I Underdog34

<H1>Senator Alfonse D'Amato Joins the PPA</H1> He will Lobby Politicians for an Online Poker Carve-out

Score one for the good guys. Former New York Senator Alfonse D’Amato has agreed to serve as Chairman of the Poker Players Alliance (PPA), to be their spokesman, and to lobby for a poker carve-out to the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act.

The PPA is a grassroots organization composed of over 100,000 poker players and enthusiasts from around the United States who have joined together to speak with one voice to promote the game, ensure its integrity, and, most important, to protect poker players' rights.

Who better than 18-year Congressional veteran Alfonse D’Amato to lead the fight? Senator Al, as he is affectionately called, is known for such great accomplishments as requiring Swiss banks to return billions to Holocaust victims. He is known for caring about the needs of the individual constituent and he is a fighter. He does not shy away from a fight; rather, he will embrace the fight to protect poker players’ right to play online.

Senator Al posed a question: “What about the veteran who fought for <ST1:COUNTRY-REGION w:st="on">America</ST1:COUNTRY-REGION> and now is crippled and cannot get out? Why shouldn’t he be able to play a little poker online and meet some friends? Only ambulatory people can play poker? What a tragedy!”

He asked: “Is betting on horseracing any different than playing poker? Why is there a horseracing exemption and a lottery exemption but nothing for poker? Horseracing has a powerful lobbying group. That’s all. They have a voice. Poker needs a voice and a loud one.”

Senator Alfonse D’Amato is poised to be just that voice.

In between Senator Al’s trip from Washington (where he is setting the stage for change), and London (where he plans to educate himself regarding <ST1:COUNTRY-REGION w:st="on">UK</ST1:COUNTRY-REGION> online regulation), Senator Al and I met and chatted about the future of poker and how he saw his role.

Senator Al told me, “I am pleased and privileged to be spokesperson for the PPA. The new legislation is like using a cannon to kill a gnat. Just like Prohibition, trying to tell 20-plus million poker players that they can’t play poker online, is not going to work.

“People can play poker in a casino, they can bet on horseracing online or play the lottery, but they can’t play poker online? This type of hypocrisy brings about contempt. It brings about disrespect for the law and disdain for the lawmakers.

“We have to convince legislators that there is a better way to do what they want, which is protecting our citizens, making sure kids don’t play and insuring that money laundering doesn’t occur. If we drive out public companies, we run the risk of unscrupulous businessmen taking over. And then what kinds of protections exist? None!

“There’s a lot of work to be done. The nature of fighting for an issue like poker doesn’t initially gain much support. But this is not just about poker; it is about protecting personal freedoms.”

Pick up the next issue of CardPlayer Magazine to read our complete and exclusive interview with Senator Alfonse D’Amato.

By the way, He's a Republican

I've told you before artie, don't try to confuse them with facts.

Who cares? It's such a non story that's been overblown by the bitches on the left. They had every right to fire any or all of them and don't need to answer to anybody about it.

so the republicans banned online poker? I thought it was pretty unanimous due to the fact it was attached to another bill related to port security? I guess republicans are all for port secuity (as is the rest of the government) DAMN THEM for trying to make it harder for terrorists to smuggle contra band.

Yes I know what ur gonna say Blii Frist and all that, at least I can keep my guns (for now)

I think there are Democrats and Republicans both to blame for the passage of the bill. It's possible that there are Republicans and Democrats who didn't realize that portion of the bill had been attached by Bill Frist (R-TN) and are not actually opposed to internet gambling, or that there are Republicans and Democrats who are not opposed to internet gambling, but felt that they needed to vote for the port security anyway.

But Kyl was talking to the Attorney General for his prosecution of internet gambling and praising him for it. So I think we know where these two Republicans explicitly stand on the issue.

Read the first paragraph of my above post again. I specifically say that it is possible some Republicans are not opposed to internet gambling. Then, in my next paragraph I say that we know something about how these two Republicans explicitly feel about internet gambling.

Jesus Christ, what has happened to reading comprehension in this country?

Me no speak no english.

True.

Kyl almost lost as a republican in Arizona, that's how bad he is.

The government banned online gaming.

This 'us' vs 'them' shit is ruining the country.

Great post steve. I am not attempting to argue with your analysis in any way. I just want to throw this out there.

Perhaps (again, PERHAPS), the Dem's are trying to work this under the Hatch Act of 1939, which states that members of the federal bureaucracy may not engage in partisan political activity. Thus they must be apolitical in the performance of their job. The White House tried to politically influence their performance (though it really, really hard for any White House not politicize a issue).

steve, do you think this in any way can be comparable to the Archibald Cox situation and The Saturday Night Massacre? It's a leap i know, but do see any consistencies?

That being said, it seems like the Dem's are trying to go after the Rep's in any way they can. It's sort of like this: You went after us for 12 years, now it's our turn.

But steve is correct, the President can fire these people anytime he wishes, they serve at the leisure of President. Politicizing the issue just makes it fun.