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Obama Has Lost A Valuable Thing

He May Need It Later

By: Dan McLaughlin (Diary)  |  October 2nd, 2009 at 12:35 PM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

So, Chicago was eliminated in the first round of bidding for the 2016 Summer Olympics, despite (I assume despite) President Obama’s personal lobbying for the Games.

Now, as a New Yorker, I really would not want the Olympics anywhere near my city, and the Olympics don’t exactly have a grand history of making money for the host city (ask Montreal) or necessarily good press (ask Munich), but I take at face value for the moment that Chicagoans really wanted this one and felt it would be good for the city. Certainly great effort and expense was put into the bid, and many hopes seemed to be riding on it.

I’d questioned Obama’s priorities in making the trip, but now he has a much bigger problem. It’s one thing for the President to make a phone call or two to lend a subtle hand to this sort of effort; that would have been fine with me. But by the President and First Lady both making personal appearances and elevating this to the top news story of the day and a test of personal and national prestige, Obama stood a significant chance of being humiliated, and doing so for what is hard to describe as a critical national interest. Most of us on the Right assumed, whatever we thought of the trip, that Obama would never be fool enough to make it if he didn’t already have deals done to get this in the bag for Chicago. Apparently, we overestimated him.

This is why you don’t publicly stake your prestige on something that’s not (1) hugely important (2) a done deal or (3) ideally, both. All presidents suffer defeats and embarrassments, but you generally don’t walk right into one on an issue of purely local importance to your home city. Obama’s and the nation’s standing in the world can’t help but be chipped away by this; the next time he goes jetting off to a summit or some other international event, people won’t be so quick to assume that he has all figured out in advance how he’s going to get what he wants. That aura, that mystique is a thing of value that the President is supposed to husband carefully for when the nation really needs it. Bush was impotent by the end of his presidency because he’d burned that up, but he had it for the better part of five years. Obama’s losing it already.

What a waste.

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  • SG_Lominac

    to connect this epic failure to the larger question of what happens to American sovreignty when you export it to an international body in other more important matters. Americans should get used to rejection over the next 3 years.

    • farstar99

      Everyone sees this as the cronyism it is.

      Obama planned to deliver the pork for his Mafia buddies, getting them the concrete and garbage collection moolah, and FAILED.

      Now, because he was so venal as to do this, to debase the office of President, the whole country looks idiotic.

      Nice one, Barry.

  • azred

    Depends on which half you spoke with.
    48% – Yes
    45% – No

    So at least half the city is pleased with the decision.

    • izoneguy

      http://www.chicagoansforrio.com/

  • RedBeard

    Given their gross arrogance and hubris, this must seem to them to be a bad dream.

    And the Chicago political machine is surely going to have second thoughts about the power of the man in whom they have so much invested.

    As for me, the first word that came to mind was schadenfreude.

    • izoneguy

      Just like Obama’s presidency is to people like me……

    • yoyo

      I am sure that she will have the Obamas on her couch before the end of the month.

      Wonder if the ‘View’ will have Michelle on? About as many people will watch that as voted for Chicago for 2016….

      • ceili_dancer

        Use that “The Secret” garbage enough to make this happen.

  • The_Rebel

    who were counting on all that cheap slum land to skyrocket in value and make a killing in the real estate market. Payback time. What goes around, comes around.

  • Tbone

    Though I’m not sure whether it was because Obama is white and black, Michelle is mad and black, Oprah is fat and black or if it was the video of all those black kids beating the other black kid to death.

    • http://www.ssce.net/Web-Articles/Web-articles-indexed-authors.html#authors-l JLenardDetroit

      I’m sure we’ll be hearing how the US would have those games if we were moving toward Universal Care (for all those non-Insured folks that would be coming to the games? lol), Crap-Trade (ensuring the games would’ve been Green, while in the Red financially), etc…

    • http://www.ssce.net/Web-Articles/Web-articles-indexed-authors.html#authors-l JLenardDetroit

      obviously!!!

      • gahazzah
        • http://www.ssce.net/Web-Articles/Web-articles-indexed-authors.html#authors-l JLenardDetroit

          upcoming tunes:
          Czary – Patsy Cline
          Who’s Czary Now – Brenda Lee
          MaMa, we’re all Czary now – Quiet Riot
          Czary – Aerosmith
          Czary (seems to be the hardest word) – Elton John
          Czary – K-Ci & JoJo

          … you get the idea ;-) lol

          • ecroper

            kinda like what were seeing too- czary (i know –corny) your stuff is great. Thanks for the giggle.

          • http://www.ssce.net/Web-Articles/Web-articles-indexed-authors.html#authors-l JLenardDetroit

            sometimes too much seriousness…. we need the occasional levity breaks to keep some of the stress down. And I promise to always take your comments under AdviCzarMent (yeah, that was a stretch).

          • http://www.ssce.net/Web-Articles/Web-articles-indexed-authors.html#authors-l JLenardDetroit

            maybe on top of tracking some quotes I could/should keep a “Worst attempted Puns” list of links ;-) lol A few (depending on if you see this soon/quick enough) should still be in my recent comments list – as I’ve made a few lately.

      • diakrioi

        I heard a guy on FOX this weekend saying that the reason we didn’t get the Olympics is that we are competing with nations that have a “National Sports Authority” that works hand-in-hand with the government to promote sports. Here it comes! I predict that Obama will use this failure to set up just such a monstrosity here in the US.

        • http://www.redstate.com/tnjim TNJim
  • The_Rebel

    n/t

  • Vise77

    “but I take at face value for the moment that Chicagoans really wanted this one and felt it would be good for the city.”

    Uh, no. Big business, Daley cronies and some residents wanted this Games. Most people–left, right, whatever–saw it as a promise to increase taxes, and a promise that King Daley would continue to neglect basic services while focusing on a two-week party, and a promise that corruption and the Machine would grow.

    Seriously, so many people in Chicago are happy right now. It feels like a party.

  • http://andrightlyso.com/ civil_truth

    Atter this humiliation, Obama will be even more desperate for a win on ObamaCare (or something he can spin as a win) to try to regain some credibility as a leader – which means he will pull out every stop to get some kind of bill through, any bill through.

    In the silver lining department, he did use this occasion to meet with McChrystal for 25 minutes at the airport after the vote before heading back to the U.S.

    • eswan9

      Sounds like a productive meeting to me. just enough time to say hello and get the briefing out of the way

    • Xasteius

      Hit’em while he’s down, but remember that the beast is most dangerous when he’s cornered.

  • mas1916

    Obama will – with the more active assistance of his friends in the formerly main stream media – be pushing even harder for a win. And now that support for His prized takeover of the health care system will soon dip below 40%, We should brace for a huge and vicious effort by the left to jam health care takeover through Congress.

    This is just one more reason Americans are so angry. ( http://www.conservativeblog.thewebinfocenter.com/conservative-blog/three-reasons-america-is-angry ) The Congress isn’t making decisions for the people they purport to serve.

    • bk

      did the chances of that go down? Obama is looking weaker and weaker.
      1) It doesn’t take a genius to see that Iran completely snookered him – Can it get any worse than France taking a tougher stand than us?
      2) He wasted a few million taxpayer dollars to make the Olympics thing about him – and the rest of the world said “Thanks. Based on that we’ll drop you from the top two to last.”
      3) We have two Ds losing governor’s races and it appears that they are not exactly begging for photo ops with Obama to prop up their ratings.

      He has lost his Midas touch less than 9 months into his term.

  • kowalski

    I assumed like a lot of people that Chicago had this one locked up tight after having lived there for so long.

    How could he go if he was going to lose?

    But you’re right, Dan: it was a shocking display of his inexperience and his team’s attempt to do everything at once, not thinking about the consequences for the office if he failed (which I guess they thought was inconceivable.)

    They believe too much of their own hype, and once that starts to fall apart, groups like the IOC with their own internal politics who don’t necessarily care about the hype can and will give you a huge smackdown.

    As someone who has been in office for well under a year, Obama should have been — dare I say it — much more Conservative. In the end, the odds were only 1 in 4, and Axelrod must have known that.

    He and Rahm Emanuel should go for a long, long solitary walk together when Rahm gets home and start thinking seriously about the ramifications of believing their own propaganda, and what it means for the United States when they advise the President to take on these very public endeavors based purely on their own mythos.

    Luckily this time it was just the Olympics they tried to influence with the showbiz.

    • kowalski

      One of the handful of truly wise people I remember fondly from my time there, and the way he would have put this is:

      “They got their heads way out in front of their skis.”

  • Hera

    POTUS 101 is that you never put your prestige on the line unless you have a done deal. Just ask Bill Clinton. He said in an interview that he would not have gone to North Korea unless he was sure he would bring the two journalists back with him.There is no way Obama should have gone to Copenhagen unless the fix was in. He can’t even spin this as Chicago being in the running since Chicago was eliminated in the first round.I’ve had my doubts about Obama’s political skill since he allowed the DNC to portray townhall protesters as a “mob”, nazis and Un-American.

  • ptort

    on the Bush Presidency and the lingering hostility the international community feels toward the U.S. Obama just has more work to do to repair the damage done to reputation of this country.

    • http://andrightlyso.com/ civil_truth
      • ptort

        n/t

  • Ausonius

    They will blame the unfortunate gang beatings in the last days for sabotaging NObama’s efforts!

    And why are there murderous gangs in Chicago?

    Because of Poverty! And Racism! And to solve the problems of Poverty and Racism we need to have…

    (Drum Roll)

    adequate Health Care! :)

    These are problems REPUBLICANS have allowed to fester for 30 years! And so now it is even more urgent and necessary THAN EVER BEFORE to pass Hell-th Care legislation to address these problem!

    You saw it here first!

    • gahazzah

      … sent in to sabotage Obama and the chances for the games. Stuff like that doesn’t happen in a city which has been run by (D)s for half a century.

      In fact, all crime in Chicago is done by subversive (R)s so we also need the fairness doctrine to keep them quiet and our streets safe from such angry mobs.

      :)

      • Ausonius

        …the Right-Wing Conpsiracy is VAST!!!

        On Topic:

        Given that anger and arrogance and ideological blindness are NObama’s natural state, we will see the result of that somehow soon, and first to feel the brunt of this will be recalcitrant Dems in Congress.

        Be prepared to watch even more bullying and even internecine cannibalism between the Congressional Dems and the Chicago Clubbers in NObama’s House.

  • Marcus_Traianus

    Frankly, I believe Obama lost because he did get involved.

    Despite his groveling on the world stage, constant apologetic demeanor, submissive foreign policy and quest to correct past “wrongs” this global crowd still loathes America.

    Obama’s “Presidential” actions have been weak, na?ve and demote the essence of our countries greatness to be equivalent with a cheap marketing campaign.

    There is no feeling, passion, belief or grounding in the fundamental liberties, sacrifice and unique attributes that represent our society. Hence we have this empty shell of a man with his slick marketing campaign and MTV appeal running around as the antithesis of everything which makes us great.

    It’s time Mr. Obama and his cohorts in Congress realize the muffled back rooms sounds are not long sought accolades. It is the laughter of societies possessing philosophies we discarded long ago in search of societal perfection and global leadership. They are enjoying the demise or our republic at the hands of a self-indulgent provincial whose main concern is obeisance to their misguided cause.

    • bk

      It was a KnownFact that it was neck and neck with Rio, and that Madrid and Tokyo were just pretenders to be swept aside in short order.

      Then Obama made it AllAboutObama and he got bitc– well let’s just say I think Rush called it right.

    • diakrioi

      Sure they do. They love him because they know he is a pushover. They hated Bush because he wasn’t.

  • E Pluribus Unum

    here:

    I don’t view this as a repudiation of the president or the first lady. I think that there are politics everywhere, and there were politics inside that room.

    Hey Dave, I think you should stick to what you know best, pal:
    dog_inspecting

    • bk

      Axelrod would be saying that it was the brilliance and charisma of The One that broke the tie with Rio, and that politics had nothing to do with it.

    • werdnar66

      Great Photo, E plurb!

  • writeblock

    This president seems to think it’s all about him and not his office. His expectations were too high because his estimate of himself is too high.

  • Flagstaff

    He hasn’t figured out that you can claim and promise anything during the campaign, but when you get elected you have to deliver.

    He’s losing more and more followers because people no longer believe he can fulfill his promises.

  • geraldstephens

    Exactly what did all ‘those folks’ expect when they voted for a ‘PARKING TICKET SCOFFLAW’ who refuses to show the country his ‘papers’.

    Oh, to be the fly on the wall for a glimps of all the ‘international boys’ slapping thier thighs and rolling off the chair with not only the SMACKDOWN but the groveling ‘PIC-a-NINNY performances of BOTH of them.

    Profanity prohibited – the actual danger is the crowd of obvious retards that are advising the ‘Anointed One’, i.e., the BLOODY PRESIDENT of the UNITED STATES of AMERICA!

    Gerald Stephens
    Hartford CT

    • geraldstephens

      I forgot to mention, I LOVE OBJECT LESSONS!

      • geraldstephens

        WOW!

        PARKING – O – TICKET – U- SCOFFLAW

  • whoframedrudy

    “I don?t view this as a repudiation of the president or the first lady. I think that there are politics everywhere, and there were politics inside that room.”

    Yes, and the politics were “let’s embarrass the U.S. President.” My bet is O thought he had a deal and got sandbagged. Apparently, nobody’s afraid to make Obama look the fool. And he does — it’s frightening! I mean, the IOC? We’re not talking Yalta here.

    But where was Voldemort? Rahm is not a fool. I’m praying Rahm said don’t go and Me The People went anyway. Because if Voldemort pulled a Serpico on the President … I’m feeling a little unprotected right now.

  • http://www.baracknobama.net NObama Meg

    Dan, sweetheart, I’m surprised you didn’t figure this out earlier: of course Obama and his staff didn’t have to bother with securing backroom deals to ensure their Olympic bid before they put his Presidential prestige on the line!! When you’re The One, your mere presence, your sheer oratory power, THAT’s what secures anything you want! When you’re The Messiah, anything you ask for is yours! Surely the Olympics would be no different, right?

    You have to start thinking like a kool-aid drinker when it comes to these things. No, don’t drink the kool-aid!! Just start seeing things from the perspective of the Yes-Men in the White House who are now advising the President. When they think the President can do no wrong, when they think he is a God among men, then surely his presence alone would clinch the deal for Chicago’s Olympic bid. At least, it would in their minds. To them, back room political dealing is unnecessary when you’re absolutely certain that the presence of The One will cause a stream of light to fall upon the Olympic Committee, and in that moment they will know, they have to vote for Chicago!

    Remember, hon, reality doesn’t enter the mind of a kool-aid drinker. We really should stop being surprised by snafus like these, since kool-aid drinkers are planning every move the President makes.

    • Warrior

      Yeah, the Annointed Won’s aura of sheer grandness will win the day. Why shackle ourselves with mundane considerations made by mere mortals? His Holiness, the Dali Obama, will make his mojo work on all and anon.

      Pass the Kool-aid please…

  • werdnar66

    I’m new here. I’ve done some posting on Yahoo and ABC. Here you preach to the choir. Everyone seems to be on the same page.

    One point not presented on this issue. The Olympics are a PRIVATE EVENT – NOT a Government Policy. H-m-m-m. In that light – Obama was merely acting like a Lobbyist, which is what he does best AKA campaign and TV advertising. He said he would have no lobbyists in his administration. He said he would have transparency. He said he would provide oversight. He said… He said…

    He had no intention of doing anything but “Fundamentally change America”.

    He and Michelle are on vacation. They are the new “jet-setters” See the world at our expense and blah blah his rhetoric. I think they pinch themselves every day.

    What about the cost of the trip to Copenhagen? How many planes and people went to this event? 100 or more? Secret Service, Motorcade, Czars?? Air Force One flies at $70K and hour. That is one airplane. How many government people worked on this event at our expense? Add a big whopping Carbon Foot Print to the Congress pay raise and you have a government that is out-of-control and out-of-their minds!

    • Warrior

      those points have been made on other threads on this site many times.

      As for your contention that “everyone here seems to be on the same page” and “preaching to the choir,” you really haven’t been around long enough to witness (or be a part of) some of the more heated discussions on this site.

      Stick around. Sometimes disagreements get plenty hot on RS.

  • qurys

    The Olympic Games is not the war; the Olympic Games is not the battle, I wouldn’t even call it a skirmish in the grand scheme of all things affecting the future of America. Some folks would have made some money in Chicago. The Olympic Games will still go on and they will still be televised. So it is interesting that the President took on this “entertainment” challenge and turned it somehow into a guage US prestige at home and abroad. The return on investment to the United States of which he is President would be small. I doubt world leaders or even the Democratic Party puts a lot of stake in who has had the last half dozen Olympic Games. Mr. Obama….stick to what you should be doing better. If you have decided what that is…………