Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Seriously, as someone living outside the US, I can honestly say, the lack of respect the US has is the blame for the global recession, and for some, the issues with foreign policy. But I honestly do not think this one has much to do with partisan politics, but more to do with statistics and the number of times different regions have hosted. Atlanta seems like yesterday to me, and I am sure I am not alone.
Originally Posted By WilliamK99 Atlanta seems like yesterday to me, and I am sure I am not alone.<< Which is why I am amazed Spain made it as far as it did... 2 Olympics in the same region back to back is unheard of nowadays.... Which is why chances are America won't get the Olympics in 2020, our next best bet is probably 2024....
Originally Posted By mawnck Se, now THIS is why the Dems have a good shot at INCREASING their Congressional majorities in 2010: >>Around the same time, RedState's Erick Erickson took glee in Chicago - and, by extension, Obama's - rejection. "Hahahahaha," he wrote. "I thought the world would love us more now that Bush was gone. I thought if we whored ourselves out to our enemies, great things would happen. Apparently not. So Obama's pimped us to every two bit thug and dictator in the world, made promises to half the Olympic committee, and they did not even kiss him." Conservative commentator Michelle Malkin, meanwhile, wrote that the news effectively ended the Obama campaign motto of "Yes We Can" by dawning in a new slogan: "No, You Can't." "This is a big win and a massive relief for taxpayers," she wrote. "But Chicago cronies are not going to take this well. Gird your loins." Story continues below The National Review Online called the episode an "embarrassment for Obama," before adding the predictable conservative ribbing: "If he can't work his personal magic with the Olympians, why does he expect it to work with the Iranians?" Rush Limbaugh called it "the worst day of his presidency," adding that Obama "has failed" and the entire episode was an illustration of Obama's "Mars-sized ego." The Drudge Report -- topping them all -- blared the headline: "THE EGO HAS LANDED WORLD REJECTS OBAMA: CHICAGO OUT IN FIRST ROUND." It's an aggressive posture. But also, potentially, a risky one, not just because polling data showed that a vast majority of the country wanted America to host the games (though some were skeptical of the need for Obama to make a personal pitch). But also because it continues to produce the specter of conservatives bludgeoning the reputation of America's "second city."<< Keep it up, fellers. Moderates just LOVE you guys when you get like this. <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/02/conservatives-revel-in-ob_n_307794.html" target="_blank">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...794.html</a>
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt The conservatives certainly can't be as dense as they appear to be, although I'm beginning to wonder. The decision had absolutely nothing with Obama or our political standing with the rest of the world. This was all about politics within the IOC.
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt The conservative group Americans For Prosperity is currently having a summit in Arlington, Virgina. Watch the cheers erupt when a session is interrupted with an announcement that Chicago lost the bid: <a href="http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2009/10/americans_for_p.php" target="_blank">http://hotlineoncall.nationalj...or_p.php</a> And these people call themselves Americans? I don't know about you all, but I found their reaction more than a little disturbing. According to Wikipedia, "The organization is extremely controversial and widely reported as a front or proxy for the oil and petrochemical industry whose subsidies and rights are threatened by a shift in US public policy towards "green jobs" and energy conservation. It was widely reported as responsible for forcing Van Jones to resign as Barack Obama's "czar" for green economic recovery, an example of "astroturfing", by publicizing his earlier political stances and opinions".
Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder Our country lost out on hosting one of the world's most prestigious events and conservatives are cheering. Think about it. Where's the patriotism in that?
Originally Posted By Mr X Their notion of patriotism is to hinder and slander and try to impeach the President, nothing else matters to them. I swear, at this point they would cheer a military defeat or a terrorist attack so long as it appeared the President was responsible for it.
Originally Posted By WilliamK99 Our country lost out on hosting one of the world's most prestigious events and conservatives are cheering. Think about it. Where's the patriotism in that? << They just didn't want it in Chicago... If it was in Texas, they would have been all over it....
Originally Posted By Mr X More like they didn't want any apparent victory for the President, William. And I agree with you, if it were Dallas or some other "red state" there would certainly be a different vibe (though I'm sure they would still have bitched about Obama lobbying for it!).
Originally Posted By ecdc >>Because Drudge hates Obama all conservatives hate Obama?<< A fair criticism - I should not have generalized like that. That said, these are the conservatives getting attention. They are the ones driving the party, and they are the ones controlling conservative politics. So reasonable conservatives have a choice: they can continue to be defensive and insist they aren't like the crazies, and they can continue to justify by saying both sides have their extremists. Or they need to stand up and strongly marginalize people like this. They need to stop with the "Well yes, these people are bad news BUT..." and then treat us to a lengthy screed on Democrats. Take back your party; take back your conservative politics.
Originally Posted By WilliamK99 Sadly this is what our country has come to, a few years ago some Democrats were hoping we would lose the War in Iraq.... The only way our country will survive is if somehow we get away from this petty nonsense that is tearing us apart... I mean we will always disagree on key points but Americans have gotten so petty nowadays...
Originally Posted By Mr X ***Sadly this is what our country has come to, a few years ago some Democrats were hoping we would lose the War in Iraq....*** Ridiculous. Nobody was HOPING the war would be lost (perhaps a tiny few partisan hacks who would revel in anything that made Bush look bad...but that's a very, very tiny amount compared to the rabid right these days where it's a collective shout from all corners including leadership), but many were hoping it would end soon and saw no victorious way out (I'm beginning to feel that way about Afghanistan...what is it 8 years now!?).
Originally Posted By ecdc <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joe-scarborough/thank-you-mr-president_b_308022.html" target="_blank">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...022.html</a> Joe Scarborough agrees with you William. I've always liked Scarborough whenever I see him commentating on Bill Maher or elsewhere. This explains why.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<And I agree with you, if it were Dallas or some other "red state" there would certainly be a different vibe (though I'm sure they would still have bitched about Obama lobbying for it!).>> You think a RED STATE would have ever agreed to pony up to the expense? Guess again. They don't want the gummint paying for nothin!
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<Isn't Georgia a red state? And Utah?>> Georgia is a red state so I can't explain that. Utah is a Mormon state, and it was a chance to showcase the glories of the Mormon State. A case of religion trumping politics.
Originally Posted By ecdc <a href="http://www.suntimes.com/sports/olympics/1796626,chicago-olympics-poll-092909.stng" target="_blank">http://www.suntimes.com/sports...909.stng</a> Well in each Olympic bid by an American city, there's always locals concerned about the cost. No shock there. We dealt with that in Utah. But even in this most conservative of states, the overwhelming majority wanted the Olympics to come. According to a Zogby poll, 72%% of Chicagoans wanted the Olympics in their city and 84% of Americans wanted it in Chicago. Those are HUGE numbers - it's tough to get anyone to agree that much. So the extreme conservative reaction, as much as they want to cloak it in fiscal conservatism, is really just childish giddiness at their perception of Obama failing. They'd rather be right than have pride in their country. And now I anxiously await claims that I think Obama is Jesus, Buddha, and MacGyver all rolled into one.
