Legal Online Gambling Bill Co-Sponsors Increase, Again

Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) sponsored two bills this year with the intention of delaying the implementation of rules of enforcement (HR2266) of the UIGEA, and the other is HR2267 which seeks to make legal Online gambling.

Both bills gained 2 additional supporters, Rep Paul W. Hodes, [NH-2] & Rep Edolphus Towns,[NY-10] , bringing HR2266 co-sponsors to 25 and HR2267 to 42.

Both bills are planned to be discussed in committee this year and Rep. Frank believes that he has the support to turn them into law this year.

It is very important that Americans continue to call, write, email, or see their Representative in person to discuss this and encourage them to get on board and allow us at least some of our freedoms that were taken to be given back.

What we do in our homes is of no concern to the government. They have no right to restrict an activity that is legal in a brick and mortar building and decide that it is illegal to do in our home.

Please contact your congressperson and demand they give us this freedom back.

IMEGA v United States Oral Arguements Today On UIGEA

In the long long awaited hearing between IMEGA (Interactive Media Entertainment & Gaming Association), and the Department of Justice, today is the day set for oral arguments to commence in the US 3rd Circuit Court Of Appeals in Philadelphia, PA. at 10 am.

IMEGA brought a suit against the DOJ that sought to void the UIGEA (Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act) which was jammed through the Senate in the last day of Congress in 2006, attached to an unrelated must pass Safe Port Security Act bill. Then Senator, Bill Frist added the bill in the final hour of session and gave no option for discussion, dissension, and many that voted were not aware of its inclusion.

IMEGA has more than a fair chance at succeeding in this case as the UIGEA as written is vague, does not define illegal gambling, excludes only companies that are based outside of the US, allows domestic companies that have been offering these services to continue, exempts, Horse racing, State Lotteries, and Fantasy Sports, but does not allow foreign publicly traded companies to do the same, which violate trade agreements in the WTO (World Trade Organization) in which over 180 other countries have signed fair trade agreements.

It also deputizes Banks and Credit Card companies to do the enforcement by blocking transactions to any offshore company.

When hearings were held, testimony by government officials could not define 'illegal online gambling', citing that there is no way to determine what is or is not illegal due to varying laws in each State, causing a delay of many months for rules to be put in place.

As a result of having banks be responsible, some State lotteries had purchasing transactions blocked because of the vagueness of the law.

IMEGA is represented by two very capable, extremely respected attorneys, Eric M. Bernstein and Stephen A. Saltzburg.

The defendants - the US Department of Justice, the Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Reserve - will be represented by Nicholas J. Bagley and Jacqueline E. Coleman of the US DOJ’s civil division in Washington, DC.

The three-judge panel that will decide the case are Judge Dolores Korman Sloviter, a Carter appointee; Judge Thomas L. Ambro, a Clinton appointee; and Judge Kent A. Jordan, a George W. Bush appointee.

IMEGA Chairman Joe Brennan Jr said, “This law will finally have to stand on it’s own two feet in court, free from politics and all other outside influences, we feel very confident that when the judges take a look at the law, they will see just how defective it is, and they will overturn it.”

What's Next For Republicans? More Sex Scandals?

There is so much that has been going on inside the Republican Party since its implosion which started in 2000 with the appointment of King George. It seems that every day that goes by, we hear of more in that party who do not live up to its ideals. A short list on the group that insists they are the party of family values includes the likes of Newt Gingrich, Larry Craig, Mark Sanford, John Ensign, Rush Limbaugh, Mark Foley, David Vitter, Bob Packwood, Jim West, Bob Livingston, Rudy Giuliani, Tom Evans, Buz Lukins, Bob Bauman, Jon Hinson, Bob Allen, Dave Crane, Don Sherwood, Ken Calvert. Certainly not a complete list and there will surely be more to come.
The time is now for those very Family Values Party Members to denounce that they truly represent family values.
Their betrayals are widespread, involve not only cheating on their wives, but also include sexual activity with underage and same sex partners.
Mark Sanford, admitting a series of trysts, was one of the loudest during Bill Clinton's impeachment hearings demanding that he resign for his indiscretions, yet he does not see the need for himself to resign. Seems that the religious right truly is a forgiving bunch, all one has to do is come out and apologize for their indiscretion and all will be forgiven. Bullshit.
It is time for us to demand more from those that lead us. It is time to hold them to their talking points. How can our children look up to any politician and believe what they are saying, how can we allow this hypocritical approach to exist. They pronounce themselves as the saviors of children via anti-abortion laws, yet have no problem killing hundreds of thousands for an unjust war. They claim to be for families, yet deny children healthcare. They say they are for the people, but only support big business and rich folk.
Enuf!

Palin Resigns - Cites Obstructionism As Cause

Sarah Palin, once the darling of the Republican Party, and current Governor of Alaska has come out today with a lengthy speech detailing all of the reasons she can no longer continue as Governor.

While she stated that all of her problems have arisen since August of last year, when she was selected as the Vice-Presidential candidate for Sen. John McCain, and that all 15 complaints against her have been dismissed, this is not the complete truth.

Granted, when she accepted the position to be #2 in the government, she was nothing more than an obscure figure from a state we hear little about, but she and McCain had to know that once she accepted this task, there would be much more digging, investigating, and just normal vetting of the candidate. She did not hold up well under those investigations, and has since that time proven to the world that she was not the right person for that job, and in my opinion, any other job other than maybe a hostess at a half-way decent restaurant.

How Alaskans elected her to their top position is still a question on my mind. How a once respected Senator could not only choose her, but declare that she has what it takes to be the President is even more confounding.

That aside, the Huffington Post has published her entire speech, which is better read than watching the video of it.

To recap her reasons in short order, she polled her family and they all agreed she would be better fit not to serve in any official capacity.

So speculate that she is much like her daughter and can't say no to the man(men) in her life and that maybe she is with child again. Others think it might be to diffuse the spotlight that is currently blinding her and her party, and dimming her aspirations to try a solo for the big job in 2012. I think she may have just finally come to her senses and realizes that she can not govern, did not govern, mis-spent money, used her political influence improperly, and most, more than any other reason, it will take the focus off her and her family so they may go and behave as other normal people with problems.

She never had the right stuff, she never will.

Harry Reid Has No More Excuses - Progressives Watch Senate

With the Minnesota courts ruling unanimously that Al Franken won that election last year over Norm Coleman, the Senate now has a super Majority of Democrats. 58 Democratic Senators and 2 Independents that caucus with them.

Until now, there has been talk by Sen. Harry Reid, the Senate leader that there were just not enough votes to get things done. Harry is old school politics, heavily into lobbyist money and did not make very dedicated attempts to assist in getting things done that progressives put the Dems in office to do. Forever saying the votes are just not there. Well now they are.

Now there is no reason to try and cajole Republicans for the sake of looking bi-partisan. With the addition of Franken, there is a majority that can fend off any possible filibuster threatened, there is no need to beg the opposition for their support. All items can be brought to the floor for a vote and with leadership pointed in the right direction for the country and its citizens, there is no reason any legislation can be defeated. There is no longer any need to modify good programs to sway a couple of Republicans, there are no more excuses.

The time is now for those progressives that came out to vote in November in very large numbers to take it to the Senate, remind them of why they are there, how they got there,and insist that programs that have been stalled, tabled, or ignored, now be taken into consideration.

Now I don't expect much to happen before Congress goes on their summer sojourn, but they better be ready when they get back to do some heavy lifting of their constituents programs desires.

The 2008 elections showed that power now comes in the form of numbers. Those numbers in the past were from wealthy lobbyists that donated heavily to individual campaigns, pet projects, and other means to gain influence among Senators and Congressman. That money is still flowing, however, we showed that an engaged population is more influential. When they are home in their districts this summer, make it a point to visit their local offices, try to meet with them, send letters, emails, and make phone calls. This works if the effort is substantial. We know we have the base to do it.

Americans need to be engaged in more than just the election. To complete the morphing from lobbyist control of law and regulation, to one that is citizen controlled, the time to act is now.

Republicans have, by their prior actions of rubber stamping a bad presidents plans, wants and demands, coupled with heavy influence from the radical right wing religious zealots such as focus On The Family, driven themselves not only to the minority, but very close to obscurity. It has taken progressives a long time be become the majority and it can be lost in the next election cycle if we don't continue our push for a better agenda.

Congress needs to be watched closely, nudged often and reminded frequently who they represent. Make it a point to set aside one day that you know your Representative will be in his/her office and take the time, make the effort to engage them. Let them know we have not gone away. Remind them often how they represent us and not big business and that they need to be aware of your opinions on every subject.

There is no longer any reason to engage old school republicans, their tenures will be short as more and more good policies are made and passed. Those that care to put aside their corporate sponsorships and join the majority will be rewarded in the next election, those that don't, won't.