NYT: For Obama, An Unsuccessful Campaign ["He Could Not Even Muster The Silver Or Bronze"]

NYTimes ^ | October 02nd 2009

[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.

[bikerman]

Looks like Michelle just bit the a$$ out of a skunk. Is Obama sleeping?? What Idiots.

[jersey117]

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?

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.

[1_Rain_Drop]

The way I saw this is, he sent two "ladies of the night" to charm the IOC. Not sure if it was Daley or Zero who played the pimp part.
Those females should have dressed more appropriately and kept their mouths SHUT! Was Mrs zero trying to hypnotize them with her gold dress and hoop earrings? The subliminal message did not work! LOL. Oh and she shouldn't have said "all gloves are off"
And so, the triple O's got zero.

[GVnana]

The Times got bitch slapped by Limbaugh today.

[GVnana]

LOL!

[Jess Kitting]

That is picture is right on.

Obamas never roots for the American side.

[taraytarah]

Great graphic! May I use it for future fails?

[taraytarah]

Guess which is is the zero that negated all the others?

Ummmm, all of the above?

[RasterMaster]

[nascarnation]

awesome pic
LMAO
made my day

[upchuck]

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?

[upchuck]

Michelle always looks like she’s super pissed off about something. Maybe the fact that she’s not Queen yet?

[evad]

Thank you Mr. Sarkozy!!

One more reason to like this guy

[GVnana]

His decision to become the first president to lobby the Olympic committee in person, just two weeks after saying he was too busy with health care legislation, was a risky gamble from the start. It was predicated on the theory that Mr. Obama’s star power overseas — “the best brand in the world,” as his advisers have put it — was luminescent enough to sway enough committee members to make the difference.

I thought he was lobbying for his next job as leader of the world.

[Sacajaweau]

Poor dillusional Obama....walked unto the virtual stage and got his virtual a** booted.

[Red_Devil 232]

Plus the back up to AF-1 that goes along in case AF-1 has a problem. Remember whenever AF-1 flies so does the back up!

[roaddog727]

Why was FLOTUS even there?

FRAUD, WASTE and ABUSE!

[2harddrive]

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?

[lilycicero]

Makes me wanna sing some Duran Duran....
Her name is Rio and she dances on the sand...mmmm mmm mmm

[doug from upland]

Test him for cocaine anyway.