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 ...
I am glad I am not a worker in the White House , that woman is going to play hell if she ever lights there again.
Oh puke. No wonder he came in last. It’s not about him, though.
Silver or Bronze? Shoot, he couldn’t even muster the Miss Congeniality award or one of those trophies they give the ‘special’ kids just for participating.
#45
They look so happy
LOL! Too bad it’s true.
“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?”
Hmmm, that the media has been lying about that??? Indeed, the past four or five years Europe has elected primarily conservative pro-Bush leaders...maybe the fact that Europe has figured out that Obama is a buffoon has something to do with the insults he has been given and the slap he has received most recently...maybe???
Yah!
0bama is neither the son nor the favorite of Chicago.
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.
_____________
BINGO!
Looks like Michelle just bit the a$$ out of a skunk. Is Obama sleeping?? What Idiots.
President Bush had class and understood protocol. Obama is out of his league on the world stage. Hillary was right... all Obama had is a speech he gave in 2004. And you can't ride that forever.
The Times got bitch slapped by Limbaugh today.
LOL!
Obamas never roots for the American side.
Great graphic! May I use it for future fails?
Ummmm, all of the above?
awesome pic
LMAO
made my day
What a nose-in-the-air, arrogant son of a bitch!
Pardon me, but I do so relish this major smackdown.
20 hours and millions of our bucks to create a global smackdown and only 25 minutes for McChrystal?
Hey -11nobama, can you spell priority?
Michelle always looks like she’s super pissed off about something. Maybe the fact that she’s not Queen yet?
One more reason to like this guy
I thought he was lobbying for his next job as leader of the world.
Poor dillusional Obama....walked unto the virtual stage and got his virtual a** booted.
Why was FLOTUS even there?
FRAUD, WASTE and ABUSE!
I am sure Rio deserved to win, yet I am also convinced that much of the “No” vote on Chicago was pure anti-Americanism.
HOWEVER, with Chicago’s handgun ban, no shooting athlete would have been ALLOWED to compete, or even posess his handgun, in Chi-town! Maybe they would have done that in Michigan?
Makes me wanna sing some Duran Duran....
Her name is Rio and she dances on the sand...mmmm mmm mmm
Test him for cocaine anyway.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.