Let's lobby Sen. Barack Obama

[TheEngineer]

[ QUOTE ]
Well, I'm sorry. If I had my pick between Obama pushing his socialist policies on the country and no online poker... then I'd take no online poker.

I just don't see how a "huge government" democrat is going to create any type of good situation for online poker. Could he bring it back? Sure.

It would be heavily taxed and heavily regulated (I understand that would happen now - but it could be worse than even our wildest dreams under his administration). We might be better off with what we have now than that.

[/ QUOTE ]

I didn't say we should lobby FOR Senator Obama. I said we should lobby Obama to support us. In other words, I not talking about us backing him. I'm talking about him backing us, and why he should wish to do it. We want him to publicly back us and to sponsor Senate legislation, don't we?

[TheEngineer]

[ QUOTE ]
I just don't see how a "huge government" democrat is going to create any type of good situation for online poker. Could he bring it back?

[/ QUOTE ]

Who else will bring it back? We have no Republican support. In the House, there are only 16 Republicans who I rated "A" or "B", out of 202 Republicans in office (I found 109 Democrats). Now, I'm no Democrat, but our party won't do it for us. So, for my poker advocacy efforts, I'm personally staying nonpartisan and focused solely on poker (like the NRA does).

[ QUOTE ]
Sure...It would be heavily taxed and heavily regulated (I understand that would happen now - but it could be worse than even our wildest dreams under his administration). We might be better off with what we have now than that.

[/ QUOTE ]

Shouldn't we let him propose something before dismissing it out of hand? After all, it's not like Kyl will propose anything better. And, I don't see a way to maintain the status quo....it's either going to improve or get worse, IMHO.

[oldbookguy]

Count me in Engineer, though I have sent letters to him already and have a blog there as well.

No, I do not support him for president, that is politics of my own choosing.

There are many posts here confusing that same issue.

Asking him to stand up for poker players does not mean you have to vote for him.

The idea is to get a prominate political figure in the Senate and running for president to support our rights.
Many have suggested simply concentrating on the house, however, if we are somehow successful in the House we need to be getting the Senate primed.

IF this can be done it will spark media attention (something we are lacking)to our cause.

From there we would have to actively try and control the debate.

My only wish is the PPA would take a more pro-active stance.

Lets pick a day, actually two, I like Mondays and Fridays, start the week off with us on their mind and end it the same way.

We can call that day and e-mail at the same time.

Actually, lets start today, then follow-up with two intense days next week.


OBG

[dorethawsp]

The genie is out of the bottle. The theocrats and neo-cons have taken over the Republican party. Ron Paul has practically been cast out of his own party because he doesn't please these people. The only thing that can save online poker is a Democrat. Four more years of a GOP administration means four more years of a conservative justice department who at some point may put the bulls eye on poker stars, ft, etc. and leave us in a really bad spot.

[Moneyline]

[ QUOTE ]
Engineer,

When it comes to "big government", Obama is fully in support of it. A lot of his policies are downright socialist. He is not the man to back for online poker's future.

[/ QUOTE ]

One can be in favor of legalized poker and not be a libertarian. In fact, it is preferable that the politicians who are in favor of legalized poker are not libertarians because the libertarian philosophy is not viewed favorably by the overwhelming majority of Americans.

[Skallagrim]

While I respect the long term opinions expressed here regarding big government and the danger that democrats present, it would be silly to not recognize the political realities of the moment: 1) the current republican party is also a party of big government, they just divide the pork a little different; 2) the republicans (barring the miracle of a Ron Paul nomination), thanks primarily to their complete inability to deal intelligently with the war in Iraq, are going to lose the next presidential election (if they dont I give up on democracy in this country).

Given the above, finding a democratic presidential candidate who supports our cause and helping him or her out is an absolutely smart move.

Once the republicans see their a-- kicked horrible in '08, maybe they will support candidates less theocratic and more small government. I might even consider voting for them again if they do.

Skallagrim

[oldbookguy]

Skallagrim this is all so sad but true.

That is why, perhaps, with enough efforts not just on this issue but others as well we can 'flip' enough GOP reps to change at least a little and move to the center again.

obg

[Grasshopp3r]

The Republicans have left the libertarian wing behind. I was an active Republican, going to conventions and organizing, etc. All I see at the conventions are pro-life t-shirts and religious zealots. The GOP in its current form is doomed.

[TheEngineer]

[ QUOTE ]
No, I do not support him for president, that is politics of my own choosing.

There are many posts here confusing that same issue.

Asking him to stand up for poker players does not mean you have to vote for him.

[/ QUOTE ]

Exactly. I'm not asking us to stand for him....I'm asking us to ask him to stand for us. Different things entirely.

[ QUOTE ]
Lets pick a day, actually two, I like Mondays and Fridays, start the week off with us on their mind and end it the same way.

[/ QUOTE ]

Sounds like a plan. Also, let's call all of his offices...not just one.

Let's make it Monnday and Thursday, though (too many people out of the office on Friday, plus the fact that if we call right before quitting time Friday, they'll forget all about it when they get back to work on Monday).

[TheEngineer]