What a disappointment the PPA has turned out to be!! The Poker Players Alliance really?? And I quote "The PPA is committed to defending the rights of poker players." Well why dont you start defending??

All they have done is regurgitate news articles on their website...thanks I can read the news on my own. And some half ass attempt at a youtube message...have you seen that thing?? LOL what a joke!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMR_DbJLwyk

He looked like a deer in headlights! Do you need some toilet paper...did you crap on yourself?? Was he hiding in his basement when he shot this video? Are you afraid of the boogyman? What is this crap! (no pun intended).

The PPA should be out there in the media screaming to the high heavens. Why havent they held a news conference?? Do you know how important that is?? Even the average american who enjoys playing poker recreationally with his family at home may not be aware of whats going on. We look like a bunch of unorganized hoodlums.

We should have D'Amato out there in the public eye stressing how poker is a game of skill etc. Telling everyone and anyone who will listen that we are not a bunch of degenerates but we are professional players with a skill. They should be educating the masses.

John Stossel is right...he is a wimp. Or did they not pay him enough money to stick his neck out anymore??

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Really this is your concern???????? At this moment in time????????

What it looks like to me is that the PPA is a bunch of suits who wanted to lay low collect "donations", hold charity events, be social, look and sound important. Hopefully they could ride the wave and eventually a law would be passed and they could take all the credit.

Well that **** has hit the fan and now when we need someone to protect us the most they are no where to be found. I dont claim to have the answers or be able to protect us YOU took on that responsibility. So where the hell are you?? I cant see you!!

Well when the **** hits the fan some guys run and some guys stay...looks like some hide in their basement.

DOJ > PPA

That post was in no way, shape, or form constructive. Basically reads like a two year old crying for his blankie.

What have you done to help improve the status of online poker in this country?

Well if IF an organisation that claims to be working for poker players right in the US has been shown to be ineffective (I said if) then it is right to bring it to light.

He did about as much as the PPA. At least he didn't get a bunch of people to donate money to him.

Every organization that doesn't have a senator (or two) in it's pocket is ineffective.

Welcome to America.

I have sent emails, called and sent out a mass email to all my personal friends to do me a favor and do the same. What have you done?

I think you are missing the point. If they were out there busting their ass. If I could see them in the news holding press conferences stating our position I wouldnt say a word. They are a "professional" organization he used to be in congress...they have the authority to speak on our behalf...am I wrong on that??

If I called CNN they would say who are you?? If D'Amato called they would listen...understand.

It does read like it's a two year old crying for his blankie, but to say that it's not constructive in no way, shape, or form is dumb. Even though he seems to be mildly ******ed, he clearly has some good points; mainly about how passive and ineffective (possibly even irrelevant) the PPA is.

I think more people are looking for the PPA to make a larger deal about this event then they have been. I respect and support the PPA, but they shouldn't be acting as "life as usual" mentality, but rallying more support and bringing the issue up to the public and more politicians. Where is the quadjacks-type vigilance?

Maybe more of their work is behind-the-scenes, I dont know. I would expect more updates on their website, and not about kentucky derby!!!

I dont think I was crying at all. Just stating fact.

Would you not agree if D'Amato was in Washington D.C. on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial or wherever holding a press conference defending us that we would be taken more seriously??. Making it known that there are millions of poker players and we have the power of voting people would start to listen.

I guess you dont understand the power of the media. why do you think candidates hold poltical debates, run political ads etc...

The fact is that they signed up for this. They claim to be the defender of our rights...well do it then!!

Ive made plenty of posts where I disagree with specific PPA actions or tactics. Its only useful if you can say "here's what I think we can improve, and here's why". His post

---rants about news conferences, when multiple PPA BOD members have made statements on public programs
---rips a promotion for no real reason. Churchill Downs is not exactly irrelevant to our interests.
---Rips the PPA as a bunch of "suits" trying to feel important. Completely insulting to guys like TE and Skall who have given TONS of their time to the cause.

So I guess I ask what's constructive, and what couldnt go in any of the multiple threads related to the PPA on this forum? What harm has been done to OP, has he donated a bunch of time and effort to the cause?

Again, search my post history, I think the PPA has many places they can improve, but rants like this do nothing.

If you want to start a thread about whether Senator Al D'Amato is the right PPA chairman, that would be a good discussion.

Saying "do it then"....what specifically do you want "them" to do? Who is "they"? You do know they have appeared in the media, right? Why the visceral anger at people trying to help you? If you have ideas, please share them, otherwise its ranting.

I for one am behind the PPA, and if you OP arent pleased with what they have done to this point then might I suggest getting off your ass and doing something about it. So sick of people like you pointing fingers and then fapping it to porn all night instead of doing something constructive about the situation we as poker players find ourselves in.
And OP sorry if I came off like an ass, my apologies.... But these types of threads pointing at the PPA kind of piss me off.

Who has appeared in the media? The Fossilman? Oh geez. Hes a nice guy but not enough and hes appearing on segments of news programs. He was cut off several times and the news anchor is reading questions that they want to ask not necessarily questions that serve our best interest. Yes Greg we know you won the the Main event and won $5million dollars. Thank you. I appreciate the fact that he is at least doing something.

If the PPA held a press conference they would be allowed to state their position with out interruption and then be able to field questions. Its more pro active and would be a more of a controlled environment. Besides the fact that it would appear as we are organized and have a spine.

yeah why isn't the PPA also doing the interviewing!!

It is pretty obvious the PPA was an organization for the poker sites to buy political power, not the poker players.

I have to say I tend to agree with OP to some degree, especially regarding the lack of media attention given to everything since Friday. I mean with all the people it has affected in this country, you'd think the news media would give it a little more attention. I've seen one small article buried on page 9 of my states largest newspaper about the DOJ's actions for example. Shouldn't the PPA try to be more proactive in reaching out to the media so others in this country can see whats going on?

The OP is 100% correct. The bottom line is RESULTS. The PPA was formed about 4 years ago after UIGEA. Now, over FOUR YEARS and lots of $$$ donations later, poker in the USA is in much, much WORSE shape than it was when PPA started out. And that's the bottom line.

Because they rejected and fought the Bill that was on the table last year because it was bad for PS/FTP. They are only a shell of a political organization for PS/FTP to buy off politicians and influence. They don't really have the players' interests at heart.

Where do you think the PPA's money has come from?

taken shots at the PPA

I don't know much about PPA to be honest, but I'd love to see some sort of list of what they have achieved over the last 4 years if it is available.

[x] Provide form letters to spam politicians who don't care
[x] Take large donations to push agendas that are good for PS/FTP/UB
[x] Take small donations from the player pool

the only good reply in this entire thread (including this one) was:

DOJ > PPA

+1
this discussion is now over