Posted on 10/02/2009 1:44:08 PM PDT by Steelfish
For Obama, An Unsuccessful Campaign
By PETER BAKER October 2, 2009
COPENHAGEN — President Obama not only failed to bring home the gold, he could not even muster the silver or bronze.
A dramatic 20-hour mission across the ocean to persuade the International Olympic Committee to give the 2016 Summer Games to Chicago proved such a miscalculation that his adopted hometown finished fourth of four candidate cities.
Rarely has a president put his credibility on the line on the world stage in such a personal way and been slapped down so sharply in real time. While Chicago may have lost to Rio de Janeiro for all sorts of reasons that had nothing to do with Mr. Obama, the fact that he made himself the face of the city’s bid invariably meant it would be taken as a stinging rejection of its favorite son.
The defeat will be used as a political metaphor and raise painful questions. Why did he invest so much time, taxpayer money and, perhaps most important, presidential prestige in a losing effort? How did he misjudge the potential vote so badly that Chicago evidently was not even in the top tier? What does it say about a leader who may be far more popular abroad than his predecessor yet has trouble converting that esteem into tangible benefits for the United States?
The rejection of Mr. Obama’s plea for Chicago came at a time when he could have used a feel-good victory. After racking up legislative and policy successes in the early months of his presidency, he has entered a phase where progress is more difficult. He has run into turbulence trying to pass health care, climate change and financial regulation legislation, and his poll ratings have slipped notably since spring.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
And what about the carbon footprint of the travel? Michelle went there separately, so that was two planes we sent to Copenhagen. Did the Obamas buy their carbon credits so at least they can feel good about being carbon neutral?
I thought his statement about “one year ago” people gathered at his election victory to be awkward and very irrelevant to what he was trying to accomplish.
imagine, if you will..
Houston is vying for the Olympics and Bush went to Copenhagen to personally try and sway the vote. Imagine the outrage from the left about all the problems and here he is, off on a boondoggle.
But since it’s Obamalamadingdong, it’s ok..
Ain’t it though? ...and to think he only met with the General because it has come out he has only spoke to him once in the past 70 days...
Yep, I thought maybe the IOC thought that the Obamas and Oprah Winfrey going there was too much. It’s as if they thought celebrity alone would get the job done.
at least two planes. Remember, they have special limos, plus a gaggle of secret service, etc. etc..
It’s as if they thought celebrity alone would get the job done.
It worked to get him elected..
Obama - First in socialism, First in nonsensical rhetoric, last in common sense ...
IOC is racist. Who knew? Probably something to do with the tea parties, Joe Wilson, or rumors of Muslim-ness too. If only we listened to Ass Bumstain and banned fishy speech.
Un-Presidential Poll Results
1. Barack Obama
2. Jimmy Carter
3. Bill Clinton
Maybe he just thought they weren’t listening the whole time him & his pig were talking about how terrible a country the USA is...what a stupid piece of sh!t.
It was all about how the Chicago Machine was going to rip off as many people as possible.
Kick backs, graft, theft, etc. Typical Chicago gangland business as usual. That's all it was ever about.
I read somewhere the other day that he is the first to personally lobby the Olympic committee.
LOL!
Wow, this was in the times! Wait, does this mean that Mobelle is not going to be in the Shot Put event?
Ha! He got to be present(and humiliated), not vote present—How sweet!
It was all about how the Chicago Machine was going to rip off as many people as possible.
Kick backs, graft, theft, etc. Typical Chicago gangland business as usual. That’s all it was ever about.
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BINGO!
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