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Message: [QUOTE="samitheman99, post: 2218491, member: 106960"] We might have get a poker player representing us in DC: Throughout recent political situations in Washington, D. C., of late, there has been poker terms bandied about. “Pushing all-in” for a political belief, Representatives and Senators “bluffing” on certain stances that they are taking and other poker metaphors have appeared in the news. So why not send a poker player to the nation’s capital? Apparently that is the mindset of 2010 World Series of Poker Player of the Year Frank Kassela, according to a recent magazine website. MotherJones.com is reporting that Kassela is seeking the Democratic Party nomination for Nevada’s 3rd Congressional District, which supplies one of Nevada’s four members of the House of Representatives in Washington. In putting his hat in the ring, Kassela – who previously wasn’t registered with any political party – had to affiliate himself with the Democratic Party. The reason for this, according to the Mother Jones article, was the recent actions of the Republicans in the House in shutting down the government in early October and their stance on certain social issues. Kassela is facing a difficult challenge in making a run for elected office. There is already one candidate from the Democratic Party, non-profit executive Erin Bilbray, who has declared her candidacy. Kassela would have to defeat Bilbray in a primary election (held in the spring of 2014) and, if successful, would then face the perceived Republican nominee, incumbent Joe Heck, in the general election in November 2014. Kassela has an interesting backstory that could potentially make him appealing as a candidate for elected office. A member of the Army Reserves, Kassela grew up in Chicago and Dallas before heading to Memphis, where he started businesses as diverse as a medical uniform supply company and a promotional and specialty products operation. Kassela was successful in those endeavors and, with that background, could appeal to other small businessmen. After moving to Las Vegas with his family, Kassela has been one of the most popular players on the tournament circuit among fellow pros. He has earned over $2.4 million and won two WSOP bracelets (in 2010 in Seven Card Stud and Razz), which pushed him to the 2010 WSOP POY award. Nevada’s 3rd Congressional District includes an area of South Las Vegas that includes Henderson and most of Clark County. Since it was created in 2003, the district is known as a “fair fight” district in that it is equally balanced between Republican and Democratic voters. In 2004, then-President Bush narrowly squeaked out re-election (50%-49%) over Democrat John Kerry and, in the last two elections, President Obama has won the district (55%-43% in 2008, 49.5%-48.7% in 2012). In Kassela’s particular district, Republicans have held the seat for all but a two year period (2009-11) when Democrat Dina Titus (who currently represents Nevada’s 1st District) won election. If elected to the House of Representatives, Kassela would continue a rich tradition of politicians who are avid poker players (or, maybe in Kassela’s case, a poker player who has a penchant for politics!). It is known that President Franklin Roosevelt was an excellent poker player and his successor following his death, President Harry Truman, wasn’t a bad player himself. Truman actually coined the phrase “the buck stops here” in reference to the dealer button (“the buck” as it is sometimes called) being where the action begins and ends (a metaphor for taking responsibility for actions). Truman’s successor, Dwight Eisenhower, learned poker as a child and used those skills when he went to West Point to add some much needed cash to his meager salary. Eisenhower’s vice president (and future president), Richard Nixon, is rumored to have used his poker skills while in the Navy to earn enough money to finance his first political campaign. After Nixon, the poker playing skills of Presidents became less known, although current President Barack Obama is said to have a solid game. Kassela already has a dedicated campaign site and Facebook page for his political aspirations. As of yet, however, there is little information on what Kassela’s stance on certain issues will be. As reported by : [URL]http://www.pokernewsdaily.com/former-wsop-poy-frank-kassela-enters-the-political-arena-24972/[/URL] [/QUOTE]

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