Politicians For and Against Online Poker, August 29, 2007

TheEngineer · #1 08-29-2007, 06:33 PM

Politicians For and Against Online Poker

"TheEngineer"
TheEngineer_2007 at yahoo dot com

August 29, 2007

Many Americans oppose attempts by the federal government to ban Internet poker. This includes not only folks who enjoy a hand or two of cards after work, but also millions of non-gamblers who support liberty and freedom from federal tyranny on general principle. Despite this, and despite the fact that opponents of allowing people to spend their own money in their own homes lacked the votes in the Senate, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA) was sneaked into the Safe Ports Act, where it was safe from debate and discussion. As a result, reform measures like HR 2046, the Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act, and HR 2610, the Skill Game Protection Act, have been introduced.

The enemies of freedom are working hard to take your liberty. Are you willing to work hard to keep it? If you’re like most of us, you are ready, willing, and able to work hard for what’s right!

So, if you enjoy your freedom to play poker and other games online, or if you simply support freedom on general principle, please write to your senators and representatives today. You may wish to use this to see where they stand, as well as your guide for the upcoming elections.

2007 Kentucky Gubernatorial Race

The 2008 elections actually kick off in November 2007, with the off year Kentucky governor’s race. This is a great election for freedom-lovers for a number of reasons. First, the election has essentially turned into a referendum on gaming (including poker), and Steve Beshear [D], the pro-casino challenger, is the heavy favorite over Gov. Ernie Fletcher [R], the scandal-plagued incumbent nanny-stater (57.3% to 36.7%). Additionally, the fact that it’s off year adds to the visibility of the election. If we win in this traditionally red state, we carry awesome momentum into 2008 while simultaneously putting pressure on Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. If we lose, anti-poker, statist groups like Focus on the Family will have the momentum.

Fletcher’s reelection campaign website, www.erniefletcher.com, does not list any of his accomplishments over the past four years. Maybe there were none. Rather, it contains only articles on the so-called "evils of gambling". Basically, Fletcher wants the votes of the big-government nanny-staters. He also wants to distract people from his many transgressions, and he apparently thinks WE are good scapegoats for his corruption.

U.S. House
Based on the way things look now, here's a close look at the U.S. House:

Key
A+: actively working for us
A: cosponsor of IGREA (Rep. Barney Frank's Internet gaming regulation bill) or SGPA (Rep. Robert Wexler's "skills game" bill)
A-: voted against HR 4411, the Internet Gambling Prohibition and Enforcement Act (the bill that became UIGEA), not cosponsoring IGREA or SGPA
B: cosponsoring Rep. Shelley Berkley's study bill
?: no voting record
?- : voted for HR 4411, but no other action.
F*: cosponsored HR 4777 (Rep. Bob Goodlatte’s ban bill)
F: cosponsored HR 4411 and/or strong public statements against Internet gaming
F-: leader of efforts against us...zealot

Summary:

..................... Dem.....Rep
with us............110......15
neutral............109......73
against us.........17.....114

A+ (5 total, 4 Democrats and 1 Republican):

Berkley, Shelley [D-NV], Carson, Julia [D-IN], Frank, Barney [D-MA], Paul, Ron [R-TX], and Wexler, Robert [D-FL].

A (36 total, 33 D and 3 R):

Abercrombie, Neil [D-HI], Ackerman, Gary [D-NY], Baca, Joe [D-CA], Berman, Howard [D-CA], Capuano, Michael [D-MA], Carnahan, Russ [D-MO], Clay, Wm. Lacy [D-MO], Cohen, Steve [D-TN], Crowley, Joseph [D-NY], Engel, Eliot [D-NY], Filner, Bob [D-CA], Fossella, Vito [R-NY], Gutierrez, Luis [D-IL], Hastings, Alcee [D-FL], Honda, Michael [D-CA], Israel, Steve [D-NY], King, Peter [R-NY], Larson, John [D-CT], McCarthy, Carolyn [D-NY], McDermott, Jim [D-WA], McGovern, James [D-MA], Melancon, Charlie [D-LA], Moran, Jim [D-VA], Perlmutter, Ed [D-CO], Rodriguez, Ciro [D-TX], Rothman, Steven [D-NJ], Ryan, Tim [D-OH], Sanchez, Linda [D-CA], Schiff, Adam [D-CA], Thompson, Bennie [D-MS], Towns, Edolphus [D-NY], Watt, Mel [D-NC], Weiner, Anthony [D-NY], Woolsey, Lynn [D-CA], Wynn, Albert [D-MD], and Young, Don [R-AK]

A- (59 total, 50 D and 9 R):

Andrews, Robert [D-NJ], Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI], Becerra, Xavier [D-CA], Brown, Corrine [D-FL], Capps, Lois [D-CA], Conyers, John [D-MI], Cummings, Elijah [D-MD], Davis, Danny [D-IL], Delahunt, William [D-MA], Dingell, John [D-MI], Dreier, David [R-CA], Eshoo, Anna [D-CA], Farr, Sam [D-CA], Flake, Jeff [R-AZ], Gonzalez, Charles [D-TX], Grijalva, Raul [D-AZ], Hastings, Doc [R-WA], Holden, Tim [D-PA], Hoyer, Steny [D-MD], Inslee, Jay [D-WA], Jackson, Jesse [D-IL], Jackson-Lee, Sheila [D-TX], Johnson, Eddie [D-TX], Kennedy, Patrick [D-RI], Kildee, Dale [D-MI], Kilpatrick, Carolyn [D-MI], Kind, Ronald [D-WI], Kucinich, Dennis [D-OH], Lee, Barbara [D-CA], LoBiondo, Frank [R-NJ], Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA], Mack, Connie [R-FL], Markey, Edward [D-MA], Matsui, Doris [D-CA], Miller, George [D-CA], Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY], Napolitano, Grace [D-CA], Neal, Richard [D-MA], Olver, John [D-MA], Pastor, Edward [D-AZ], Poe, Ted [R-TX], Porter, Jon [R-NV], Rangel, Charles [D-NY], Reyes, Silvestre [D-TX], Rohrabacher, Dana [R-CA], Roybal-Allard, Lucille [D-CA], Rush, Bobby [D-IL], Sanchez, Loretta [D-CA], Schakowsky, Janice [D-IL], Scott, Robert [D-VA], Serrano, José [D-NY], Solis, Hilda [D-CA], Stark, Fortney Pete [D-CA], Tauscher, Ellen [D-CA], Tiberi, Patrick [R-OH], Tierney, John [D-MA], Udall, Tom [D-NM], Velazquez, Nydia [D-NY], and Watson, Diane [D-CA]

B (27 total, 25 D and 2 R):

Bean, Melissa L. [D-IL], Boyda, Nancy [D-KS], Clyburn, James [D-SC], Costa, Jim [D-CA], Costello, Jerry [D-IL], Faleomavaega, Eni (Del) [D-AS], Giffords, Gabrielle [D-AZ], Green, Al [D-TX], Heller, Dean [R-NV], Hill, Baron [D-IN], Hinchey, Maurice [D-NY], Jones, Stephanie Tubbs [D-OH], Langevin, James [D-RI], Lewis, John [D-GA], Maloney, Carolyn [D-NY], Meek, Kendrick [D-FL], Meeks, Gregory [D-NY], Moore, Dennis [D-KS], Pascrell, Bill [D-NJ], Payne, Donald [D-NJ], Peterson, Collin [D-MN], Ruppersberger, Dutch [D-MD], Sessions, Pete [R-TX], Taylor, Gene [D-MS], Thompson, Mike [D-CA], Walz, Timothy [D-MN], and Yarmuth, John [D-KY].

? (58 total, 41 D and 17 R):

Altmire, Jason [D-PA], Arcuri, Michael A. [D-NY], Bachmann, Michele [R-MN], Braley, Bruce L. [D-IA], Broun, Paul [R-GA], Buchanan, Vern [R-FL], Carney, Christopher P. [D-PA], Castor, Kathy, Florida, 11th [D-FL], Christian-Christensen, Donna M. (Del) [D-VI], Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY], Courtney, Joe [D-CT], Davis, David [R-TN], Donnelly, Joe [D-IN], Doyle, Mike [D-PA], Ellison, Keith [D-MN], Ellsworth, Brad [D-IN], Fallin, Mary [R-OK], Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY], Hall, John J. [D-NY], Hare, Phil, [D-IL], Hastert, Denny [R-IL], Hinojosa, Rubén [D-TX], Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI], Hodes, Paul W. [D-NH], Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" Jr. [D-GA], Jordan, Jim [R-OH], Kagen, Steve [D-WI], Klein, Ron [D-FL], Lamborn, Doug [R-CO], Lampson, Nick [D-TX], Loebsack, David [D-IA], Mahoney, Tim [D-FL], McCarthy, Kevin [R-CA], McHenry, Patrick T. [R-NC], McNerney, Jerry [D-CA], McNulty, Michael R. [D-NY], Miller, Brad [D-NC], Mitchell, Harry E. [D-AZ], Murphy, Christopher S. [D-CT], Murphy, Patrick J. [D-PA], Norton, Eleanor Holmes (Del) [D-DC], Roskam, Peter J. [R-IL], Ros-Lehtinen, Ileana [R-FL], Ryan, Paul [R-WI], Sali, Bill [R-ID], Sarbanes, John P. [D-MD], Sestak, Joe [D-PA], Shea-Porter, Carol [D-NH], Shuler, Heath [D-NC], Sires, Albio [D-NJ], Slaughter, Louise [D-NY], Smith, Adrian [R-NE], Smith, Chris [R-NJ], Space, Zachary T. [D-OH], Sutton, Betty [D-OH], Walberg, Timothy [R-MI], Welch, Peter [D-VT], and Wilson, Charles A. [D-OH]

?- (121 total, 66 D and 55 R):

Allen, Tom, [D-ME], Baird, Brian [D-WA], Barrow, John [D-GA], Barton, Joe [R-TX], Biggert, Judy [R-IL], Bilbray, Brian P. [R-CA], Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL], Bishop Jr., Sanford D. [R-GA], Bishop, Rob [D-UT], Bishop, Timothy [D-NY], Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN], Blumenauer, Earl [D-OR], Bono, Mary [R-CA], Boren, Dan [D-OK], Boswell, Leonard [D-IA], Boyd, Allen [D-FL], Brady, Robert [D-PA], Brown-Waite, Virginia [R-FL], Butterfield, G.K. [D-NC], Calvert, Ken [R-CA], Campbell, John [R-CA], Cannon, Chris [R-UT], Carter, John [R-TX], Castle, Michael N. [R-DE], Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO], Cole, Tom [R-OK], Cooper, Jim [D-TN], Cuellar, Henry [D-TX], Davis, Artur [D-AL], Davis, Susan [D-CA], DeGette, Diana [D-CO], DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT], Diaz-Balart, Mario [R-FL], Dicks, Norman D. [D-WA], Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX], Doolittle, John [R-CA], Emanuel, Rahm [D-IL], English, Phil [R-PA], Fattah, Chaka [D-PA], Ferguson, Michael [R-NJ], Garrett, Scott [R-NJ], Gerlach, Jim [R-PA], Gordon, Bart [D-TN], Graves, Sam [R-MO], Harman, Jane [D-CA], Hensarling, Jeb [R-TX], Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie [D-SD], Higgins, Brian [D-NY], Holt, Rush [D-NJ], Issa, Darrell [R-CA], Jefferson, William J. [D-LA], Johnson, Sam [R-TX], Johnson, Timothy V. [R-IL], Kanjorski, Paul E. [D-PA], Kaptur, Marcy [D-OH], Kline, John [R-MN], Knollenberg, Joseph [R-MI], Lantos, Tom [D-CA], Larsen, Rick [D-WA], LaTourette, Steven C. [R-OH], Levin, Sander [D-MI], Lipinski, Daniel [D-IL], Lowey, Nita [D-NY], Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA], Manzullo, Donald [R-IL], Marshall, Jim [D-GA], Matheson, Jim [D-UT], McCollum, Betty [D-MN], McHugh, John M. [R-NY], Mica, John [R-FL], Michaud, Michael [D-ME], Miller, Candice [R-MI], Miller, Gary [R-CA], Mollohan, Alan B. [D-WV], Moore, Gwen [D-WI], Murphy, Tim [R-PA], Murtha, John [D-PA], Nunes, Devin [R-CA], Oberstar, James L. [D-MN], Obey, David R. [D-WI], Ortiz, Solomon P. [D-TX], Pallone Jr., Frank [D-NJ], Pearce, Steve [R-NM], Pelosi, Nancy [D-CA], Pickering, Charles W. "Chip" [R-MS], Pomeroy, Earl [D-ND], Price, Tom [R-GA], Pryce, Deborah [R-OH], Radanovich, George P. [R-CA], Rahall, Nick [D-WV], Reichert, David G. [R-WA], Renzi, Rick [R-AZ], Rogers, Harold [R-KY], Ross, Mike [D-AR], Royce, Ed [R-CA], Salazar, John T. [D-CO], Saxton, Jim [R-NJ], Schmidt, Jean [R-OH], Schwartz, Allyson Y. [D-PA], Sensenbrenner, F. James [R-WI], Sherman, Brad [D-CA], Simpson, Mike [R-ID], Skelton, Ike [D-MO], Smith, Adam [D-WA], Snyder, Vic [D-AR], Spratt, John [D-SC], Stearns, Cliff [R-FL], Stupak, Bart [D-MI], Tancredo, Tom [R-CO], Tanner, John [D-TN], Turner, Michael [R-OH], Udall, Mark [D-CO], Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD], Visclosky, Peter [D-IN], Wamp, Zach [R-TN], Waters, Maxine [D-CA], Waxman, Henry [D-CA], Weller, Jerry [R-IL], Whitfield, Ed [R-KY], Wu, David [D-OR], and Young, C.W. Bill [R-FL].

F* (97 total, 14 D and 83 R):

Aderholt, Robert [R-AL], Alexander, Rodney [R-LA], Baker, Richard [R-LA], Bartlett, Roscoe [R-MD], Berry, Robert [D-AR], Bonner, Jo [R-AL], Boozman, John [R-AR], Boucher, Frederick [D-VA], Boustany, Charles [R-LA], Brady, Kevin [D-TX], Brown, Henry [R-SC], Burgess, Michael [R-TX], Burton, Dan [R-IN], Buyer, Stephen [R-IN], Camp, David [R-MI], Cantor, Eric [R-VA], Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV], Cardoza, Dennis [D-CA], Chabot, Steven [R-OH], Chandler, Ben [D-KY], Coble, Howard [R-NC], Conaway, Michael [R-TX], Cramer, Robert [D-AL], Crenshaw, Ander [R-FL], Cubin, Barbara [R-WY], Culberson, John [R-TX], Davis, Jo Ann [R-VA], Davis, Lincoln [D-TN], Davis, Thomas [R-VA], Deal, Nathan [R-GA], DeFazio, Peter [D-OR], Diaz-Balart, Lincoln [R-FL], Drake, Thelma [R-VA], Duncan, John [R-TN], Edwards, Thomas [D-TX], Emerson, Jo Ann [R-MO], Etheridge, Bob [D-NC], Everett, Terry [R-AL], Feeney, Tom [R-FL], Forbes, J. Randy [R-VA], Fortuño, Luis (R.C.) [R-PR], Foxx, Virginia [R-NC], Frelinghuysen, Rodney [R-NJ], Gallegly, Elton [R-CA], Gingrey, John [R-GA], Gohmert, Louis [R-TX], Goode, Virgil [R-VA], Granger, Kay [R-TX], Green, Raymond [D-TX], Hall, Ralph [R-TX], Hayes, Robin [R-NC], Herger, Walter [R-CA], Hobson, David [R-OH], Hoekstra, Peter [R-MI], Hulshof, Kenny [R-MO], Hunter, Duncan [R-CA], Jindal, Bobby [R-LA], Jones, Walter [R-NC], Keller, Ric [R-FL], King, Steve [R-IA], Kingston, Jack [R-GA], Kuhl, John [R-NY], LaHood, Ray [R-IL], Lewis, Jerry [R-CA], Lewis, Ron [R-KY], Linder, John [R-GA], Lucas, Frank [R-OK], Lungren, Daniel [R-CA], Marchant, Kenny [R-TX], McCrery, James [R-LA], McIntyre, Mike [D-NC], McKeon, Howard [R-CA], McMorris Rogers, Cathy [R-WA], Miller, Jeff [R-FL], Moran, Jerry [R-KS], Musgrave, Marilyn [R-CO], Myrick, Sue [R-NC], Neugebauer, Randy [R-TX], Peterson, John [R-PA], Price, David [D-NC], Putnam, Adam [R-FL], Regula, Ralph [R-OH], Rehberg, Dennis [R-MT], Reynolds, Thomas [R-NY], Rogers, Mike [R-AL], Scott, David [D-GA], Shimkus, John [R-IL], Shuster, William [R-PA], Smith, Lamar [R-TX], Sullivan, John [R-OK], Thornberry, William [R-TX], Tiahrt, Todd [R-KS], Walden, Greg [R-OR], Weldon, David [R-FL], Westmoreland, Lynn [R-GA], Wilson, Heather [R-NM], and Wolf, Frank [R-VA].

F (32 total, 3 D and 29 R):

Akin, Todd [R-MO], Barrett, James [R-SC], Blunt, Roy [R-MO], Boehner, John [R-OH], Bordallo, Madeleine (Del) [D-GU], Davis, Geoff [R-KY], Dent, Charles [R-PA], Ehlers, Vernon [R-MI], Fortenberry, Jeffrey [R-NE], Franks, Trent [R-AZ], Gilchrest, Wayne [R-MD], Gillmor, Paul [R-OH], Hooley, Darlene [D-OR], Inglis, Bob [R-SC], Kirk, Mark [R-IL], Latham, Thomas [R-IA], McCaul, Michael [R-TX], McCotter, Thaddeus [R-MI], Pence, Mike [R-IN], Petri, Thomas [R-WI], Pitts, Joseph [R-PA], Platts, Todd [R-PA], Ramstad, James [R-MN], Rogers, Michael [R-MI], Shadegg, John [R-AZ], Souder, Mark [R-IN], Terry, Lee [R-NE], Upton, Frederick [R-MI], Walsh, James [R-NY], Wasserman Shultz, Debbie [D-FL], Wicker, Roger [R-MS], and Wilson, Joe [R-SC].

F- (3 total, 0 D and 3 R):

Bachus, Spencer [R-AL], Goodlatte, Bob [R-VA], and Shays, Christopher [R-CT].

I'd strongly consider voting against any incumbent not A or B rated, even if the opponent is equally (but not more) anti-gambling, as incumbents have much more power than freshmen.

L-rated candidates (most vulnerable opponents, i.e, most likely to be "Leached"). These representatives are strongly against us, and most won their last two elections by less than 55%. With their vulnerability, they may be more receptive to our letters. If no change of heart, it's Leach time! Don't let me click my mouse, lose your seat in the House!

Shelley Moore Capito (R.-WV). Won in 2006 with 57% of vote. Likely to be challenged by pro-gaming Democrat John Unger II.

Steve Chabot (R-OH). Ohio is a good state for us, I think. It's becoming more progressive and libertarian, especially with regards to social conservatism. Chabot is a foe of ours.

William Jefferson (D-LA). He voted against us while having $90K in cash hiding in his freezer. Besides the hypocrisy, the fact that the current Congressional Black Caucus is 61% A or B rated means his opponent (or the candidate running for the open seat if Jefferson is gone by then) is likely to be excellent for freedom and liberty.

Barbara Cubin (R-WY): F-rated. Cook Political Report lists this seat as “in jeopardy”.

Ric Keller (R-FL). Consistently against us. Appears he'll have strong challengers in 2008.

Mark Kirk (R-IL): F-rated. Cook Political Report lists this seat as “in jeopardy”.

Joe Knollenberg (R-MI). He sent a 2+2 poster a strongly anti-Internet gaming letter. Plus, as a Michigan Republican, he'll have a tough challenger in '08.

Randy Kuhl (R-NY): F*-rated. Cook Political Report lists this seat as “in jeopardy”.

Marilyn Musgrave (R-CO). The Christian Coalition has ranked Musgrave's voting record at '100%' in support of the pro-Christian Coalition legislation listed on their scorecard (which includes Internet gaming).

Jean Schmidt (R-OH). She memorably called 38-year Marine Corps veteran Rep. John Murtha a coward for advocating leaving Iraq, which weakened her significantly. As for Internet poker, she's definitely an opponent of ours.

Chris Shays (R-CT). Good target here, especially as he's so vehemently against us. New England is turning against Republicans, while the Republican Party is turning against RINOs. He's in trouble in '08.

Mark Souder (R-IN). Brags about cosponsoring HR 4777 on his website. "U.S. Rep. Mark Souder joined a number of his House colleagues yesterday in cosponsoring H.R. 4777, the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act, legislation designed to crack down on the growing problem of illegal, offshore gambling, as well as illegal gambling that crosses state lines via phone lines and the Internet."

Jim Walsh (R-NY): F-rated. Cook Political Report lists this seat as “in jeopardy”.

Heather Wilson (R-NM): F*-rated. Cook Political Report lists this seat as “in jeopardy”.

U.S. House, by Region:

..................... With Us.....Neutral/Unknown.....Against us
Northeast............40%.....................48%..................11%
West...................41%.....................41%..................18%
Midwest..............25%.....................45%..................30%
Territories............25%.....................25%..................50%
South..................18%.....................34%..................47%

The Northeast has 83 reps (plus one vacant seat), the West has 97 reps (plus the other vacant seat), the Midwest has 100 reps, the territories (Guam, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands) have four delegates, and the South has 154 reps.

As can be readily seen, the South is strongly against us. There are 284 non-Southern reps: 35% with us, 44% neutral/unknown, and only 21% against us. Of the 132 congressmen rated F, F*, or F-, 73 are Southern (56%). As one of the main opponents of allowing people to choose to play Internet poker is Focus on the Family, this should not be surprising (http://www.citizenlink.org/FOSI/gambling/A000004244.cfm and http://www.citizenlink.org/pdfs/fosi/gam...AX_to_HOUSE.pdf).

2008 U.S. Senate Races

34 seats in the Senate will be contested on November 4, 2008 – 12 Democratic seats and 22 Republican ones. Per the latest Cook Political Report, 3 Democratic seats and 8 Republican seats are in play. Democrats currently have a two-seat advantage (i.e., both independents caucus with the Democrats).

Solid Democratic (9): Biden (D-DE), Harkin (D-IA), Durbin (D-IL), Kerry (D-MA), Levin (D-MI), Baucus (D-MT), Lautenberg (D-NJ), Reed (D-RI), and Rockefeller (D-WV).

Likely Democratic (2): Pryor (D-AR) and Johnson (D-SD).

Leaning Democratic (1): Landrieu (D-LA)

Tossup (1): Allard (R-CO) -- retiring

Leaning Republican (2): Collins (R-ME) and Coleman (R-MN).

Likely Republican (5): Stevens (R-AK), Sununu (R-NH), Dole (R-NC), Domenici (R-NM), and Smith (R-OR).

Solid Republican (14): Sessions (R-AL), Chambliss (R-GA), Craig (R-ID) [though Craig himself will likely be gone], Roberts (R-KS), McConnell (R-KY), Cochran (R-MS), Hagel (R-NE), Inhofe (R-OK), Graham (R-SC), Alexander (R-TN), Cornyn (R-TX), Warner (R-VA), and Enzi (R-WY).