Chicago & Obama Crushed  On First Ballot For 2016 Olympic Bid 10.02.09

While there are  serious troop surge decisions to be made in Afghanistan, nuke threats coming from Iran, unemployment is reaching for 10%,  the economy is in the doldrums and health care reform is about to explode into a conflagration, President Obama, First Lady Michelle and Oprah Winfrey, with other Department Heads and White House staff, are all headed this week to Copenhagen to make an 11th-hour bid to the International Olympic Committee, for Chicago to host the 2012 games.

It is time for the Aflac Duck to shake his head and say ‘Huh?  . . . Again!

In this case, reality is perception.

Now those who might be inclined to defend Obama’s decision to “give one for the gipper”, at a time when overwhelming international and national decisions are at stake, saying that after all it’s ‘only a two day trip’ ; must keep in mind the staff preparation that goes into such a journey, that it proves to be a distraction to the critical issues at hand – least of all the carbon foot-print it leaves on the environment.

Obama and his team arrive on Friday just before Chicago makes its formal proposition.

Although other foreign leaders have made such trips on behalf of proposed hosting cities around the world, no previous US president has made such a trip on behalf of a city vying to host the Olympics.  But then again this is Chicago, Obama’s adopted hometown, and we all know Chicago politics.

The buzz has it that Rio de Janeiro has the edge, behind Tokyo, Madrid and Chicago.  And, there are many natives in Chicago that are split between believing the games would be a badge of honor, and those who think it would be a disaster for their city.

Whatever see you in Rio!