I read Daniel’s blog and he is right about he and I having some heated emails back and forth about the upcoming Presidential election. At least we are both concerned about what is happening in the United States. He is 100% for Obama and while I am actually leaning that way myself, I get hot under the collar when anybody is totally adamant about controversial things. It is actually funny, and here is the last email between us until yesterday. Daniel had just called me a naive old man.

Daniel: Obama has accomplished 50 times more than Hillary in the Senate – in much less time. He, from the beginning, was against the war in Iraq – Hillary voted for it. He is by far the candidate that would change the world view of America. The less people that hate America the less enemies you create around the world. He has a lot of work to do cleaning up George W’s mess.

Doyle: I don’t want to continue these discussions because I think you are the naive one when you say things like this. Obama’s record is a disaster and not anywhere close to Hillary, much less 50 times better. You are one hard-headed Canadian and won’t change one idea when you think you are right. At least I look at both sides and say, “Well, maybe.” I guess that is why you are an excellent poker player – you go with your gut. I often wondered where Todd came from. Now I know your parents had another baby boy and slipped him into the Brunson crib because you sound exactly like him.

Isn’t that hilarious? We sound just like two college kids having a bull session. All I know is something had better happen in America in a hurry or we are going to have some hard times. $5 a gallon gasoline is just around the corner.

After going to the dentist and having three teeth filled, I came back home in time to bet on my next door neighbor, Lebron James as his Cleveland team took on the Boston Celtics. I took nine points and went over 179 and never came close on either bet. These NBA playoffs have been a nightmare for me. One thing for sure, I’m not betting against the Lakers anymore. Kobe Bryant is awesome. He may be better than Michael Jordan was and that’s really saying something.

By the way, Daniel, as my son Todd told you, go back to Canada. You aren’t even a USA Citizen! - DB

“My friends, we live in the greatest nation in the history of the World. I hope you will join with me as we try to change it.” … quote from Barack Obama.

What is with these politicians? Obama has gone from a huge favorite to be our next President to perhaps not even getting the Democratic nomination. Don’t the speech writers examine the words before the candidates say them? Along with Obama’s Pastor, Reverend Wright, sayings like this have really damaged Obama. I have a lot of concerns about this election and I’m not sure at this point who to vote for.

Hillary Clinton has made a lot of mistakes, also. They say she misspoke about a few things, but they were out and out lies! My favorite joke about Hillary is about the man who went to Heaven. St. Peter welcomed the man through the Pearly Gates and the new Saint noticed some clocks on the wall. When he asked St. Peter what they were he was told they were lie clocks. Every time a person lies his or her clock would move five minutes. St. Peter said: “That clock never moved; it was Mother Theresa’s. She never told a lie. The next one is Abe Lincoln’s. He told only two lies in his entire life.” The new guy said, “That’s nice. Where is Hillary’s clock?” St. Peter said, “Jesus has it in his office. He is using it for a ceiling fan.”

If the Democrats don’t get something resolved, the Party is going to be so divided John McCain will win the election. This is going to be the most interesting election in my lifetime. Daniel Negreanu and I were exchanging emails about the candidates until I finally gave up because he won’t alter his position that Obama would be what this country needs. I would be interested to know if he has changed his thinking after the past few weeks. I’ll give him a call. It might be time to make a bet with him.

For some reason it looks like DoylesRoom attracts the country western stars that play on the internet. Just a few weeks after Blake Shelton and his band asked us to come to their concert on Fremont Street I got another invite from Dierks Bentley who is a really hot country-western singer to come to the Red Rock Casino and Hotel for his concert. Todd, Hoyt Corkins, Ken Hale, and Anjela and her friend came along with me and Dierks stopped his autograph session to come over and greet us and he wanted to take some pictures with us. He said he enjoyed playing at DoylesRoom and was a big fan of online poker. He said the players at our site were easier than any place else he had tried. Of course, we already knew that because we don’t have very many Pros. I was really amazed at Red Rock. They have a huge facility and it is really nice. The place was packed and Dierks and his people really put on a good show. I looked for Phil Hellmuth and Clonie Gowen but couldn’t find them. - DB

In my last blog, I was extremely upset about a big loss in a poker game. Today I got some news that put things back in perspective for me. Forty-six years ago five doctors gave me three months or less to live from melanoma cancer. After going to M.D. Anderson, a wonderful cancer hospital in Houston, Texas, a gray haired doctor named Jay operated on me and after eight hours of surgery, he gave me a clean bill of health, reporting all the cancer had disappeared. They called it a spontaneous remission but I’ve always suspected that Dr. Jay had something to do with it. I guess The Man upstairs decided it wasn’t time for me to go. Whatever it was, I am obviously extremely grateful.

Dr. Jay died this week after dedicating his entire life to public service in a cancer hospital. He was by all accounts a brilliant surgeon and doctor who never made over $80,000 a year. It’s pretty humbling when you look at a man like that and then you consider your own life. R.I.P. Dr. Jay.

If you are a western buff, the Western Channel on Direct TV is having a twenty-four hour marathon honoring the TV series Maverick. James Garner played Brett Maverick and was a gambler who made his living playing poker. They have asked me to do an interview about my remembrance of Maverick and use the interview as a promo and between episodes. I am certainly going to do it because that was one of my favorite TV shows. I also have met James Garner when he and I, along with Gus Hansen, were inducted into the “Walk of Fame” at the Commerce Casino. James had some health issues but was a real trooper and gentleman.

Tournament poker has spread everywhere; now it is in Russia. The Russian government has sanctioned a tournament at Zavidova just outside of Moscow. They are adding $150K to the prize pool and it is scheduled for August 15th. They have offered me quite a deal to go play, including meeting the Russian President. Unfortunately, I can not go because of my basketball reunion and I believe Extreme Poker is due to start on the 15th at the Venetian Hotel here in Vegas.

I watched Shannon Elizabeth get kicked off Dancing With The Stars a few nights ago. Dumb judges! I thought she did great and looked great. I hope the poker community supported her. There are some great dancers on that show. I never thought I would watch something like Dancing, but it is pretty cool. I bet Phil Ivey $20K that Kristi, the ice skater, would be the champion. It looks like it is between her and Jason Taylor, the Miami Dolphin’s football player. I don’t know if Jason can dance or not because I can’t take my eyes off his partner. She is the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever seen. Oops! Besides Louise, I mean

Back to the thought that I started this blog with…let us not forget what is really important in life. Remember, with money you can buy a clock – but not time! - DB