Chicago 2016 Olympics Bid A Losing Proposition For Obama From The Start

News Type: Opinion — Fri Oct 2, 2009 7:46 PM EDT

politics, obama, olympics, chicago, ioc, 2016

Live Poll

Did Obama discover some kryptonite?

This whole Chicago Olympic bid was, from the start, a bit of happenstance that was going to make President Obama political trouble no matter how it ended. Unlike the movie theater, there was no happy ending to be had for Obama himself.

Let's consider the best case scenario: Chicago wins the bid after Obama jets in and is part of a whirlwind presentation to the IOC (International Olympic Committee) and is on his way back to D.C. before the voting is finished. That simply feeds into the narrative that has been woven by his opponents since he became the presumptive Democratic nominee: a smiling, charismatic politician fronting for crooked Chicago cronies in a political marriage of convenience. If Obama succeeded today, the story from conservative bloggers and news outlets would have been "Surprise, surprise... Obama came through yet again for his Chicago buddies in one of the biggest financial boondoggles of all: many millions of dollars flowing into the pockets of construction contractors to make the necessary improvements to host the game and then millions more in tourist dollars lining the pockets of the friends of Obama. It's good to be the king, er, emperor, er, The One." Remember, that was in the best case scenario.

A second scenario is that Obama doesn't go but Chicago wins the bid anyway. Not only does Obama's adoptive hometown feel pretty angry that the President was in a position to help it after all it had done to help him go from an Illinois state senator to the chief executive of the most powerful country in the world, but the opposition's refrain is now "Obama didn't go because he doesn't care about America and doesn't care if something important like the Olympics are hosted here... we said he was un-American and he has proven it yet again. The Democrats say that he is great for international relations and then he abandons his supposed 'hometown' when so much is on the line? He's not only un-American, he's ungrateful too." This is the second best outcome, which is pretty grisly.

A third scenario is that he doesn't go to make his pitch for the Chicago bid and the bid loses the vote. At that point, his hometown is extremely irate after losing while watching Obama do absolutely nothing and his opponents are saying "Obama is an ungrateful and un-American joke as President of this great country that cannot be bothered to do what all three other competing countries' leaders did: show up and make his argument why his country should be chosen to host the games. Who does this guy think he is anyway? This is contemptuous." However, this isn't yet the worst outcome.

The fourth scenario is what has just happened: Obama has put his reputation as a charismatic, lights-out closer on the line to bring the bid home for Chicago and the IOC thumbed its nose at Obama by voting Chicago's bid out in the very first round. Chicago is disturbed at losing but appreciative of their favorite son doing his best to try to carry the ball across the goal line for them. Obama, however, has handed his opponents a political gold mine as he climbed out on a limb too far and his opponents are now cackling and sawing it right out from under him. There is no need for me to suss out what his opponents would be saying because they are already saying it. Eric Erickson at redstate.com types “Hahahahaha. I thought the world would love us more now that Bush was gone. I thought if we whored ourselves out to our enemies, great things would happen. Apparently not,” while Rush Limbaugh says across the airwaves to the faithful RushNation that this was the "worst day of [Obama’s] presidency” and that the president had "wasted his country's time, and his prestige." Also "Obama demeaned the office of the presidency, going on this sales pitch," So, now, Obama has managed to spend political capital for nothing in return in the middle of a difficult legislative fight over healthcare reform, the touchstone of his first term, but he has also nearly destroyed the notion that when he enters the discussion that he is sure to carry the day which his detractors are busy gleefully pointing out as they play "pin the tail on the President." In a rare occurrence the President has allowed the situation to play him rather than him playing the situation. Faced with four unpleasant options that were all net political negatives, he swung hard and struck out by landing in the worst outcome available.

While it's true that this was an unavoidable no-win situation for President Obama, it is equally true that his pursuit of the least negative outcome has resulted in him fumbling the ball and now having to come to terms with the worst-case scenario: both he and Chicago have lost with no consolation prize. Perhaps the lesson to learn from this is when you're going to strike out no matter what, it is best to watch the ball pass instead of swinging so hard that the bat escapes and injures the nearest fans. Being caught looking is better than causing yourself more problems than you've already got.

10 Votes
Enjoy this article? Help vote it up the 'Vine.

Published to:

Scott Isaacs's Column, All of Newsvine
Groups: Centervine, DemGuys, Democrats, Foreign Affairs & Policy, Gut Check America, Heated Debate, Journalism on Newsvine, Left of Center, Newsvine International, ObamaExpress, ObamaVine, Open Mic, Open Minded, Political Analysis, Politics in USA, Respectful Debate, rightwingers, Sports 'n' Politics 'n' Stuff, To MSNBC, Tricuspidata, US News and Views , Worldviews
Regions: none

What's this?

Who's leading the conversation?

This visualization below allows you to see the impact that each user has on the current conversation. The top row contains the group of users who have had the most impact, the 2nd row the group of users who have had the 2nd most impact (et cetera). Users with similar impact are grouped together, and the average score of the group is shown to the left of the group. The author of the article is also shown on the left, in their corresponding group. Each user's score is based on the number of comments the user has made plus the number of votes their comments have received. The scores are calculated relative one another, so while their absolute value is not particularly important, their relative difference does indicate a larger difference in impact on the conversation.

{"commentId":9848907,"authorDomain":"michaellonkouski"}

mike lonkouski

Obama and his advisers need to own this failure, and figure out why they think they can break new ground without having any political fall-out.

Obama never should have done this, period! He over-played his hand, he tried to stretch his realm of influence, and he got smacked-down in front of the entire world. For us this is simply a political gaffe, but for Iran and North Korea, the Taliban and Osama Bin Laden, this is a huge personal flaw.

{"commentId":9848907,"threadId":"691822","contentId":"3343564","authorDomain":"michaellonkouski"}

1 vote

#1 - Fri Oct 2, 2009 8:50 PM EDT

{"commentId":9849404,"authorDomain":"owlsley"}

Adrian Owlsley

I promise you people like Osama bin Laden don't care about the Olympics or Obama, as they've repeatedly said. They care about Palestine. And Iranian and North Korean negotiators don't care about Obama either, they care about what kind of bargaining chips the US possesses.

{"commentId":9849404,"threadId":"691822","contentId":"3343564","authorDomain":"owlsley"}

1 vote

#1.1 - Fri Oct 2, 2009 9:29 PM EDT

{"commentId":9850094,"authorDomain":"michaellonkouski"}

mike lonkouski

Adrian-

They don't care, but they still notice. Somalia encouraged Bin Laden, and things like this only serve to embolden all of our adversaries in the world.

{"commentId":9850094,"threadId":"691822","contentId":"3343564","authorDomain":"michaellonkouski"}

#1.2 - Fri Oct 2, 2009 10:22 PM EDT

{"commentId":9850163,"authorDomain":"owlsley"}

Adrian Owlsley

This isn't a soccer game where the team gets a little pep talk and wins in the last second. There are dozens of long-term geopolitical influences affecting these groups and a minor development in an issue they don't care about won't change a thing. It's massive hyperbole to claim that an unsuccessful bid for the olympics would strengthen America's opponents.

{"commentId":9850163,"threadId":"691822","contentId":"3343564","authorDomain":"owlsley"}

1 vote

#1.3 - Fri Oct 2, 2009 10:27 PM EDT

{"commentId":9850289,"authorDomain":"michaellonkouski"}

mike lonkouski

It doesnot strengthen them, it demonstrates to them that Obama is a feckless fool, and an inexperienced and unqualified leader!

{"commentId":9850289,"threadId":"691822","contentId":"3343564","authorDomain":"michaellonkouski"}

#1.4 - Fri Oct 2, 2009 10:37 PM EDT

{"commentId":9851647,"authorDomain":"molliebea"}

MaryEllen Galloway

#1.4:..."it demonstrates to them that Obama is a feckless fool, and an inexperienced and unqualified leader!

You must be one of the "losers" who voted for the other guy. And what is it exactly that makes President Obama unqualified? According to the U.S. Constitution, President Obama is qualified. And don't you think that if he was not qualified, according to the Constitution which is all that matters, he would not have been allowed to run for President? Or haven't you read it? What qualifications are you using? Your own?

..."inexperienced....I've had enough experience from george w bush. You see what his experience got us, don't you? Our economy in the toilet and individual rights destroyed - that's what. Or would you rather have more geoege e bush because he looks more "like you" and is an imbecile to boot?

{"commentId":9851647,"threadId":"691822","contentId":"3343564","authorDomain":"molliebea"}

2 votes

#1.5 - Sat Oct 3, 2009 12:27 AM EDT

{"commentId":9852277,"authorDomain":"owlsley"}

Adrian Owlsley

"it demonstrates to them that Obama is a feckless fool, and an inexperienced and unqualified leader!"

No, it takes a lot more than an attempt to win the Olympics to do that; it takes failure on things that really matter to these groups, like Bush's failures in Iraq, or misguided policies like the overreaching patriot act, which are way above any failing we've seen from the Obama administration. Right now Iran is nervous because Obama has brought together new international cooperation against their nuclear programs, especially Russia. We can expect to see some push and shove in the coming weeks, but so far they seem more receptive to negotiations than some had hoped. Alqaeda and other terrorist organizations also fear international corporation rather than the 'lug with a big gun' America of the Bush years, since they can beat the latter in a war of attrition, and because bin Laden's strategy has always been to turn the Arab world against the US, which we helped along very effectively post-9/11. These are the kind of things that really matter to these people, not that Chicago didn't win the Olympics; and it's on these things that Obama has been so far successful.

Really though, as I said, these people don't care who our leadership is, especially extremist groups like al Qaeda, who see American presidents as homogeneous and largely just care about Palestine. Iran and North Korea may be taking it into consideration, but it doesn't factor much into a cost-benefit analysis- most of the strategic maneuvering that goes on happens independent of leadership. The president can steer the course of events to a degree, but he can't change the facts of the case.

{"commentId":9852277,"threadId":"691822","contentId":"3343564","authorDomain":"owlsley"}

#1.6 - Sat Oct 3, 2009 1:42 AM EDT

{"commentId":9852484,"authorDomain":"michaellonkouski"}

mike lonkouski

mary mary, why you buggin'?

I ain't tryin' to hear that yo!

{"commentId":9852484,"threadId":"691822","contentId":"3343564","authorDomain":"michaellonkouski"}

#1.7 - Sat Oct 3, 2009 2:08 AM EDT

{"commentId":9849144,"authorDomain":"molliebea"}

MaryEllen Galloway

I have read all of your scenarios and do not agree with any of them. I see a successful President who tried to help bring the Olympics of 2016 to the city he resides in. He was not successful in this attempt, but he did not say or infer that he was going to be successful at any time. He was going to try to help; it was not HIS Olympics, it was America's Olympics that he was hoping help land. And why not? He is charismatic and smart and the President of the United States of America. It is just a bonus that he lives in Chicago.

So, all of the glee, and conversely woe, is uncalled for. He tried to help but it didn't sway[reverse] the judges who, imho, already had their minds made up. All other Presidents of countries who were in the running also attended and made a pitch for the Olympics.

Why would you [& others] put the responsibility of successfully getting or nixing the planned Olympics on the President? That was not his job, but a "favor" he was doing FOR the people of Chicago (who, some of, for whatever reasons did not want held in Chicago anyway).

So enough "high-five-ing" and sobbing, it is what it is. He is still the President of the United States, and we, the people who voted for him in 2008 will vote for him again. To us, this means nothing besides giving reporters something else to "armchair quarterback" and "second-guess" about. That's it, no more, no less.

{"commentId":9849144,"threadId":"691822","contentId":"3343564","authorDomain":"molliebea"}

2 votes

#2 - Fri Oct 2, 2009 9:07 PM EDT

{"commentId":9849304,"authorDomain":"molliebea"}

MaryEllen Galloway

#1: Obama never should have done this, period!

And I am sure this is just "in your humble opinion" of course. Because you are in no position to say what the President of the United States [or anyone else unless they are your children under the age of 18] should or should not do.

{"commentId":9849304,"threadId":"691822","contentId":"3343564","authorDomain":"molliebea"}

2 votes

#3 - Fri Oct 2, 2009 9:21 PM EDT

{"commentId":9849408,"authorDomain":"owlsley"}

Adrian Owlsley

If Obama is overexposed his critics are equally so. Every mistake and every victory in the Obama administration have been viciously criticized by personalities like Beck. Even the most insignificant foibles become huge, usually as an exposè on the liberal media prefaced by 'wah wah, imagine if Bush had done it'. They can't harp on every tiny thing and then act as if one more thing to criticize will be a serious blow; after all, they were criticizing the trip in every way they could find before the result as even announced.

{"commentId":9849408,"threadId":"691822","contentId":"3343564","authorDomain":"owlsley"}

2 votes

#4 - Fri Oct 2, 2009 9:30 PM EDT

{"commentId":9851854,"authorDomain":"molliebea"}

MaryEllen Galloway

#4: ...."they were criticizing the trip in every way they could find before the result as even announced..."

They were critizing even before he left to go on the trip! They had both scripts of the rightwing nut "talkng points" ready for both possibilities, winning the bid and losing the bid. It was already a "done deal" either way you slice it. They are so transparent in their hate and bigotry. They are nauseating!

{"commentId":9851854,"threadId":"691822","contentId":"3343564","authorDomain":"molliebea"}

2 votes

#4.1 - Sat Oct 3, 2009 12:48 AM EDT

{"commentId":9852494,"authorDomain":"michaellonkouski"}

mike lonkouski

mary- it makes you nauseous? You should take a pepcid and avoid politics, it's obviously too intense for your delicate sensibilities.

{"commentId":9852494,"threadId":"691822","contentId":"3343564","authorDomain":"michaellonkouski"}

#4.2 - Sat Oct 3, 2009 2:10 AM EDT

{"commentId":9852749,"authorDomain":"GAGUY"}

GA GUY

Mike, your agenda is showing...

You may want to use that pepcid personally...

{"commentId":9852749,"threadId":"691822","contentId":"3343564","authorDomain":"GAGUY"}

1 vote

#4.3 - Sat Oct 3, 2009 2:57 AM EDT

{"commentId":9849632,"authorDomain":"GAGUY"}

GA GUY

Your perspective is all wrong on this one Scott!

You cannot be telling us you expect our President to always "play it safe"!

Surely you do not expect him not to even try.

Let's put the politics back behind common sense where they belong.

The President did not fail here, but our country did indeed present a divided nation to the IOC and the rest of the world.

Let's go back to the root cause. America as a divided nation is not attractive on the international scene...

{"commentId":9849632,"threadId":"691822","contentId":"3343564","authorDomain":"GAGUY"}

1 vote

#5 - Fri Oct 2, 2009 9:48 PM EDT

{"commentId":9850120,"authorDomain":"michaellonkouski"}

mike lonkouski

Obama made a stupid and arrogant decision to try, and the IOC humiliated him in front of the entire world, how can you see this any other way?

{"commentId":9850120,"threadId":"691822","contentId":"3343564","authorDomain":"michaellonkouski"}

1 vote

#6 - Fri Oct 2, 2009 10:24 PM EDT

{"commentId":9850201,"authorDomain":"owlsley"}

Adrian Owlsley

How about this way: Obama made the attempt to win the olympics for America to help its international relationships and bring a little pride and maybe a little sorely lacking unity to the country. Chicago lost, in the first round due to an Asian bloc vote for Tokyo, but in the overall process would have been defeated by Rio anyway. The right wing screamed their heads off about this, but would have anyway whether Chicago won or lost, fully demonstrating why we deserved to lose.

{"commentId":9850201,"threadId":"691822","contentId":"3343564","authorDomain":"owlsley"}

1 vote

#6.1 - Fri Oct 2, 2009 10:30 PM EDT

{"commentId":9850317,"authorDomain":"michaellonkouski"}

mike lonkouski

That's a great point!

Think about this....

We could have sent just Oprah, and then this wouldn't be a big deal. President's just don't do this kind of thing, IT IS UNIVERSALLY KNOWN TO BE BENEATH THEM!!!

{"commentId":9850317,"threadId":"691822","contentId":"3343564","authorDomain":"michaellonkouski"}

#6.2 - Fri Oct 2, 2009 10:40 PM EDT

{"commentId":9851724,"authorDomain":"molliebea"}

MaryEllen Galloway

#6: .."and the IOC humiliated him in front of the entire world..

The President was not humiliated. But the country (your country- you are a United Sttes citizen aren't you) was hurt and disappointed. The OIC made a decision based on votes that had nothing to do with our President, Barack Obama. But you choose to see it as the President was humiliated because you don''t like him and want to see him humbled to your level. But the President could never go "that low- to your level" not even for his wife and children whom I know he loves. Try again.

{"commentId":9851724,"threadId":"691822","contentId":"3343564","authorDomain":"molliebea"}

1 vote

#6.3 - Sat Oct 3, 2009 12:37 AM EDT

{"commentId":9852511,"authorDomain":"michaellonkouski"}

mike lonkouski

Mary-

who is the OIC? I thought women knew how to type? Apparently, your ignorance of politics transcends to your most domestic of abilities!

By the way, how is the diet going? Did you shed all that baby weight? I am sure that once you get down below 250 lbs, you'll feel better.

{"commentId":9852511,"threadId":"691822","contentId":"3343564","authorDomain":"michaellonkouski"}

#6.4 - Sat Oct 3, 2009 2:13 AM EDT

{"commentId":9852185,"authorDomain":"owlsley"}

Adrian Owlsley

"IT IS UNIVERSALLY KNOWN TO BE BENEATH THEM!!!"

Using bold and capital letters was a nice attempt to make your argument, but that's not even close to true. Presidents frequently attend Olympics, and the huge celebrations in Rio today and in other Olympic cities all point to the fact that the Olympics are a big deal for the national pride of the host country, and also for international unity. The right wing has immediately started denigrating the Olympics just because Obama took the time to help America's chances. If he had decided not to go the right wing would be pretending the 2016 Olympics would have been the most important event in history, and you've bought the line right away.

{"commentId":9852185,"threadId":"691822","contentId":"3343564","authorDomain":"owlsley"}

#7 - Sat Oct 3, 2009 1:31 AM EDT

{"commentId":9852541,"authorDomain":"michaellonkouski"}

mike lonkouski

Adrian-

The el presidente of Brazil just got done saying that the financial crisis was caused by " white people with blue eyes" and his country got the Olympic games in 2016.

Now, we have a name for that here in the USA, what is it? You lefties bring it up all of the time? Some term for when white people are mean to black people? It's a word, two-syllables?

What's that thing that all you lefties always call me because I am a right-wing libertarian, and therefor don't agree with Obama's policy and ideology? Oh yeah, racism!

You two are right, this was a noble win for Obama! He hit it out of the park! He only reaffirmed his genius with this roaring victory!

{"commentId":9852541,"threadId":"691822","contentId":"3343564","authorDomain":"michaellonkouski"}

1 vote

#8 - Sat Oct 3, 2009 2:18 AM EDT

{"commentId":9852616,"authorDomain":"owlsley"}

Adrian Owlsley

Well, gee, we have high-level politicians distributing what amount to racial slurs against our own president, but we still thought we had a pretty good chance. Also the financial crisis was undoubtedly caused by the developed world, which is the sense that the Brazilian president meant the statement. Also as I've said many times before on newsvine white Europeans and Americans can't possibly take a country or region oppressed by their racist and power-mongering policies for decades and centuries and then claim that they're a victim of racism from these very same countries; they may experience racial bias but to argue it as an equal phenomenon is to ignore the relationship between victim and oppressor that certainly exists, the equivalent of a robber saying his victim should pay the fees if he's shot by the police. I also notice your post doesn't respond to any of the previous points that were raised, and you don't raise any substantial new ones, besides pretending that we're arguing that a loss was actually a victory, which may be the intellectual level where you could actually be rhetorically successful.

{"commentId":9852616,"threadId":"691822","contentId":"3343564","authorDomain":"owlsley"}

#8.1 - Sat Oct 3, 2009 2:33 AM EDT

{"commentId":9852660,"authorDomain":"michaellonkouski"}

mike lonkouski

list a single personal attack!

{"commentId":9852660,"threadId":"691822","contentId":"3343564","authorDomain":"michaellonkouski"}

#8.2 - Sat Oct 3, 2009 2:41 AM EDT

{"commentId":9852675,"authorDomain":"owlsley"}

Adrian Owlsley

"list a single personal attack!"

Will do:

"I thought women knew how to type?"

And I'll go even farther for the enrichment of all:

"Apparently, your ignorance of politics transcends to your most domestic of abilities!"

"By the way, how is the diet going? Did you shed all that baby weight? I am sure that once you get down below 250 lbs, you'll feel better."

"You should take a pepcid and avoid politics, it's obviously too intense for your delicate sensibilities."

{"commentId":9852675,"threadId":"691822","contentId":"3343564","authorDomain":"owlsley"}

#8.3 - Sat Oct 3, 2009 2:44 AM EDT

{"commentId":9852713,"authorDomain":"michaellonkouski"}

mike lonkouski

Oh yeah, those...

Yeah, I did get nasty. but I'll be honest, I get so sick of...

you are a United Sttes citizen aren't you

You must be one of the "losers" who voted for the other guy

Or would you rather have more geoege e bush because he looks more "like you" and is an imbecile to boot?

When I get sick of being insulted, I insult. Except that last remark of ...

"By the way, how is the diet going? Did you shed all that baby weight? I am sure that once you get down below 250 lbs, you'll feel better."

That's all true.

{"commentId":9852713,"threadId":"691822","contentId":"3343564","authorDomain":"michaellonkouski"}

#8.4 - Sat Oct 3, 2009 2:51 AM EDT

{"commentId":9852739,"authorDomain":"owlsley"}

Adrian Owlsley

The truth is I don't care who insulted who, I don't post on newsvine to simulate supervising a kindergarten playground. I meant to point out not that you've resorted to personal attacks but that you've resorted to them in lieu of a substantial argument.

{"commentId":9852739,"threadId":"691822","contentId":"3343564","authorDomain":"owlsley"}

#8.5 - Sat Oct 3, 2009 2:55 AM EDT

{"commentId":9852869,"authorDomain":"michaellonkouski"}

mike lonkouski

then get off newsvine, it's too terse for you.

{"commentId":9852869,"threadId":"691822","contentId":"3343564","authorDomain":"michaellonkouski"}

#9 - Sat Oct 3, 2009 3:20 AM EDT

{"commentId":9852891,"authorDomain":"owlsley"}

Adrian Owlsley

I'm not going to leave newsvine because you can't make a proper argument. I'm also not going to continue this off-topic conversation any further (unless you really irritate me).

{"commentId":9852891,"threadId":"691822","contentId":"3343564","authorDomain":"owlsley"}

#9.1 - Sat Oct 3, 2009 3:26 AM EDT

{"commentId":9852902,"authorDomain":"michaellonkouski"}

mike lonkouski

that's okay, because at this point, I think you and I are arguing on two other seeds. This is just a little bit silly, we obviously don't agree. Maybe we'll fair better on one of the others. See you on the vine, and best of luck.

{"commentId":9852902,"threadId":"691822","contentId":"3343564","authorDomain":"michaellonkouski"}

#9.2 - Sat Oct 3, 2009 3:28 AM EDT

{"commentId":9854859,"authorDomain":"jfxgillis"}

jfxgillis

Scott:

Don't worry about it. In 2013 a recently-re-elected President Obama will do this again and Chicago will win the 2020 bid.

{"commentId":9854859,"threadId":"691822","contentId":"3343564","authorDomain":"jfxgillis"}

1 vote

#10 - Sat Oct 3, 2009 10:12 AM EDT

{"commentId":9857142,"authorDomain":"owlsley"}

Adrian Owlsley

Probably not since the 2016 Olympics will already have been in the western hemisphere. The earliest we're likely to see a serious American bid at the Olympics again is 2024.

{"commentId":9857142,"threadId":"691822","contentId":"3343564","authorDomain":"owlsley"}

#10.1 - Sat Oct 3, 2009 1:23 PM EDT

{"commentId":9859783,"authorDomain":"isaacs"}

Scott Isaacs

Jack:

I'm not terribly worried about it. I think this is just a short-term thing in regards to dogging him. I just wanted to try to be fair and objective in pointing out where Obama fails sometimes. The same as some people hate Obama no matter what I think that sometimes it is healthy for some of our fellow supporters to realize that there are some days when we lose the battle but that doesn't mean we lose the war. You and I know that this was a defeat for Obama and that in the scheme of things it will be minor, but his haters want to cast it as the mortal blow that shows he's human and his total supporters want to insist it means nothing.

{"commentId":9859783,"threadId":"691822","contentId":"3343564","authorDomain":"isaacs"}

1 vote

#10.2 - Sat Oct 3, 2009 4:55 PM EDT

{"commentId":9856142,"authorDomain":"molliebea"}

MaryEllen Galloway

To mike l: Nothing that you say, of all people, could insult me, just as our President could never bring himself down to your level.

And since you don't know me, everything, again, is "in your humble {and I do mean "humble} opinion". And who cares about your humble opinion? I know I don't.

So say what you must to make yourself feel better. You seem to need it, among other things. I will continue to defend our President against the hater and loser that you are.

And I won't bother to wish you a good day; it would take too much of a stretch on your part to reach it.

{"commentId":9856142,"threadId":"691822","contentId":"3343564","authorDomain":"molliebea"}

1 vote

#11 - Sat Oct 3, 2009 12:05 PM EDT

{"commentId":9859100,"authorDomain":"michaellonkouski"}

mike lonkouski

Mary-

I did get exceedingly harsh, but you started it with:

you are a United Sttes citizen aren't you

You must be one of the "losers" who voted for the other guy

Or would you rather have more geoege e bush because he looks more "like you" and is an imbecile to boot?

That said, let's agree to disagree. See you on the vine, and best of luck!

{"commentId":9859100,"threadId":"691822","contentId":"3343564","authorDomain":"michaellonkouski"}

#11.1 - Sat Oct 3, 2009 4:00 PM EDT

{"commentId":9857240,"authorDomain":"molliebea"}

MaryEllen Galloway

I ran across this quote this morning from New York Governor Bloomberg, who aparently feels the same way I do, and said it best:

"The Olympics should not be a partisan issue, and suggesting this is a loss for President Obama is nothing more than petty partisan politics."

{"commentId":9857240,"threadId":"691822","contentId":"3343564","authorDomain":"molliebea"}

3 votes

#12 - Sat Oct 3, 2009 1:31 PM EDT

{"commentId":9857393,"authorDomain":"molliebea"}

MaryEllen Galloway

I wanted to include the entire link for others to read if they wanted to and was interested.

"Hosting the 2016 Olympics would have been great for Chicago and the entire country, and the president was absolutely right to push for it," he said. "The Olympics should not be a partisan issue, and suggesting this is a loss for President Obama is nothing more than petty partisan politics."

He added: "I hope we're able to bring the Games to the U.S. in 2020."

{"commentId":9857393,"threadId":"691822","contentId":"3343564","authorDomain":"molliebea"}

2 votes

#13 - Sat Oct 3, 2009 1:42 PM EDT

{"commentId":9858283,"authorDomain":"molliebea"}

MaryEllen Galloway

Sorry Scott if the last post, with the link, posted twice. I must have inadvertly hit the "enter button" more than once. Didn't mean to inundate you with the message, oops.

{"commentId":9858283,"threadId":"691822","contentId":"3343564","authorDomain":"molliebea"}

#14 - Sat Oct 3, 2009 2:55 PM EDT

{"commentId":9859809,"authorDomain":"isaacs"}

Scott Isaacs

MG:

No problem. :-)

{"commentId":9859809,"threadId":"691822","contentId":"3343564","authorDomain":"isaacs"}

1 vote

#14.1 - Sat Oct 3, 2009 4:58 PM EDT

{"commentId":9859874,"authorDomain":"isaacs"}

Scott Isaacs

To all that have posted:

I think this could nip at Obama's heels but I'm chiefly trying to make the point that those who don't like Obama need to give up the "Mortal Kombat" outlook on him where every time he doesn't achieve his aims it is a "fatality." (Apologies to the non-gamers) To my fellow Obama supporters, I'm trying to say that we need to get more honest with ourselves about reality and take it like Paul Begala did: as a learning moment. In truth, Obama probably shouldn't have gotten tangled up in it but I know why he did. I think he did the right thing even though it was pretty much inundated with downsides. If Chicago won the Games it makes him no progress in his current fights here at home. But, who knows, perhaps this loss will help him reconfigure how he deals with Chicago's bid for the 2020 Games so that his pitch will be successful. Because I know he'll be in Chicago's retinue when they take the issue up, just as Jack said.

{"commentId":9859874,"threadId":"691822","contentId":"3343564","authorDomain":"isaacs"}

1 vote

#15 - Sat Oct 3, 2009 5:02 PM EDT

{"commentId":9860686,"authorDomain":"molliebea"}

MaryEllen Galloway

Hi Scott, thanks for the note. As a Chicagoan, I have certain feelings about the 2016 Olympics and they do not, I repeat, do not involve President Obama being the "heavy" in this at all. This is the reason I am objecting so vehemently to the role of the President as the "heavy" versus as a peripheral only. And you might not have been inclined to go, but you are not him.

When the President "decided" to attend the Copenhagen fete, it was as an "add-on" only; if he could help with the already very austere Chicago group, why not? After all he is a resident of Chicago and loves his city of residence; he is also the President of the United States of "America" which was trying to get the Olympics to come to America in 2016.

After careful consideration [in which he first said he was notgoing to attend] and some "back and forth" - and a few phone calls from a few "close friends", he figured that it was the [best] thing to do -it could not hurt to go- win or lose. And being the kind of person he is, it was the "least" he could do for his COUNTRY. And so he went- but he also tied in a meeting with Armed Forces General McChristol while there - just so there would be no whining "about him taking a vacation at this critical time in America". All of this was done in a matter of hours; he was back on the plane to return to Washington, D.C. when the news of the first vote, that eliminated Chicago, was announced.

For him to get the news, on the plane,- that Chicago would not get the Olympics, and to be eliminated on the very first vote, was disappointing I am sure. Too add insult to this injury, which I felt, imho, the votes were already decided, now the President has been blamed for the decision to not have the Olympic games in America- not just Chicago but America! It is very disheartening to say the least.

That our President is being blamed for the Olympics not coming to America is both Outrageous, Outlandish, and very Dispiriting to me, let alone to the President. It is also very unpatriotic, and totally condescending to those others who worked so hard to attain this goal. Did not their efforts count any? But the President has more "balls" than I will ever have, and I know that I am writing more about it than he ever will, but I feel that I have to say this simply because he is a better person than I am, especially when it comes to my enemies.

So when I see the marked, unreasonable, totally insane "glee" and "gotcha, unpatriotic" behavior, it is unacceptable to me, on my President's behalf, and every other citizen in Chicago.

{"commentId":9860686,"threadId":"691822","contentId":"3343564","authorDomain":"molliebea"}

1 vote

#15.1 - Sat Oct 3, 2009 6:10 PM EDT

{"canLink":false,"threadId":"691822","isPrivate":false}

SCOTT ISAACS

Backyard

Chicago 2016 Olympics Bid A Losing Proposition For Obama From The Start

Live Poll

Live Poll

Published to:

FUN STUFF:

COMPANY STUFF:

LEGAL STUFF:

	Yes
	No