“The Gloves are Off”

“The gloves are off!”
Why do I have a sinking feeling a more appropriate statement is “The checkbook is open!”…

no, michelle. not everyone IS pulling for this. looks like, according to a poll released today, about half of chicagoans don’t want the games to happen in their town.
wouldn’t it be ironic if barack obama’s first big lose as president was over the olympics? ouch.

“I’m gonna hug you and then next week I’m coming after you.” Yep, stay classy, Michelle. I know it was said jokingly but it still shows a lack of refinement that bothers me in a First Lady. Should we not want the best applicant to win?
And should we not root for a nonwestern nation? It’s been in America or Canada several times in recent years– LA, Calgary, Atlanta, Salt Lake City. Give South America a chance for a change.
Me, I’m rooting for Rio, because the Olympics deserve better than to be a patronage cesspool in Chicago politics for the next 8 years.

The Olympics would generate billions for our financially strapped, recession country…..I don’t find Chicago no bigger a cesspool than any other big city….. the smaller, southern cities have the mayor, the brother, uncle, sister, brother, in-laws, etc….the cesspool is there, and no one is Talking. Yes, it’s a CESSPOOL.

“Embarrassing?” I feel proud of our first lady… down to earth, educated, smart, intelligent, classy and REAL.

blagovich can generate billions for chicago without the olympics and buy a senator or 2. my kind of place.

what a waste of money. I thought Obama is supposed to be representing the United States- not Chicago? I hope the city of Chicago, or at least the Olympic Committee, is paying ALL the costs for this boondoogle (flight, security, shopping, food, fuel, etc.) With the economy, wars, his police state tactics, flu scare, and everything else going on in the world and the USA THIS is what Obama is focusing on?

I just want to personally thank our President and First Lady for caring enough to try to bring the Olympics to our country. It is such an honor and privilege to host. They should be thanked for bringing jobs, business and building infrastructure in this country.
After reading so many of the above comments, I’m still surprised at the nature of the comments I see which have so little to do with the real issues of bringing the games to the USA?????

“Why do I have a sinking feeling a more appropriate statement is “The checkbook is open!”…”
Naaah the Mitt Romney method led to far too much corruption.

BenneMarie, there’s nothing wrong with the president championing our nation’s bid for the Olympics. However, a last-minute personal trip to Copenhagen at great public expense seems unnecessary to me. We have managed to secure several Olympics in the past without a personal presentation by a sitting president and I suspect we could do it again.
Actually, President Obama’s cheerleading for Chicago is something I understand and sympathize with. The man grew up in a variety of places and did not put down solid roots in one community that he could truly call home. I did the same. So when he settled in somewhere as an adult, he has become quite sentimentally attached to his adopted home, Chicago. I did the same when I finally was in control of where I lived and put down roots in my own town, where I have lived for decades now. The president has real affection for Chicago that is as strong as that of a true native son.
That being said, I do not like to see him let that affection for his “hometown” cloud his judgment of the proper role of a president in regards to this sort of thing. Taping a speech to be played at the presentation or making a few phone calls seems a better way for the president to be involved without making this HIS project. As he said two weeks ago, he has other projects to focus his attention on.

Who has time to figure out a war policy when you can be coordinating the synchronized swimming events for 2016.
We cannot afford the Olympics. Ever place that has hosted it has lost billions. Chicago billionaire real estate moguls are the only winners. China — with a fixed currency — lost $60 billion, and their cities are run by Daley’s and corrupt unions.
The US cannot afford this. Please tell the honchos in D.C. that the taxpayer does not want to pay for more no-show union jobs, Tony Resko Real Estate Ponzi Scheme, and Ron Blagoevich summer olympics.
Stop the spending. Give it to Brazil.

Chicago Olympics 2016 , keep hope alive

Isn’t that cute. It would be nice for U.S. to host the Olympics, but Chicago? I think Barack needs to send a special envoy to Chicago since he is so found of them. a kid beaten to death by a mob and about one school kid a day getting killed by violence.

Now, where’s Hillary? We need Hillary….go handle Iran and Afghanistan…while Barry is playing in Denmark.
See, this could work.

Pay off to Chicago Mayor Richard “vote early and vote often” Daley. Turns out at least one of Daley’s business buddies is on the Chicago 2016 committee–and a contractor who would personally cash in big time building the olympic village.

“Chicago 2009, keep high school students alive.”
Simply outstanding.

After a day of media reports about the Obamas visiting Copenhagen to represent for Chicago’s bid to host the 2016 Olympics, the Drudge Report puts up a link to a video, which is wholly in keeping with the site’s theme of trying to link President Obama to black nationalism, radicalism and violence committed by African-Americans. Classy. (Eyeroll and gut check.) Human violence is a terrible thing, a tragedy we haven’t overcome. It happens in every state in America, and in every large city. It’s sad. We need to keep working toward overcoming violence. To exploit the tragedy for partisan reasons out of dislike and vitriol toward the president or blue state large cities in general, in connection with an Olympic bid of all things, is totally in keeping with the hypocrisy, cruelty, lack of substantial ideas and arguments, lack of moral integrity and self-centeredness of certain tribes that tend to identify with right wing politics, political divisiness, warmongering and ginned up rhetoric.

To Ryan C:
Please get your facts straight. Mitt Romney was hired as CEO of the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics after the allegations of bribery were exposed. They were running a shortfall at the time. They ended up clearing a profit of 100 million dollars, and Romney contributed 1 million dollars himself. Shortly after September 2001, with all the security challenges, it was a very successful Winter Olympics. If Barack Obama had accomplished the same feat, he would deserve credit and praise regardless of political party, don’t you agree?

We’re fortunate to have a President who not only addresses the major national challenges [such as the healthcare issue], but also is trying to lead our country to a place in which we can be proud. Olympics in the U.S. would showcase our athletes, encourage hope and national unity. It’ll also provide jobs.
Not sure why anyone would find hosting the Olympics in the U.S. a negative action. Guess that’s what the conservative talk show hosts are pumping this week. I wonder why the conservatives aren’t more patriotic and proud of their country. Funny, that’s been their mantra.

What’s really ODD about the flavor of most of these posts is that no matter what the administration does, they’ll fabricate a negative spin on it.
Imagine decrying an appeal to host the Olympics. Really, really weird.

“It is the legendary corruption of the Daley(/Obama/Blagojevich) political machine–which will inevitably cash in on this taxpayer investment–which most of us find “negative.”
Posted by: Corruption Czar | Sep 29, 2009 10:46:08 AM
_________________________
connected unrelated issues again?
Perhaps the conservatives have Charles Manson on their side, again.

What is odd about this administration is the completely screwed up priorities-why get involved in a local matter like the Olympics(or Gates for that matter) when Americans are dying in Afghanistan and Obama refuses to talk to the commanding general?What is he going to do next-shopping for the White House groceries?

Posted by: Nephron | Sep 29, 2009 11:08:43 AM
______________________________
expand your horizons.
The Olympics are a world wide event, bringing althletes from around the world to compete cooperatively.

The unbridled plutocratic materialism, selfishness, and lack of common compassion for fellow Americans characteristic of Republican conservatism have been appalling to observe over the last several years. It would seem that this is where culture and value must begin to change for America (and all Americans) to thrive.

Bring back a progressive tax structure.
The rise of ridiculous pay for CEOs and financial funds managers came about with Reagan drastically reducing tax rates for the wealthy. Before that time, taxes for salaries and compensation packages in the millions of dollars were so high that it was considered a waste to offer them. Taxes essentially put a cap on mega-income.
If we brought back a progressive tax – taxing those making millions at a rate of seventy percent or more once again – we’d end runaway executive pay. We might also have enough revenue coming in from standard taxes to get away from the gimmick of lotteries. The income gap between the rich and the poor would narrow.

The decline of our intellectual capital, the rise of “greed is good” as a way of life, the abandonment of the less fortunate all stem from the Reagan years. Our manufacturing base declined, our dependence on the sketchy financial instruments of Wall Street increased, and our government’s efforts at fiscal restraint were abandoned. If you want a change in economic values, we need to finally turn our backs on the Reagan years.
That’s why we elected President Obama.

The constructive use of the president’s time and his priorities are unrelated to his lobbying for the Olympics?!!! There are some pretty dense individuals on this site.If you are a brain surgeon,you should attend to the craniotomy,not worry about the ingrown toenail.

“If we brought back a progressive tax – taxing those making millions at a rate of seventy percent or more once again – we’d end runaway executive pay.”
a.) What business is it of yours what these people make? How does it affect you in your everyday life? Would your personal condition improve if these evil rich people are taxed at higher rates?
b.) What about pro athletes and actors/actresses compensated at similar rates?
c.) The wealthy you seek to tax will simply move themselves (and their capital – and potential tax revenue and jobs) somewhere else.
“The income gap between the rich and the poor would narrow.”
This is true. But, have ever received a job from a “poor” person?
After all these years, Libs still do not understand fundamental economics:
“The more you tax something, the less of it you’ll get.”

“The last administration was wildly in favor of a bloody, unnecessary war at a cost of a trillion dollars. The money was all borrowed. No war tax. No draft. Lots of dead human beings. Bush borrowed money as part of the ongoing campaign to keep the country perpetually at war. You think pay as you go should apply to healing people but not to killing them.”
Posted by: SAR | Sep 29, 2009 11:38:49 AM
Obama called the Afghan War the “just” war, and heavily criticized Bush for NOT sending enough troops. Now he is about to flip-flop, although no circumstances there have changed. Along with filibuster-proof majorities in Congress, the Dems hold all the power in Washington now.
War is over, if Barry wants it.

“He’s The POTUS!!! What’s wroong with him
promoting a USA city. I wonder how som of you would feel if it was your city.
posted by: CharlotteNative | Sep 29, 2009 10:50:06 AM”
Are you serious none of us are aware he is POTUS! Thanks for the update. There is nothing wrong with him promoting a USA city for the Olympics but Chicago? A city known for its corrupt government and crime. More than 30 students were killed last school year, and the city could exceed that number this year.Why not fix the problems of this city instead of exposing its violence and corruption on a world stage. If the President and First lady want to campaign for the Olympics that is okay with me, but don’t use my tax dollars to fly there, what about fiscal responsibility and Carbon Footprints? Does any of this matter or is it all just Political pandering the Democrats always use to mislead the American People. They are slowly taking away your freedom, by controlling Financial Institutions, Auto Industry, Capping pay for CEO’s. Wanting to control your Health Care, and finish destroying American Industry with Cap and Trade legislation that will make it even harder for US Industry to compete on a world stage. And apparently Obama’s strategy in Afghanistan is to bury his head in the sand and ignore the problem and hope it goes away while Brave Men and Women are dying! But your right MR.. President the Olympics are top Priority!

I didn’t know she was from Copenhagen? (That’s the way the article reads (at the start));)

They are slowly taking away your freedom……..Capping pay for CEO’s.
Posted by: batesba74
if this wasn’t so sad..it would be funny

I’m SURE the POTUS has something better to do than to lobby the IOC on behalf of Chicago, the corrupt city that spawned this junior-pol-turned-prez-by-the-media.
It’s hilarious that a US city would even want to host the Olympics, unless they are looking at this as a way to soak their residents for taxes to pay for this godawful mess they call the Olympics.
The longer he is in office, the less and less I am impressed with him. At the rate he is going, one of Stalin’s spawn could run on the Republican ticket and win in 2012.

Actually, what should be known about this little trip to Denmark … and all the crazy smears and jeers on this thread is that a lot of it is parroted gunk. Fox News hosts, contributors and guests have used President Obama’s trip to Copehagen to support the U.S. bid to host the Summer Olympics as an excuse to smear, attack, twist, distort and distract both Obama and Chicago. Sean Hannity says “it sounds” like Obama “is more concerned about bringing the Olympics to Chicago than winning the war in Afghanistan”– which is ridiculous. Brent Bozell asserts that the President’s's trip to Copenhagen “is evidence that this man just cannot stay away from the klieg lights.” Bret Baier talks about the “carbon footprint” of Obama’s trip as if he’s concerned about carbon footprints. Meanwhile Michelle Malkin and Matt Drudge have callously linked the murder of a teenager in Chicago to the Olympic bid to exploit tragedy for divisive partisan purposes. Sounds very familiar. Wow, you dissenters are in high-class company (eyeroll.) And did you hear Steele’s ridiculous comments today? According to him, the fact that Obama will spend 18 hours traveling and speaking and traveling back in order to promote an event that has the opportunity to generate $22.5 billion in economic activity, and create the equivalent of 315,000 new full-time jobs, means that he has abandoned his policy agenda — yet Steele doesn’t have the kahunas to say that going to Copenhagen is a mistake.
Meanwhile, Mitt Romney has said, “I think the people in the IOC want to understand the level of the commitment of the host country. Does the host country really care? Is this going to be a high priority? And nothing says that like having the presence of the leader of that country and, particularly, in the case of Barack Obama.”
Olympics consultant Christine Brennan, on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” said in regards the President’s trip to Copenhagen: “The president didn’t have much of a choice — he’s from Chicago. … The IOC members will want to shake his hand, take their picture with him …” Of course, it also sounds like Rio is the current favorite.
Oh, and btw, Habitat Corporation is a property management company. It doesn’t actually own the properties that it manages. Jarrett’s income is derived from the management services her company provides. If the apartments are bulldozed to build olympic facilities, she stands to LOSE money. For those claiming “Valerie Jarrett owns the property that the olympics would be held on”, please cite your sources, substantiate your claims and show us the money trail, or admit you’re making stuff up.