When you play poker, the expression "all in" refers to when a player takes all of the chips in front of them, and pushes them all to the center of the table. It means that everything comes down to one hand. If you win, you win big. You win it all. If you lose, then you lose everything with which you came to the table. It takes a particularly gutsy or brave poker play to go "all in" for obvious reasons. But, while you take an incredible risk, you have the chance to reaping incredible rewards.
From time to time, we have situations in politics that remind me of the poker concept of being "all in" — and we have one such political situation going on in California politics right now.
The poker player? California’s Republican Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner.
Steve Poizner’s stock went up in my book several times over when he stepped up to the plate to take on the leadership role of the organized effort to stop the passage of Proposition 93, which we call "The Big Lie" initiative. This is the measure that, if it passes, will allow a slew of Sacramento politicians to escape mandatory retirement from term limits, which at the same time purporting to "strengthen" term limits. Hence, the big lie.
The measure exemplifies political insiders at their worst, conniving and scheming to protect their careers and their fiefdoms. It represents a scandalous months-long fleecing of dozens of interests that have matters that are or could be before the Legislature, with Fabian Nunez forcing people to make big contributions to his committee to pass The Big Lie.
Making the decision to lead the effort against these insiders is a huge play politically. If it is successful, Steve Poizner will have proven that a total outsider, who frankly doesn’t fit the profile of a traditional Capitol power-broker, will have taken on the entire establishment and won. It will elevate Poizner to a level that he could not have achieved otherwise. There have been plenty of wealthy people in politics — but if can you marry your finances to smart planning and tactical ability, and then show that you can win — you have proven that you can be the best of the best.
Steve Poizner has not only opened his own check book to the tune of at least $1.5 million dollars, but he has leveraged his giving to bring to the table millions more from others to mount an extremely credible challenge to The Big Lie.
Poizner in fact is "all in" — because there are steep consequences for him if his efforts fall short. The big loss for him will be in credibility. If you go for the brass ring and don’t get it, it becomes much harder for you to be taken seriously. Oh, there will still be the kind of respect 
that comes with someone with deep pockets. But in terms of political cache, Poizner will have lost much of it, and be left struggling and severely weakened. He will also have an emboldened "insider class" looking to take him down.
In closing, I have a tremendous amount of respect for Steve Poizner’s moxie and willingness to take a risk. He is certainly doing the right thing as Proposition 93 is terrible public policy and should be defeated.
When the dust clears, if 93 goes down, Poizner will have taken a huge step towards gearing up a very credible image and organization for a statewide run for Governor in 2010. If 93 passes though, Poizner will have taken a biiig step backwards. One that very well place an uncermountable hurdle betweem himself and a credible run for Governor.
Thank you, Steve, for stepping up. I hope that 93 is defeated by a large margin, and you "win this hand" and collect all of the chips in the center of the table. You deserve it.
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