About The Browntable
2009
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The president heads to Europe today—not to bargain for an international treaty on climate change, or to join the heated Swiss negotiations on Iranian nuclear ambitions, but to beg and plead on behalf Chicago’s 2016 Olympic bid. There had been some speculation about who might go fight for the president’s adopted hometown (last week, Michelle Obama, Valerie Jarrett, Arne Duncan and Oprah were the biggest names) but word on the street is that Obama’s last-minute appearance, presumably to charm the pants of the International Olympic Committee, makes Chicago a lock to win.
Never mind that it looks a bit funny for Obama to be gaming out his goodbye party in 2016 (what happened to reelection, Mr. President?), but given the number of pressing domestic and foreign policy issues that remain in Washington, the 30-hour tour to Copenhagen, Denmark, looks unwise. Jon, citing Jason Zengerle, pointed out some of the follies:
the fate of comprehensive health care reform is hanging by a thread up on Capitol Hill and the Pentagon is awaiting the commander-in-chief's word on the way forward in Afghanistan, and Obama's going to take time out of his busy schedule to schmooze with the Princess of Liechtinstein and the 105 other worthies on the I.O.C.'s selection committee?
Yes, Obama met with a heavy-hitting cadre of advisers on the war in Afghanistan yesterday, and will do the same with Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton today. But to hear Amy Shipley at the Washington Post tell it, the Olympic gamesmanship really is reminiscent of a high school student council election:
In the final days of their campaigns, cities that have spent millions of dollars on elaborate construction plans waste little time touting the quality of their hotels or plans for traffic control. They bring out politicians and celebrities, trying to show the support and power behind their bids. They put on flashy presentations and carve out time for plenty of handshakes and eye contact in the hope of stealing hearts and accruing last-minute votes.
Oh dear. Amid this climate of competition and glamour, even Michelle Obama and Oprah have gotten in on the trash talking. Earlier this week, the first lady called it “a battle -- we're going to win -- take no prisoners.” She continued the jabs Wednesday afternoon: "Every single city who's bidding wishes they had Oprah on their team." "The party starts tomorrow!" Oprah exclaimed shortly thereafter. Yes, Chicago is the heart and soul of the Obama family, but let's hope we don't see an end-zone dance after Friday's vote.
What’s more, it’s debatable whether Olympic bids are really so wonderful for the cities that host them. It may be beneficial for businesses surrounding the proposed Olympic site, and a patriotic moment for the country, but not all Chicagoans are convinced this is smart—just ask those who are backing Rio De Janeiro for the bid.
All the controversy hasn’t stopped all the four finalist countries—Brazil, Japan, Spain and the US—from doing their best Tracy Flick impressions for the IOC (Pick me! Pick me!). It’s just a bit sad that the president of the United States would join the fray.
But now that the charmer-in-chief has gotten down in the mud—he had better win.
—DAYO OLOPADE
Comments
Good one. Michelle is going to dazzle them with her ability to stand staight up and pick her toes with those long arms of her. And if that doesn't work she will wow them with her ability to climb trees and eat 985 bananas in one sitting.
Chicago would of had a better chance if the coons would of stayed away. The Olympic committee does not like coons.
...regardin' Obama'z direct contributionz 2 securin' the winnin' bid 4 havin' the Gamez in Chi-town.
U can best believe dat the headz-a'-state from the OTHER potential host countriez will either be puttin' in personal appearancez or makin' personal appealz, az well.
N' if Our memory servez Us correctly (n' it duz = ), didn't Russian premier Vladmir Putin and former british prime minidter Tony Blair ALSO make a direct pitchez 2 the IOC 2 host the Winter Gamez in Sochi 4 2014 and the Summer GAmez in London 4 2012?
Oh YEAH...dat'z RIGHT...They DID!
So...tell Us, again, why Obama SHOULDN'T do the same.
Givin dat Chicago haz much mo' infrastructure n' ancillary attributez like mo' hotel roomz than Rio and Tokyo n' better security than Spain...We'd say dat da Prez standz 2 make a pritty compellin' case...whether the bid ultimately succeedz or not.
It'z hiz j-o-b 2 bring revenue, jobz, n' positive exposure 2 America. The man iz ACTUALLY tryin' 2 do hiz job...UNLIKE the FOOL who wuz in there b/4 him!
Get a clue.
I dat vein...Propz 2 Queen Alli n' dredio05 4 Pointin' Out what should've been OBVIOUS 2 the author.
Normally...We into a lot a' what U write n' have 2 say, but in THIS instance Yer criticisms are WAAAY off base...IOnotsoHO, a' course. = )
Dat'z jus' Our GANGSTA POV...
http://theblackwhole.wordpress.com/2009/09/24/didnt-we-promise-u-102/
--TBW
Obama is not begging - he's just playin the game: Smiling big at the folks that decide where hundreds of millions of dollars will be spent. There is a lot going on in the country that we all care about - but tomorrow is just as important as today! So Obama is just investing a little time now to help out tomorrow.
He made 23$ million off these viewers who believe what he says. He doesn't even believe it, it's a republican talking point script.lol I wonder how much Rush is making, I gotta get in on this.lol
Presidentshouldn'tdoanythingever.com
What do you think?lol
It is ONE DAY. It's a good idea to have it here in the states, it may help boost moral that was destroyed for 8 years. Welcome to the 2009 where President's from here on out will be expected to multi-task just as much as this President is. He should do all of the things he's doing. He makes 400$K per year off tax payers for life plus all the perks, I expect a lot of multi-tasking for that. I'm glad we're finally getting our money's worth out of a President.
To all PRESIDENT Haters: Hate the policy, Not the Person!
Stop using all these small things to justify your hate, you're not even really upset about this, just using as another excuse. I'm going to start me a conservative internet site and make money off you Glenn Beck worshippers. How can you believe in a guy who says whatever it takes to keep his job.
Dislike healthcare because it cost too much, but then you must dislike medicare and social security and all the subsidies given to corporations.
This olympic thing is a non-issue.
The President is begging now? He had better win? Why? Why does he have to win? And so what if he doesn't? A lot of people in Chicago worked extremely hard to get this far and Obama decided to give them a last minute boost. So what? What does it cost him or us for him to spend ONE day trying to get the Olympics to Chicago?
Yes, we have problems, when don't we? He's been attending to them even with criticism that he is doing too much. The President doesn't get to take a break like the rest of us. He is on call 24/7 whether he is in DC or at the ends of the earth. Have you seen inside Air Force One? It is designed so that if anything happens at the WH or elsewhere in America he can do what he needs to on that plane. It's a command center with wings. So this argument that he needs to stay and fix our issues is bogus.
I can guarantee you that if this was George W, people wouldn't complain and in fact label him as patriotic. It ticks me off to no end that when Obama does it, people suddenly act as if the Olympics should be banned.
While it's a good idea for someone powerful to present the case for bringing the Olympics back to the United States, it's better to stay home and take care of business. The health care debate, the war in Afghanistan, not to mention the senseless killings in Chicago...who's got our collective backs while he's groveling/schmoozing halfway around the world? Just seems like it would be a better choice to make sure all is well on the homefront first before inviting the world into one of our most dysfunctional cities...I'm just sayin'