Say what you will about the tax cut deal cut capitulation by the President, and I tend towards calling it abject surrender by the President to Senator Howdy Doody from KY (for those of you under the age of 50, Mitch McConnell closely resembles a certain marionette who was a breakout children's TV star of the early '50s), the implementation bill may be the vehicle for legalization of online poker, or so hopes the casino industry's favorite Senator.  

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is making the rounds and discussing the possibility of inserting the online poker proposal into the tax cut legislation.  His proposal would allow existing land based casinos to conduct online poker games in a regulated environment. The proposal does not allow for online casino table games or sports betting, both of which face significantly greater opposition than does poker.

However, Senator John Kyl, Republican of Arizona and a member of Republican leadership has said that the proposal has "zero chance � no chance whatsoever that would be part of the tax deal. I don�t think it would be the right thing to do.�  Reid, however, who has carried the water for the casino industry for years, seems determined to get the online poker legislation before the Senate in this lame duck session somehow.   He knows it will be that much tougher to pass  next year in the new more Republican Congress.  

The tax cut deal is facing steep opposition by progressive Democrats and it's not all clear right now that the bill will clear either the House or Senate in its present form, leaving plenty of time and opportunity for negotiation on amendments.