Answer from Sen, Durbin (IL-D)

[WLC4Ever]

This is what drives me nuts about a lot of the responses on this site, as well as the PPA in general. There are people here pissed off about the law that just passed, when it has been illegal to play in their state for years! How does it make any sense to to bitch to a US senator or representitive that they just made it harder to break the law?!? I love how the PPA is happy to take your money to start a new poker lobby...but they seem to have the most tenative grip on what it would take to make legal poker a reality for most of the country.

And while I'm on a tear, one more thing. Don't waste your time voting based on this issue. Do it if it will make you feel better, but please don't kid yourself into thinking that amidst the Foley Scandal, Iraq, North Korea, Healthcare, etc, a single national representive that loses this November will think "damn, that gambling bill was really the difference." We're not even on the radar people, and admitting that is going to be the first step in getting anything done.

Think Grassroots, think Daily Kos...they practically run the Democratic party now, but they had to start small...so do we...

[SlyGuy]

I think he means, if he can believe in something make believe how can you be trusted with protecting his personal freedom.

[Mroberts3]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Senator Durbin goes to my church

[/ QUOTE ]

the fact that he either a) believes in mythology or b) pretends to believe in mythology suggest to me that he will never truly understood the concepts of personal freedom necessary to do anything positive for the internet gambling cause

mike

[/ QUOTE ]

While I understand your frustration, you have to consider that it is probably easier for a gay man to get elected to office than someone who is an open athiest. (and consider this is a time when people are trying to ban gay marriage.) In other words, whats the guy to do? While I find superstition are rediculous as you, I cant really bring myself to fault somone in the political sphere for acting faithful, whether it is real or pretended. Just think how fast the republican machine would tear apart any candidate that, heaven forbid, thought for himself on matters of spirituality.

The fact is, everyone in politics expouses some religious belief and many of them ARE capable of protecting personal freedoms and generally making good policy decsions.

[Mroberts3]

WLC, well put. Even as an avid player other issues do, and I would argue, should come first.

[Ron Burgundy]

[ QUOTE ]
Senator Durbin goes to my church, and he is a good Senator. I got the same form letter in response to him, but he has grown a lot since he was a Congressman. I was not very impressed with him before he went to the US Senate. In fact, I thought he would be a one term Senator. He has matured a lot politically since he got to the Senate.

If you are in Washington (like I will be on business in a few weeks), you should get to together with him. He is really open minded and if you tell him how this bill is impeding on your personal freedoms and rights as a tax payer/law abiding American (as I will do), I think he may be one that will come around.

[/ QUOTE ]

Unfortunately, I don't think it will do much good to make the "personal freedom" argument. The US govt. doesn't give a crap about your personal freedom. I think it would be a better idea to mention the Swedish govt. regulated site, especially to democrats. I think they would be more willing to go the regulation route than republicans who are just trying to get bible-thumper votes.

Here are some points to mention:

- The Swedish site www.svenskaspel.se requires customers to send in ID to prevent minors from depositing, just like B&M casinos check IDs.

- The republicans keep trying to say that it's an unregulatable industry, but they are wrong and Sweden has proved it.

- Every year the US doesn't regulate and tax the industry, we're being deprived of billions of dollars in tax revenue that could be spent on public schools, health care, or the national debt.

- The UIGEA only shut out the publicly traded companies based in Europe and Australia. The small private companies based in south america and the Caribbean, the ones much more likely to be associated with organized crime, are not going to care about breaking US laws. These companies are the only ones that will stay in business in the US. The UIGEA simply drove the industry underground, not away. It will create the same problems alcohol prohibition did.

If you do talk to Sen. Durbin, post a trip report plz.

[MicroBob]

[ QUOTE ]
LMAO...come on down for coffee and donuts...what a tool!!!
*link deleted*

[/ QUOTE ]


I have absolutely no idea what is so LOL about the Thursday morning meeting with his constituents.

I think the fact that he does this once a week with whoever wants to show up is something more of our representatives should be doing and is extremely classy.

Nothing in the rest of the form-letter about internet-gambling really impressed me very much.

But getting invited to personally meet with him if interested is extremely impressive imo.

[LotteryOrPoker]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Senator Durbin goes to my church

[/ QUOTE ]

the fact that he either a) believes in mythology or b) pretends to believe in mythology suggest to me that he will never truly understood the concepts of personal freedom necessary to do anything positive for the internet gambling cause

mike

[/ QUOTE ]

That's absurd. I go to church, I play poker, and I drink beer. What is this 'if you believe in mythology you hate freedom' crap that I keep hearing on this forum? Not everyone who believes in something belongs to the right-wing nazis.

[/ QUOTE ]

On point BenA. I drink beer, I play poker, and I go to church on Sundays also. There is no prerequisite that says in order to believe in God, you must be close minded and fascist. In fact, it is quite the opposite. Christianity is about acceptance, tolerance and compassion. Many Christians are probably far more progressive than you may think. Not every Christian is a member of the religious right and there is no reason to turn this into a God bashing thread.

[ronster71]

Here we go again...noboday can mention anything in any post around here which has the word "god" or "church" in it, without some atheist going off...I swear, the atheists must keyword search every thread for those words just so they can erupt into an anti-god soap box. It's amazing atheists have any time to play poker with all the time dedicated to angry ranting towards those who do not agree with their beliefs. it completely detracts from the point of this thread in the first place...I was making fun of Sen Durbin's response too, but it wasn't a religion/anti-religion stance...word of advice, deal in the subject of the threads being posted and stop going on tilt every time you see the word "church" atheists!!!

[Ron Burgundy]

[ QUOTE ]
Here we go again...noboday can mention anything in any post around here which has the word "god" or "church" in it, without some atheist going off...I swear, the atheists must keyword search every thread for those words just so they can erupt into an anti-god soap box. It's amazing atheists have any time to play poker with all the time dedicated to angry ranting towards those who do not agree with their beliefs. it completely detracts from the point of this thread in the first place...I was making fun of Sen Durbin's response too, but it wasn't a religion/anti-religion stance...word of advice, deal in the subject of the threads being posted and stop going on tilt every time you see the word "church" atheists!!!

*link deleted*

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh, the irony.

[ronster71]

I see it as symbolism...but then I'm a cynic. He very well may be well intentioned, but I think it is naive to think that a politician truly plans to affect change based upon having coffee and donuts with him on Thursdays. I think it is a symbolic marketing tool designed to help him achieve a certain image, and ultimately to garner votes...but again, I'm a cynic.