Something's got me WOUND UP today!

Anyone care to enlighten me how the following article regarding Mike Sexton speaking out against the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act...and then the article I've copied after it, in which the WPTE applauds the Act, can exist in the same UNIVERSE!!!?

http://www.pokersourceonline.com/news.asp?poker=448

Mike Sexton Takes up the Good Fight
Published: Monday, October 09, 2006
Author: Dan Katz

Mike Sexton, winner of this years’s World Series of Poker Tournament of Champions, will reportedly set out on a campaign against the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. Best known as the on-air voice of the World Poker Tour and also known as the “Ambassador of Poker,” is said to be starting out in New York this week.
Sexton said that the campaign was actually started by PartyGaming, for which he is a spokesperson. Sexton said Party will be airing advertisements in support of poker players and asked him to help. Funny how Party didn’t do much of anything before the bill was passed by Congress, but now they decide to do so (at the same time, I get the sense that U.S. legislators would not have cared that an offshore “illegal” gambling company was upset about the bill).
Sexton said well-respected poker pro, Barry Greenstein, and Poker Players Alliance president, Michael Bolcerek, will be joining him on the campaign.
Said Sexton, “The mission is obviously to voice the displeasure with this bill that has been passed by Congress, and to speak up for the rights of poker players, and their right to play online poker.”
Word has it that President Bush will be signing the bill into law on Friday.

Originally published October 9, 2006

http://www.pokernews.com/news/2006/10/wpte-weighs-online-gaming-legislation.htm

WPTE Weighs In On Impact Of Gaming Legislation
October 09, 2006
Earl Burton

In an oddly optimistic press release following the passage (and pending signing) of legislation regarding financing of online gaming and poker accounts, World Poker Tour Enterprises added their thoughts to the current situation recently. In the communiqué, WPTE encouraged poker players worldwide to focus on the bright future ahead for poker instead of the downsides of the current legislation.
With the passage by Congress of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 last week, "The Justice Department has been very clear that it believes online gaming to be illegal in the United States and our policies have been always been tailored accordingly," said Adam Pliska, General Counsel of WPTE. "This law clarifies the rules and makes it possible for everyone to move forward on an even footing."
Steve Lipscomb also added his bright outlook when he commented, "It was a wide-spread love of this game and the reinvention of poker as a televised sport that ignited the poker phenomenon and that is what will continue to drive the future of the sport. WPTE remains committed to growing the domestic poker market through traditional franchise opportunities like consumer products, sponsorship and events."
While WPTE will not be directly affected by the recent legislation (their online poker site has always refused American action as they are an American company), the bright outlook the company is espousing is strange at the minimum. Part of the drive that has brought many to the poker community has been the advent of online poker. People who may have played only a few times a year on vacation trips to gaming Meccas could play at any point with the online game. This added to their excitement for the game and also allowed them to become proficient enough to be able to battle against some of the greatest players in the world.
Another factor to consider on this front is the effect that the loss of online satellites will have on tournaments in the future. Both the World Poker Tour and the World Series of Poker have seen tournament fields explode due to the opportunity of players to earn their way into events through inexpensive online satellites. In 2005, of the 5619 players who came to the felt, PokerStars alone sent almost twenty percent of the field to the Championship Event of the World Series. Poker historian and "jack of all trades" Nolan Dalla emphasized this point when he discussed his thoughts on the ramifications of the online legislation and noted with sadness that future tournament participation will actually fall as these online satellites are eliminated.
While many might like the departure of online players from B&M tournaments, it is extremely possible that the tournament poker scene could revert back to the point where only the richest (and, in some cases, the best) poker players can afford to participate. The potential dream of an online qualifier vanquishing the best in the world (such as the startling Chris Moneymaker breakthrough at the 2003 WSOP) will vanish and the sharks will once again have to compete amongst each other. We could be potentially looking at tournament fields falling now instead of showing the steady increases of the past few years (and, in the case of the WSOP Main Event, massive increase) and slowly falling back to levels of the pre-Internet days, where only those who can afford it or can qualify in live satellites make the fields.
Even though there are an estimated 50 million poker players in the U. S. alone and casinos adding poker rooms left and right, most Americans aren't within a two hour drive of those rooms. This is one of the reasons that the online game is necessary. It gives Joe Sixpack the opportunity to participate in an American pastime, potentially earn his way to a major tournament and, if the stars align, make a significant change in their life. These are a few of the reasons that this writer feels the WPTE's rosy look at the online legislation is puzzling, to say the least.

***End of the quotations***

And now that you've read them both...does this mean that we will now be witnessing the WPTE attempting to slap Mr. Sexton with some sort of GAG-ORDER? I must say, that Mike is an ideal candidate to take up the cause, however won't the "company" attempt to squash his opinions and statements, since he's on the payroll?
The events which have transpired since the Bill passed through the legislature are remarkable, many online casinos and poker rooms, shutting their doors to all U.S. customers, while others are poised for the Bill to become LAW. Others, and Neteller have thumbed their nose, at the whole thing. Saying it is not truly binding upon them in any way. The Poker forums everywhere have been clogged with statements, reports, arguments, and a lot of whining and crying (self included,) however, I still see somewhat of a remarkable silence on the major news sources. I believe that the cross section of America may not REALLY grasp what is going on, if anything at all. I believe there are some who are NOT gamblers and wouldn't necessarily equate themselves with the religious right (fanatical right) that would be appalled by the methodology employed to bring this whole issue before Congress, and ultimately a date with the President's pen. I cannot see this issue being the one which would mobilize a conservative base. I always thought the conservative right, was all about smaller government, meaning government having a lesser role in our day-to-day lives. The Liberal Left, was always about taking care of the poor, the unfortunate, and particularly having the opinion that people in general don't have the common sense to make good decisions for themselves, so the government will have to do it for them. That is how the Conservative/Liberal bit played out going back to the 80's through the Reagan years, George Bush part I...it was further (in my opinion) reinforced during the Clintonian era. Rush Limbaugh espoused it from the rooftops. AND quite frankly, I agreed with him. I didn't see the Republican party as being solely for the rich of America. That would be a poor campaign slogan! They were more about what I perceived to be individual freedoms, putting people in charge of their own lives. So this new Conservative/Republican style sits a little crossways to me. Maybe I'm just being overly critical...NAHHHHHHHHHHH!!! It's crazy! There are far GREATER causes to champion than getting online poker banned! This is hardly the cause I want my "guy" in Washington concentrating his efforts on. How about you? Is this what you had in mind? Or did you accidently leave your "CHADS" dangling at the voting booth!
Anyway, I think I'll go take a pill, and calm down now. I guess I really got off on a rant there. Wow...I even dragged Ronnie into all of this. May he rest in peace, however I think you have to go back THAT FAR to find a MAN who has occupied the top office of our country, and demonstrated what leadership, responsibility, respectability, finesse, and true passion for our great nation is ALL ABOUT!

Someone cue up the "Battle Hymn of the Republic!"

WHEW!

That felt good...

Regards,

cheer_dad