Poker Politics

The father of UIGEA, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist announced he will not seek presidency in 2008.

"In the Bible, God tells us for everything there is a season, and for me, for now, this season of being an elected official has come to a close. I do not intend to run for president in 2008."
- Bill Frist, AP story

But was it God or the Securities Exchange Commission investigation that helped Frist decide against a presidential run? According to an Associated Press story the SEC has been investigating Frist for over a year after allegations of insider trading through the sale of shares in HCA Inc., his family's hospital company. Frist denies any wrongdoing.

ALT HED: This Election Brought to You By Bonus Code Tuaca

It's four o'clock Texas time and election day is soon coming to a close. I've got invites to results watch parties all over the city, but I think I'm going to ride this one out at home with my Republican roommate and fellow poker bloggers on the geek chat otherwise known as IRC. All these party invites got me thinking though... why is there no election night drinking game?

A friend of mine remarked, "I know I'm drinking tonight; I just don't know if it's going to be out of despair or elation." My gut says it's going to be elation, but hey; let's not take chances - let's get a good buzz going before the polls close on the West Coast.

Here's my proposed rules, add your own in the comments:

• Newscaster refers to a state as either "red" or "blue": 1 drink
  
• Policy wonk says "mandate", "message", or "ideology": 2 drinks
  
• Democrat wins a House or Senate seat previously occupied by a Republican: 1 drink
  
• Republican wins a House or Senate seat previous occupied by a Democrat: 2 drinks
  
• Sponsor or co-sponsor of the original anti-online gambling bill wins reelection: 2 drinks

Texas version:

• Kinky Friedman says something adorably dumb: 1 drink
  
• Carol Keeton Rhylander Strayhorn refers to herself as "Grandma": 1 drink
  
• Chris Bell is exciting: Quit drinking. You're clearly wasted; alcohol poisioning can't be far off.
  
• Rick Perry wins re-election: down the nearest bottle

Update!

• Everytime Dan Rather says some folksy, weird, kinda makes you feel uncomfortable metaphor, take one drink.
  
• Everytime Stephen Colbert says "truthiness", take one drink.

Reposted for today, Election Day.

Hey Shrink, check it out ... I started putting together an election cheat-sheet a few days ago over at Pokerati with the names of distinctly pro-poker candidates who probably deserve our votes. (We'll bring it back to the top of the blog on Tuesday.)

I started with Texas because that's the ballot I know ... but eventually added other states. Am reprinting it here with hopes that PokerBlog's broader readership might also find it useful and can help fill in some blanks, as I am sure I didn't get everyone who might have an important say on the future of "America's Game":

On the Ballot: Poker Referendum

Election Day is upon us. Don't know about you, but we're still a little on tilt here, politically at least ... so the plan is to vote aggressively. Below are candidates for public office who have affirmatively shown themselves to be on the right side of poker. Remember, it's your duty as a citizen/player to remain mindful of position as you cast your ballot.

NOTE: This is a growing list, so please let us know via comment or email of any other candidates who might deserve either a Pokerati endorsement or electoral scorn for their specific poker-related actions. For a detailed list of those whom you should vote against for their clearly disrespecting the game and/or close ties to known anti-poker extremists, click here. The PPA also contributed to this report.

PokerBlog at the Final Table: It was good times at Casa de April, site of a $20 No-Limit Hold'em freezeout held in honor of her 30th birthday. Though the event featured no online qualifiers, we're proud to report that (L to R) April, yours truly, and Amy all made the final table(!) -- with April winning the whole dang thing.
















AUSTIN, Texas--OK, actually she chopped a $140 prize pool with the second-place finisher. But hey, since it was April's party and we were using her table, chips, and cards, tournament officials awarded her the title and the coveted victory Tuaca shot. Big ups for the impressive PokerBlogger play and festive consumption of our favorite bonus code! Much fun was had by all, even though CardPlayer wasn't there to cover it.

The birthday tourney wasn't the only reason for a Halloween-weekend trip to the Texas capitol, however ...

Also on the Austin agenda were very important meetings drinks with some professional lobbyists, seasoned political advisors, and at least one Congressional candidatate -- part of a continuing effort to figure out where exactly online poker went wrong in the U.S. and what the poker industry might-should do moving forward. While the launch party for a new hipster website (Do512.com) may not seem like the best place to devise legislative strategy, introducing influential politicos to the greatness of Tuaca is probably more important to the future of poker than some might think.

RALEIGH,NC--As mentioned before, Mike Sexton is hitting the road -- and talk-show circuit -- in an attempt to make the poker world's beefs with the Safe Ports Act known to the non-poker public. Kudos, Mike. There's also apparently a players march on Washington DC planned for, er, tomorrow? Not sure how this will go on Columbus Day or whether or not the choice of date will offend Indian casinos. Truth is, even though I am closer to DC today than I was yesterday, I will be shouting out the window about injustice ... but I'm not sure if I will be heard. Seriously, we wish the effort well, but if this is the basket we'll be putting all our eggs in ... well it just shows how little poker players really understand about the American political system.

With that said, it's time for all us bloggers out there to do what we know how to do and virally spread our word.