Originally Posted By ecdc The headline on Drudge: "The Ego Has Landed: World Rejects Obama." Is there really any doubt what these people are all about? They hate Obama, they could care less about anything else.
Originally Posted By gadzuux Which makes one wonder what their motives could possibly be? They paint him as a "radical" and to bolster their point they use the TARP bailouts and the auto company relief - conveniently ignoring that these were initiated under the bush administration - before Obama was even elected. Their complaints don't have to reflect actual facts or common sense, at least not with republican voters. As long as they generate resentment towards the president, they're effective. Everything from the economy, unemployment, all the way through to Katrina - it's all Obama's fault.
Originally Posted By hopemax I was surprised to see Chicago out in the first vote. I fully expected Rio to win, so the fact that Chicago did not win was not a surprise. That Chicago went out before Tokyo, does indicate a "message" by the IOC to the US. But I don't think it is an anti-Obama message. The IOC has been saying all along that they were uncomfortable with the lack of a government guarantee to pick up cost overruns the whole time. After Athens and China, the IOC wants China i.e. spectacle. And a whole nation working together. If Chicago had won, it would have been a regional success, not a national success. Cities not named Chicago would complain that Chicago was getting more than it's fair share; and make it Obama's pet project. And the politics on the national level, since the GOP and Dems can't get together on anything right now, would be an embarrassment the IOC would want to avoid. We are a fractured nation, and the world knows it.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 the fringe on both sides are idiots - well established - this is a much bigger statement made - and the sooner we in this country get past trying to make everything an issue about Dems and GOP and far left and far right maybe we'll see that ( breaking my avoidance of WE just for the Olympic bid result) just like the title of this thread- and just like the Drudge headline -- do either serve a purpose ? Last place vote - really ? Are you kidding me ? Well we've moved millions of jobs to Rio in the last 5-10 years- might as well let them have the Olympics also. And Blair lobbies for London and they get 2012 summer games- Putin lobbies personally for Russia and they get 2014 winter games -- Obama lobbies and comes in last...BUT THIS IS NOT ABOUT OBAMA let's stop the nonsense about how we are viewed differently now - we obviously aren't. This is not a hit from me on Obama - it's directed at those who want to put a halo on him or those who hates everything he does, ... I believe he did a very good job IMHO getting together with his buddies here in Chicago and pitching this from every conceivable angle, I give him props for the way it was handled... in the end this is a much bigger statement about how the US is viewed - a lot of bookies around the world making a lot of money today when the final choice is announced.. the odds on fave out.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 The IOC has been saying all along that they were uncomfortable with the lack of a government guarantee to pick up cost overruns the whole time Hopemax - that guarantee was delivered weeks ago- all was covered..after a lot of political wrangling here.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>BUT THIS IS NOT ABOUT OBAMA let's stop the nonsense about how we are viewed differently now - we obviously aren't<< The whole world sees the jugheads screaming "You lie!" and people acting up at town hall meetings, our obsession with guns and yeah, that is all going to affect how people view us. Basically, we're seen as a bunch of lunatics. I mean, I live IN the country and I don't recognize us these days.
Originally Posted By ecdc >>it's directed at those who want to put a halo<< Wow. Really? We're still on this? It's been roughly 18 months of charges about halos and messiahs. Still waiting for that evidence. Of course, anyone who reads the posts here of late could never reasonably come to the conclusion that people here put a halo on Obama. So we're back to a fantasy cooked up in their heads. We DO, on the other hand, have plenty of evidence of those who hate Obama and everything he does.
Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder Anyone who says this is about Obama is further marginalizing themselves. If the rejection of the U.S. was a vote about Obama, then was the rejection of the other two countries about a vote about their leaders or because Rio was simply a more preferable choice? You could see this reaction coming a mile away, and I anyone who insists otherwise is simply full of crap.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 <let's stop the nonsense about how we are viewed differently now - we obviously aren't.> But we are. Obama is more popular than Bush and the US is more popular than it was in nearly every country that does polling. The IOC is a very insular group and makes its choices for its own reasons - nothing to do with Obama. I'm sure the Chicago media was full of "We've got a good chance to get the Olympics in 2016!!" (just like the NY media was about 2012, 4 years ago when NY was a finalist), but everything I read said that Rio was the easy favorite going in, mostly because the Olympics have never been held in South America, and it was seen as long overdue.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan I was veeeeeeerry marginally involved in the effort to bring the games to San Francisco for 2012, but I got a glimpse at some of the incredible hoops cities/regions/countries must go through to even be considered for the games. It's a process that begins many years ahead of time, and along the way host cities/countries must keep upping the ante, keeping up with the latest security, technology, etc. It's exhausting, expensive, detail-oriented stuff. Anything just a little out of order can knock the city out of consideration. In short, I think the decision was a done deal well before Obama's announced visit.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper Because Drudge hates Obama all conservatives hate Obama? Yeah, sure. I'm sorry the games won't be in the US but if I were a Chicagoan I might be happy with this result. That city has some major challenges right now. Challenges that would have taken a back seat to preparing for the Olympics. And, really, who can begrudge a country in a continent that has never hosted the Olympics? Atlanta wasn't all that long ago folks.
Originally Posted By mawnck A lot of Chicagoans *are* happy with the result. <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dave-zirin/victory-chicago-loses-the_b_307995.html" target="_blank">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...995.html</a> And as long as I'm checking out articles on Huffington Post, here's an interesting (and encouraging) article pointing out that the Noise Machine is influencing the GOP a lot more than it's influencing the general public. <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/02/opinion/02brooks.html?_r=1&em" target="_blank">http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10...?_r=1&em</a> >>Over the past few years the talk jocks have demonstrated their real-world weakness time and again. Back in 2006, they threatened to build a new majority on anti-immigration fervor. Republicans like J.D. Hayworth and Randy Graf, both of Arizona, built their House election campaigns under that banner. But these two didn’t march to glory. Both lost their campaigns. In 2008, after McCain had won his nomination, Limbaugh turned his attention to the Democratic race. He commanded his followers to vote in the Democratic primaries for Hillary Clinton because “we need Barack Obama bloodied up politically.” Todd Donovan of Western Washington University has looked at data from 38 states and could find no strong evidence that significant numbers of people actually did what Limbaugh commanded. Rush blared the trumpets, but few of his Dittoheads advanced. Over the years, I have asked many politicians what happens when Limbaugh and his colleagues attack. The story is always the same. Hundreds of calls come in. The receptionists are miserable. But the numbers back home do not move. There is no effect on the favorability rating or the re-election prospects. In the media world, he is a giant. In the real world, he’s not. <<
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo I think there is another key factor here. The olympics has been in the US twice in the last 3 decades. And by 2012, it will have been in Europe 3 times in the same time frame. Tokyo would have been cool, but for some, they may consider it too similar to China and Korea hosting. So it is no surprise that Chicago lost, and lost 1st. Nothing to do with Obama and perceptions on that basis. Also, the world pretty much blames the US for the recession, so that does not help either.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 That city has some major challenges right now. Challenges that would have taken a back seat to preparing for the Olympics. --------------------------------- since I have lived here here forever I do know those challenges- but they're not ones that throwing money at will change-
Originally Posted By WilliamK99 America is not in good standing Internationally as well.... It'll take more than 4 years of Obama to fix the damage done over the past few decades.... Specifically the past 8 years...
Originally Posted By vbdad55 I'm sorry the games won't be in the US but if I were a Chicagoan I might be happy with this result it's all about jobs wahoo -- Illinois unemployment @ 12% - much higher in the city. There were a lot of jobs- albeit not forver jobs on the line. that were sorely needed. AS for me I live 40 miles west of the city and would have had little disturbance from it. as for cities with major challenges- have you been to Rio- and other Brazilian cities ? I have as we have offices there- some serious safety issues there as well. as for W/E I am back out as already it has reverted right back to the 'no one thinks Obama can get things done just because he is Barack ( you may want to read some of Jesse Jacksons interviews today- ) - but the evil doers are all around. Yep- you're right - this is George Bush's damn fault- as will everything else be the next 7 years - I'll just agree and move on. funny how those who blamed Clinton for everything for 8 years of Bush were ripped a new one for it - but it's OK on the reverse. enjoy- I'm back to WDW only..thought this was a safe topic- I was wrong ( yet again)
Originally Posted By WilliamK99 vbdad, I think both sides are wrong on numerous issues, but yes, we are in poor standing Internationally now, and it's something that President Obama did not do by himself... My only problem with him in this situation is he basically promised while campaigning that we would be more respected Internationally with him as President, yet over the past few months, he has been walked all over by the International community....
Originally Posted By WilliamK99 that we are blaming everything that is happening on Bush lol.... Its funny he got mad at me about it when last week I asked Democrats how long you were going to use that excuse for Obama's failures....
