[KingOtter]

IMO, people are looking too much at the issue and trying to decide how or why senators of either party would vote on it based on the content of the bill.

But that's not my interpretation of how Washington works.

Generally Washington politicians don't give a whit about whether legislation is efficient, effective, necessary, or 'a good idea'.

They care if:
- it gets them money
- it gets them re-elected
- it sounds good ('I care because I protected American children from overseas mobsters')
- Lacking any of the above, their party says they should vote for it (or deals made with other voters)

I'm generalizing here. There are some Representatives/Senators with some pet projects that are good ideas that aren't getting any traction because they make too much sense, and don't have enough national visibility or require a brain to understand.

But overall agendas behind the agendas are what allows bills to be brought to the floors, voted on, and passed or failed. Bills can be brought the floor KNOWING they will fail, just so members can say, 'I voted to protect the children from xxxx'.

So tell me what national agenda is benefitted by allowing internet gaming (in any shape or form)? None, unless it was tied to something like national debt, tax relief, security, or the economy. To most Americans gambling is a regional concern, not a national concern.

This is a Republican issue because Republicans are about family values and family values do not include weekend retreats to Vegas to get the gambling groove on. This is something they can put in their campaign commercials. And they have 'protected' people with problems... compulsive gamblers and their families. This will help them get elected.

The opposite stance (internet gambling is fine, we should be able to do what we want with our money) requires a listener with well-developed reason, and skills of deduction. The average American voter doesn't have this, according to politicans. One idea proves this, and that is mandatory seatbelts. If politicans thought Americans could think and make decisions in their own best interest, seatbelts would never have been made mandatory.

Also you can see this evidenced that whenever something goes wrong, the first blame goes to the government. A national outcry goes out, 'Why didn't you protect us from that?', or 'Why didn't you do more?'. Whenever something is seen as a crisis, it is legislation people call for.

Another example, the recent slew of school shootings. Hotlines are being set up to let people phone warnings into schools of possible violence. The two most tragic shootings I know about, there was absolutely no warning. So why is this a good idea? But that doesn't matter, as long as government is 'doing something about it'. Even if the 'doing something about it' is ineffective.

So.. there... that's my confidence in my government. Pretty much I have none. And I'm talking about both parties. They all suck.

Edit: So I think it would have been defeated if it came to a vote. I don't know that it would have come to a vote, but I don't really know. That depends on many agendas.