Politics aside, why not give it to a place that has never had it? That is what should happen, how many times has America had it?
after South America, Africa and Antartica remain the last two continents to not have an Olympics....lets give it to Antartica next!!!
PJABBER
Diamond Member
- Feb 8, 2001
- 4,822
- 0
- 0
Rio is no paragon of virtue, but the world does see the gang killings in Chicago and thinks that Chitown is seriously messed up.
It is time for Chicago and all of the other American cities to take yet another look at how Giuliani transformed New York into a livable place.
Right now, even with the absolutely horrendous crime rate in Chicago, residents have no way to defend themselves against the bad guys.
Gun advocates predict drop in crime if gun ban is lifted
There is another thread going here about how the poorest, and I would say worst run, cities are run by Democrats, so maybe that is a better place to continue.
I work internationally and one thing that you maybe are not getting a sense of here is that Obama, from and of Chicago, is losing respect big time. Since he has not been able to deliver anything of substance in the way of trade, diplomacy, etc. he is now considered just a sweet talking empty suit. And the shtick is getting a might boring.
This is not America-hating. But it is another wake-up call.
Jaskalas
Lifer
- Jun 23, 2004
- 35,866
- 10,175
- 136
Soon as it has a city with 1 million+ residents in it.
Or, as soon as you can light it up like this.
I didn't really have a problem with Obama pressing for it, but honestly I'm glad Chicago didn't get it. For a city as corrupt as it is, to get the Olympics as corrupt as it is, would have been a disaster for the common person of Chicago. They would have taken right in the old glory hole all while lining the pockets of corrupt IOC members and Chicago politicians.
Republicans only ones working for the rich and powerful? pffpt.
Republicans only ones working for the rich and powerful? pffpt.
I didn't.
But I do, now.
:shocked:
I just can't believe the Contard hate on this thread.
"The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well."
Fern
Elite Member
- Sep 30, 2003
- 26,907
- 174
- 106
Hmmmm. I'm kinda surpised. I didn't think Obama would lend his weight to the effort if they weren't pretty sure Chicago was a lock to be host. No reason to risk losing some of his luster in a losing effort.
Might not be a bad thing for Chicago to lose the bid. Even if there were 7 years of economic 'good times' those things are hard to pay for. Given the current economic climate and the uncertain future, might be good that someone else (Rio in this case) takes the gamble.
Otherwise, since South America hasn't yet had an Oympics I can understand why they were chosen (Plus the Euro's love to vacation in Rio, I'll bet most of them would vote for it over any other city).
Fern
Might not be a bad thing for Chicago to lose the bid. Even if there were 7 years of economic 'good times' those things are hard to pay for. Given the current economic climate and the uncertain future, might be good that someone else (Rio in this case) takes the gamble.
Otherwise, since South America hasn't yet had an Oympics I can understand why they were chosen (Plus the Euro's love to vacation in Rio, I'll bet most of them would vote for it over any other city).
Fern
This. The amount of corruption in this area is staggering...no way would the average middleclass taxpayer have come out anywhere close to even on this.
If the Olympics truly are a large moneymaker, then in the spirit of international brotherhood, we should have the Olympic's in places that need that money. Rio is fine, Iraq, etc.
Chicago not getting the Olympics...good overall for us Chicago folks who don't get kickbacks and sweet corrupt business deals.
Chuck
No, you put a sock in it. That unnecessary war cost far more than any health care plan being discussed and had far less debate. And despite there being no WMD's, no ties to 9/11, and the clusterfuck aftermath, there are people who still defend it. What did the 'fiscal conservative GOP' do when they had full control from 2000-2006? Did they cut spending? Yeah, didn't think so.
Nice title (not you, the writer) and journalism. JFC it's as though only Chicago and Rio were in the running. :roll:
Agreed and stipulated -- your bolded. Why assume I was pleased with what Bush did? I've posted many times on how he betrayed conservatism. If I didn't know better, I'd say your comments suggest that since Bush did it, we should give Obama a pass too. WRONG!
This :thumbsup: I personally thought that Obama going there was a sure sign that they were pretty sure Chicago would have it in the bag.
PJABBER
Diamond Member
- Feb 8, 2001
- 4,822
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Yeah, I am NOT happy with the foreign press bashing America, and that is who Obama represents overseas. Here we have every right to attack him for the empty suit that he is, but it grates when an American President is mocked overseas. And he is getting mocked big time.
Another story in this vein, and there are lots more crossing the wires right now on my monitor...
Obama?s Olympic failure will only add to doubts about his presidency
Obama?s Olympic failure will only add to doubts about his presidency
Barack Obama fails to make the case for Chicago to the IOC in Copenhagen
The Times (UK)
October 2, 2009
Tim Reid in Washington
US President Barack Obama speaks in Copenhagen
There has been a growing narrative taking hold about Barack Obama?s presidency in recent weeks: that he is loved by many, but feared by none; that he is full of lofty vision, but is actually achieving nothing with his grandiloquence.
Chicago?s dismal showing today, after Mr Obama?s personal, impassioned last-minute pitch, is a stunning humiliation for this President. It cannot be emphasised enough how this will feed the perception that on the world stage he looks good ? but carries no heft.
It was only the Olympic Games, the White House will argue ? not a high-stakes diplomatic gamble with North Korea. It is always worthwhile when Mr Obama sells America to the rest of the world, David Axelrod, his chief political adviser, said today. But that argument will fall on deaf ears in the US. Americans want their presidents to be winners.
Mr Obama was greeted ? as usual ? like a rock star by the IOC delegates in Copenhagen ? then humiliated by them. Perception is reality. A narrow defeat for Chicago would have been acceptable ? but the sheer scale of the defeat was a bombshell, and is a major blow for Mr Obama at a time when questions are being asked about his style of governance.
At home, it is difficult to turn on a television and not see Mr Obama giving a press conference, or an interview, or at a town hall rally, in his all-out effort to sell his troubled reform the US health insurance system. After three months of enormous exposure, Mr Obama has achieved this: the growing likelihood of ramming a Bill through Congress with ? at most ? just one Republican vote.
Abroad, Mr Obama promised in his Inauguration address to engage America?s enemies, and he has done just that. He has very little to show for it. Yes, Iran took part in bilateral talks with the US this week over its nuclear weapons programme ? but that is something Tehran has wanted for years. There is still a very good chance that the meetings will prove to be an exercise in futility and a time-wasting ploy by Tehran.
Mr Obama also scrapped a plan for a missile defence shield in the Czech Republic and Poland, hoping to get in return Russian co-operation behind new sanctions against Tehran. There was optimism when President Medvedev said ?sanctions are seldom productive, but they are sometimes inevitable?. Yet Vladimir Putin, and the Chinese, remain fiercely opposed to sanctions.
Meanwhile, America and its allies are being forced to witness a very public agonising by Mr Obama and his advisers over his Afghan strategy ? six months after he announced that strategy.
This has all added to the perception that Mr Obama?s soaring rhetoric ? which captured the imagination during last year?s election ? is simply not enough when it comes to confronting the myriad challenges of the presidency. His spectacular Olympic failure will only add to that.
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