Former Senator Alfonse D'Amato becomes PPA Chairman

[Hotel Detect]

Sen. Alfonse D'Amato is now chariman of the PPA lobbying group. This is very good news for poker imo b/c D'Amato is definitely a well known and well resepcted public official.

cardplayer

[aramfingal]

this is terrible news. d'amato made a fool of himself several times while he was a senator, and helped his brother commit mail fraud.

[MicroBob]

yeah, he didn't have such a strong rep.

But perhaps he still gets along well enough with enough dems that he can at least convince them that they don't have to go along with the Repubs on this one.

He worked with a lot of those guys for years so at least he knows them and they will probably talk to him.

but god help us that D'Amato and Barney Frank are the ones we are turning to to 'save' us.

[Hotel Detect]

Hmmm I didn't think he comes off that bad, but I mostly only know what I have seen in the media of him. I thought he was a decent moderate.

[aramfingal]

why would he get along with dems?

[MicroBob]

Whoops.
Bad memory.

Yup, he was a republican (and I'm assuming still is).
This changes things imo.
Having a republican leading the charge for poker rights could be REALLY good news imo.


he did have some troubles in there, but it appears his more moderate views gained him some popularity on both sides of the aisle.

Some of the wikipedia bio on him:
"D'Amato was known for being fairly conservative, a reflection of then conservative-leaning Nassau County, yet very popular among New York's liberal voters. He strongly supported the conservative positions of his party on "law and order" issues such as capital punishment and harsh penalties for drug offenses. On some issues he agreed with the opposition: in 1993 D'Amato was one of only three Republicans to vote in favor of allowing gays to serve openly in the U.S. military. In 1996 he was among the minority of Republicans to vote to extend federal protections against discrimination in hiring to homosexuals. On labor issues too he frequently sided with Democrats. His 1998 loss was attributed to a lack of support among moderate voters in New York City, where opponent Charles Schumer was a Representative."

[dozer]

I know Howard Stern likes him.

[samjjones]

Well known, yes.

Well respected, no so much.

[grdred944]

This is the best PPA could do? Some has-been?

D'Amato left Washington having lost his Senate seat to Chuck Schumer. What clout could he possibly have with the powers that be in Washington in 2007? Nada.

I like Al but he is the wrong man for the job.

[Luckboxer]

[ QUOTE ]
This is the best PPA could do? Some has-been?

[/ QUOTE ]

well, i think its a bit unrealistic to expect a current senator to become chairman of the PPA.