In the midst of the health care debate, the Afghanistan war troop debate, a possible (though uncertain) jobless economic recovery, and plummeting poll numbers, the President desperately needed something to put in the win column. Bringing the 2016 Olympic Games to Chicago seemed to be just what the doctor ordered. So, he put himself, his staff, his wife, his teleprompter, and even the almighty Oprah on a pair of jets bound for a tremendously expensive adventure in Copenhagen. The Obama charm would be on full display, and no mere mortal would be able to resist his measured, well-reasoned, devastatingly intelligent powers of persuasion.
At least that was the plan.
Not only will the Olympics not be coming to Chicago, the city wasn’t even in serious contention. It received the lowest number of votes from the International Olympic Committee and, as a result, was the first location eliminated from consideration. At a cost of around ten million dollars, Obama bought himself a huge slap in the face.
Frankly, it’s not surprising. Obama spent the first eight months of his Presidency roaming the Earth, bending the ears of all who would listen, apologizing for his country. Remember, in speech after speech the president has informed the world that America is a place of racism, greed, and pollution – a nation that has, time and again, failed to live up to its ideals.
Why then are people shocked that a single speech in Denmark, extolling the virtues of his hometown, has failed to impress? After all, not even the combined power of Obama and Oprah is enough to convince the world that Chicago somehow lies outside of the United States. Why would we think that the IOC would want to subject the world’s athletes to a country that can’t tear itself away from its “guns and religion” long enough to enjoy some synchronized swimming?
Already the Obama-obsessed media has started to spin this into their “no big deal” file. MSNBC is making the claim that Chicago failed Obama, not the other way around. David Axelrod has been all over Fox News telling the country that this wasn’t even particularly surprising.
Not surprising? Tell that to the thousands who gathered in the Windy City, expecting to join in on another Obama victory party, only to stand in stunned silence as the bad news was announced on enormous video screens.
Barack Obama has failed to acheive a very public goal on a global scale. Clearly, something’s gone wrong, since Obama’s too big to fail. Somehow, this has to be George Bush’s fault.
What’s that? The “Blame Bush” thing’s not working so well anymore? Well, then get Jimmy Carter out there. The Olympic Committee has denied Obama’s wishes. Obviously, they’re nothing but a bunch of racists.
Yeah. Racists. People are still buying that one, right?
Hello?
- Robert Laurie
I suspect that this trip was never about the Olympics anyway. Obama also had a 25 minute meeting, on the tarmac, with General McChrystal in Air Force One.
If you think about the press of events this week, it makes more sense that the President would use the Olympic trip as a backdrop for a trip to talk frankly and directly with McChrystal about Afghanistan (and Iran.)
The man’s not an idiot. I think that 25 minutes, in addition to the Olympics, made this trip well worth it.
So you’re suggesting that the President, lacking the ability to set up a confidential meeting in Washington, spent 10 Million taxpayer dollars and flew TWO 747′s full of staff to Denmark, just so he could talk to the General he’s been ingnoring for the last five and a half months?
If that’s the case, he’s a far worse president that even I thought….