An Olympian-sized failure
October 2nd 2009 22:58
Rio de Janeiro has been awarded the 2016 Summer Olympics -- which means that Chicago lost in its long and arduous bid to host the games. Not only did Chicago not get it, but the Windy City was the first of the four finalists to be eliminated. In other words, it wasn't even close.
What happened? President Obama went down there personally to make an impassioned plea. I thought he was King of the Universe. Were they not swayed by the lofty words of "He Who Is The One"? I thought he was wildly popular around the world. Heck, we even sent "She Who Married He Who Is The One". Two Obamas on one stage and Chicago still didn't win it? What happened to that Midas Touch?
Truthfully, I think this was an uphill battle for Chicago (hype notwithstanding). The US had the Summer Olympics in 1996 and South America had never hosted the games. Maybe it was just their time. And maybe the horrific headlines detailing near-daily violence on Chicago's streets negatively impacted the bid. Or perhaps Chicago's reputation of being a cesspool in terms of political corruption was a concern. We'll never know.
With that being said, though, Obama made a poor decision when he got personally involved. No president has ever made such an attempt. Right or wrong, the rejection of Chicago will also be perceived as a rejection of Obama. This single event won't permanently damage his presidency. There are too many other critical issues that he will be judged on. However, this puts a notable chink in the armor of Obama. Alas, it seems that he is not King of the Universe. He does not have the Midas Touch. He is a mere mortal.
Maybe the mere mortal can now get back to the US and start doing something to get Americans back to work. That would be a much better use of his time.
What happened? President Obama went down there personally to make an impassioned plea. I thought he was King of the Universe. Were they not swayed by the lofty words of "He Who Is The One"? I thought he was wildly popular around the world. Heck, we even sent "She Who Married He Who Is The One". Two Obamas on one stage and Chicago still didn't win it? What happened to that Midas Touch?
Truthfully, I think this was an uphill battle for Chicago (hype notwithstanding). The US had the Summer Olympics in 1996 and South America had never hosted the games. Maybe it was just their time. And maybe the horrific headlines detailing near-daily violence on Chicago's streets negatively impacted the bid. Or perhaps Chicago's reputation of being a cesspool in terms of political corruption was a concern. We'll never know.
With that being said, though, Obama made a poor decision when he got personally involved. No president has ever made such an attempt. Right or wrong, the rejection of Chicago will also be perceived as a rejection of Obama. This single event won't permanently damage his presidency. There are too many other critical issues that he will be judged on. However, this puts a notable chink in the armor of Obama. Alas, it seems that he is not King of the Universe. He does not have the Midas Touch. He is a mere mortal.
Maybe the mere mortal can now get back to the US and start doing something to get Americans back to work. That would be a much better use of his time.
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Comment by S.L.
The Political Brief
Comment by PopulistConservative
Angry Electorate
And it was good for him to meet with McCrystal.He should at least pretend that he's engaged on the issue.
Comment by Michael 2
Zed Power
PoetrymanPoetry
National Poetry Month
Go Green or Go Home
Energy Independence Now!
Digital Dreams
Eating the Kool Aid
Angel Sightings
Sacred Geometries
Comment by rickb_georgia
I just found out my medical expenses are going to quadruple in 2010 thanks to the Democrats and their Medicare Improvement Act of 2008, which was the result of another bait and switch in the middle of the night by Mr. Rangel of New York and his buddies. And still no activity by the Ethics Committee in reviewing the jerk's standing. Mr. Wilson was right, not just about Mr. Obama's ommissions but about the whole Democratic Party. Unfortunately I am not really sure the Republicans are any better. Let's replace them all in 2010!
Very sad that the 2016 Olympics are more important to Mr. Obama than the lives of our people in Afganistan.
Comment by PopulistConservative
Angry Electorate
One of the ugliest episodes here was that several politicians and power-brokers caught flak for cutting special deals with buddies who were vendors during the games. The whole thing was like a boondoggle where everyone in power tried to grab a piece of the pie. In a place as corrupt as Chicago, that would've been a BIG problem for them, also.
Comment by PopulistConservative
Angry Electorate
Regarding the health care bill, the Dems will overreach in a big way and it will hurt them (although the full impact for that may be a few years down the road). What scares me, though, is that they are creating a new entitlement program. Those things are impossible to stop once they get started. So the Dems are about to create a mess that almost certainly can't be fully cleaned up in future years.
Comment by Jim Stillman
Political Certainty
The president was rebuffed by the international community as proof that he is weak, stupid and considered a joke by those with whom he has tried to engage. To the extent that President Obama was unsuccessful in having Chicago chosen, he made a fool of himself and weakened America. Yeah!
Then the president is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. This is proof that he is, in the eyes of the international community, smart, strong and serious by those with whom he has tried to engage. This puts America in a foolish and weakened position. Yeah!
I get it, now that it’s been explained.
Comment by rickb_georgia
I have to wonder if Mr. Obama will win the Heisman trophy this year because he watched a football game. Let’s be real and give the Nobel Peace Prize committee its due for slamming Mr. Bush. It is a very liberal group of people attempting to meddle in the politics of the USA; seems they have forgotten that German would be their national language today if it were not for the USA.
I take Mr. Obama and the ultra liberal left very seriously. I also take cancer and kidney failure very seriously. Fortunately these are all diseases that can be successfully treated and folks can live a long and prosperous life afterwards.
I understand the Earth wobbles on its axis once every 26,000 years or so and the end of the current wobble happens on 12/21/2012. Let us hope that the every four year political wobble our nation endures will have corrected itself by that date as well. Now we just need some responsible leadership from the moderate Republicans and hope the Dems do not do so much damage it can't be repaired. All these guys need to get together and do something meaningful with our health care system though and the first step is to get the politics out of the debate. It has become all about political power and not at all about helping us citizens who are footing the bill. I still recommed hiring to Geico cave men to fix it ... they can do a better job than Congress.
Comment by PopulistConservative
Angry Electorate
The IOC consists of 106 people from a number of countries (although it's heavily Euro-centric). The Nobel selection committee consists of five Norwegian leftists. I wouldn't necessarily assume that five hyperpartisans from Norway represent the views of all of Europe. Have you seen any polling of European citizens as to whether or not The One deserved the Nobel Peace Prize? I haven't, but I'd like to see some. That would tell us whether this award was also a farce in their eyes as well.
UPDATE: I did find this anecdotal information:
"Scrap the Nobel Peace Prize," foreign affairs commentator Bronwen Maddox wrote in The Times of London. "It's an embarrassment and even an impediment to peace. President Obama, in letting the committee award it to him, has made himself look vain, a fool and dangerously lost in his own mystique."
Comment by PopulistConservative
Angry Electorate
If Chicago was a front-runner pre-Obama-involvement and was eliminated in the first round after he intervened, that doesn't say much for his contribution. I suspect there were a variety of reasons that Chicago lost out, though, and they may or may not have had anything to do with Obama. I guess we'll never know.