Counter Offensive, How we deter our politicians and keep our game

[autobet]

No generalization will be a 100%. But the liberals who tend to be democrats will more likely to be in our camp.

If you want to be more precise, email your reps and find out where they stand (assuming they are willing to tell you).

One of the best things we can do is bombard these people with emails to let them know there are millions of people out there in favor of online poker.

[candyman718]

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I agree, its not about politics anymore, its about freedom, and it slipping away, don't ake it about parties

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And the OP has picked what is, as of this day, what is shaping up to be the most important swing race in the country. The polls are closer here than any other place. If we just pick a congressional seat, we risk getting lost in the shuffle.

The fact are this was passed by a Republican run US Senate. Since we can't target Frist, this is the best option. If it was passed by a Democratic Senate, I would advocate trying to pick off a Democratic candidate.

[autobet]

Here is a copy of a letter I sent to my two U.S. Senators last week. I live in California where card rooms are legal, so you will need to modify it for your state.

Senator Dianne Feinstein
United States Senate
331 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510


Dear Senator Feinstein:
I am writing to you because I am angry about recent legislation that slipped into law. The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement bill was added on to the Port Security Act. It is especially irritating the underhanded way the gambling prohibition was passed. (Of course, almost everyone is in favor of the Port Security Bill itself) Not even to mention it flies right in the face of the WTO’s 2005 upheld ruling against the United States.

Anyway, what’s done is done. Moving forward, I would like to see a bill legalizing online gambling (or at least poker) including funding of accounts that could be regulated and taxed by the appropriate government agencies. I have no idea if this would be done at the state or federal level. Either way, a powerful liberal state like California would be the perfect leader for such a bill/law.

I am specifically interested in the game of poker. Playing poker on the internet is one of my favorite hobbies. I love coming home from work and playing a few hours of poker in the safety and comfort of my home.

Playing poker is a game of skill, unlike most other forms of gambling. Poker players make many decisions throughout each hand they play. Players decide whether they bet, raise or fold on each betting round. In no limit, they also decide how much to bet and raise. While luck will have a lot to do with short term results, in the long run the best players will come out ahead. Poker is a game of strategy and psychology, not blind luck like playing the lottery.

Most other forms of gambling are house games. That means the players play against the casino. Of course, the house/casino always have an edge which make them the long term winner. In poker, players play against each other, not the house. This makes it possible to win in the long run.

In California, many forms of gambling are legal. In fact, the lottery, horse tracks and Indian Casinos all advertise to attract new customers and encourage us to gamble. Hundreds of legalized card rooms are in our state. Why should I have to drive to a card room when I can save my time, money, reduce the risk of accident, and conserve natural resources when I can play from the safety and comfort of my home?

Please support online gambling (or at least poker) including the ability to fund accounts. I am sure I speak for millions of Americans who enjoy online poker. Thank you for your time and consideration.


Sincerely,


Richard S.
Registered Voter

[addictontilt]

you will lose support if you make it about parties and not issues, vote out the incumbents and send a mseeage why...

[candyman718]

[ QUOTE ]
you will lose support if you make it about parties and not issues, vote out the incumbents and send a mseeage why...

[/ QUOTE ]

I am not completely disagreeing, but we need to pick one race to concentrate whatever power we have. We also need to stay focussed. Note the poster above yours using this thread to reprint letters he sent to the 2 California Senators. One of whom isn't running, the other is 30 points ahead in the polls.

This choice makes sense because the race is close and important. And Sen. Talent is a member of the party that controls the body that pushed for this bill.

[addictontilt]

okay...I agree that the issue is important, I have trouble saying that one party will save us, maybe we are saying the same thing? get the message out by getting the incumbents out?

[candyman718]

agreed. we are 14 days before an election. lets pick 1 incumbent.

[autobet]

Here is a rough draft of a letter for a more general audience (not a California Senator)

Dear _____________:
I am writing this because I am angry about recent legislation that slipped into law. The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement bill was added on to the Port Security Act. It is especially irritating the underhanded way the gambling prohibition was passed. Of course, almost everyone is in favor of the Port Security Bill itself.

The World Trade Organization ruled that the United States cannot block other countries from offering Internet gambling to U.S. residents. The WTO protects our patent and copyright laws around the world and we expect it to do so. If we want other countries to follow the guidelines and rulings of the WTO, shouldn’t we set an example and do the same.

Many supporters of the bill claimed that online gambling was degenerative to our society, causing family problems and making it easier for children to gamble. While it is true some people are hurt by gambling, there are many forms of gambling legal in almost every state. To protect people and their families are we going to make all forms of gambling illegal? How far are we going to go to legislate morality and protect people? Are we going to bring back prohibition, to protect people from abusing alcohol causing harm to individuals and their families? As for children, there are programs like Net Nanny that could be used to block gambling web sites.

I find it ironic that Bill Frist indirectly received contributions from Harrah’s inc. and then authored a bill to help them eliminate their competition. After the bill was signed Harrah’s stock shot up 15% increasing their market capitalization 1.7 billion dollars.

I would like to see a bill legalizing online gambling (or at least poker) including funding of accounts that could be regulated, monitored and taxed by the appropriate government agencies.

While I am in favor of legalizing and monitoring online gambling, I am especially interested in poker. I believe poker is a game of skill, not chance and should be exempted from any law banning games of chance. Poker is a game of strategy and psychology, not blind luck like playing the lottery. Poker players make many decisions throughout each hand they play. Players decide whether they bet, raise or fold on each betting round. In no limit, they also decide how much to bet and raise. While luck will have a lot to do with short term results, in the long run the best players will come out ahead. Over one hundred books are available teaching the proper way to play winning poker. Players if they choose can learn basic, intermediate and advanced strategy and become winning players.

Most other forms of gambling are house games. That means the players play against the casino. Of course, the house/casino always has an edge which makes them the long term winner. In poker, players play against each other, not the house. This makes it possible to win in the long run.

In most states, many forms of gambling are legal. In fact, the lotteries, horse tracks, corporate owned casinos, and Indian casinos all advertise to attract new customers and encourage us to gamble. Most of the games offered are house games, leaving the gambler little chance to win in the long run.

Some states have legalized card rooms. Why should I have to drive to a card room when I can save my time, money, reduce the risk of accident, and conserve natural resources when I can play from the safety and comfort of my home?

Our country was founded on the beliefs of freedom and the pursuit of happiness for all Americans to enjoy. Playing poker on the internet is one of my favorite hobbies. I would like to be able to come home from work and play poker for a few hours on the Internet in the safety and comfort of my home should I choose to do so. I am sure I speak for millions of Americans who enjoy online poker. Thank you for taking the time to read this letter.


Sincerely,


Richard S.

[candyman718]

With all due respect Auto, this thread is not about writing letters. That day has come and gone. We need a scalp right now.

[Petomane]

Excellent post.

If the Democrats win, Barney Frank is in line to head some financial commission in charge of enforcing this law. And he spoke very eloquently against prohibiting online gambling.

The Republicans pushed this through to get donations from anti-gambling Christian organizations. What part of this statement do some posters not understand? Our main hope at the moment is a democratic congress.

Even if you can't donate, e-mail all candidates that this is a serious issue for 23 million Americans and could very well swing the elections.