Quote:
Originally Posted by Dynasty
Does it matter?
The reality is Ron Paul can't get things done in Congress. As President, he'd have more legal power but would still lack the skills needed to build concensus and pass pro-poker legislation.
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This is wrong for a few reasons. First, just like Ron Paul was the "father" of the tea party movement and created new awareness on a variety of issues, through his candidacy, more focus will be placed on many of the issues we as poker players hold dear. When you explain to most people that you can no longer play internet poker in the United States their first reaction is, "why not, that's crazy?" Most people don't even know about black friday. By bringing light to this issue and many others such as the stupidity of the war on drugs, our financial policy, ect., ect., those ideas will become more popular and eventually espoused by others in Congress.
Second, the President has the ability to basically choose to not enforce certain laws. Obviously, he cannot tell the federal branch to ignore the law, however, executive departments such as the DoJ have limited resources. They have to decide how to use those limited resources. A President Paul could direct them to use them in ways that leave us poker players, recreational drug users, ect., out of the cross-hairs of the DoJ.
Third, the President has large control over the budget process. He can recommend how spending should be aportioned across the departments. This is a vasty underappreciated power that allows him to really decide which policies he believes to be important.
Fourth, many laws as they stand give the executive branch the ability to do certain things, but do not tell the executive branch they must do them. A President Paul could simply choose not to use a lot of the power that is given to him by the Congress. He could also bring all of the troops home and shut down all of the military bases which would save well over a trillion dollars. Things like this can be done without a single piece of legislation being passed in Congress.
Fifth, through an executive order he can decide that the UIGEA via the Wire Act does not apply to internet poker. As the head of the executive branch he has the ability to interpret the laws Congress passes. That would solve the issue over night. As the head of the executive branch the DoJ would have to stop all enforcement of these laws as they relate to internet poker. Of course, Congress could pass a more specific bill or it could be litigated in court, but who will be the one to litigate it? Who would have standing to contend that the Wire Act in fact applies to internet poker?
I could go on and on but don't underestimate what can be accomplished without Congress.
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