PPA Washington Fly-In October 22nd thru 24th

[Tuff_Fish]

[ QUOTE ]
I don't trust them to not drop the ball IF there was some kind of online presence established. How many of those new, eager converts are going to like it when they find out the people signing them up for this Alliance only want them to click thru their website? The fervor sort of goes sour in your mouth when you find out who is calling the shots and that players will never be capable of calling the shots in the PPA.

[/ QUOTE ]

The average Alabama rifle owner doesn't call the shots for the NRA. He/she is mainly interested in the NRA keeping their ownership rights intact.

Should the NRA suddenly start opposing pistol ownership in favor of rifle owners, there would be hell to pay. The NRA leadership knows this, The rifle owners know this, and likewise, I suspect the PPA knows it must help everyone if it hopes to be a successful organization.

Why is everyone here so distrustful. If the PPA has a goal of legalization/regulation/legislative "blessing" online poker in order to somehow benefit the founders.. so what. The NRA was not founded by carriage makers. They do great things for gun owners, but I am sure a lot of their support comes from gun manufacturers.

I suggest that, unless somebody has a more substantive beef with the PPA than the fact that they have affiliates and poker magazine publishers on their board, that everyone chill a bit.

Tuff

[BluffTHIS!]

[ QUOTE ]
I suggest that, unless somebody has a more substantive beef with the PPA than the fact that they have affiliates and poker magazine publishers on their board, that everyone chill a bit.

[/ QUOTE ]


They are substantive beefs despite your assertions to the contrary. Any organization controlled by middlemen/derivative business interests who benefit from only certain narrow business models of online poker isn't going to work vigorously for promotion/legalization of all forms of poker, a couple recent too-little-too-late efforts/assertions notwithstanding.

[Tuff_Fish]

[ QUOTE ]

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Any organization controlled by middlemen/derivative business interests who benefit from only certain narrow business models of online poker isn't going to work vigorously for promotion/legalization of all forms of poker.....
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[/ QUOTE ]

Why does it have to be a "narrow business model" that benefits the members of the PPA board? Why could they not benefit just as much from a "wide business model"?

Which forms of poker is the PPA not working vigorously for promotion/legalization of?

Sigh....

Tuff

[BluffTHIS!]

[ QUOTE ]

Which forms of poker is the PPA not working vigorously for promotion/legalization of?

Sigh....

Tuff

[/ QUOTE ]



Sigh...... You just don't [censored] listen do you?


1) Outside of the very recent effort Engineer got them to work on in Kentucky, what have they done for B&M poker? Answer = NOTHING. And this is despite the fact that a casino measure has been up in Texas this year where poker needed a voice. This is a long-term effort since it requires constitutional change in many states.

2) What have they done to promote intra-state online poker? Answer = NOTHING.

3) What have they done to promote the legal posture of the sites still in the US market that online poker, outside of a handful of states, is *still legal*. Answer = NOTHING. In fact they ran an ad earlier in the year touting the contrary legal interpretation at the behest of party poker and their *affiliate farms*.

4) What have they done in the judicial arena, which according to some knowledgeable attorneys here may offer the best hope for online poker in the short to mid-term? Answer = NOTHING. However the new exec dir did say he was willing to aid *if asked* (i.e. still doing nothing pro-active).

5) What has the PPA done to neuter the regs as a fallback to protect our ability to continue to play if the current bills fail as likely? Answer = NOTHING. However the PPAdc did say they are working on it (which means now that he's here but that the organization led by the current board wasted the past year when it really mattered).



Now just parrot your usual line about how all that doesn't matter and we should be tickled pink to have a board with conflicted interests.


And note the following as well. Even if you and others don't think (because of your poor judgment) that there's something wrong with the current board makeup, many posters here do. So why in hell wouldn't you advocate that some of those board members resign and be replaced with more people like Engineer so the vast majority could be much more positive about the PPA?

[DeadMoneyDad]

[ QUOTE ]
I don't trust them to not drop the ball IF there was some kind of online presence established. How many of those new, eager converts are going to like it when they find out the people signing them up for this Alliance only want them to click thru their website? The fervor sort of goes sour in your mouth when you find out who is calling the shots and that players will never be capable of calling the shots in the PPA.

[/ QUOTE ]

You all know me, if I'm not trying to get into the middle of a political fight, I'm looking to make a buck. If I can make a buck in a political fight I am at my happiest!

For about 30 seconds while thinking of ways to help the PPA raise money, I thought RAKEBACK program! But another 30 seconds of thought and of course I realized that it would create more problems that it would solve.

The PPA has been very smart, IMPO, about how it handles what it puts up on it's website. They seem to have a very controled and politically smart policy of communications.

By this I mean they encourage anyone who wants to to have a link to the PPA, but they are very controled about what you can link to from their site. They'll take all the promotion they can get but don't promote anyone.

This is another reason I have been less concerned about the board issue. Yes it would be natrual for anyone one individual on that board to try and use their position to help themselves. But from every action I've looked at, including the ones they haven't taken(including some of my own suggestions), I've concluded that the board acting together has always followed both the letter and the complete spirit of the PPA mission statement.

If I learned one thing in the political trenches it is this; the biggest nighmare with volunteers is that everyone of them at some point goes to the campaign manager or high level staff with what they are sure is the "magic phrase, commercial idea, or perfect come-back" that they are positive will destroy the opposition or reserect a dead candidate. Yes some of them are quite brilliant and well thought out, but they don't fit into the overall campaign strategy. Having been on both sides of that campaign desk or phone call, how you handle these "Karl Rove" suggestions is very difficult. Here you have a live or die committed supporter who you have to "manage". Telling them no and not loosing an ounce of their passion is one of the hardest talents to learn and one of the more valuable IMPO.

We as Americans love to create consparicy theories for when the seemingly logical thing doesn't happen, it just seems to be our nature.

IMPO the PPA has looked at every reasonable offer of support and every manner of strategic advice and fully considered everyone. Each time they have come to a decision that is fully in the best interests of all poker players.

You all know how critical of the PPA I was before John was appointed, and I've even had a few of my most passionaite "Karl Rove" ideas shot down. Hell I may have even burned a bridge or two in my zeal. But take it from me, as someone who has seen their fair share of backroom shady cons, I have yet to see the PPA do anything close to a hint of an action or inaction that leads me to believe that the PPA isn't doing everyting it can that isn't against the simple principals of fighting for the rights of ALL poker players.


D$D

[DeadMoneyDad]

[ QUOTE ]
So why in hell wouldn't you advocate that some of those board members resign and be replaced with more people like Engineer so the vast majority could be much more positive about the PPA?

[/ QUOTE ]

Simply because TE is the model.

Show me one person currently on the board working against the boradest interests of all poker players and I help lead the fight to get them to resign, fired, or forcibly removed.

Show me some one like TE who with no self interest, pre-conditions, or even vague hopes of reward, who steps up and puts forward the effort to help all poker players, and unlike myself asked for nothing in return, and I'll lead the effort to put them on the board.

But show me anyone that doesn't fit this model or more so demands this or that as a condition for their support or even "netrual" stance and they can go [censor] themselves. I don't care how much power, influence, or resources they might have, real or imagined.

Simple enough?


D$D

[Legislurker]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
So why in hell wouldn't you advocate that some of those board members resign and be replaced with more people like Engineer so the vast majority could be much more positive about the PPA?

[/ QUOTE ]

Simply because TE is the model.

Show me one person currently on the board working against the boradest interests of all poker players and I help lead the fight to get them to resign, fired, or forcibly removed.

Show me some one like TE who with no self interest, pre-conditions, or even vague hopes of reward, who steps up and puts forward the effort to help all poker players, and unlike myself asked for nothing in return, and I'll lead the effort to put them on the board.

But show me anyone that doesn't fit this model or more so demands this or that as a condition for their support or even "netrual" stance and they can go [censor] themselves. I don't care how much power, influence, or resources they might have, real or imagined.

Simple enough?


D$D

[/ QUOTE ]

How about this? Work through the 08 election with the current board. Feb 09 have a convention in DC with all attendees who paid dues getting a vote. All current board members retain non-voting seats on the board for 2 more years. Then, nominate a president at the convention, voting board members account for 50% of the election, mailed out ballots for the other half. Show good faith to will the organization to players to decide.

[TruePoker CEO]

River City Group, a well-known gaming industry entity, has been contacting gaming companies to send representatives to join the PPA Fly-In.

[Berge20]

Let me know who is coming into town from here. Not sure if I'll be able to peel off during the day, but surely some of us can get together during one of the evenings for a few beverages.

[DeadMoneyDad]

[ QUOTE ]
Let me know who is coming into town from here. Not sure if I'll be able to peel off during the day, but surely some of us can get together during one of the evenings for a few beverages.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ace Jones from rounders radio seems interested in doing some shows from the event and I'm pretty sure I can help organize some poker games. These leagues around here seem desperate for a semi-known name to feature.


D$D