Posted on 11/08/2006 1:30:21 PM PST by kms61
While the rest of the US will be discussing the Democratic victories that secured a House majority and a potential Senate majority, most online poker players will be discussing a single victory; the one that unseated 30 year incumbent Republican Jim Leach.
Leach was the sponsor of the House bill that became the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act. With his stated goals of "protecting American families" and addressing a "national security concern," Leach introduced HR 4411. In a 51% to 49% victory, political science professor Dave Loebsack defeated the longtime Republican Congressman from Iowa.
In the legislative world, Leach was considered one of the four horsemen of the online gaming apocalypse. Riding Pokerstars with his other anti-online gambling proponents, Senator Bill Frist, Congressman Bob Goodlatte, and Senator Jon Kyl, Leach was considered the most vulnerable for re-election.
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist tried a number of ploys to sneak HR 4411 into "must pass" legislation. After failing to tie it into a Defense Department bill authorizing military operations, Frist was finally successful tagging it onto the Safe Ports bill.
Bill Frist chose not to run this year. Many speculated he had planned the respite to launch his 2008 presidential bid. It was believed that Frist's actions on HR 4411 were specifically orchestrated to cater to the small, but powerful, conservative right. Interpreting yesterday's election results, however, Frist may have ingratiated himself with a political niche that will have diminished influence in securing a 2008 presidency.
Republican Virginia Congressman Bob Goodlatte was almost assured his victory this year as he ran without a Democratic opponent. Goodlatte was the sponsor of HR 4777, the Internet Gaming Prohibition Act and joined forces with Leach to spearhead the passage of HR 4411. "I have been continuously committed to putting an end to gambling on the Internet," Goodlatte said. "For too long our children have been placed in harm's way as online gambling has been permitted to flourish into a $12 billion industry. The Internet Gambling Prohibition Act brings the current ban against interstate gambling up to speed with the development of new technology."
When HR 4411 passed in the House, Arizona Senator Jon Kyl said, "For more than a decade, I have fought for legislation to enforce Internet gambling prohibitions. Today's action in the House is a very encouraging step, and I will work with my colleagues to explore all ways to move this much-needed legislation through the Senate this year." Kyl was good to his word. Kyle's re-election bid was almost never in jeopardy this year as he consistently led his opponent Jim Pederson in the polls; sometimes by more than eighteen percentage points. Kyl was re-elected by a margin of 53% to 44%.
While Leach may have been the most vulnerable of the anti-online gaming contingent, his defeat was still considered something of an upset. Although the race was tight, Leach never trailed his opponent in the polls prior to the election. Some of the Republicans facing defeat this morning are those that can blame their strong conservative ties to the Bush administration. Leach, however, was perceived to be a moderate Republican, positioning himself as pro-choice and voting against the 2003 Bush tax cuts and the Iraq war resolution. One has to wonder if the online gaming vote helped edge Leach onto the rail.
As an online poker player, I can't say I'm sad to see this guy get booted. Good riddance.
Jim Leach lost?????? Glory, hallelujah!!! He was a horrible RINO.
There's also the fact that Leech is a well-known idiot. He's slightly to the right of Chafee...I think. Left of Snowe and Specter easily.
Leach has been one of the ones saying for decades that the GOP has to move to the left to win. Hard line conservatives can't win, they claim. Seems like last night the "moderates" didn't do so well either.
Some folks have been inside the beltway for far too long. Leach was one of those numbskulls.
Good Ridance !!
Shays won.
Ya Know what I betya that cost us a bunch of votes.
It was stupid. I think it angered about 25 million online poker players. My one boss said it was her single issue in this election, and she was writing checks to back it up.
Both moderates and conservatives got shellacked this election. Let's face it: If you had an R next to your name, and you had a real opponent, you were in trouble.
What a POS. I don't even play online poker or any of those gambling games, but to justify it with this is just plain despicable.
I'm embarrassed to say that Goodlatte is my congressman. I wrote my own name in on the ballot instead of voting for him. I did so solely because of this bill. I prefer more freedom, not less. If I want to gamble online, let me be. Who am I hurting?
There was an enormous thread on TwoPlusTwo rooting against Leach. Online poker players from both parties wanted his head.
I agree.Spent political capital on a bill that won't add up to piss hole in a snowbank.This is like the dems adding another gun bill...stupid,stupid,stupid and only screws the honest people.
The pubbies paid dearly for their arrogance last nite,another form of an "error" of big goverment was disposed in the dustbin of history last nite and bogus bills like this makes me glad.They spit on our trust and they paid and should have. time to retool again!
I'm not unhappy that this clown is gone. Let's just chalk that one up to a self-inflicted wound. Tom Delay mentioned that we lost 6 seats to ethical, legal or other problems and probabably didn't count this one.
My site, ultimatebet, doesn't accept deposits from U.S. based players anymore. I liked it because you could make $25 deposits....oh well, I had other things to do before I started playing online poker, I guess I'll try to remember what they were.....
I was one of those republicans that was pretty pissed off with this legislation. I'm sure it cost republicans votes and gained then zero in return. It almost cost them my vote till I came to my senses and decided that the general election was not the place to vent.
I still don't understand the stupidity of passing this measure? There are literally millions of poker players in the US. I don't know what the percentage are republicans but I do know it wasn't zero! So they pass this bill which only makes it difficult for folks to move money in/out of these gaming portals.
This bill will eventually have to be overturned anyway because it only pisses off the rest of the world through the WTO. Even now, the various companies and governments are meeting in England to establish some level of oversight... and guess what? The US is not participating.
Anyway, Frist will not get my support in '08 for this slimy move...
More proof we need term limits.
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