This is usually where the lol-cat mod comes into the thread and says

and totally misses to point. I agree with you, and I think that is one of the reasons for ATF. So we as users can discuss, and in some cases, vent

However, with this, I can't blame them one bit for pushing his agenda. I was a casual online player and I miss playing online a TON.... If I had a whole business that grew exponentially because of the online poker world we were living in prior to black Friday, I'd put the banners up there too. That doesn't mean I support or have read up on him, at all though. Personally I've had an easy enough time ignoring them. The OMG OMG OMG banner bothered me more, simply b/c I've been posting here almost 4 years and never really understood WTF happens there

criticism/suggestions are fine. my point is that this issue has been complained about time and time again including gregorios 6 page thread and the administration made their position extremely clear. further whining is useless and annoying

pretty sure op is a mutantk12 gimmick

oh no you dihnt

i can't imagine what you would call yourself

Can someone clarify for me:

Is this a Gary Johnson meta thread or level three thinking Gary Johnson thread?

FWIW It tilts the hell out of me seeing all the GJ stuff all over here and I thought about leaving 2+2.

Then I grew up and realised tilting is bad. Very bad.

If you would do anything I would think that would include enduring some banner ads promoting a candidate that is in favor of IP.

This.

The sad thing is that the OP is just as likely to be elected president as Gary Johnson.

Now lets not exaggerate, GJ has a much better chance than OP, since he is actually running. Kind of like how somebody who shoves preflop every hand has a better chance at winning the ME than somebody who doesn't enter.

i just don't understand why 2+2 isn't endorsing RP instead. He's polling much better, and unlike Gary Johnson, he's done more than just talk about poker, he's supported a bill to legalize it.

Most who would vote for one would likely vote for the other. I could support either GJ or RP but lets face it neither has much of a chance.

Yeah, RP supported the Frank Bill last year but when it came time to vote on in it committee he voted "present", which I guess isn't out of the ordinary for RP

ron paul hasn't talked to mason personally to promote himself...

This. Mason was impressed when he received a phone call from Gary Johnson and the whole thing snowballed from there. Gary Johnson appeared at the annual 2+2 party/get-together in Las Vegas during the WSOP (on July 7).

Mason is also impressed that Gary will publicly talk about his support for the rights of Americans to play online poker, etc. I don't know if Ron Paul has really addressed that topic.

I'm positive that if Ron Paul would have called Mason, shown up at the 2+2 party in Las Vegas, and publicly talked about his support of the legalization and regulation of online poker in the U.S. that Mason would have supported him first. If Ron Paul were to do all of that stuff now Mason and 2+2 would probably consider throwing some of their support behind him and/or switching their allegiance to Ron if he stays alive in the race longer than Gary.

If any other presidential candidate did all that you describe then I believe you would be absolutely correct. I think the chances of that happening are less than most people think Gary Johnson's chances are of becoming president.

Let's be real here. The only reason GJ called Mason and is willing to publicly get behind poker is because nobody else will listen to the guy. And even then when discussing poker he still hedges his bets saying over and over (paraphrased) 'I could care less about poker this is just one of many instances of the government getting involved in our private lives' etc. Then he starts talking about bull riding or mountain biking.

He is not the poker candidate and his position on this is identical to Ron Paul's. Because RP is too busy to be courting 2+2 doesn't mean GJ is the better candidate, it means Mason is enjoying the attention.

I guess this is what we have to look forward to for 18 months of each election cycle now

Still, I have respect for people prepared to speak out. They are prepared to take the negatives that comes with it. For perpetuating the truth.

GJ's chances are much better? One in a million is not a lot more than zero.

Except replace Mason in your last sentence with online poker and I agree.

If anything, other (hopefully larger) political candidates can now see that supporting something like online poker doesn't just result in outcry and people getting on pedestals to ask the candidate "but what about the children?"

Supporting other candidates on an online poker forum is meaningless, they won't (up until this point) even talk about our cause.

As for people's votes, vote for whoever you want. This is an online poker forum, obviously many people have other, larger priorities, but we collectively have one thing in common.

There's a reason why unions, insurance groups, business associations, bicycle hobby groups or zillions more groups get behind candidates. They look for those that support their interest and often support them.

Say what you will about GJ's chances, but he's talking about online poker in the media, proving that other politicians can support our cause and his track record in New Mexico doesn't look too shabby by most accounts here.

I still don't entirely understand the uproar. I know this has become a purely social site for many, but a lot of us still play or aspire to play online poker, and at the very least are happy to see somebody speaking up about our cause. Even if he doesn't have a legitimate shot to win, even if we don't ultimately vote for him, there's still value here, more than if you sent money to Ron Paul at this moment (value for online poker, again, this is a poker forum, poker publisher, the poker player's alliance is represented here, news stories revolve around poker, etc.).

Nobody has to support him, but if you want to give back to the only guy talking about poker, he's here, and I see nothing wrong with that.

You aren't a math guy are you?

Pretty sure electability is a factor in their decision making process, not simply who shows up to speak to their membership or creates a section on their website about their particular cause.

Look, the point is neither of them have a realistic chance of ever being elected (or even of being a credible candidate). Also, feel free to set up a poll to find out if people actually think that one in a million is much more than zero.

I respectfully disagree because Mason has said that he supports Johnson because of more than just poker.

For the longest time I thought the warning about a phishing page was referring to the ad below it, iow, don't click on this ad! Ok so I'm not very bright. Anyway my interest in poker consists of watching it on tv. I post mostly in POG. Gary Johnson has zero chance of becoming the Republican nominee, much less president. If you want to promote him fine, it's your site, do what you want with it. But it's a waste of space.

I'm sorry people lost their money playing online poker but they knew the risk going in. That's why they call it gambling.