against the republicans because of this bill is an absolute moron. My God do you have any idea how much rides on this election? I LOVE poker, just like everyone here. But I'd rather have lower taxes, feel safe, not have San Francisco views put on me, fight terrorism and have a robust economy, than play online poker. I live in the middle of nowhere West Virginia and even I can find a cash game or tournament every day of the week, sometimes multiple games.

Yeah the ban sucks, but there are WAY more important things on the line than online gambling. Also, I didn't see very many, if any, Dems voting against this or fighting it.

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not have San Francisco views put on me

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Seriously dude, you need to stop listening to Fox News.

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Anyone who votes against the republicans because of this bill is an absolute moron. My God do you have any idea how much rides on this election? I LOVE poker, just like everyone here. But I'd rather have lower taxes, feel safe, not have San Francisco views put on me, fight terrorism and have a robust economy, than play online poker. I live in the middle of nowhere West Virginia and even I can find a cash game or tournament every day of the week, sometimes multiple games.

Yeah the ban sucks, but there are WAY more important things on the line than online gambling. Also, I didn't see very many, if any, Dems voting against this or fighting it.

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This bill is not the only reason that I, a lifelong Republican, will be voting for the Democrats this election, but it is a factor. The other factors are the war in Iraq, the lies that have been told to us, stem cell research, immigration, health care and insurance costs, and many other factors. The Republicans are leading us straight to hell, and they need to go.

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Anyone who votes against the republicans because of this bill is an absolute moron. My God do you have any idea how much rides on this election?

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I live in the middle of nowhere West Virginia

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yeah ya do.

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not have San Francisco views put on me

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Seriously dude, you need to stop listening to Fox News.

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This bill is not the only reason that I, a lifelong Republican, will be voting for the Democrats this election, but it is a factor. The other factors are the war in Iraq, the lies that have been told to us, stem cell research, immigration, health care and insurance costs, and many other factors. The Republicans are leading us straight to hell, and they need to go.

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I agree with this. Without the bill, I maybe wouldn't have had a spark to detonate my unease with the other things you mention. The way I feel now is throw the bums out.

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not have San Francisco views put on me

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Seriously dude, you need to stop listening to Fox News.

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depends...it actually is the most fair and balanced of the news networks

but, that isn't saying much

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not have San Francisco views put on me

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Seriously dude, you need to stop listening to Fox News.

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depends...it actually is the most fair and balanced of the news networks

but, that isn't saying much

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You sir are crazy, unless I just got 2nd leveled [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

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obv noone knows who nancy pelosi is. If you want someone who hates america running the country, vote democrat because that is what is at stake. This could be the second worst thing that could possibly happen to this country, only to hilary clinton getting in office. I will [censored] move to sweden.

Re: GOP OVERPLAYED HAND WITH GAMBLING BILL
 

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obv noone knows who nancy pelosi is. If you want someone who hates america running the country, vote democrat because that is what is at stake. This could be the second worst thing that could possibly happen to this country, only to hilary clinton getting in office. I will [censored] move to sweden.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, she'll probably start trying to do all sorts of unamerican things like infringing on free speech, right to privacy, protection from illegal search and seizures, and getting us involved in an incredibly costly, inefficient war that will only serve to kill many thousands of americans while basically accomplishing nothing.

Re: GOP OVERPLAYED HAND WITH GAMBLING BILL
 

Take this to Politics.

Re: GOP OVERPLAYED HAND WITH GAMBLING BILL
 

Generally speaking, anyone who has become financially successful leans towards voting Republican. Most Americans, when they first get the right to vote, will vote Democrat because the Republicans want to force their moral views down everyone's throat with legislation.

Eventually the financial considerations will turn these voters to the Republican side. I have only voted for a handful of Democrats in the past 20 years and I have made every effort to sway my son and his friends to make an early jump from Democrat to Republican.

However, with the Republicans now stomping on personal liberties by allowing Homeland Security data to be used against Americans obviously not involved with terrorism, blocking stem cell research, slowly eliminating abortion rights which mean women will be seeking out unsafe alternatives, and trying to eliminate online gambling which means the players will be seeking out alternative funding which will be less secure, I am doubting my own views.

What makes it even worse is the Republicans tried to utterly destroy Bill Clinton when he had an affair with a woman of legal age yet they chase boys below the legal age of consent. What kind of message is this sending? Whatever happened to the old political mantra: "Your position is secure as long as you are not found in bed with a dead girl or a live boy"?

Even so I can not just blindly vote Democrat. I will vote for every Libertarian candidate that is presented as a choice and write in Mike Caro for every office where the only option is Democrat or Republican.

Re: GOP OVERPLAYED HAND WITH GAMBLING BILL
 

The real problem is the two-party system.

Re: GOP OVERPLAYED HAND WITH GAMBLING BILL
 

[ QUOTE ]
Generally speaking, anyone who has become financially successful leans towards voting Republican. Most Americans, when they first get the right to vote, will vote Democrat because the Republicans want to force their moral views down everyone's throat with legislation.

Eventually the financial considerations will turn these voters to the Republican side. I have only voted for a handful of Democrats in the past 20 years and I have made every effort to sway my son and his friends to make an early jump from Democrat to Republican.

However, with the Republicans now stomping on personal liberties by allowing Homeland Security data to be used against Americans obviously not involved with terrorism, blocking stem cell research, slowly eliminating abortion rights which mean women will be seeking out unsafe alternatives, and trying to eliminate online gambling which means the players will be seeking out alternative funding which will be less secure, I am doubting my own views.

What makes it even worse is the Republicans tried to utterly destroy Bill Clinton when he had an affair with a woman of legal age yet they chase boys below the legal age of consent. What kind of message is this sending? Whatever happened to the old political mantra: "Your position is secure as long as you are not found in bed with a dead girl or a live boy"?

Even so I can not just blindly vote Democrat. I will vote for every Libertarian candidate that is presented as a choice and write in Mike Caro for every office where the only option is Democrat or Republican.

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nh sir.

I have never felt so alienated by the republican party, yet the fact of the matter is, the democratic platform is "attack what the republicans are doing, then figure out what to do once we get in office." I think it's safe to say that over the last 8 years, politics has polarized where the extreme left and the extreme right are running everything, and the majority of us are in the middle, just trying to live our lives. I [censored] hated that pussy John McCain for jumping ship on the republicans awhile ago in the so-called "gang of 14," and i hated how he exploited baseball's steroid problem to make legislation and put his face everywhere, but maybe this is what we need. A middle of the road guy that can actually straddle the fence. Keep us secure from the people trying to blow us up, let the gays marry, let women abort, and resonably protect personal freedoms in the dangerous new world we live in.

and this thread did take a political turn....probably was never good for nvg to begin with.

Re: GOP OVERPLAYED HAND WITH GAMBLING BILL
 

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obv noone knows who nancy pelosi is. If you want someone who hates america running the country, vote democrat because that is what is at stake. This could be the second worst thing that could possibly happen to this country, only to hilary clinton getting in office. I will [censored] move to sweden.

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Yeah, she'll probably start trying to do all sorts of unamerican things like infringing on free speech, right to privacy, protection from illegal search and seizures, and getting us involved in an incredibly costly, inefficient war that will only serve to kill many thousands of americans while basically accomplishing nothing.

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vnh, sir LMAO

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yet the fact of the matter is, the democratic platform is "attack what the republicans are doing, then figure out what to do once we get in office

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i stopped reading here

Re: GOP OVERPLAYED HAND WITH GAMBLING BILL
 

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obv noone knows who nancy pelosi is. If you want someone who hates america running the country, vote democrat because that is what is at stake. This could be the second worst thing that could possibly happen to this country, only to hilary clinton getting in office. I will [censored] move to sweden.

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Ok, i know Nancy Pelosi hates America...that's obvious. But we're not voting in CA...do all democrats hate america? or is it just that with nancy as speaker, they will be powerless to thwart her plans?

For those that don't live in CA, Nancy Pelosi actually campaigns here on two slogans:
1) I Hate America, and
2) San Francisco Views (proper pronunciation involves a stereotypically gay lisp, and prolongation of 'views'.

On a related matter...does the south still want to seccede? I know it seemed like a bad idea at the time, but...

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I really don't follow politics at all but John McCain has been against online gambling since there has been online gambling so I know have any idea what you're talking about saucy.

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All democrats hate America because they're undercover aliens, pretending they enjoy living in the US.

All republicans love America because God tells them we are the greatest. Republicans can talk directly to God, it's quite a perk.


In 2008 I'm voting Eric Molina for president, because he IS God.

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JDalla,

lol. nice post.


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Generally speaking, anyone who has become financially successful leans towards voting Republican. Most Americans, when they first get the right to vote, will vote Democrat because the Republicans want to force their moral views down everyone's throat with legislation.


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... as opposed to the Democrats who want to force their moral views down.... everyone's throat with.... legislation...

Re: GOP OVERPLAYED HAND WITH GAMBLING BILL
 

Right, because the Democrats want to pass legislation forcing everyone to be gay. Ideally, they'd like to see mandatory gay abortions, with a celebratory burning of the flag and/or Bible afterwards.

Re: GOP OVERPLAYED HAND WITH GAMBLING BILL
 

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JDalla,

lol. nice post.


[ QUOTE ]
Generally speaking, anyone who has become financially successful leans towards voting Republican. Most Americans, when they first get the right to vote, will vote Democrat because the Republicans want to force their moral views down everyone's throat with legislation.


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... as opposed to the Democrats who want to force their moral views down.... everyone's throat with.... legislation...

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That post was a joke obviously, but on a more serious note, what moral views do Democrats try to force on people with legislation? I really can't think of any, except bipartisian things like outlawing drugs, prostitution, etc.

It's quite a stretch to call "right to choose" a moral view being forced on people... hence the "choose" part.

Please elaborate.

Re: GOP OVERPLAYED HAND WITH GAMBLING BILL
 

To a Democrat gun control would be a moral view. To a Republican gun control is having a steady hand and a light trigger.

If the Democrats ever got a clue and embraced the right to own firearms the Republicans would have a hard time winning local elections for dogcatcher.

Re: GOP OVERPLAYED HAND WITH GAMBLING BILL
 

I suppose gun control could be seen as a moral view. Good point.

I don't see why either party is so adament about it. on the one hand, it is a "personal freedom," however it has been shown that one is statisticly less safe with a gun in the house (I believe... don't quote me on this one). But Republicans aren't huge on personal freedoms, and Democrats shouldn't care that much anyway cause it's not one of the leading causes of death anyway.

Point is... "X is wrong because it is a sin" is a lot more of a "moral view" than "X is wrong because it isn't safe/ hurts the poor/ is bad for economy, etc. etc."

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The poster who stated that most voters sart off as Dem and slowly become more Rep is a lot more on the money than most give him credit here. Something to think about when you are making money off of poker is just how much of my profit is Uncle Sam going to want? And when your vote can directly affect your wallet people tend to vote accordingly.

Just a thought.
p.s. I did vote for some Rep's today but mostly it was a good day for Dem's on my ballot. And this is the first time in my life I have voted for a Dem.

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They sure lost one vote here.

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Same here. Even though we can still play poker, for now, I'm still pissed about the bill.

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It's not just republicans you need to vote against. Here's a list of all Members of the House and how they voted on this bill when it was up by itself.

http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2006/roll363.xml

90% of Republicans and 60% of Democrats voted for it. Find out where your representative stands on the issue and vote accordingly. It's not a R vs D issue, please get educated.

Josh

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This is a non-issue in a Dem controlled House/Senete. It does have SOMETHING to do with party.

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Anyone who votes against the republicans because of this bill is an absolute moron. My God do you have any idea how much rides on this election? I LOVE poker, just like everyone here. But I'd rather have lower taxes, feel safe, not have San Francisco views put on me, fight terrorism and have a robust economy, than play online poker. I live in the middle of nowhere West Virginia and even I can find a cash game or tournament every day of the week, sometimes multiple games.

Yeah the ban sucks, but there are WAY more important things on the line than online gambling. Also, I didn't see very many, if any, Dems voting against this or fighting it.

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You're correct. I love the fact that my emails can now be read, my phone conversations can be listened to, and I can be imprisoned without charge or trial because I am a "Terroist". I don't see how I can't vote Republican. By the way. Before this election I've voted for exactly one Democrat in my 22 year voting career.

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If the last 6 years doesn't warrant a change in government, then what would it take? Is there even an argument that this was most poorly governed America ever?

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To a Democrat gun control would be a moral view. To a Republican gun control is having a steady hand and a light trigger.



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no, it's a public safety issue.