Political Poker

Welcome to the 6^th floor.

Today's contributors are: Ann, Sara, Tabitha, Frank, Billy and Scott.

Subject: Political Poker

“They could call it Political Poker.”

“Call what political poker?”

“Did you not see the Colbert Report last week?”

“I caught an episode or two, but I don't know what you are talking about.”

“He had on this Harvard professor, Dr. Charles Nesson, who wants to legalize and legitimize Internet poker, and poker in general. He teaches strategy and he was explaining how poker is the ultimate tool for teaching it.”

“That sounds interesting, learning strategy via poker, but how is that political poker?”

“Oh, at the end he suggested Stephen Colbert should get together all the presidential nominees for a game of poker.”

“That would be interesting. You'd be able to see how they think and plan based on the game. Intriguing. What did Colbert say?”

“He said something about Hillary already having the glasses for it. I'd love to see this, I feel like I could learn more about a candidates personality and character by watching him or her play a game of poker. Certainly more than I would learn watching any of those debates.”

“Those debates at least deal with the issues though. How would a poker game tell you how the candidates feel about the issues?”

“I'm not advocating replacing the debates, just supplementing them. However, all you hear at debates is canned speeches. They know what they're going to tell you about each issue, and it's more what you want to hear than what they believe. There are plenty of other ways to get into how a candidate feels about the issues, but poker would be better to tell you how well they can make decisions.”

“That would probably get ratings too. Especially with people our age that everyone seems to want.”

“It'd blow the debates away. It'd be perfect for Monday night, going into super Tuesday.”

“I'd be more inclined to watch, and feel more informed about voting if I saw something like that.”

“Wouldn't it be unfair to candidates that don't know how to play poker?”

“They could always learn. I don't think any of them are sharks. Their wouldn't be any huge advantage, and it wouldn't be mandatory, although you'd look like a coward if you backed down from a friendly game of cards.”

“It can't be that friendly if you're talking about basing your vote on it.”

“Better I vote by judging their character in a game rather than a coin toss or not voting at all right? Besides, what better way for people to relate to these politicians than by watching them play a simple, American game?”

“We're trusting these guys with the leadership of our nation. And it's easier to trust someone you can relate to and understand. Poker provides that.”

“It sounds like a very cool idea. I don't see it happening though.”

“Well, maybe I can use all my political clout to suggest it for the next election in 2012.”

“You don't have any political clout. Playing poker once with a guy that looked like Al Gore is not clout.”

“I'll have to get me some clout then.”