PPA Update.

[DeadMoneyDad]

[ QUOTE ]
I suggest that unless you can come on here with some specifics, you shjouldn't be making the type of posts that you are. It doesn't do anyone here any good to be told that the sky is going to be blue soon unless you can back this up with a few facts.

On the other hand, if you would have been a long time poster here who has built up credibility then a post like yours would be more acceptable. And again, I want to repeat that our position towards the PPA is neutral. For this to change, we need to see more changes in their board than they have currently made even though there has been movement here in the right direction.

Best wishes,
Mason

[/ QUOTE ]


I posted the information that I felt I could share. I tried to show my reasoning. I am a grassroots guy. I was really disapointed that the PPA wasn't exercising that muscle. Like any muscle it needs to be exercised.

From my conversation with John, I learned he had the background and a similar understanding of problems of building a long-term sucessful grassroots organization.

The fact that the board backed his apparent plans, I felt was encouraging. I wasn't nor do I think I posted an overly rosey picture. I thought I was clear that it seemed to me that the PPA was at least now going in the right direction.

From my background in organizing grassroots efforts, and his answers to my questions, I felt that the PPA has a chance to become the organization we all hope for it to be.

I'm sure there are many issues that I have no understanding of, I am only speaking as an individual who has some background in one aspect of the matter.

I do feel that contrary to popular on-line opinion that John is aware of the communiations problems and is aware of the critisms of the past falures of the PPA. How sucessful he is in overcomming these challenges only time will tell.

As I said only time will tell,

D$D

[oldbookguy]

The good news is that John Pappas is asking questions, seeking answers. I know you and Engineer have had conversations and I have experienced the same via e-mail several times today.

Patience will be required as I am sure he has received a lot of input and that will need sorting out and developing a action plan will take a little time.

obg

[Merkle]

I haven't joined the PPA yet. So far I have not seen a reason to do so. However, perhaps things are changing. I noted and appreciated what appears to be a post from somebody at PPA.

A combination of more information and evidence of actions being taken to improve our situation are what I have been waiting for.

And for the one poster, if I had the know how I would very seriously look at forming a new orginaztion. But it seems silly to re-invent the wheel if things are going to get on track.

I would like to see actions that would challenge laws or force courts to make rulings. As long as we have a reasonable chance to win. Something like deliberately playing poker online in public and having a press conference while doing so stating that online poker is a LEGAL activity. Put the ball in the DA's court to prosecute or not. Of course I want to see a defense fund in place before doing so <grin>

[Tuff_Fish]

[ QUOTE ]
I haven't joined the PPA yet. So far I have not seen a reason to do so. However, perhaps things are changing. I noted and appreciated what appears to be a post from somebody at PPA.

[/ QUOTE ]

I echo what Merkle said.

My advice to PPA would be to get a full on grassroots, along with a professional, lobbying effort to support Wexler's bill. The passage of that bill would do wonders for every aspect of the poker business, B&M, online, advertising, the works.

Tuff

PS: Sorry, but I don't care about other gambling endeavors and won't waste time and effort trying to overcome the inherent difficulties of attempting to legalize online sportsbetting or casino style gambling.

That being said, if Barney Frank's bill passes, great.

T

[TheEngineer]

[ QUOTE ]
Engineer,

Thanks for taking the time to talk to Mr. Pappas and report back to us here on same, and as well to specifically respond to the points I made earlier.

However although I too am "guardedly optimistic" about the overall situation, it has nothing to do with the PPA, but rather with the ongoing actions in congress, the judicial arena and the WTO. Re the PPA, all you have confirmed is that they only support a very small subset of the larger set of goals most of us here support, and largely act at the behest of the goals of the online sites and poker media, especially Party Poker. If we do end up with some favorable outcome in the legislative area, IMO it will only be 30% at best because of the PPA, and 70% despite them. And if it weren't for this 2+2 forum and the activities of its members, especially yourself at the grassroots level, the PPA wouldn't have a chance of accomplishing diddly squat.

[/ QUOTE ]

No problem, BluffTHIS. Now that the announcement has been made, I can be clearer. John Pappas seems to be more of a go-getter than Bolcerek was, and he wants to get the members doing more. How much more remains to be seen, but something is clearly better than nothing. As OBG noted, he’s been proactive in communicating with a few of us. I received an email from him today as well. So, the new leadership is clearly a step in the right direction.

I agree that there are concerns that PPA represents a subset of the entire fight, but if we have 660,000 people fighting for 50% of our goals, plus the PPA lobbyists working behind the scenes, we'll improve quite a bit from where we are today. A good example is the letter that went out two weeks ago advising us to go to our congressmen's town halls during the August recess. That was Pappas' idea, and that letter received a positive response here. The plan is to work on the base with stuff like that while also working on getting more people to their currently moribund forums. And, if we want them to work on the other 50% of our goals, we shouldn’t be shy about telling them. I know I’m not.

Thanks for the compliment on our work here at 2p2. I’ve found that if I ask a lot, you’ve all risen to the challenge. I’m proud of what each and everyone here has done to stand up for his or her rights. Even when it looked impossible, many stood up on general principle and nothing else. PPA is concerned about asking too much of their members. I told John that if he asks a lot of the PPA membership, they’d likely come through as well. All they have to do is ask.

The other concerns we have with PPA, especially with their board, are what they are, and this move didn't make those go away. I guess we’ll have to wait and see…give them a chance but hold them accountable. I remain guardedly optimistic.

[Mason Malmuth]

[ QUOTE ]
posted the information that I felt I could share. I tried to show my reasoning. I am a grassroots guy. I was really disapointed that the PPA wasn't exercising that muscle. Like any muscle it needs to be exercised.

[/ QUOTE ]

But you didn't share any information. All you did was share speculation, and from someone with no reputation as of yet for being a reliable poster, you shouldn't do that.

[ QUOTE ]
The fact that the board backed his apparent plans, I felt was encouraging.

[/ QUOTE ]

Here's partly why you have no credibility. I want to see major changes in the board. Getting rid of Bolcerek, in my opinion, is a step in the right direction, and I support that move, but more needs to be done.

MM

[MiltonFriedman]

Clearly, a professional grass-roots organizer would be a plus. But I could not find anything in John's Googled credentials to indicate he has that type of background or expertise. Why are you high on him ?

There was no apparent substance in either your posts or the belated relay of a press release, which incidently had been on Gambling911 all day already.

(There is a BIG difference between fundraising from the masses and grass-roots organizing. That a professional lobbyist has co-opted the fundraising potential of the poker group is perhaps a bleak outlook, but tell me how it is inaccurate. What are the substantive plans you allude to ? This is not some great secret I hope.)
Is there some substantive plan for action NOW or are we looking at someone devoted to building a well-paying warchest ?

By the way, is the Dittus Group now or still on the PPA payroll ?

Milton Friedman

[TheEngineer]

[ QUOTE ]

Congratulations to you, I see the PPA has put a link on their main page to your 'report card' on congress.

obg

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks. They also gave me a page for the action items, at https://pokerplayersalliance.org/new...le.php?DID=234 , which is linked the home page as well. I control the content remotely and it updates automatically. Sweet.

[TheRedRocket]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

Congratulations to you, I see the PPA has put a link on their main page to your 'report card' on congress.

obg

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks. They also gave me a page for the action items, at https://pokerplayersalliance.org/new...le.php?DID=234 , which is linked the home page as well. I control the content remotely and it updates automatically. Sweet.

[/ QUOTE ]

good start but what I would really like to see is you being able to send on behalf of the PPA mass emails to its members alerting them to various actions they could take. I would imagine that say 10,000 people emailing the NFL and its sponsors, or requesting light regulations would have a powerful effect, seems well worth it.

maybe if we sent emails to the PPA it would move them in the direction of allowing this.

[TheEngineer]

[ QUOTE ]
good start but what I would really like to see is you being able to send on behalf of the PPA mass emails to its members alerting them to various actions they could take. I would imagine that say 10,000 people emailing the NFL and its sponsors, or requesting light regulations would have a powerful effect, seems well worth it.

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree, and I've been discussing this with them for the past four months or so. We'll start with this and see where we can go from here.

[ QUOTE ]
maybe if we sent emails to the PPA it would move them in the direction of allowing this.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's a good idea.