The PPA vs. IMEGA

[Jeremy]

I have been thinking about this lately as I try to keep up with all the legislative changes going on in the industry.

I am not knocking the Poker Players Alliance by any means, but quite frankly they have made a shit load of money over the past couple years in contributions, and what does the PPA specifically have to show for it.

Now a newer group IMEGA.org is making some waves and looks to be making a bit of headway.

I'd love to hear the opinions of the poker affiliate community regarding both these organizations.

[GregK]

Seemed like dewd from PPA was out to get his name in print from the get go to me? ...& some dosh

[bg]

This industry had no defense when the idiots on the hill decided to pick it apart. PPA came along first and scooped up all they could - a million people upset with the new law. I don't think their were other lobbying groups at the time. They were the first, and they better do something fast before they lose ALL of their credibility. I really hope they do.

I don't even think the gov't wants to fight on the issue. I think a few old man nailed it because they could. With the opposition that we are building now I don't the future will be so bad.

[gPowell]

Has the PPA ever actively done anything to share it's position other than have a website and some banners? At least iMEGA is in the place to make a change - the court room.

[ResIpsa]

Originally Posted by gPowell

Has the PPA ever actively done anything to share it's position other than have a website and some banners? At least iMEGA is in the place to make a change - the court room.

I don't know enough to defend the PPA, but it should be pointed out that a good lobbyist does things behind the scenes that no one knows about publicly. Perhaps they are part of the push to get the Barney Frank bill (and others) proposed and at least attempt to get the debate started ab out fixing the issue?

[GregK]

It was something about the guys past jobs/positions that gave me that impression in the first place? not sure what it was now? not worth looking up...

[PPP]

Say what you want about PPA's lack of a publicity arm, but filing a counter productive lawsuit is one thing they did not do.

The business was set back by Casino City filing a frivilous suit that got dismissed and now the mainstream media misunderstands the meaning of that. It was dismissed primarily because they had no standing to file the suit, but it's been repeatedly reported the suit "failed" because it was wrong on the point of law. Similar with IMEGA, although taking the stand that there is a First Amendment right to send money to gambling sites is quite a wild stretch if it ever gets to that point.

[ResIpsa]

Originally Posted by PPP

Say what you want about PPA's lack of a publicity arm, but filing a counter productive lawsuit is one thing they did not do.

The business was set back by Casino City filing a frivilous suit that got dismissed and now the mainstream media misunderstands the meaning of that. It was dismissed primarily because they had no standing to file the suit, but it's been repeatedly reported the suit "failed" because it was wrong on the point of law. Similar with IMEGA, although taking the stand that there is a First Amendment right to send money to gambling sites is quite a wild stretch if it ever gets to that point.

Agreed; if McCain/Feingold doesn't violate one's first amendment right to free speech, then its a pretty difficult argument to make that limiting where you can spend money = a restriction on speech.

[TheDonk]

I've been in this argument here at PAW before, so I'm going to keep this one tame .

At what point do we expect the PPA to accomplish something? 'Too little, too late' passed us long ago, and yet the PPA has 'done' nothing. They talk a whole hell of a lot, but that's all they seem to do.

After a recent argument here with someone who was trying to defend the PPA, I decided to put my money where my mouth was and I contacted my states PPA representative personally. I told him my passion for poker as a live player, an online player, and as someone who believes the government should stay out of these types of social issues. I also told him about my websites and offered to publish unique articles if he would write them. I asked him if there was anything else I could do aside from the PPA banners that I already had on my site to help the cause (hoping he'd have some good ideas). I told him I would volunteer my time whenever he could use it.

His response was that soon there would be a chance to talk with our state representatives about busting home games and that he'd love for me to attend and contribute. He said he'd contact me when it came time. He said nothing about online poker.

That was several months ago, and that was the last time we had contact.

Don't anybody try to convince me that the PPA is 'doing' a damn thing, except talking.

TheDonk

PS...okay maybe that wasn't "tame", but I couldn't help myself.

[corpfan1]

Are they REALLY non-profit?