Chicago Eliminated From 2016 Olympics

Damn!

As a Chicagoan, I'm disappointed that the Olympics aren't coming here.

I'm wondering how long it will take Obama's critics to start gloating that even his personally making a pitch didn't help?

Madrid and Rio de Janeiro were always leaders. Tokyo has hosted the Games already (and the Winter Games in Sapporo) and Chicago is old Blue Nation stuff, a yawner. Sun and fun is more like it. Barcelona has hosted the Games before, so Madrid is probably in second place to Rio de Janeiro.

Obviously you've never been to Chicago, it's impolite to knock someone's hometown when you've never even visited it (and no, being in Detroit or St. Louis, while in somewhat close proximity doesn't count).

We even accept Republican passports to our "old Blue Nation". /snark

I can't speak for everyone but I don't blame Obama any more than I would have credited him if we'd gotten them. It's not a decision that one guy can alter.

I would feel the same way if it had been a GOP President though.

I listen to a fair amount of Chicago radio and there was significant opposition to the Olympics in the Chicago area. Many of those pushing for it was on the basis of helping to provide employment, a noble reason but as many others pointed out someone also has to foot the bill.

Anna and DLS, Chicago is great. Hey I'm going to the Bears game this Sunday. The politics are always pretty suspect but as a city it's fine.

"Obviously you've never been to Chicago"

I'm afraid you're wrong again. I've been there numerous times, including multiple times on Lake Shore Drive* as well as to the book stores in Hyde Park (Obamaland), which includes a satellite Powell's book store, and the Sears Tower (or whatever it officially is called now; it's still Sears Tower to me).

* I've always planned to ride my bike on the lake shore rec trail, even though the behavior on the trail is as bad as on the freeway system, reputedly.

"I don't blame Obama any more than I would have credited him if we'd gotten them"

Well, the question lurking in the background is to what extent Obama and other Chicago insiders stood to benefit financially from real estate holdings and other interests in the Chicago metro area. Could they own slummy apartments, for example, and expect to get free upgrading (at taxpayer expense) to Olympic Village housing, which later would yield much higher rents? One example...

http://www.judicialwatch.org/news/2008/nov/obam...

http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2009/09/chicago...

http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2009/09/valerie...

That is too bad. As world cities go, I would put Chicago on the bottom of that list of 4 cities. I think the obvious choice is Rio, but Madrid has a chance if they already have many of the facilities already built.

As was stated before, Chicago wasn't exactly 100% in favor of getting the Olympics. The mayor sent mixed signals on financial guarantees. Their bid had numerous problems.

"as a city it's fine"

Lake Shore and Chicago River area are great places to go, and I enjoy Hyde Park and the book stores there. Fabulous skyline. Not as much "gritty city" stuff as in other Blue Nation cities, but plenty of that, too. I was almost given an assignment in Rolling Meadows and was ready to relocate.

With Atlanta there's more of a strict division among those with strong opinions, you either love it or hate it. With Chicago, so many people all over the Midwest love it and more would live there if they could. In comparing it to other cities vying for the Summer Olympics, though, sun and fun should win.

Rio de Janeiro has won, apparently, and strongly over Madrid.

"... Rio stressed the opportunity -- unique among its rivals for the 2016 Games -- it presents to the IOC to make history by bringing the Olympics to a continent that has never hosted them before. ..."

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125446379425258...


"... Many traders on the floor of the Chicago Board of Trade started clapping and cheering when they learned Chicago was out. ..."

http://blogs.wsj.com/dispatch/2009/10/02/chicag...

Let's just agree to never have the Olympic games in this country again. Who knows if the IOC considered opposition to the games in their decision? If we don't really want it, why should they bother? I lived in Denver in 1980 when we successfully derailed a bid to have the Winter Olympics here. I doubt we'll ever get the chance again.

That message is received loud and clear at least from this radio unit. When I heard people predicting we'd get the Olympics next time around I almost fell off my chair laughing so hard. People in the US really really don't get how what we've allowed Cheneyco to get away with has hurt us abroad. They just don't get it, even now...

But...but....its Bush's fault,

http://www.current-movie-reviews.com/people/200...

Senator Rowland Burris of Illinois, the Senator who was appointed to fill President Barack Obama’s vacant Senate seat, blames George Bush for Chicago not getting the Olympics in 2016. Burris stated in an interview, shortly after the announcement, that the image of the U. S. has been so tarnished in the last 8 years that, even Barack Obama making an unprecedented pitch for the games could not overcome the hatred the world has for us as a result of George Bush. Wow! When will the Democrats in Congress ever get off this “Blame Bush” syndrome. Burris even went on to say that this is just another way Bush is now hurting Chicago.

ROTFLMAO

Considering that the United States has hosted the Olympics eight times (4 Summer Olympics + 4 Winter Olympics) while Brazil (along with the rest of the South American continent) have hosted the Olympics a grand total of ZERO times, I'd say justice was done by this decision.

Oh the Blame Republicans bit just got more comical

http://newsbusters.org/blogs/jeff-poor/2009/10/...
MSNBC’s Schultz Blames 'Right-Wing Talkers' for Obama Olympic Defeat; Compares GOP to Hanoi Jane

Hanoi Jane Fonda? Come on....
A reminder
http://www.wellesley.edu/Polisci/wj/Vietimages/...
Jane Fonda posing with a North Vietnamese anti-aircraft battery (wonder how many US pilots that one shot at)

Well I was wrong thinking it was in the bag. And when I think about weather and location, Rio makes sense (along with the ZERO South American Olympics). I just find the gloating by SOME on the Right and the blame by SOME on the Left so tiresome. Does it make you feel good to gloat and blame? Guess what? It doesn't mean a thing. If this is how we are going to play continue to play partisanship, count us all down and out. So freakin' petty!

It's started, and it's much worse than that. They're actively cheering. Not all, but many.

GD, do you think maybe that's part of the reason that the Obamas made such a strong personal effort to get it in Chicago? Because they knew they were battling that perception that the U.S. doesn't want the Olympics here?

Yeah, but there's a difference between acknowledging the logic and justice behind picking Rio, and actively, openly celebrating the loss, as many conservatives are doing right now.

I agree the celebrating is wrong.

But do any of us doubt that if the same had happened under Bush that some on the left would not have also done it ?

Politics can be so sad.

Patrick-- You may be right. But you should recognize that Bush/Cheney were vastly unpopular with about 65%+ of the population because of the devastation that their policies caused the US economy, military environment, justice system and international prestige.

It was not simply because they had R's after their last names.